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Geochemical processes and chemosynthetic primary production in different thiotrophic mats of the Hakon Mosby Mud Volcano (Barents Sea)

Geochemical processes and chemosynthetic primary production in different thiotrophic mats of the Hakon Mosby Mud Volcano (Barents Sea)
Geochemical processes and chemosynthetic primary production in different thiotrophic mats of the Hakon Mosby Mud Volcano (Barents Sea)
We have investigated if in a cold seep methane or sulfide is used for chemosynthetic primary production and if
significant amounts of the sulfide produced by anaerobic oxidation of methane are oxidized geochemically and
hence are not available for chemosynthetic production. Geochemically controlled redox reactions and biological
turnover were compared in different habitats of the Ha°kon Mosby Mud Volcano. The center of the mud volcano
is characterized by the highest fluid flow, and most primary production by the microbial community depends on
oxidation of methane. The small amount of sulfide produced is oxidized geochemically with oxygen or is
precipitated with dissolved iron. In the medium flow peripheral Beggiatoa habitat sulfide is largely oxidized
biologically. The oxygen and nitrate supply is high enough that Beggiatoa can oxidize the sulfide completely, and
chemical sulfide oxidation or precipitation is not important. An internally stored nitrate reservoir with average
concentrations of 110 mmol L21 enables the Beggiatoa to oxidize sulfide anaerobically. The pH profile indicates
sequential sulfide oxidation with elemental sulfur as an intermediate. Gray thiotrophic mats associated with
perturbed sediments showed a high heterogeneity in sulfate turnover and high sulfide fluxes, balanced by the
opposing oxygen and nitrate fluxes so that biological oxidation dominates over geochemical sulfide removal
processes. The three habitats indicate substantial small-scale variability in carbon fixation pathways, either
through direct biological use of methane or through indirect carbon fixation of methane-derived carbon dioxide
by chemolithotrophic sulfide oxidation.
0024-3590
931-949
Lichtschlag, Anna
be1568d9-cc63-4f85-bd38-a93dfd7e245f
Felden, Janine
0cefb58d-7227-48b6-a97d-f9f890ef3837
Bruchert, Volker
55f02e5e-6a21-46b4-9550-1ecbf501122a
Boetius, Antje
7d9c9e50-85b5-4f14-a07c-18957419a015
de Beer, Dirk
cb8d8130-86eb-4ecb-9496-41543e1fe536
Lichtschlag, Anna
be1568d9-cc63-4f85-bd38-a93dfd7e245f
Felden, Janine
0cefb58d-7227-48b6-a97d-f9f890ef3837
Bruchert, Volker
55f02e5e-6a21-46b4-9550-1ecbf501122a
Boetius, Antje
7d9c9e50-85b5-4f14-a07c-18957419a015
de Beer, Dirk
cb8d8130-86eb-4ecb-9496-41543e1fe536

Lichtschlag, Anna, Felden, Janine, Bruchert, Volker, Boetius, Antje and de Beer, Dirk (2010) Geochemical processes and chemosynthetic primary production in different thiotrophic mats of the Hakon Mosby Mud Volcano (Barents Sea). Limnology and Oceanography, 55 (2), 931-949. (doi:10.4319/lo.2010.55.2.0931).

Record type: Article

Abstract

We have investigated if in a cold seep methane or sulfide is used for chemosynthetic primary production and if
significant amounts of the sulfide produced by anaerobic oxidation of methane are oxidized geochemically and
hence are not available for chemosynthetic production. Geochemically controlled redox reactions and biological
turnover were compared in different habitats of the Ha°kon Mosby Mud Volcano. The center of the mud volcano
is characterized by the highest fluid flow, and most primary production by the microbial community depends on
oxidation of methane. The small amount of sulfide produced is oxidized geochemically with oxygen or is
precipitated with dissolved iron. In the medium flow peripheral Beggiatoa habitat sulfide is largely oxidized
biologically. The oxygen and nitrate supply is high enough that Beggiatoa can oxidize the sulfide completely, and
chemical sulfide oxidation or precipitation is not important. An internally stored nitrate reservoir with average
concentrations of 110 mmol L21 enables the Beggiatoa to oxidize sulfide anaerobically. The pH profile indicates
sequential sulfide oxidation with elemental sulfur as an intermediate. Gray thiotrophic mats associated with
perturbed sediments showed a high heterogeneity in sulfate turnover and high sulfide fluxes, balanced by the
opposing oxygen and nitrate fluxes so that biological oxidation dominates over geochemical sulfide removal
processes. The three habitats indicate substantial small-scale variability in carbon fixation pathways, either
through direct biological use of methane or through indirect carbon fixation of methane-derived carbon dioxide
by chemolithotrophic sulfide oxidation.

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Published date: 2010
Organisations: Marine Geoscience

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 342678
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/342678
ISSN: 0024-3590
PURE UUID: 650b8ba8-d93a-4045-a651-7e5b6f7039c1

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Date deposited: 12 Sep 2012 11:02
Last modified: 14 Mar 2024 11:55

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Contributors

Author: Anna Lichtschlag
Author: Janine Felden
Author: Volker Bruchert
Author: Antje Boetius
Author: Dirk de Beer

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