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This perspective piece on aerosol deposition to marine ecosystems and the related impacts on biogeochemical cycles forms part of a larger Surface Ocean Lower Atmosphere Study status-of-the-science special edition. A large body of recent reviews has comprehensively covered different aspects of this topic. Here, we aim to take a fresh approach by reviewing recent research to identify potential foundations for future study. We have purposefully chosen to discuss aerosol nutrient and pollutant fluxes both in terms of the journey that different aerosol particles take and that of the surrounding scientific field exploring them. To do so, we explore some of the major tools, knowledge, and partnerships we believe are required to aid advancing this highly interdisciplinary field of research. We recognize that significant gaps persist in our understanding of how far aerosol deposition modulates marine biogeochemical cycles and thus climate. This uncertainty increases as socioeconomic pressures, climate change, and technological advancements continue to change how we live and interact with the marine environment. Despite this, recent advances in modeling techniques, satellite remote sensing, and field observations have provided valuable insights into the spatial and temporal variability of aerosol deposition across the world’s ocean. With the UN Ocean Decade and sustainable development goals in sight, it becomes essential that the community prioritizes the use of a wide variety of tools, knowledge, and partnerships to advance understanding. It is through a collaborative and sustained effort that we hope the community can address the gaps in our understanding of the complex interactions between aerosol particles, marine ecosystems, and biogeochemical cycles., This publication resulted in part from support from the U.S. National Science Foundation (Grant OCE-1840868) to the Scientific Committee on Oceanic Research. DSH acknowledges that this work was supported by North Carolina State University. ARB was funded by the UK Natural Environment Research Council (grant NE/V001213/1). JL was funded by the European Space Agency—LPF (No. 4000135579/21/I-DT-lr) and the Barcelona Supercomputing Centre. SM acknowledges support by the project “PANhellenic infrastructure for Atmospheric Composition and climatE change” (MIS 5021516) implemented under the Action “Reinforcement of the Research and Innovation Infrastructure,” which is funded by the Operational Programme “Competitiveness, Entrepreneurship and Innovation” (NSRF 2014–2020) and cofinanced by Greece and the European Union (European Regional Development Fund) and the National Infrastructures for Research and Technology S.A. (GRNET S.A.) in the National HPC facility ARIS for computational time granted under project ID 010003 (ANION). MMGP acknowledges that this work was supported by the Interdisciplinary graduate school for the blue planet (ISBlue, ANR-17-EURE-0015) and cofunded by a grant from the French government under the program “Investissements d’Avenir” embedded in France 2030., Peer Reviewed, Postprint (published version)

© 2014 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/).This revision has been supported by the ERC project ERC250350-IPBSL, The geomicrobiological characterization of the water column and sediments of Río Tinto (Huelva, Southwestern Spain) have proven the importance of the iron and the sulfur cycles, not only in generating the extreme conditions of the habitat (low pH, high concentration of toxic heavy metals), but also in maintaining the high level of microbial diversity detected in the basin. It has been proven that the extreme acidic conditions of Río Tinto basin are not the product of 5000 years of mining activity in the area, but the consequence of an active underground bioreactor that obtains its energy from the massive sulfidic minerals existing in the Iberian Pyrite Belt. Two drilling projects, MARTE (Mars Astrobiology Research and Technology Experiment) (2003–2006) and IPBSL (Iberian Pyrite Belt Subsurface Life Detection) (2011–2015), were developed and carried out to provide evidence of subsurface microbial activity and the potential resources that support these activities. The reduced substrates and the oxidants that drive the system appear to come from the rock matrix. These resources need only groundwater to launch diverse microbial metabolisms. The similarities between the vast sulfate and iron oxide deposits on Mars and the main sulfide bioleaching products found in the Tinto basin have given Río Tinto the status of a geochemical and mineralogical Mars terrestrial analogue., ERC, Depto. de Estructura de la Materia, Física Térmica y Electrónica, Fac. de Ciencias Físicas, TRUE, pub

This perspective piece on aerosol deposition to marine ecosystems and the related impacts on biogeochemical cycles forms part of a larger Surface Ocean Lower Atmosphere Study status-of-the-science special edition. A large body of recent reviews has comprehensively covered different aspects of this topic. Here, we aim to take a fresh approach by reviewing recent research to identify potential foundations for future study. We have purposefully chosen to discuss aerosol nutrient and pollutant fluxes both in terms of the journey that different aerosol particles take and that of the surrounding scientific field exploring them. To do so, we explore some of the major tools, knowledge, and partnerships we believe are required to aid advancing this highly interdisciplinary field of research. We recognize that significant gaps persist in our understanding of how far aerosol deposition modulates marine biogeochemical cycles and thus climate. This uncertainty increases as socioeconomic pressures, climate change, and technological advancements continue to change how we live and interact with the marine environment. Despite this, recent advances in modeling techniques, satellite remote sensing, and field observations have provided valuable insights into the spatial and temporal variability of aerosol deposition across the world’s ocean. With the UN Ocean Decade and sustainable development goals in sight, it becomes essential that the community prioritizes the use of a wide variety of tools, knowledge, and partnerships to advance understanding. It is through a collaborative and sustained effort that we hope the community can address the gaps in our understanding of the complex interactions between aerosol particles, marine ecosystems, and biogeochemical cycles.

Ferric sludge pollution and unsustainable utilization of Fe(II) reagent were tough nuts to crack for homogeneous Fenton treatment. Previous Fe(II) regeneration methods are still limited by high reagent consumption or low regeneration rate. In this work, granular sludge was introduced into the biocathode of microbial electrolysis cell (MEC), to improve Fe(II)-regeneration rate from actual ferric sludge at near neutral pH. Wastewater constituents in the bioanode of dual-chamber MEC were used as the reducing power to regenerate Fe(II). In the flow-through biocathode, 175 ± 16 mg/L of dissolved Fe(II) was efficiently regenerated from actual ferric sludge. The regeneration rate of dissolved Fe(II) was 7.2 times higher than that of the previously reported biocathode. Besides, the actual and synthetic ferric sludge had a similar Fe(II) regeneration performance. Interestingly, recalcitrant organics and 20 mg/L NO3–N in ferric sludge were removed by 96% and 100% during Fe(II) regeneration. The biomass in the granular sludge biocathode was 12 times that of the control biocathode, in which Clostridium sensu stricto dominated. These findings provide insights and theoretical support for developing a viable biotechnology platform, to close the gap for the efficient and sustainable iron cycle.

