New publication in PNAS

07.12.2020

"Geochemical transition zone powering microbial growth in subsurface sediments"

New publication in PNAS, co-authored by Christa Schleper and Sophie Abby:

"Geochemical transition zone powering microbial growth in subsurface sediments"

Significance:

The marine sedimentary subsurface is a vast and inhospitable ecosystem, often described as a place where microbes “race to their death,” as microbial cells are buried and available energy is severely diminished with increasing depth/age. By combining a variety of biogeochemical and molecular methods to describe the energetics and genetics of the bacteria specialized in anaerobic ammonium oxidation, we show that despite prolonged exposure to highly unfavorable conditions for tens of thousands of years, these bacteria exhibit remarkable net population growth when reaching their niche: the nitrate–ammonium transition zone. This common, yet understudied, geochemical transition zone represents an oasis in the sedimentary energetic desert, and the growth it supports is of major importance for the global nitrogen cycle.

 

Original paper:

PNAS, DOI:10.1073/pnas.2005917117

Geochemical transition zone powering microbial growth in subsurface sediments

Rui Zhao, José M. Mogollón, Sophie S. Abby, Christa Schleper, Jennifer F. Biddle, Desiree L. Roerdink, Ingunn H. Thorseth, Steffen L. Jørgensen

 

Full article: Geochemical transition zone powering microbial growth in subsurface sediments | PNAS