Biological volatile organic compounds (VOCs) play key roles in atmospheric chemistry, biogeochemistry, and ecological interactions. While most attention has focused on plant VOCs, microbial VOC metabolism and cycling is far less understood. Soil microbial VOC sources and sinks compete with plant emissions in some ecosystems, and VOCs from oceans and inland waters impact atmospheric chemistry and water quality. However, microbial VOC cycling is often overlooked across environments. This knowledge gap surrounding microbial sources and sinks of VOCs represents an exciting research frontier in biogeosciences.

This session will bring together researchers studying microbial VOC sources and sinks in the environment. We welcome submissions on the role of VOCs in microbial metabolism and interkingdom ecological interactions within and across ecosystem compartments (e.g., soil, subsurface, phyllosphere, benthic, pelagic) and in response to environmental change. We will showcase advances in microbial VOC measurements and analysis to address outstanding questions in global VOC cycling.