In the Western Tropical South Pacific, a hotspot of dinitrogen-fixing organisms has been identified. The survival of these species depends on the availability of dissolved iron (DFe); however, the source of this DFe is still unclear. DFe was measured along a transect from 175°E to 166°W near 19-21°S. The distribution of DFe showed high spatial variability: low concentrations (∼0.2 nmol kg-1) in the South Pacific gyre and high concentrations (up to 50 nmol kg-1) west of the Tonga arc, indicating that this arc is a clear boundary between iron-poor and iron-rich waters. An optimal multiparameter analysis was used to distinguish the relative importance of physical transport relative to non-conservative processes on the observed distribution. This analysis demonstrated that the shallow hydrothermal sources present along the Tonga-Kermadec arc are responsible for the high concentrations observed in the photic layer. Nevertheless, in contrast to what has been observed for deep hydrothermal plumes, our results highlighted the rapid decrease in DFe concentrations near shallow hydrothermal sources. This is likely due to a shorter residence time of surface water masses combined with several biogeochemical processes at play (precipitation, scavenging, biological uptake, photoreduction). This study clearly highlights the role of shallow hydrothermal sources on the DFe cycle within the Tonga-Kermadec arc where a strong link to biological activity in surface waters can be assessed, despite the small but significant fraction of DFe ultimately stabilized. It also emphasizes the need to consider the impact of these sources for a better understanding of the global iron cycle.

In the Western Tropical South Pacific, a hotspot of dinitrogen-fixing organisms has been identified. The survival of these species depends on the availability of dissolved iron (DFe); however, the source of this DFe is still unclear. DFe was measured along a transect from 175°E to 166°W near 19-21°S. The distribution of DFe showed high spatial variability: low concentrations (∼0.2 nmol kg-1) in the South Pacific gyre and high concentrations (up to 50 nmol kg-1) west of the Tonga arc, indicating that this arc is a clear boundary between iron-poor and iron-rich waters. An optimal multiparameter analysis was used to distinguish the relative importance of physical transport relative to non-conservative processes on the observed distribution. This analysis demonstrated that the shallow hydrothermal sources present along the Tonga-Kermadec arc are responsible for the high concentrations observed in the photic layer. Nevertheless, in contrast to what has been observed for deep hydrothermal plumes, our results highlighted the rapid decrease in DFe concentrations near shallow hydrothermal sources. This is likely due to a shorter residence time of surface water masses combined with several biogeochemical processes at play (precipitation, scavenging, biological uptake, photoreduction). This study clearly highlights the role of shallow hydrothermal sources on the DFe cycle within the Tonga-Kermadec arc where a strong link to biological activity in surface waters can be assessed, despite the small but significant fraction of DFe ultimately stabilized. It also emphasizes the need to consider the impact of these sources for a better understanding of the global iron cycle.

Fe(II) regeneration from ferric sludge via a biocathode and citrate system has recently been proposed to avoid iron-sludge accumulation and iron consumption in homogeneous Fenton treatments. However, poor regeneration rate of Fe(II) from ferric sludge at a near-neutral pH, without an iron-complexing agent, limited its wider practical application. Here, a biocathode augmented with Geobacter sulfurreducens hosted by a microbial electrolysis cell was developed to efficiently regenerate dissolved Fe(II) from ferric sludge at near-neutral pH levels, without using iron-complexing agents. In the Geobacter sulfurreducens-rich biocathode without complexing agents, the regeneration rate of dissolved Fe(II) increased three-fold compared with the biocathode before inoculating Geobacter sulfurreducens. The highest concentration of dissolved Fe(II) increased from 45 mg Fe/L to 199 mg Fe/L at pH 6 when 0.5 V of voltage was applied. Furthermore, 84 mg Fe/L of dissolved Fe(II) was successfully regenerated from ferric sludge during the 123 days' operation of flow-through biocathode. Finally, the regenerated Fe(II) solution without organic matters was successfully applied in a near-neutral pH Fenton treatment to remove recalcitrant pollutants. This Geobacter sulfurreducens-rich biocathode, with its low chemical consumption, high regeneration rate and feasibility for continuous flow operation, offers a more efficient method to realize iron-free in homogeneous Fenton treatments.

Mineral dust emitted from arid and semi-arid areas has several effects on the Earth system (e.g., perturbation of the radiative budget, interaction with cloud processes, implications on ocean and land biogeochemical cycles). Mineral dust aerosols are mixtures of different minerals whose relative abundances, particle size distribution, shape, surface topography, and mixing state influence their interaction with the Earth system. However, Earth System Models (ESMs) typically assume that dust aerosols have a globally uniform composition, neglecting the known variations in the sources’ mineralogical composition. This work investigates the sensitivity of a key biogeochemical cycle, the iron (Fe) cycle to uncertainties in the description of soil mineralogy in dust-producing areas. Airborne mineral dust is the primary input of Fe to the open ocean. Fe constitutes a fundamental micro-nutrient for marine biota in its soluble form. It is, in fact, the limiting nutrient in remote regions of the open ocean known as High Nutrient Low-Chlorophyll (HNLC) regions (e.g., the Southern Ocean), where the Fe supply occurs mainly through atmospheric deposition. Ocean productivity relies on the availability of limiting nutrients. Hence, the ocean’s ability to capture atmospheric CO2 in HNLC regions highly depends on the atmospheric deposition of soluble Fe. Fe abundance in soils is usually set to 3.5% [1], and its solubility is considered to be less than 0.1% [2]. However, both observations and modeling studies suggest that the solubility of Fe from dust increases downwind of the sources [3]. A primary mechanism leading to this increase in Fe solubility is acidic (proton-promoted) dissolution. Low pH conditions in aerosol water favor Fe dissolution by weakening Fe-O bonds of Fe oxides in dust [4]. Other physical and chemical mechanisms that enhance Fe solubilization involve photochemical reduction and organic ligand (e.g., Oxalate) processing [5]. Modeling the global dust mineralogical co

