Provenances, distribution, and accumulation of organic matter in the southern Mariana Trench rim and slope: Implication for carbon cycle and burial in hadal trenches

Luo, Min; Gieskes, Joris M.; Chen, Linying; Shi, Xuefa; Chen, Duofu

doi:10.1016/j.margeo.2017.02.012

Cited by 88 publications

(88 citation statements)

References 56 publications

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“…Although it is not possible to unambiguously identify the origin of organic matter, stable carbon isotope of total organic matter has been used as an indicator of carbon sources and biogeochemical cycling in trench settings (Luo et al, ). Several studies have taken into account organic matter potential sources from the extreme hadal environments including (1) terrestrial transport, (2) photoautotrophic primary production in the ocean surface, and (3) in situ chemoautotrophic carbon fixation (Burd et al, ; Gallo et al, ; Plümper et al, ; Tarn et al, ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Several studies have taken into account organic matter potential sources from the extreme hadal environments including (1) terrestrial transport, (2) photoautotrophic primary production in the ocean surface, and (3) in situ chemoautotrophic carbon fixation (Burd et al, ; Gallo et al, ; Plümper et al, ; Tarn et al, ). It is important to note that δ 13 C and C/N values together are able to differentiate between terrestrial and marine phytoplanktonic sources of organic matter (Luo et al, ). Organic matter of marine origin characteristically have δ 13 C values of −22‰ to −18‰ and molar C/N ratios of 5 to 10, whereas terrestrial organic matter have δ 13 C values of −28‰ to −25‰ and molar C/N ratios of 20–100 (Khan et al, ; Luo et al, ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It is important to note that δ 13 C and C/N values together are able to differentiate between terrestrial and marine phytoplanktonic sources of organic matter (Luo et al, ). Organic matter of marine origin characteristically have δ 13 C values of −22‰ to −18‰ and molar C/N ratios of 5 to 10, whereas terrestrial organic matter have δ 13 C values of −28‰ to −25‰ and molar C/N ratios of 20–100 (Khan et al, ; Luo et al, ). However, Coffin et al () suggested that δ 13 C of organic matter in estuarine sediments recycling by microbes ranged from −27‰ to −12‰.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Distributions and Sources of Glycerol Dialkyl Glycerol Tetraethers in Sediment Cores From the Mariana Subduction Zone

Peng

et al. 2019

JGR Biogeosciences

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Glycerol dialkyl glycerol tetraethers (GDGTs) are ubiquitously found in marine sediments.However, their presence, distributions, and sources in the subduction zone are not fully understood. We investigated isoprenoidal GDGTs (isoGDGTs) and branched GDGTs (brGDGTs) in two sediment cores from the southern and northern subduction plates of Mariana Trench, respectively. IsoGDGTs and brGDGTs exhibited covariation in most sediment samples, and total GDGT concentrations reached a maximum at the subsurface sediment depth~10 cm. Concentrations of isoGDGTs and brGDGTs were clearly elevated at depths of~10 and~45 cm. These indicated that microbial activities potentially influenced the production of the specific membrane lipids of archaea and bacteria. We found that the branched and isoprenoid tetraether index and R b/i values increased with depth profiles of the Mariana subduction zone, suggesting that deeper sediments likely hosted more brGDGT-producing bacteria than crenarchaeol-producing archaea. The extremely high abundance of cyclopentyl rings in brGDGTs was determined in subsurface sediments. We further proposed that most of the brGDGTs in sediments were produced in situ in the Mariana subduction zone. This study highlights that the extremophilic microbial communities of the Mariana subduction zone may represent a significant component of the global carbon cycle.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Distributions and Sources of Glycerol Dialkyl Glycerol Tetraethers in Sediment Cores From the Mariana Subduction Zone

Peng

et al. 2019

JGR Biogeosciences

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“…These landslides cause downward transportation of surface sediments along with relatively fresh OM via the funnel effect of trench geomorphology [7–11]. Moreover, higher sedimentation rates and concentrations of subseafloor organic compounds in trench bottom sediments compared to neighboring abyssal sediments have been reported in multiple trench regions under oligotrophic and eutrophic oceans [4, 11–14]. Therefore, the intrinsic organic carbon sources in hadal zones are considered to facilitate establishment of distinctive faunal and prokaryotic biospheres observed at global scales [15–19].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Microbial community and geochemical analyses of trans-trench sediments for understanding the roles of hadal environments

