metabolitesand

Metabolitesand is a coined term used to describe the study of metabolites associated with sandy environments and the metabolomic processes related to sand as a chemical and physical matrix. It encompasses the small molecules arising from microbial, plant, and abiotic sources that reside in sand grains, pore water, and biofilms.

The term emphasizes the interface between chemistry, geology, and biology in sandy systems such as deserts, beaches, and dunes. It covers the metabolite signatures that reflect nutrient cycling, microbial ecology, pollutant fate, and plant–microbe interactions within sandy soils and sediments.

Analytical approaches in metabolitesand include solvent extraction, solid-phase microextraction, and desorption techniques, followed by mass spectrometry, nuclear magnetic resonance, and chromatographic separation (GC-MS, LC-MS). Data analysis relies on untargeted metabolomics to detect features and on targeted assays for known pathways and compounds.

Applications of metabolitesand include informing ecosystem function assessments, biogeochemical process studies, and bioremediation research in sandy environments. It also supports biomarker discovery for environmental stress responses and helps interpret how sand texture, moisture, and organic content influence metabolite pools.

Limitations include the lack of standardized terminology for metabolitesand and the variability of sand matrices. Recovery and interpretation of metabolites can be hindered by adsorption to grains, low biomass, and complex background chemistry, requiring careful sampling design and appropriate controls.

See also: Metabolomics, Soil metabolomics, Desert ecology, Sediment chemistry, Microbial ecology.