Shallow-water hydrothermal vents are widespread, especially in the Mediterranean Sea, owing to the active volcanism of the area. Apart free microbial communities’ investigations, few biological studies have been leaded yet. Investigations of microbial communities associated with Nematoda, an ecologically important group in sediments, can help to improve our overall understanding of these ecosystems. We used a multidisciplinary-approach, based on microscopic observations (scanning electron microscopy: SEM and Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization: FISH) coupled with a molecular diversity analysis using metabarcoding, based on the 16S rRNA gene (V3-V4 region), to characterize the bacterial community of a free-living marine nematode and its environment, the shallow hydrothermal vent near Naples (Italy). Observations of living bacteria in the intestine (FISH), molecular and phylogenetic analyses showed that this species of nematode harbors its own bacterial community, distinct from the surrounding sediment and water. Metabarcoding results revealed the specific microbiomes of the sediment from three sites of this hydrothermal area to be composed mainly of sulfur oxidizing and reducing related bacteria.

Shallow-water hydrothermal vents are widespread, especially in the Mediterranean Sea, owing to the active volcanism of the area. Apart free microbial communities’ investigations, few biological studies have been leaded yet. Investigations of microbial communities associated with Nematoda, an ecologically important group in sediments, can help to improve our overall understanding of these ecosystems. We used a multidisciplinary-approach, based on microscopic observations (scanning electron microscopy: SEM and Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization: FISH) coupled with a molecular diversity analysis using metabarcoding, based on the 16S rRNA gene (V3-V4 region), to characterize the bacterial community of a free-living marine nematode and its environment, the shallow hydrothermal vent near Naples (Italy). Observations of living bacteria in the intestine (FISH), molecular and phylogenetic analyses showed that this species of nematode harbors its own bacterial community, distinct from the surrounding sediment and water. Metabarcoding results revealed the specific microbiomes of the sediment from three sites of this hydrothermal area to be composed mainly of sulfur oxidizing and reducing related bacteria.

Shallow-water hydrothermal vents are widespread, especially in the Mediterranean Sea, owing to the active volcanism of the area. Apart free microbial communities’ investigations, few biological studies have been leaded yet. Investigations of microbial communities associated with Nematoda, an ecologically important group in sediments, can help to improve our overall understanding of these ecosystems. We used a multidisciplinary-approach, based on microscopic observations (scanning electron microscopy: SEM and Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization: FISH) coupled with a molecular diversity analysis using metabarcoding, based on the 16S rRNA gene (V3-V4 region), to characterize the bacterial community of a free-living marine nematode and its environment, the shallow hydrothermal vent near Naples (Italy). Observations of living bacteria in the intestine (FISH), molecular and phylogenetic analyses showed that this species of nematode harbors its own bacterial community, distinct from the surrounding sediment and water. Metabarcoding results revealed the specific microbiomes of the sediment from three sites of this hydrothermal area to be composed mainly of sulfur oxidizing and reducing related bacteria.

Shallow-water hydrothermal vents are widespread, especially in the Mediterranean Sea, owing to the active volcanism of the area. Apart free microbial communities’ investigations, few biological studies have been leaded yet. Investigations of microbial communities associated with Nematoda, an ecologically important group in sediments, can help to improve our overall understanding of these ecosystems. We used a multidisciplinary-approach, based on microscopic observations (scanning electron microscopy: SEM and Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization: FISH) coupled with a molecular diversity analysis using metabarcoding, based on the 16S rRNA gene (V3-V4 region), to characterize the bacterial community of a free-living marine nematode and its environment, the shallow hydrothermal vent near Naples (Italy). Observations of living bacteria in the intestine (FISH), molecular and phylogenetic analyses showed that this species of nematode harbors its own bacterial community, distinct from the surrounding sediment and water. Metabarcoding results revealed the specific microbiomes of the sediment from three sites of this hydrothermal area to be composed mainly of sulfur oxidizing and reducing related bacteria.

The ocean’s biological pump is crucial for the carbon balance of the climate system, and the control of its three-dimensional“plumbing” on pump efficiency needed to be quantified. The nutrient cycles driving the biological pump are limited by dissolved iron (dFe). However, the iron cycle is poorly constrained, and the effects of iron source perturbations had never been quantified in a data-constrained model. In this thesis, we quantify the pathways and timescales of the biological pump, build an inverse model of the coupled phosphorus, silicon, and iron cycles, and explore the response of these cycles to changes in the aeolian iron supply.We use Green-function methods to show that the Southern Ocean (SO) is where (62±2)% of regenerated phosphate (PO4) reemerges after a mean sequestration time of 240±60yr. The pathways from productive regions to the SO contribute most to the biological pump, with a mean sequestration time of 130±70yr. Most PO4 is carried by abyssal paths with transit times exceeding 700yr, while ~1/3 of the regenerated PO4 from the equatorial Pacific that is destined for the SO is carried in Antarctic Intermediate Water.We use the model of the coupled nutrient cycles in inverse mode to objectively determine biogeochemical parameters by minimizing the mismatch with observed nutrient and phytoplankton concentrations. We generate a family of estimates, all consistent with the observations, for a wide range of iron source strengths, themselves not constrainable by current observations. The carbon and opal exports are well constrained in magnitude and pattern. We quantify the systematics of the carbon and opal exports supported by aeolian, hydrothermal, and sedimentary dFe and find that aeolian dFe is the most efficient for supporting production.The response to aeolian source perturbations is sensitive to the state of the iron cycle that is fitted to observations. A shutdown of the aeolian source does not completely untrap nutrients from the SO because se