Hiraoka

Hirai

Matsui

et al. 2019

Preprint

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32Hadal trench bottom (>6,000 m below sea level) sediments harbor higher microbial cell abundance 33 compared to adjacent abyssal plain sediments. This is supported by the accumulation of sedimentary organic 34 matter (OM), facilitated by trench topography. However, the distribution of benthic microbes in different 35 trench systems has not been explored yet. Here, we carried out small subunit ribosomal RNA gene tag 36 sequencing for 92 sediment subsamples of seven abyssal and seven hadal sediment cores collected from three 37 trench regions in the northwest Pacific Ocean: the Japan, and Mariana Trenches. 38 Tag-sequencing analyses showed specific distribution patterns of several phyla associated with oxygen and 39 nitrate. The community structure was distinct between abyssal and hadal sediments, following geographic 40 locations and factors represented by sediment depth. Co-occurrence network revealed six potential prokaryotic 41 consortiums that covaried across regions. Our results further support that the endogenous OM cycle is driven 42 by hadal currents and/or rapid burial shapes microbial community structures at trench bottom sites, in addition 43 to vertical deposition from the surface ocean. Our trans-trench analysis highlights intra-and inter-trench 44 distributions of microbial assemblages and geochemistry in surface seafloor sediments, providing novel 45 insights into ultra-deep-sea microbial ecology, one of the last frontiers on our planet. 46 48The abyssal plain extends from the continental slope to the rim of deep trenches (3,000-6,000 m 49 below sea level [mbsl]) and covers 85% of the global seafloor area, while the hadal zone (>6,000 mbsl) 50 comprises 1-2% of it [1, 2]. In general, abyssal water and sediments are usually oligotrophic, and physical and 51 chemical conditions (e.g., salinity, temperature, dissolved oxygen, and nutrient concentrations) in hadal water 52 are similar to the overlying abyssal water despite the higher hydrostatic pressure [1-3]. However, cell 53 abundance and microbial carbon turnover rates are significantly higher at hadal compared to abyssal seafloors, 54 especially below the sediment surface, while microbial abundance in surface sediments are sometimes 55 comparable between hadal and abyssal sites [4]. This could be attributed to factors apart from differences in 56 the vertical downward flux of sinking organic matter (OM) from the ocean surface and hydrostatic pressure. 57Hadal zones are generally located in oceanic trenches that are formed along plate boundaries by 58 movement of oceanic plates, and thus experience episodic and/or regular landslides [5, 6]. These landslides 59 cause downward transportation of surface sediments along with relatively fresh OM via the funnel effect of 60 trench geomorphology [7][8][9][10][11]. Moreover, higher sedimentation rates and concentrations of subseafloor 61 organic compounds in trench bottom sediments compared to neighboring abyssal sediments have been 62 reported in multiple trench regions under oligotrophic and eutroph...

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“…The POM in the surface sediments of the southern Mariana Trench and Cariaco Trench has been shown to be mainly derived from marine phytoplankton (Galimov, ; Luo et al, ). This is in stark contrast to the New Britain Trench area where the sedimentary POM was primarily sourced from the soil organic matter and marine phytoplankton in addition to some minor contribution terrigenous C 3 vascular plants.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sources, Degradation, and Transport of Organic Matter in the New Britain Shelf‐Trench Continuum, Papua New Guinea

et al. 2019

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Hadal trenches are considered as depocenters for organic matter and hotspots for microbial diagenetic activity. Here, we explore the sources, degradation, and transport of organic matter in the shelf‐trench continuum using seven short sediment cores collected along two transects with water depths ranging between 1,553 and 8,901 m in the New Britain Trench area, Papua New Guinea. Carbon isotopic compositions (δ13C) and radiocarbon contents (Δ14C) of sedimentary organic matter accompanied by total organic carbon/total nitrogen ratios suggest an important contribution from the preaged soil organic matter mixed by the marine algae and terrigenous C3 vascular plants. In addition, the trench axis sites are characterized by elevated accumulation of terrigenous organic materials. Rates of organic matter mineralization approximated by dissolved inorganic carbon fluxes at the sediment‐water interface reveal an approximately threefold higher rate at the trench axis sites than the abyssal sites. 210Pbxs profiles and burial of carbonate (up to 50%) at both trench axis sites reflect recent occurrence of mass‐wasting events possibly induced by earthquakes, which is responsible for the transport of preaged, terrigenous organic matter to the trench bottom. This tectonically triggered deposition event, which was also shown to occur in the Japan Trench, the Tonga Trench, and probably in many other trenches, is likely to efficiently transport terrigenous organic matter to hadal trenches, thereby underpinning the importance of terrigenous organic matter burial in hadal trenches for the ocean organic carbon budget. Furthermore, we hypothesize that hadal trenches may host a distinct microbial community that is capable of feeding on old, refractory terrigenous organic matter.

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Provenances, distribution, and accumulation of organic matter in the southern Mariana Trench rim and slope: Implication for carbon cycle and burial in hadal trenches

Cited by 88 publications

References 56 publications

Distributions and Sources of Glycerol Dialkyl Glycerol Tetraethers in Sediment Cores From the Mariana Subduction Zone

Distributions and Sources of Glycerol Dialkyl Glycerol Tetraethers in Sediment Cores From the Mariana Subduction Zone

Microbial community and geochemical analyses of trans-trench sediments for understanding the roles of hadal environments

Sources, Degradation, and Transport of Organic Matter in the New Britain Shelf‐Trench Continuum, Papua New Guinea

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