Iron phosphate precipitation by epilithic microbial biofilms in Arctic Canada
On Ellesmere Island, in the Canadian Arctic, dark-colored biofilms proliferate on moist surfaces, including exposed granodiorite outcrops. Transmission electron microscopy of these biofilms indicates that complex epilithic microbial communities developed, consisting of cyanobacteria and fungi symbio...
Published in: | Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences |
---|---|
Main Authors: | , , , , |
Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
Language: | English |
Published: |
Canadian Science Publishing
1994
|
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/e94-114 http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/e94-114 |
id |
crcansciencepubl:10.1139/e94-114 |
---|---|
record_format |
openpolar |
spelling |
crcansciencepubl:10.1139/e94-114 2024-09-15T18:04:47+00:00 Iron phosphate precipitation by epilithic microbial biofilms in Arctic Canada Konhauser, K. O. Fyfe, W. S. Schultze-Lam, S. Ferris, F. G. Beveridge, T. J. 1994 http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/e94-114 http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/e94-114 en eng Canadian Science Publishing http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/page/about/CorporateTextAndDataMining Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences volume 31, issue 8, page 1320-1324 ISSN 0008-4077 1480-3313 journal-article 1994 crcansciencepubl https://doi.org/10.1139/e94-114 2024-07-04T04:10:01Z On Ellesmere Island, in the Canadian Arctic, dark-colored biofilms proliferate on moist surfaces, including exposed granodiorite outcrops. Transmission electron microscopy of these biofilms indicates that complex epilithic microbial communities developed, consisting of cyanobacteria and fungi symbiotically associated in a lichen, along with a consortium of free-living algae and gram-negative bacteria. The epilithic cyanobacteria and bacteria were shown to extensively precipitate phosphatic minerals, ranging from relatively large polyphosphate granules (approximately 250 nm in diameter) within their cytoplasmic membranes to smaller iron phosphate grains (generally less than 50 nm in diameter) associated with the periplasmic space and encompassing capsule. Complete encrustation of some bacterial cells by the iron phosphates was observed. Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy suggested that these grains are compositionally similar to the mineral strengite (FePO 4∙ 2H 2 O). This study clearly indicates that the Arctic supports a thriving microbial community that influences the biogeochemical cycling of PO 4 in an environment of low nutrient availability. Nutritional requirements by the microorganisms were actively maintained through a relatively closed recycling mechanism, which restricted the immediate loss of phosphorus from the biofilm. Article in Journal/Newspaper Ellesmere Island Canadian Science Publishing Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences 31 8 1320 1324 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Canadian Science Publishing |
op_collection_id |
crcansciencepubl |
language |
English |
description |
On Ellesmere Island, in the Canadian Arctic, dark-colored biofilms proliferate on moist surfaces, including exposed granodiorite outcrops. Transmission electron microscopy of these biofilms indicates that complex epilithic microbial communities developed, consisting of cyanobacteria and fungi symbiotically associated in a lichen, along with a consortium of free-living algae and gram-negative bacteria. The epilithic cyanobacteria and bacteria were shown to extensively precipitate phosphatic minerals, ranging from relatively large polyphosphate granules (approximately 250 nm in diameter) within their cytoplasmic membranes to smaller iron phosphate grains (generally less than 50 nm in diameter) associated with the periplasmic space and encompassing capsule. Complete encrustation of some bacterial cells by the iron phosphates was observed. Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy suggested that these grains are compositionally similar to the mineral strengite (FePO 4∙ 2H 2 O). This study clearly indicates that the Arctic supports a thriving microbial community that influences the biogeochemical cycling of PO 4 in an environment of low nutrient availability. Nutritional requirements by the microorganisms were actively maintained through a relatively closed recycling mechanism, which restricted the immediate loss of phosphorus from the biofilm. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Konhauser, K. O. Fyfe, W. S. Schultze-Lam, S. Ferris, F. G. Beveridge, T. J. |
spellingShingle |
Konhauser, K. O. Fyfe, W. S. Schultze-Lam, S. Ferris, F. G. Beveridge, T. J. Iron phosphate precipitation by epilithic microbial biofilms in Arctic Canada |
author_facet |
Konhauser, K. O. Fyfe, W. S. Schultze-Lam, S. Ferris, F. G. Beveridge, T. J. |
author_sort |
Konhauser, K. O. |
title |
Iron phosphate precipitation by epilithic microbial biofilms in Arctic Canada |
title_short |
Iron phosphate precipitation by epilithic microbial biofilms in Arctic Canada |
title_full |
Iron phosphate precipitation by epilithic microbial biofilms in Arctic Canada |
title_fullStr |
Iron phosphate precipitation by epilithic microbial biofilms in Arctic Canada |
title_full_unstemmed |
Iron phosphate precipitation by epilithic microbial biofilms in Arctic Canada |
title_sort |
iron phosphate precipitation by epilithic microbial biofilms in arctic canada |
publisher |
Canadian Science Publishing |
publishDate |
1994 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/e94-114 http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/e94-114 |
genre |
Ellesmere Island |
genre_facet |
Ellesmere Island |
op_source |
Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences volume 31, issue 8, page 1320-1324 ISSN 0008-4077 1480-3313 |
op_rights |
http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/page/about/CorporateTextAndDataMining |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1139/e94-114 |
container_title |
Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences |
container_volume |
31 |
container_issue |
8 |
container_start_page |
1320 |
op_container_end_page |
1324 |
_version_ |
1810442387416154112 |