Iron is a key micronutrient for marine biogeochemistry, limiting growth and nitrogen fixation in over a third of the ocean. However, the impacts of iron-binding ligands and iron source processes on dissolved iron distributions is not well known. The goal of this dissertation is to better understand the cycling of iron-binding ligands and the controls on their distributions and how that impacts dissolved iron. This dissertation also seeks to understand how individual iron sources influence iron distributions and biogeochemistry. To accomplish this, a new prognostic ligand tracer and iron-ligand speciation chemistry are incorporated into the Community Earth System Model (CESM). The CESM is now able to simulate realistic distributions of iron-binding ligands. The results show that with relatively few ligand sources and sinks the model was able to match observations of ligands, and that inclusion of a dynamic ligand tracer improves simulation of dissolved iron. To better understand the influence iron sources have on dissolved iron concentrations and biogeochemistry, sensitivity experiments for each source are conducted with the CESM. The results show that atmospheric dust and sedimentary iron inputs have the largest impact on dissolved iron concentrations and biogeochemistry. Hydrothermal vent inputs are important for deep ocean iron, and their inclusion in global biogeochemical ocean models would allow for more realistic iron simulation. This dissertation work also reevaluates the parameters governing the temperature influence on community phytoplankton growth rates. A dataset of in situ community phytoplankton growth rates was compiled and parameter values for the Q10 and Arrhenius models were optimized for use in global biogeochemical and ecosystem models. The results show and optimized Q10 value of 1.47 and an activation energy of 0.277 eV. Both the Q10 and Arrhenius models do equally well for estimating the temperature influence on community phytoplankton growth ra

Iron is a key micronutrient for marine biogeochemistry, limiting growth and nitrogen fixation in over a third of the ocean. However, the impacts of iron-binding ligands and iron source processes on dissolved iron distributions is not well known. The goal of this dissertation is to better understand the cycling of iron-binding ligands and the controls on their distributions and how that impacts dissolved iron. This dissertation also seeks to understand how individual iron sources influence iron distributions and biogeochemistry. To accomplish this, a new prognostic ligand tracer and iron-ligand speciation chemistry are incorporated into the Community Earth System Model (CESM). The CESM is now able to simulate realistic distributions of iron-binding ligands. The results show that with relatively few ligand sources and sinks the model was able to match observations of ligands, and that inclusion of a dynamic ligand tracer improves simulation of dissolved iron. To better understand the influence iron sources have on dissolved iron concentrations and biogeochemistry, sensitivity experiments for each source are conducted with the CESM. The results show that atmospheric dust and sedimentary iron inputs have the largest impact on dissolved iron concentrations and biogeochemistry. Hydrothermal vent inputs are important for deep ocean iron, and their inclusion in global biogeochemical ocean models would allow for more realistic iron simulation. This dissertation work also reevaluates the parameters governing the temperature influence on community phytoplankton growth rates. A dataset of in situ community phytoplankton growth rates was compiled and parameter values for the Q10 and Arrhenius models were optimized for use in global biogeochemical and ecosystem models. The results show and optimized Q10 value of 1.47 and an activation energy of 0.277 eV. Both the Q10 and Arrhenius models do equally well for estimating the temperature influence on community phytoplankton growth ra

Oxidation and reduction of iron can occur through abiotic (chemical) and biotic (microbial) processes. Abiotic iron oxidation is a function of pH and O2 concentration. Biotic iron oxidation is carried out by a diverse group of bacteria, using O2 or NO3 as terminal electron acceptors. At circumneutral pH, both processes occur at similar rates and compete with each other. Abiotic iron reduction is catalyzed by iron-sulfur minerals or different types of organic compounds, whereas biotic iron reduction is carried out by a diverse group of microorganisms, often using chemical agents to dissolve solid iron minerals. We used iron oxidizing microbial mats to assess the potential impact of microbial activity on the deposition of banded iron formations (BIF). The mats were collected during several years from experimental tanks connected to groundwater aquifers with different Fe2+ concentrations. To separate between biotic and abiotic iron oxidation, live and killed mats were incubated with 57Fe2+. Separate analyses of the water and solid phase revealed that the iron oxidation and reduction rates per mL of solid matter (biomass and iron precipitates) were 0.4-73 mmol L−1 d−1 and 30–280 mmol L−1 d−1, respectively. No significant differences in iron oxidation rates were observed between the live and killed samples. The iron reduction rates, however, were higher in the live samples in mats from 3 out of 4 environments. We suggest that in natural systems, in the presence of organic matter, biotic and abiotic iron oxidation and reduction are not separable processes. Fe2+ will be biotically and abiotically oxidized as well as bind to exposed charged groups of organic substances. Either way, this iron may serve as a nucleation matrix for further abiotic iron precipitation. The oxidized iron is then susceptible to iron reduction, which can likewise be a direct metabolic or an abiotic process. Nevertheless, it is important to note the significance of organic matter, since both the abio

Active hydrothermal chimneys host diverse microbial communities exhibiting various metabolisms including those involved in various biogeochemical cycles. To investigate microbe-mineral-fluid interactions in hydrothermal chimney and the driver of microbial diversity, a cultural approach using a gas-lift bioreactor was chosen. An enrichment culture was performed using crushed active chimney sample as inoculum and diluted hydrothermal fluid from the same vent as culture medium. Daily sampling provided time-series access to active microbial diversity and medium composition. Active archaeal and bacterial communities consisted mainly of sulfur, sulfate and iron reducers and hydrogen oxidizers with the detection of Thermococcus, Archaeoglobus, Geoglobus, Sulfurimonas and Thermotoga sequences. The simultaneous presence of active Geoglobus sp. and Archaeoglobus sp. argues against competition for available carbon sources and electron donors between sulfate and iron reducers at high temperature. This approach allowed the cultivation of microbial populations that were under-represented in the initial environmental sample. The microbial communities are heterogeneously distributed within the gas-lift bioreactor; it is unlikely that bulk mineralogy or fluid chemistry is the drivers of microbial community structure. Instead, we propose that micro-environmental niche characteristics, created by the interaction between the mineral grains and the fluid chemistry, are the main drivers of microbial diversity in natural systems., AuthorCount:10

