Publication
Title
Biological rejuvenation of iron oxides in bioturbated marine sediments
Author
Abstract
The biogeochemical cycle of iron is intricately linked to numerous element cycles. Although biological processes that catalyze the reductive side of the iron cycle are established, little is known about microbial oxidative processes on iron cycling in sedimentary environments-resulting in the formation of iron oxides. Here we show that a potential source of sedimentary iron oxides originates from the metabolic activity of iron-oxidizing bacteria from the class Zetaproteobacteria, presumably enhanced by burrowing animals in coastal sediments. Zetaproteobacteria were estimated to be a global total of 10(26) cells in coastal, bioturbated sediments, and predicted to annually produce 8 x 10(15) g of Fe in sedimentary iron oxides-55 times larger than the annual flux of iron oxides deposited by rivers. These data suggest that iron-oxidizing Zetaproteobacteria are keystone organisms in marine sedimentary environments-despite their low numerical abundance-yet exert a disproportionate impact via the rejuvenation of iron oxides.
Language
English
Source (journal)
The ISME journal : multidisciplinary journal of microbial ecology. - London
Publication
London : Nature publishing group , 2018
ISSN
1751-7362
DOI
10.1038/S41396-017-0032-6
Volume/pages
12 :5 (2018) , p. 1389-1394
ISI
000431321500020
Pubmed ID
29343830
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
Full text (publisher's version - intranet only)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Research group
Project info
SEDBIOGEOCHEM 2.0: Hardwiring the ocean floor: the impact of microbial electrical circuitry on biogeochemical cycling in marine sediments
Publication type
Subject
Affiliation
Publications with a UAntwerp address
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 12.06.2018
Last edited 09.10.2023
To cite this reference