Tropical peat swamp forests (TPSF) are globally significant carbon stores, sequestering carbon mainly as phenolic polymers and phenolic compounds (particularly as lignin and its derivatives) in peat layers, in plants, and in the acidic blackwaters. Previous studies show that TPSF plants have particularly high levels of phenolic compounds which inhibit the decomposition of organic matter and thus promote peat accumulation. The studies of phenolic compounds are thus crucial to further understand how TPSF function with respect to carbon sequestration. Here we present a study of cycling of phenolic compounds in five forests in Borneo differing in flooding and acidity, leaching of phenolic compounds from senescent Macaranga pruinosa leaves, and absorption of phenolics by M. pruinosa seedlings. The results of the study show that total phenolic content (TPC) in soil and leaves of three species of Macaranga were highest in TPSF followed by freshwater swamp forest and flooded limestone forest, then dry land sites. Highest TPC values were associated with acidity (in TPSF) and waterlogging (in flooded forests). Moreover, phenolic compounds are rapidly leached from fallen senescent leaves, and could be reabsorbed by tree roots and converted into more complex phenolics within the leaves. Extreme conditions—waterlogging and acidity—may facilitate uptake and synthesis of protective phenolic compounds which are essential for impeded decomposition of organic matter in TPSF. Conversely, the ongoing drainage and degradation of TPSF, particularly for conversion to oil palm plantations, reverses the conditions necessary for peat accretion and carbon sequestration.

中文翻译：

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在婆罗洲的热带泥炭沼泽森林中回收酚类化合物。

热带泥炭沼泽森林（TPSF）在全球具有重要的碳储量，在泥炭层，植物和酸性黑水中，主要以酚类聚合物和酚类化合物（尤其是木质素及其衍生物）的形式隔离碳。先前的研究表明，TPSF植物中的酚类化合物含量特别高，可以抑制有机物的分解，从而促进泥炭的积累。因此，对酚类化合物的研究对于进一步了解TPSF在碳固存方面的功能至关重要。在这里，我们介绍了婆罗洲五处森林中酚类化合物在洪水和酸度，从衰老的Macaranga pruinosa叶片中浸出酚类化合物以及酚类物质被M. pruinosa幼苗吸收后的循环研究。研究结果表明，TPSFSF中三种Macaranga的土壤和叶片中的总酚含量最高，其次是淡水沼泽森林和淹水的石灰石森林，然后是旱地。最高TPC值与酸度（在TPSF中）和涝渍（在水淹森林中）相关。此外，酚类化合物会从衰落的衰老叶片中快速浸出，并可能被树根吸收，并在叶片内转化为更复杂的酚类。极端条件（渍水和酸度）可能会促进保护性酚类化合物的吸收和合成，这对于阻止TPSF中有机物的分解至关重要。相反，TPSF的排水和降解，尤其是转化为油棕种植园的过程，