The Iberian Pyrite Belt, located in Southwestern Spain, represents one of the world’s largest accumulations of mine wastes and acid mine drainages. This study reports the comparative microbial ecology of the water column of Nuestra Señora del Carmen acid pit lake with the extreme acidic Río Tinto basin. The canonical correspondence analysis identified members of the Leptospirillum, Acidiphilium, Metallibacterium, Acidithiobacillus, Ferrimicrobium and Acidisphaera genera as the most representative microorganisms of both ecosystems. The presence of archaeal members is scarce in both systems. Only sequences clustering with the Thermoplasmata have been retrieved in the bottom layer of Nuestra Señora del Carmen and one station of Río Tinto. Although the photosynthetically active radiation values measured in this lake upper layer were low, they were sufficient to activate photosynthesis in acidophilic microorganisms. All identified photosynthetic microorganisms in Nuestra Señora del Carmen (members of the Chlamydomonas, Zygnemopsis and Klebsormidium genera) are major members of the photosynthetic eukaryotic community characterized in Río Tinto basin. This study demonstrates a close relationship between the microbial diversity of Nuestra Señora del Carmen pit lake and the diversity detected in the Río Tinto basin, which underlain the influence of the shared mineral substrates in the microbial ecology of these ecosystems. [Int Microbiol 2014; 17(4):225-233]Keywords: iron cycle · acidic pit lakes · acidophilic microorganisms · Río Tinto · Iberian Pyrite Belt

The Iberian Pyrite Belt, located in Southwestern Spain, represents one of the world’s largest accumulations of mine wastes and acid mine drainages. This study reports the comparative microbial ecology of the water column of Nuestra Señora del Carmen acid pit lake with the extreme acidic Río Tinto basin. The canonical correspondence analysis identified members of the Leptospirillum, Acidiphilium, Metallibacterium, Acidithiobacillus, Ferrimicrobium and Acidisphaera genera as the most representative microorganisms of both ecosystems. The presence of archaeal members is scarce in both systems. Only sequences clustering with the Thermoplasmata have been retrieved in the bottom layer of Nuestra Señora del Carmen and one station of Río Tinto. Although the photosynthetically active radiation values measured in this lake upper layer were low, they were sufficient to activate photosynthesis in acidophilic microorganisms. All identified photosynthetic microorganisms in Nuestra Señora del Carmen (members of the Chlamydomonas, Zygnemopsis and Klebsormidium genera) are major members of the photosynthetic eukaryotic community characterized in Río Tinto basin. This study demonstrates a close relationship between the microbial diversity of Nuestra Señora del Carmen pit lake and the diversity detected in the Río Tinto basin, which underlain the influence of the shared mineral substrates in the microbial ecology of these ecosystems. [Int Microbiol 2014; 17(4):225-233]Keywords: iron cycle · acidic pit lakes · acidophilic microorganisms · Río Tinto · Iberian Pyrite Belt

Active hydrothermal chimney and sediments of the Guaymas Basin (Mexico) host various microbial communities with different metabolisms, including those involved in biogeochemical cycles of sulfur and iron. It is established that, in these dynamic ecosystems, microbial activity depends on the availability of substrates in their environment and that prokaryotes could, in return locally affect the composition of the hydrothermal fluid and mineralogical composition of the chimney or sediment, by mediating the dissolution and / or precipitation of some mineral phases. In order to study these prokaryotes-biotope interactions, and establish links between the structure, the activity and the isotopic signatures of microbial communities with the physico-chemical characteristics of hydrothermal systems of Guaymas Basin, a multidisciplinary approach based on the implementation of microbiology, geochemistry and isotope technics was performed using enrichment cultures in bioreactors and the study of the colonization of basaltic substrates. This work led to: 1) characterize the diversity of microorganisms in different hydrothermal compartments (chimney and sediments) of the Guaymas Basin using both cultural and molecular approaches; 2) to decrypt the functioning of sulfur and iron biogeochemical cycles, by highlighting the occurrence, at high temperature and anaerobic condition, of sulfur-reducing, sulfate-reducing, sulfur-oxidizing and also iron-reducing and iron-oxidizing prokaryotes ; and 3) to better understand the prokaryote-mineral-fluid interactions by pointing out the role of microorganisms in environmental condition changes, mineral precipitation and their direct or indirect role in iron and sulfur isotope fractionation. Thus these studies have demonstrated the importance of the cross-interactions between the different hydrothermal components: microbial communities, fluids (hydrothermal fluid, sediment pore water, sea water) and mineral structures., Les cheminées et sédiments hydrothermaux actifs du Bassin de Guaymas (Mexique) hébergent diverses communautés microbiennes présentant différents métabolismes, y compris ceux impliqués dans les cycles biogéochimiques du soufre et du fer. Il est établi, que, dans ces écosystèmes dynamiques, les micro-organismes qui dépendent pour leur croissance des substrats présents dans leur environnement pourraient à leur tour, affecter localement la composition du fluide hydrothermal et la minéralogie des cheminées, la composition des sédiments, en favorisant la dissolution et/ou la précipitation de certaines phases minérales. Pour étudier ces interactions procaryotes-biotopes, et établir des liens entre la structure, l’activité et les signatures isotopiques des communautés microbiennes et les caractéristiques physico-chimiques des systèmes hydrothermaux du Bassin de Guaymas, une approche pluridisciplinaire mettant en oeuvre des techniques de microbiologie, de géochimie et d’isotopie, lors des cultures d’enrichissements en bioréacteur et des études de colonisation de substrats basaltiques a été réalisée. Ces travaux ont permis : 1) de caractériser la diversité des micro-organismes de différents compartiments de l’écosystème hydrothermal (cheminée et sédiments) du Bassin de Guaymas par des approches culturales et moléculaires ; 2) de décrypter le fonctionnement des cycles biogéochimiques du soufre et du fer en mettant en évidence la présence simultanée, à haute température et en anaérobiose, de micro-organismes sulfo-réducteurs, sulfato-réducteurs, sulfo-oxydants mais également ferri-réducteurs et ferro-oxydants ; et 3) de mieux comprendre les interactions procaryotes-minéraux-fluide en soulignant le rôle des microorganismes dans la modification des conditions environnementales, la formation de minéraux ainsi que leur rôle direct ou indirect dans les fractionnements des isotopes du Fer et Soufre. Ces études ont donc permis de montrer l’importance des interactions croisées entre le

