The geomicrobiology of CO2 geosequestration: a focused review on prokaryotic community responses to field-scale CO2 injection

Abstract

Our primary research paper (Mu et al., 2014) demonstrated selective changes to a deep subsurface prokaryotic community as a result of CO2 stress. Analyzing geochemical and microbial 16S rRNA gene profiles, we evaluated how in situ prokaryotic communities responded to increased CO2 and the presence of trace organic compounds, and related temporal shifts in phylogeny to changes in metabolic potential. In this focused review, we extend upon our previous discussion to present analysis of taxonomic unit co-occurrence profiles from the same field experiment, to attempt to describe dynamic community behavior within the deep subsurface. Understanding the physiology of the subsurface microbial biosphere, including how key functional groups integrate into the community, will be critical to determining the fate of injected CO2. For example, community-wide network analyses may provide insights to whether microbes cooperatively produce biofilm biomass, and/or biomineralize the CO2, and hence, induce changes to formation porosity or changes in electron flow. Furthermore, we discuss potential impacts to the feasibility of subsurface CO2 storage of selectively enriching for particular metabolic functions (e.g., methanogenesis) as a result of CO2 injection.

Restructuring of Epibacterial Communities on Fucus vesiculosus forma mytili in Response to Elevated pCO2 and Increased Temperature Levels

“…This might be due to the fact that the majority of all environmental bacteria are known to have broader growth ranges with pH optima between pH 6 and 8 (Clark et al, 2009 ), thus they might be able to adapt to rapidly changing pH fluctuations. Moreover, it has been hypothesized by Mu and Moreau ( 2015 ) that biofilms exhibit larger tolerance to CO 2 stress, which might explain the limited impact of the p CO 2 treatment on the F. mytili biofilm community.…”

Isolation and characterization of a CO2-tolerant Lactobacillus strain from Crystal Geyser, Utah, U.S.A.

“…Because recharge to Crystal Geyser may be seasonal, the microbial community of the site is likely dynamic and this could explain why CG-1 was not detected by Emerson et al (2015). Nevertheless, the detection and cultivation of CG-1 validates the findings of Morozova et al (2011), Mu et al (2014, Emerson et al (2015), Mu and Moreau (2015) showing that organisms present in CO 2 environments are viable and can potentially impact geochemistry.…”

“…Other field studies have also been performed at CO 2 injection sites, all examining microbial community profiles using molecular techniques (Morozova et al, 2011;Mu et al, 2014;Mu and Moreau, 2015) and showing that microbial community changes will occur as a result of CO 2 perturbation into the subsurface sytem.…”

Subsurface carbon monoxide oxidation capacity revealed through genome-resolved metagenomics of a carboxydotroph

“…CO-oxidation is 213 likely maintained by microbes other than anaerobic carboxydotrophs, such as those 214 using molybdenum containing CO oxidoreductase enzymes (Rajagopalan, 1984;King 215 and Weber, 2007). This observed switch in CO-oxidation potential, rather than a 216 complete loss of function within the aquifer community, implies that sulfate-reducing 217 bacteria and methanogens would have sufficient H2 to sustain physiological function 218 (Mu and Moreau, 2015). Furthermore, few aerobic carboxydotrophs have been 219 documented in thermophilic environments (King and Weber, 2007); therefore, our 220 findings extend the range of geological environments for aerobic This study offers insights for future in vitro studies of pure culture and mixed consortia 223 responses to scCO2.…”