Effects of anthropogenic disturbance on total and microbial soil carbon in Vereda ecosystem

Veredas, also known as palm swamps, are wetland ecosystems of the Cerrado biome, characterized by the predominance of hydromorphic soils and their essential role in regional hydrological regulation. This study aimed to assess carbon dynamics in two veredas subjected to different levels of anthropogenic disturbance. Soil sampling was conducted in October 2021 in two veredas: Amescla (intermediate level of anthropogenic disturbance) and Peruaçu (highly degraded, at an advanced stage of wetland drying). Total organic carbon (TOC) and microbial biomass carbon (MBC) were evaluated along different altitudinal gradients within the veredas. Data were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA), and mean values were compared using Tukey’s test (p < 0.05). TOC contents were higher in the surface soil layer (0–10 cm) of the Amescla, ranging from 46.9 to 84.7 g kg⁻¹ across the evaluated altitudinal gradients. Similarly, MBC values were consistently higher in the Amescla, varying from 452 to 923 mg kg⁻¹. Overall, the results indicate that severe anthropogenic disturbances in wetland environments, leading to wetland degradation and drying—as observed in the Peruaçu—result in reductions in soil microbial biomass and concomitant decreases in TOC. In contrast, the lower degree of anthropogenic disturbance in the Amescla promoted greater biological integrity across the evaluated altitudinal gradients.