PARTICULATE ORGANIC MATTER (POM): ECOLOGICAL ROLES AND BIOGEOCHEMICAL SIGNIFICANCE

Particulate Organic Matter (POM) represents the fraction of organic material suspended in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems that is larger than the dissolved phase. POM includes detritus, fragments of organisms, microbial biomass, and other coarse organic particles that serve as essential substrates for microbial decomposition, nutrient cycling, and energy flow. In aquatic environments, POM influences carbon export, food web structure, and pollutant transport. In soils, POM contributes to soil quality, fertility, and carbon sequestration. This article reviews the sources, composition, ecological functions, and biogeochemical roles of POM, highlighting its importance in ecosystem processes and responses to environmental change.