Active hydrothermal chimney and sediments of the Guaymas Basin (Mexico) host various microbial communities with different metabolisms, including those involved in biogeochemical cycles of sulfur and iron. It is established that, in these dynamic ecosystems, microbial activity depends on the availability of substrates in their environment and that prokaryotes could, in return locally affect the composition of the hydrothermal fluid and mineralogical composition of the chimney or sediment, by mediating the dissolution and / or precipitation of some mineral phases. In order to study these prokaryotes-biotope interactions, and establish links between the structure, the activity and the isotopic signatures of microbial communities with the physico-chemical characteristics of hydrothermal systems of Guaymas Basin, a multidisciplinary approach based on the implementation of microbiology, geochemistry and isotope technics was performed using enrichment cultures in bioreactors and the study of the colonization of basaltic substrates. This work led to: 1) characterize the diversity of microorganisms in different hydrothermal compartments (chimney and sediments) of the Guaymas Basin using both cultural and molecular approaches; 2) to decrypt the functioning of sulfur and iron biogeochemical cycles, by highlighting the occurrence, at high temperature and anaerobic condition, of sulfur-reducing, sulfate-reducing, sulfur-oxidizing and also iron-reducing and iron-oxidizing prokaryotes ; and 3) to better understand the prokaryote-mineral-fluid interactions by pointing out the role of microorganisms in environmental condition changes, mineral precipitation and their direct or indirect role in iron and sulfur isotope fractionation. Thus these studies have demonstrated the importance of the cross-interactions between the different hydrothermal components: microbial communities, fluids (hydrothermal fluid, sediment pore water, sea water) and mineral structures., Les cheminées et sédiments hydrothermaux actifs du Bassin de Guaymas (Mexique) hébergent diverses communautés microbiennes présentant différents métabolismes, y compris ceux impliqués dans les cycles biogéochimiques du soufre et du fer. Il est établi, que, dans ces écosystèmes dynamiques, les micro-organismes qui dépendent pour leur croissance des substrats présents dans leur environnement pourraient à leur tour, affecter localement la composition du fluide hydrothermal et la minéralogie des cheminées, la composition des sédiments, en favorisant la dissolution et/ou la précipitation de certaines phases minérales. Pour étudier ces interactions procaryotes-biotopes, et établir des liens entre la structure, l’activité et les signatures isotopiques des communautés microbiennes et les caractéristiques physico-chimiques des systèmes hydrothermaux du Bassin de Guaymas, une approche pluridisciplinaire mettant en oeuvre des techniques de microbiologie, de géochimie et d’isotopie, lors des cultures d’enrichissements en bioréacteur et des études de colonisation de substrats basaltiques a été réalisée. Ces travaux ont permis : 1) de caractériser la diversité des micro-organismes de différents compartiments de l’écosystème hydrothermal (cheminée et sédiments) du Bassin de Guaymas par des approches culturales et moléculaires ; 2) de décrypter le fonctionnement des cycles biogéochimiques du soufre et du fer en mettant en évidence la présence simultanée, à haute température et en anaérobiose, de micro-organismes sulfo-réducteurs, sulfato-réducteurs, sulfo-oxydants mais également ferri-réducteurs et ferro-oxydants ; et 3) de mieux comprendre les interactions procaryotes-minéraux-fluide en soulignant le rôle des microorganismes dans la modification des conditions environnementales, la formation de minéraux ainsi que leur rôle direct ou indirect dans les fractionnements des isotopes du Fer et Soufre. Ces études ont donc permis de montrer l’importance des interactions croisées entre le

Active hydrothermal chimney and sediments of the Guaymas Basin (Mexico) host various microbial communities with different metabolisms, including those involved in biogeochemical cycles of sulfur and iron. It is established that, in these dynamic ecosystems, microbial activity depends on the availability of substrates in their environment and that prokaryotes could, in return locally affect the composition of the hydrothermal fluid and mineralogical composition of the chimney or sediment, by mediating the dissolution and / or precipitation of some mineral phases. In order to study these prokaryotes-biotope interactions, and establish links between the structure, the activity and the isotopic signatures of microbial communities with the physico-chemical characteristics of hydrothermal systems of Guaymas Basin, a multidisciplinary approach based on the implementation of microbiology, geochemistry and isotope technics was performed using enrichment cultures in bioreactors and the study of the colonization of basaltic substrates. This work led to: 1) characterize the diversity of microorganisms in different hydrothermal compartments (chimney and sediments) of the Guaymas Basin using both cultural and molecular approaches; 2) to decrypt the functioning of sulfur and iron biogeochemical cycles, by highlighting the occurrence, at high temperature and anaerobic condition, of sulfur-reducing, sulfate-reducing, sulfur-oxidizing and also iron-reducing and iron-oxidizing prokaryotes ; and 3) to better understand the prokaryote-mineral-fluid interactions by pointing out the role of microorganisms in environmental condition changes, mineral precipitation and their direct or indirect role in iron and sulfur isotope fractionation. Thus these studies have demonstrated the importance of the cross-interactions between the different hydrothermal components: microbial communities, fluids (hydrothermal fluid, sediment pore water, sea water) and mineral structures., Les cheminées et sédiments hydrothermaux actifs du Bassin de Guaymas (Mexique) hébergent diverses communautés microbiennes présentant différents métabolismes, y compris ceux impliqués dans les cycles biogéochimiques du soufre et du fer. Il est établi, que, dans ces écosystèmes dynamiques, les micro-organismes qui dépendent pour leur croissance des substrats présents dans leur environnement pourraient à leur tour, affecter localement la composition du fluide hydrothermal et la minéralogie des cheminées, la composition des sédiments, en favorisant la dissolution et/ou la précipitation de certaines phases minérales. Pour étudier ces interactions procaryotes-biotopes, et établir des liens entre la structure, l’activité et les signatures isotopiques des communautés microbiennes et les caractéristiques physico-chimiques des systèmes hydrothermaux du Bassin de Guaymas, une approche pluridisciplinaire mettant en oeuvre des techniques de microbiologie, de géochimie et d’isotopie, lors des cultures d’enrichissements en bioréacteur et des études de colonisation de substrats basaltiques a été réalisée. Ces travaux ont permis : 1) de caractériser la diversité des micro-organismes de différents compartiments de l’écosystème hydrothermal (cheminée et sédiments) du Bassin de Guaymas par des approches culturales et moléculaires ; 2) de décrypter le fonctionnement des cycles biogéochimiques du soufre et du fer en mettant en évidence la présence simultanée, à haute température et en anaérobiose, de micro-organismes sulfo-réducteurs, sulfato-réducteurs, sulfo-oxydants mais également ferri-réducteurs et ferro-oxydants ; et 3) de mieux comprendre les interactions procaryotes-minéraux-fluide en soulignant le rôle des microorganismes dans la modification des conditions environnementales, la formation de minéraux ainsi que leur rôle direct ou indirect dans les fractionnements des isotopes du Fer et Soufre. Ces études ont donc permis de montrer l’importance des interactions croisées entre le

