Bacterial Iron Oxidation in Circumneutral Freshwater Habitats: Findings from the Field and the Laboratory

Emerson, David; Weiss, Johanna V.

doi:10.1080/01490450490485881

Cited by 166 publications

(141 citation statements)

References 48 publications

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“…These ditches and puddles have a blackish-to-gray sediment covered with large masses of ochre-colored flocculent material overlain by a layer of clear water, with an iridescent film at the water surface. This phenomenon has been described in other freshwater wetlands and bogs (Emerson and Revsbech, 1994;Emerson and Weiss, 2004). The ochre-colored masses indicate the presence of natural iron seeps and result from precipitation of large quantities of iron hydroxide by 'iron bacteria' in places where ferrous iron-rich anoxic water reaches oxygenated zones (Emerson and Revsbech, 1994).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 67%

“…Microorganisms that are most commonly associated with these specific neutrophilic, iron-rich habitats are Gallionella ferruginae and Leptothrix species (Emerson and Revsbech, 1994;Carlile and Dudeney, 2000;Emerson and Weiss, 2004). The presence of these two types of organisms in natural environments is often based only on observation of their typical morphological features.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Bacteria associated with iron seeps in a sulfur-rich, neutral pH, freshwater ecosystem

et al. 2008

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The freshwater nature reserve De Bruuk is an iron-and sulfur-rich minerotrophic peatland containing many iron seeps and forms a suitable habitat for iron and sulfur cycle bacteria. Analysis of 16S rRNA gene-based clone libraries showed a striking correlation of the bacterial population of samples from this freshwater ecosystem with the processes of iron reduction (genus Geobacter), iron oxidation (genera Leptothrix and Gallionella) and sulfur oxidation (genus Sulfuricurvum).Results from fluorescence in situ hybridization analyses with a probe specific for the beta-1 subgroup of Proteobacteria, to which the genera Leptothrix and Gallionella belong, and newly developed probes specific for the genera Geobacter and Sulfuricurvum, supported the clone library data. Molecular data suggested members of the epsilonproteobacterial genus Sulfuricurvum as contributors to the oxidation of reduced sulfur compounds in the iron seeps of De Bruuk. In an evaluation of anaerobic dimethyl sulfide (DMS)-degrading activity of sediment, incubations with the electron acceptors sulfate, ferric iron and nitrate were performed. The fastest conversion of DMS was observed with nitrate. Further, a DMS-oxidizing, nitrate-reducing enrichment culture was established with sediment material from De Bruuk. This culture was dominated by dimorphic, prosthecate bacteria, and the 16S rRNA gene sequence obtained from this enrichment was closely affiliated with Hyphomicrobium facile, which indicates that the Hyphomicrobium species are capable of both aerobic and nitrate-driven DMS degradation.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 67%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bacteria associated with iron seeps in a sulfur-rich, neutral pH, freshwater ecosystem

et al. 2008

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“…For example, two iconic FeOB are sheath-forming Leptothrix ochracea and stalk-forming Gallionella ferruginea, which produce iron-encrusted sheaths and stalks, respectively, both of which are easily recognized by light microscopy. Iron mats impact the local environment by increasing the tortuosity of water flow, and the oxides provide a large reactive surface area for the sorption of other metals, phosphates, and dissolved organic matter (7,8). As a result, iron mats have the capacity to influence the local water chemistry, extending the influence of these microbes beyond their immediate environment.…”

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confidence: 99%

Microbial Iron Oxidation in the Arctic Tundra and Its Implications for Biogeochemical Cycling

