Phototrophic microbes form endolithic biofilms in ikaite tufa columns (SW Greenland)
Summary Marine tufa‐columns, formed by the hydrated carbonate mineral ikaite, present a unique alkaline microbial habitat only found in Ikka Fjord (SW‐Greenland). The outermost parts of the ikaite columns exhibit a multitude of physico‐chemical gradients, and the porous ikaite is colonized by endoli...
Published in: | Environmental Microbiology |
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crwiley:10.1111/1462-2920.13940 2024-06-23T07:53:17+00:00 Phototrophic microbes form endolithic biofilms in ikaite tufa columns (SW Greenland) Trampe, Erik Castenholz, Richard W. Larsen, Jens E. N. Kühl, Michael Carlsberg Foundation 2017 http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/1462-2920.13940 https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1111%2F1462-2920.13940 http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/wol1/doi/10.1111/1462-2920.13940/fullpdf en eng Wiley http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor Environmental Microbiology volume 19, issue 11, page 4754-4770 ISSN 1462-2912 1462-2920 journal-article 2017 crwiley https://doi.org/10.1111/1462-2920.13940 2024-06-04T06:42:11Z Summary Marine tufa‐columns, formed by the hydrated carbonate mineral ikaite, present a unique alkaline microbial habitat only found in Ikka Fjord (SW‐Greenland). The outermost parts of the ikaite columns exhibit a multitude of physico‐chemical gradients, and the porous ikaite is colonized by endolithic phototrophic biofilms serving as a substrate for grazing epifauna, where scraping by sea urchins affects overall column‐topography. We present a detailed study of the optical microenvironment, spatial organization, and photosynthetic activity of endolithic phototrophs within the porous ikaite crystal matrix. Cyanobacteria and diatoms formed distinctly coloured zones and were closely associated with ikaite‐crystals via excretion of exopolymers. Scalar‐irradiance measurements showed strong attenuation of visible light (400–700 nm), where only ∼1% of incident irradiance remained at 20 mm depth. Transmission spectra showed in vivo absorption signatures of diatom and cyanobacterial photopigments, which were confirmed by HPLC‐analysis. Variable‐chlorophyll‐fluorescence‐imaging showed active photosynthesis with high‐light acclimation in the outer diatom layer, and low‐light acclimation in the underlying cyanobacterial part. Phototrophs in ikaite thus thrive in polymer‐bound endolithic biofilms in a complex gradient microhabitat experiencing constant slow percolation of highly alkaline phosphate‐enriched spring water mixing with cold seawater at the tufa‐column‐apex. We discuss the potential role of these biofilms in ikaite column formation. Article in Journal/Newspaper Greenland Wiley Online Library Greenland Ikka ENVELOPE(-48.100,-48.100,61.150,61.150) Environmental Microbiology 19 11 4754 4770 |
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Open Polar |
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Wiley Online Library |
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crwiley |
language |
English |
description |
Summary Marine tufa‐columns, formed by the hydrated carbonate mineral ikaite, present a unique alkaline microbial habitat only found in Ikka Fjord (SW‐Greenland). The outermost parts of the ikaite columns exhibit a multitude of physico‐chemical gradients, and the porous ikaite is colonized by endolithic phototrophic biofilms serving as a substrate for grazing epifauna, where scraping by sea urchins affects overall column‐topography. We present a detailed study of the optical microenvironment, spatial organization, and photosynthetic activity of endolithic phototrophs within the porous ikaite crystal matrix. Cyanobacteria and diatoms formed distinctly coloured zones and were closely associated with ikaite‐crystals via excretion of exopolymers. Scalar‐irradiance measurements showed strong attenuation of visible light (400–700 nm), where only ∼1% of incident irradiance remained at 20 mm depth. Transmission spectra showed in vivo absorption signatures of diatom and cyanobacterial photopigments, which were confirmed by HPLC‐analysis. Variable‐chlorophyll‐fluorescence‐imaging showed active photosynthesis with high‐light acclimation in the outer diatom layer, and low‐light acclimation in the underlying cyanobacterial part. Phototrophs in ikaite thus thrive in polymer‐bound endolithic biofilms in a complex gradient microhabitat experiencing constant slow percolation of highly alkaline phosphate‐enriched spring water mixing with cold seawater at the tufa‐column‐apex. We discuss the potential role of these biofilms in ikaite column formation. |
author2 |
Carlsberg Foundation |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Trampe, Erik Castenholz, Richard W. Larsen, Jens E. N. Kühl, Michael |
spellingShingle |
Trampe, Erik Castenholz, Richard W. Larsen, Jens E. N. Kühl, Michael Phototrophic microbes form endolithic biofilms in ikaite tufa columns (SW Greenland) |
author_facet |
Trampe, Erik Castenholz, Richard W. Larsen, Jens E. N. Kühl, Michael |
author_sort |
Trampe, Erik |
title |
Phototrophic microbes form endolithic biofilms in ikaite tufa columns (SW Greenland) |
title_short |
Phototrophic microbes form endolithic biofilms in ikaite tufa columns (SW Greenland) |
title_full |
Phototrophic microbes form endolithic biofilms in ikaite tufa columns (SW Greenland) |
title_fullStr |
Phototrophic microbes form endolithic biofilms in ikaite tufa columns (SW Greenland) |
title_full_unstemmed |
Phototrophic microbes form endolithic biofilms in ikaite tufa columns (SW Greenland) |
title_sort |
phototrophic microbes form endolithic biofilms in ikaite tufa columns (sw greenland) |
publisher |
Wiley |
publishDate |
2017 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/1462-2920.13940 https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1111%2F1462-2920.13940 http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/wol1/doi/10.1111/1462-2920.13940/fullpdf |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(-48.100,-48.100,61.150,61.150) |
geographic |
Greenland Ikka |
geographic_facet |
Greenland Ikka |
genre |
Greenland |
genre_facet |
Greenland |
op_source |
Environmental Microbiology volume 19, issue 11, page 4754-4770 ISSN 1462-2912 1462-2920 |
op_rights |
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1111/1462-2920.13940 |
container_title |
Environmental Microbiology |
container_volume |
19 |
container_issue |
11 |
container_start_page |
4754 |
op_container_end_page |
4770 |
_version_ |
1802644865875443712 |