Active hydrothermal chimney and sediments of the Guaymas Basin (Mexico) host various microbial communities with different metabolisms, including those involved in biogeochemical cycles of sulfur and iron. It is established that, in these dynamic ecosystems, microbial activity depends on the availability of substrates in their environment and that prokaryotes could, in return locally affect the composition of the hydrothermal fluid and mineralogical composition of the chimney or sediment, by mediating the dissolution and / or precipitation of some mineral phases. In order to study these prokaryotes-biotope interactions, and establish links between the structure, the activity and the isotopic signatures of microbial communities with the physico-chemical characteristics of hydrothermal systems of Guaymas Basin, a multidisciplinary approach based on the implementation of microbiology, geochemistry and isotope technics was performed using enrichment cultures in bioreactors and the study of the colonization of basaltic substrates. This work led to: 1) characterize the diversity of microorganisms in different hydrothermal compartments (chimney and sediments) of the Guaymas Basin using both cultural and molecular approaches; 2) to decrypt the functioning of sulfur and iron biogeochemical cycles, by highlighting the occurrence, at high temperature and anaerobic condition, of sulfur-reducing, sulfate-reducing, sulfur-oxidizing and also iron-reducing and iron-oxidizing prokaryotes ; and 3) to better understand the prokaryote-mineral-fluid interactions by pointing out the role of microorganisms in environmental condition changes, mineral precipitation and their direct or indirect role in iron and sulfur isotope fractionation. Thus these studies have demonstrated the importance of the cross-interactions between the different hydrothermal components: microbial communities, fluids (hydrothermal fluid, sediment pore water, sea water) and mineral structures., Les cheminées et sédiments hydrothermaux actifs du Bassin de Guaymas (Mexique) hébergent diverses communautés microbiennes présentant différents métabolismes, y compris ceux impliqués dans les cycles biogéochimiques du soufre et du fer. Il est établi, que, dans ces écosystèmes dynamiques, les micro-organismes qui dépendent pour leur croissance des substrats présents dans leur environnement pourraient à leur tour, affecter localement la composition du fluide hydrothermal et la minéralogie des cheminées, la composition des sédiments, en favorisant la dissolution et/ou la précipitation de certaines phases minérales. Pour étudier ces interactions procaryotes-biotopes, et établir des liens entre la structure, l’activité et les signatures isotopiques des communautés microbiennes et les caractéristiques physico-chimiques des systèmes hydrothermaux du Bassin de Guaymas, une approche pluridisciplinaire mettant en oeuvre des techniques de microbiologie, de géochimie et d’isotopie, lors des cultures d’enrichissements en bioréacteur et des études de colonisation de substrats basaltiques a été réalisée. Ces travaux ont permis : 1) de caractériser la diversité des micro-organismes de différents compartiments de l’écosystème hydrothermal (cheminée et sédiments) du Bassin de Guaymas par des approches culturales et moléculaires ; 2) de décrypter le fonctionnement des cycles biogéochimiques du soufre et du fer en mettant en évidence la présence simultanée, à haute température et en anaérobiose, de micro-organismes sulfo-réducteurs, sulfato-réducteurs, sulfo-oxydants mais également ferri-réducteurs et ferro-oxydants ; et 3) de mieux comprendre les interactions procaryotes-minéraux-fluide en soulignant le rôle des microorganismes dans la modification des conditions environnementales, la formation de minéraux ainsi que leur rôle direct ou indirect dans les fractionnements des isotopes du Fer et Soufre. Ces études ont donc permis de montrer l’importance des interactions croisées entre le

Density differences are the key parameter for stratification stability. We used data from the iron-meromictic Waldsee, Germany, a lignite mine pit lake, to quantify the contribution of single solutes to water density and analyzed the density gradient. Iron meromictic lakes maintain their density gradient through chemical reactions. Hence, quantifying the contributions of separate solutes is essential for understanding the entire process. Based on solute concentrations and literature values of partial molal volumes, substance specific density contributions were quantitatively evaluated. Then, by direct measurements of the density of IHSS Waskish peat fulvic acid, we quantified the density contribution of dissolved organic carbon (DOC). While several solutes contributed to the density throughout the water column, only those substances that occurred at higher concentrations in the anoxic monimolimnion than in the oxic mixolimnion were crucial to sustaining the density difference between the two layers. In Waldsee, the density difference between monimolimnion and mixolimnion was attributed to dissolved Fe2+ (0.23 g/L, resulting in a 45 % of the density difference due to solutes) and to the carbonate system (HCO3 −, about 0.16 g/L and CO2, 0.03 g/L) while Ca2+ and DOC delivered only a small contribution. In summer, total density differences were dominated by temperature differences; during winter, solutes sustained meromixis. Finally, we present a complete list of specific density fractions for basically all of the density-relevant substances in fresh waters. Dichteunterschiede sind der wichtigste Faktor für die Stabilität von Schichtungen in Seen. Wir verwendeten Daten des eisenmeromiktischen Waldsees, eines Braunkohletagebausees, um den Beitrag einzelner gelöster Stoffe zur Dichte des Wassers sowie deren Beitrag zum Dichtegradienten zu bestimmen. In eisenmeromiktischen Seen wird der Dichtegradient durch interne chemische Reaktionen a

