Dr. Luke Jeffrey

We already knew forests were heavy lifters in reducing climate pollution. New research reveals the tiny microbes in tree bark can also 'eat' climate gases.

👉 Read the full story: theconversation.com/we-disc...

Tree bark microbes for climate management Microbes living in bark can process the greenhouse gases methane, hydrogen, and carbon monoxide

In a new Science study, researchers report that bark microbes process methane, hydrogen, and carbon monoxide, showing that bark is an important component of global trace gas dynamics.

Learn more in a new #SciencePerspective: https://scim.ag/4qX0MxL

Our new ditch GHG paper now online in final view. A great team effort led by @tksilver.bsky.social with contributions from an all-star cast of supporting authors.

iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1...

Bark microbiota modulate climate-active gas fluxes in Australian forests Recent studies suggest that microbes inhabit tree bark, yet little is known about their identities, functions, and environmental roles. Here we reveal, through gene-centric and genome-resolved metagen...

Bark microbiota modulate climate-active gas fluxes in Australian forests | Science www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

This photograph, taken at the ephemeral wetland study site in Bogangar, Australia, shows a paperbark tree (Melaleuca quinquenervia)—a hardy, iconic Australian wetland species that is recognized by its layered, papery bark.

New research reveals that paperbarks, among other trees, host abundant, specialized, and metabolically active bark-dwelling microbial communities that modulate climatically relevant gases, including methane, hydrogen, and carbon monoxide.

Learn more this week in Science: https://scim.ag/4bp9hgl

Tree bark microbiome has important overlooked role in climate Tree bark has a total surface area similar to all of the land area on Earth. It is home to a wide range of microbial species unknown to science, and they can either take up or emit gases that have a warming effect on the climate

Tree bark has a total surface area similar to all of the land area on Earth. It is home to a wide range of microbial species unknown to science, and they can either take up or emit gases that have a warming effect on the climate

Tree bark microbiome has important overlooked role in climate Tree bark has a total surface area similar to all of the land area on Earth. It is home to a wide range of microbial species unknown to science, and they can either take up or emit gases that have a warming effect on the climate

Tree bark has a total surface area similar to all of the land area on Earth. It is home to a wide range of microbial species unknown to science, and they can either take up or emit gases that have a warming effect on the climate

We discovered microbes in bark ‘eat’ climate gases. This will change the way we think about trees We already knew forests were heavy lifters in reducing climate pollution. New research reveals the tiny microbes in tree bark can also “eat” climate gases.

(8/8) Also see the short piece we wrote for @theconversation.com here: theconversation.com/we-discovere...

Bark microbiota modulate climate-active gas fluxes in Australian forests Recent studies suggest that microbes inhabit tree bark, yet little is known about their identities, functions, and environmental roles. Here we reveal, through gene-centric and genome-resolved metagen...

(7/8) Bottom line: trees aren’t just carbon stores.
They’re hosts to complex microbial ecosystems that play an active role in regulating the atmosphere
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

Congrats 🙌 @bobpmleung.bsky.social @greening.bsky.social @drdamo77.bsky.social @jodittmann.bsky.social et al.

(6/8) These systems are dynamic. Under low-oxygen conditions inside bark, some microbes can switch to producing methane or hydrogen — meaning climate change (e.g. flooding, warming) could alter these processes...

YouTube video by Southern Cross University Microbes found in bark enhance benefits of trees by removing greenhouse gases

(5/8) Why this matters: the global surface area of tree bark is immense — comparable to Earth’s land surface!! This points to a previously unrecognised, large-scale atmospheric sink. See video explainer📽️:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5eV...

(4/8) Our lab and field experiments show bark microbes can remove multiple climate-relevant gases from the atmosphere, with particularly strong uptake and affinity for hydrogen.

(3/8) These bark microbes aren’t just living there — they’re active. Many use trace gases like #Hydrogen (H₂), #Methane (CH₄), and #CarbonMonoxide (CO) as #Carbon and energy sources.🦠

(2/8) Across 8 common Australian tree species (paperbarks, eucalypts, acacias, mangroves & more), bark contains trillions of microbial cells per m² — distinctly unique from soil or water communities.

