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Microbial Stimulation and Succession following a Test Well Injection Simulating CO₂ Leakage into a Shallow Newark Basin Aquifer
- Source :
- PLoS ONE, PLoS ONE, Vol 10, Iss 1, p e0117812 (2015)
- Publication Year :
- 2015
- Publisher :
- Public Library of Science, 2015.
-
Abstract
- In addition to efforts aimed at reducing anthropogenic production of greenhouse gases, geological storage of CO2 is being explored as a strategy to reduce atmospheric greenhouse gas emission and mitigate climate change. Previous studies of the deep subsurface in North America have not fully considered the potential negative effects of CO2 leakage into shallow drinking water aquifers, especially from a microbiological perspective. A test well in the Newark Rift Basin was utilized in two field experiments to investigate patterns of microbial succession following injection of CO2-saturated water into an isolated aquifer interval, simulating a CO2 leakage scenario. A decrease in pH following injection of CO2 saturated aquifer water was accompanied by mobilization of trace elements (e.g. Fe and Mn), and increased bacterial cell concentrations in the recovered water. 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequence libraries from samples collected before and after the test well injection were compared to link variability in geochemistry to changes in aquifer microbiology. Significant changes in microbial composition, compared to background conditions, were found following the test well injections, including a decrease in Proteobacteria, and an increased presence of Firmicutes, Verrucomicrobia and microbial taxa often noted to be associated with iron and sulfate reduction. The concurrence of increased microbial cell concentrations and rapid microbial community succession indicate significant changes in aquifer microbial communities immediately following the experimental CO2 leakage event. Samples collected one year post-injection were similar in cell number to the original background condition and community composition, although not identical, began to revert toward the pre-injection condition, indicating microbial resilience following a leakage disturbance. This study provides a first glimpse into the in situ successional response of microbial communities to CO2 leakage after subsurface injection in the Newark Basin and the potential microbiological impact of CO2 leakage on drinking water resources.
- Subjects :
- Geological Phenomena
Iron
New York
lcsh:Medicine
Aquifer
Soil science
Ecological succession
Bacterial Adhesion
chemistry.chemical_compound
Sulfate
lcsh:Science
Groundwater
Phylogeny
geography
Multidisciplinary
geography.geographical_feature_category
Bacteria
Ecology
Sulfates
lcsh:R
Biogeochemistry
Correction
Sequence Analysis, DNA
FOS: Earth and related environmental sciences
Water--Microbiology
Water resources
Aquifers
Geochemistry
chemistry
Microbial population biology
Carbon dioxide
Environmental science
lcsh:Q
Methane
Oxidation-Reduction
Hydrogen
Research Article
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 19326203
- Volume :
- 10
- Issue :
- 1
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- PLoS ONE
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....d43fe4afb0f45b0f77a10154a0808d76