The recent geomicrobiological characterization of Río Tinto, Iberian Pyrite Belt (IPB), has proven the importance of the iron cycle, not only in generating the extreme conditions of the habitat (low pH, high concentration of toxic heavy metals) but also in maintaining the high level of microbial diversity, both prokaryotic and eukaryotic, detected in the water column and the sediments. The extreme conditions of the Tinto basin are not the product of industrial contamination but the consequence of the presence of an underground bioreactor that obtains its energy from the massive sulfide minerals of the IPB. To test this hypothesis, a drilling project was carried out to intersect ground waters that interact with the mineral ore in order to provide evidence of subsurface microbial activities and the potential resources to support these activities. The oxidants that drive the system appear to come from the rock matrix, contradicting conventional acid mine drainage models. These resources need only groundwater to launch microbial metabolism. There are several similarities between the vast deposits of sulfates and iron oxides on Mars and the main sulfide-containing iron bioleaching products found in the Tinto. Firstly, the short-lived methane detected both in Mars' atmosphere and in the sediments and subsurface of the IPB and secondly, the abundance of iron, common to both. The physicochemical properties of iron make it a source of energy, a shield against radiation and oxidative stress as well as a natural pH controller. These similarities have led to Río Tinto's status as a Mars terrestrial analogue.

Author Posting. © American Geophysical Union, 2004. This article is posted here by permission of American Geophysical Union for personal use, not for redistribution. The definitive version was published in Global Biogeochemical Cycles 18 (2004): GB4028, doi:10.1029/2004GB002220., A global three-dimensional marine ecosystem model with several key phytoplankton functional groups, multiple limiting nutrients, explicit iron cycling, and a mineral ballast/organic matter parameterization is run within a global ocean circulation model. The coupled biogeochemistry/ecosystem/circulation (BEC) model reproduces known basin-scale patterns of primary and export production, biogenic silica production, calcification, chlorophyll, macronutrient and dissolved iron concentrations. The model captures observed high nitrate, low chlorophyll (HNLC) conditions in the Southern Ocean, subarctic and equatorial Pacific. Spatial distributions of nitrogen fixation are in general agreement with field data, with total N-fixation of 55 Tg N. Diazotrophs directly account for a small fraction of primary production (0.5%) but indirectly support 10% of primary production and 8% of sinking particulate organic carbon (POC) export. Diatoms disproportionately contribute to export of POC out of surface waters, but CaCO3 from the coccolithophores is the key driver of POC flux to the deep ocean in the model. An iron source from shallow ocean sediments is found critical in preventing iron limitation in shelf regions, most notably in the Arctic Ocean, but has a relatively localized impact. In contrast, global-scale primary production, export production, and nitrogen fixation are all sensitive to variations in atmospheric mineral dust inputs. The residence time for dissolved iron in the upper ocean is estimated to be a few years to a decade. Most of the iron utilized by phytoplankton is from subsurface sources supplied by mixing, entrainment, and ocean circulation. However, owing to the short residence time of iron in the upper ocean, this subsurface iron pool is critically dependent on continual replenishment from atmospheric dust deposition and, to a lesser extent, lateral transport from shelf regions., This work was funded by NSF grant OCE-0222033 and the National Center for Atmospheric Research.

Author Posting. © American Geophysical Union, 2004. This article is posted here by permission of American Geophysical Union for personal use, not for redistribution. The definitive version was published in Global Biogeochemical Cycles 18 (2004): GB4028, doi:10.1029/2004GB002220., A global three-dimensional marine ecosystem model with several key phytoplankton functional groups, multiple limiting nutrients, explicit iron cycling, and a mineral ballast/organic matter parameterization is run within a global ocean circulation model. The coupled biogeochemistry/ecosystem/circulation (BEC) model reproduces known basin-scale patterns of primary and export production, biogenic silica production, calcification, chlorophyll, macronutrient and dissolved iron concentrations. The model captures observed high nitrate, low chlorophyll (HNLC) conditions in the Southern Ocean, subarctic and equatorial Pacific. Spatial distributions of nitrogen fixation are in general agreement with field data, with total N-fixation of 55 Tg N. Diazotrophs directly account for a small fraction of primary production (0.5%) but indirectly support 10% of primary production and 8% of sinking particulate organic carbon (POC) export. Diatoms disproportionately contribute to export of POC out of surface waters, but CaCO3 from the coccolithophores is the key driver of POC flux to the deep ocean in the model. An iron source from shallow ocean sediments is found critical in preventing iron limitation in shelf regions, most notably in the Arctic Ocean, but has a relatively localized impact. In contrast, global-scale primary production, export production, and nitrogen fixation are all sensitive to variations in atmospheric mineral dust inputs. The residence time for dissolved iron in the upper ocean is estimated to be a few years to a decade. Most of the iron utilized by phytoplankton is from subsurface sources supplied by mixing, entrainment, and ocean circulation. However, owing to the short residence time of iron in the upper ocean, this subsurface iron pool is critically dependent on continual replenishment from atmospheric dust deposition and, to a lesser extent, lateral transport from shelf regions., This work was funded by NSF grant OCE-0222033 and the National Center for Atmospheric Research.

The geomicrobiological characterization of the Río Tinto (Iberian Pyritic Belt) has recently proven the importance of the iron cycle, not only in the generation of the extreme conditions of the habitat (low pH, high concentration of heavy metals), but also in the maintenance of a high level of microbial diversity. The presence of vast deposits of sulfates and iron oxides on Mars, the main products of the bioleaching of iron containing sulfides found in Río Tinto, and the physico-chemical properties of iron as a source of energy, protection from radiation and oxidative stress as well as pH control, make Río Tinto an interesting Mars terrestrial analog.