Emerson

Scott

Beneš

et al. 2015

Appl Environ Microbiol

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The role that neutrophilic iron-oxidizing bacteria play in the Arctic tundra is unknown. This study surveyed chemosynthetic iron-oxidizing communities at the North Slope of Alaska near Toolik Field Station (TFS) at Toolik Lake (lat 68.63, long ؊149.60). Microbial iron mats were common in submerged habitats with stationary or slowly flowing water, and their greatest areal extent is in coating plant stems and sediments in wet sedge meadows. Some Fe-oxidizing bacteria (FeOB) produce easily recognized sheath or stalk morphotypes that were present and dominant in all the mats we observed. The cool water temperatures (9 to 11°C) and reduced pH (5.0 to 6.6) at all sites kinetically favor microbial iron oxidation. A microbial survey of five sites based on 16S rRNA genes found a predominance of Proteobacteria, with Betaproteobacteria and members of the family Comamonadaceae being the most prevalent operational taxonomic units (OTUs). In relative abundance, clades of lithotrophic FeOB composed 5 to 10% of the communities. OTUs related to cyanobacteria and chloroplasts accounted for 3 to 25% of the communities. Oxygen profiles showed evidence for oxygenic photosynthesis at the surface of some mats, indicating the coexistence of photosynthetic and FeOB populations. The relative abundance of OTUs belonging to putative Fe-reducing bacteria (FeRB) averaged around 11% in the sampled iron mats. Mats incubated anaerobically with 10 mM acetate rapidly initiated Fe reduction, indicating that active iron cycling is likely. The prevalence of iron mats on the tundra might impact the carbon cycle through lithoautotrophic chemosynthesis, anaerobic respiration of organic carbon coupled to iron reduction, and the suppression of methanogenesis, and it potentially influences phosphorus dynamics through the adsorption of phosphorus to iron oxides. The Arctic tundra biome is fascinating in its own right and has the potential to be heavily affected by changes in climate associated with increased atmospheric CO 2 concentrations and global warming. One of the most dramatic impacts is likely to be a change in the dynamics of permanently frozen soils (permafrost) as overall temperatures rise and the shoulder seasons of thaw and freeze-up expand (1-3). Understanding the biogeochemical implications of climate change in the Arctic is important, in part because relative to its total landmass area, permafrost stores an outsized fraction of organic carbon (4). The fate of that carbon, especially the portion that is mineralized to CO 2 and/or methane, has the potential to impact further climate change through the release of greenhouse gases. Understanding the range of biogeochemical processes in the Arctic and how they impact the carbon cycle, either directly or indirectly, is thus of vital importance.In general, the microbial iron cycle in the Arctic tundra is poorly understood. Only in the past few years have studies started to investigate the reductive aspects of the iron cycle, which have shown that Fe-reducing bacteria can account for a large fracti...

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“…However, Fe is the third most abundant metal found in the soil (Spark, 1995), and Feoxidizing bacteria are not rare (Emerson et al, 1999;Emerson & Weiss, 2004;James & Ferris, 2004). Thus, this method can be applicable in many places, provided suitable aquatic conditions supporting the growth of Fe-oxidizing bacteria (low concentration of oxygen and circumneutral pH) are available.…”

Section: Possible Further Applicationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…2). The essential compounds in this sediment are biogenic Fe oxides produced by microaerobic Fe-oxidizing bacteria (Emerson et al, 1999;Emerson & Weiss, 2004;James & Ferris, 2004) and this ferric substance in the sediment can adsorb P in a similar manner to abiotic P adsorbents of ferric compounds (Boujelben et al, 2008;Persson et al, 1996;Seida & Nakano, 2002;Zeng et al, 2004). Therefore, biogenic Fe oxides in nature are considered as one of the P resources.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Recycling of Phosphorus Resources in Agricultural Areas Using Woody Biomass and Biogenic Iron Oxides

Takeda¹

2011

Biomass - Detection, Production and Usage

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Bacterial Iron Oxidation in Circumneutral Freshwater Habitats: Findings from the Field and the Laboratory

Cited by 166 publications

References 48 publications

Bacteria associated with iron seeps in a sulfur-rich, neutral pH, freshwater ecosystem

Bacteria associated with iron seeps in a sulfur-rich, neutral pH, freshwater ecosystem

Microbial Iron Oxidation in the Arctic Tundra and Its Implications for Biogeochemical Cycling

Recycling of Phosphorus Resources in Agricultural Areas Using Woody Biomass and Biogenic Iron Oxides

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