(1/8) 🚨Thrilled to share our new research, now published on the cover of @science.org ! 🌳🦠
We discovered that tree #Bark — largely regarded as inert — hosts vast #Microbial communities that actively interact with the atmosphere. 🧵👇 www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

New #PrePrint by #PhD @jodittmann.bsky.social open for discussion on @egubg.bsky.social investigating the question: 'Are #GhostForests a substantial source of #Methane from #Reservoirs?' 👻🪵
👇
egusphere.copernicus.org/preprints/20...

Bark-associated diazotroph communities are a cryptic source of nitrogen in forests https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.11.14.688567v1

Bark-associated diazotroph communities are a cryptic source of nitrogen in forests https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.11.14.688567v1

Ancient carbon released through modern rivers A global analysis reveals that most carbon dioxide emitted by rivers derives not from modern plant material, as was thought, but from ancient, buried carbon.

A global analysis reveals that most carbon dioxide emitted by rivers derives not from modern plant material, as was thought, but from ancient, buried carbon

https://go.nature.com/3FQOdls

View from the middle of the New River. The bedrock and sediments are visible through the clear water, and the river is calm enough to reflect the blue sky and clouds on the water surface. There are tree-covered banks and mountains in the background.

View from the middle of the New River in the morning. The river is calm enough to reflect the blue sky and sun on the water surface. There are tree-covered banks and mountains in the background with a little bit of fog in the distance.

View from the middle of the New River below a small shelf rapid with a few waves. The sky is blue with white puffy clouds. There are tree-covered banks and mountains in the background.

View from the middle of the New River looking toward a riverbank with exposed rock cliffs surrounded by green trees. The sky is blue.

Enjoyed being back on the New River in southwest Virginia. First float of the year after full leaf out & first time floating this section (Whitehorne -> Eggleston) after hurricane Helene.

No advert out yet, but I will recruiting a 2yr postdoc, start date autumn 2025, at @livunigeog.bsky.social soon. Lowland and upland peatlands, GHGs, DOM and water chemistry. Plenty of fieldwork. Feel free to drop me a DM or email if you might be interested, and please spread the word.

🌊

Mycorrhizal networks: Understanding hidden complexity Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.

It’s alive! Our Mycorrhizal Networks special issue is out in Functional Ecology.
Packed with spore-tacular science.

A collection that highlights advances, identifies unresolved questions & the future research directions.

besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

We are seeking a Postdoctoral Researcher (PDRA) in Freshwater Ecosystem Ecology researching the role of organic matter as a nutrient resource in freshwater ecosystems. A 4.5 year role with great training opportunites in isotope ecology and mesocosm experimental science www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DLU610/p...

There's a postdoc in peatland biogeochemistry advertised on our project by Dolly Kothawala and Gustaf Granath
at Uppsala University. I can highly recommend Uppsala as a place to live and work.

www.uu.se/en/about-uu/...

New paper! led by Josh Dean “Old carbon routed from land to the atmosphere by global river systems”
doi.org/10.1038/s415...

#radiocarbon in #rivers reveals the age of CO2 they release to the atmosphere.

An active leak of old carbon from land.
🧪⚒️
@joshfdean.bsky.social @oxuniearthsci.bsky.social

Mapping the world's inland surface waters: an upgrade to the Global Lakes and Wetlands Database (GLWD v2) Abstract. In recognition of the importance of inland waters, numerous datasets mapping their extents, types, or changes have been created using sources ranging from historical wetland maps to real-tim...

A fantastic new mapping product for the world's inland waters, a critical driver for studying GHG emissions, biodiversity, and much more.

Mapping the world's inland surface waters: an upgrade to the Global Lakes and Wetlands Database (GLWD v2)

essd.copernicus.org/articles/17/...

One way to collect 500 mL of #methane ebullition from a #GhostForest in 8 m of standing water…

What a way to start the (sampling) day 👌 with @jodittmann.bsky.social

Top winters day back at the Ghost Forest sampling for @jodittmann.bsky.social PhD projects. Plenty of ebullition bubbles down there!!