ABSTRACT
Many physical and chemical processes control the extent of Fe(III) oxyhydroxide reduction by dissimilatory Fe(III)-reducing bacteria. The surface precipitation of secondary Fe minerals on Fe(III) oxyhydroxides limits the extent of microbial Fe(III) reduction, but this phenomenon has not yet been observed in nature. This paper reports the observation of secondary Fe-mineral (goethite) encrustation on ferrihydrite surface within freshwater sediment up to 10 cm deep. The sediment surface was characterized by the predominance of ferrihydrites with biogenic stalks and sheaths. An Fe(II)-oxidizing bacterium (Gallionellaceae) was detected by 16S rRNA gene analysis at sediment depths of 1 and 2 cm. Fe(2+) concentration in the sediment pore water was relatively higher at 2-4 cm depths. The 16S rRNA genes affiliated with dissimilatory Fe(III)-reducing bacteria were detected at 1, 2, and 4 cm depths. The results of the Fe K-edge extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) analysis suggested the presence of goethite and siderite at depths below 3 cm. However, the change in the Fe-mineral composition was restricted to sediment depths between 3 and 4 cm, despite the presence of abundant ferrihydrite at depths below 4 cm. An increase in CH4 concentration was observed at deeper than 6 cm. Stable isotopic analysis of CH4 in the pore water indicated that acetoclastic CH4 occurred at depths below 7 cm. Transmission electron microscope observations suggested the presence of goethite and siderite on stalks and sheaths at depths below 3 cm. Results from conversion electron yield EXAFS analysis suggested that goethite dominated at 10 cm depth, thereby indicating that ferrihydrite was encrusted by goethite at this depth. Moreover, the incomplete reduction of ferrihydrite below depths of 4 cm was not due to the lack of organic carbon, but was possibly due to the surface encrustation of goethite on ferrihydrite.
Subject(s)
Archaea/isolation & purification , Bacteria/isolation & purification , Ferric Compounds/metabolism , Geologic Sediments/chemistry , Geologic Sediments/microbiology , Iron Compounds/chemistry , Minerals/chemistry , Archaea/classification , Archaea/metabolism , Bacteria/classification , Bacteria/metabolism , Cluster Analysis , DNA, Bacterial/chemistry , DNA, Bacterial/genetics , DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry , DNA, Ribosomal/genetics , Fresh Water , Oxidation-Reduction , Phylogeny , RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics , Sequence Analysis, DNA , X-Ray Absorption SpectroscopyABSTRACT
Microbial life inhabits deeply buried marine sediments, but the extent of this vast ecosystem remains poorly constrained. Here we provide evidence for the existence of microbial communities in ~40° to 60°C sediment associated with lignite coal beds at ~1.5 to 2.5 km below the seafloor in the Pacific Ocean off Japan. Microbial methanogenesis was indicated by the isotopic compositions of methane and carbon dioxide, biomarkers, cultivation data, and gas compositions. Concentrations of indigenous microbial cells below 1.5 km ranged from <10 to ~10(4) cells cm(-3). Peak concentrations occurred in lignite layers, where communities differed markedly from shallower subseafloor communities and instead resembled organotrophic communities in forest soils. This suggests that terrigenous sediments retain indigenous community members tens of millions of years after burial in the seabed.
