Fossil organic carbon utilization in marine Arctic fjord sediments by subsurface micro-organisms
Rock-derived or petrogenic organic carbon has traditionally been regarded as being non-bioavailable and bypassing the active carbon cycle when eroded. However, it has become apparent that this organic carbon might not be so inert, especially in fjord systems where petrogenic organic carbon influxes...
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Nature Research
2023
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ftoceanrep:oai:oceanrep.geomar.de:59793 2024-02-11T09:59:39+01:00 Fossil organic carbon utilization in marine Arctic fjord sediments by subsurface micro-organisms Ruben, Manuel Hefter, Jens Schubotz, Florence Geibert, Walter Butzin, Martin Gentz, Torben Grotheer, Hendrik Forwick, Matthias Szczuciński, Witold Mollenhauer, Gesine 2023-07-01 text https://oceanrep.geomar.de/id/eprint/59793/ https://oceanrep.geomar.de/id/eprint/59793/1/s41561-023-01198-z.pdf https://doi.org/10.1038/s41561-023-01198-z en eng Nature Research https://oceanrep.geomar.de/id/eprint/59793/1/s41561-023-01198-z.pdf Ruben, M., Hefter, J., Schubotz, F., Geibert, W., Butzin, M., Gentz, T., Grotheer, H., Forwick, M., Szczuciński, W. and Mollenhauer, G. (2023) Fossil organic carbon utilization in marine Arctic fjord sediments by subsurface micro-organisms. Open Access Nature Geoscience, 16 (7). pp. 625-630. DOI 10.1038/s41561-023-01198-z <https://doi.org/10.1038/s41561-023-01198-z>. doi:10.1038/s41561-023-01198-z cc_by_4.0 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess Article PeerReviewed 2023 ftoceanrep https://doi.org/10.1038/s41561-023-01198-z 2024-01-22T00:22:40Z Rock-derived or petrogenic organic carbon has traditionally been regarded as being non-bioavailable and bypassing the active carbon cycle when eroded. However, it has become apparent that this organic carbon might not be so inert, especially in fjord systems where petrogenic organic carbon influxes can be high, making its degradation another potential source of greenhouse gas emissions. The extent to which subsurface micro-organisms use this organic carbon is not well constrained, despite its potential impacts on global carbon cycling. Here, we performed compound-specific radiocarbon analyses on intact polar lipid–fatty acids of live micro-organisms from marine sediments in Hornsund Fjord, Svalbard. By this means, we estimate that local bacterial communities utilize between 5 ± 2% and 55 ± 6% (average of 25 ± 16%) of petrogenic organic carbon for their biosynthesis, providing evidence for the important role of petrogenic organic carbon as a substrate after sediment redeposition. We hypothesize that the lack of sufficient recently synthesized organic carbon from primary production forces micro-organisms into utilization of petrogenic organic carbon as an alternative energy source. The input of petrogenic organic carbon to marine sediments and subsequent utilization by subsurface micro-organisms represents a natural source of fossil greenhouse gas emissions over geological timescales. Article in Journal/Newspaper Arctic Arctic Hornsund Svalbard OceanRep (GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre für Ocean Research Kiel) Arctic Hornsund ENVELOPE(15.865,15.865,76.979,76.979) Svalbard Nature Geoscience 16 7 625 630 |
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Open Polar |
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OceanRep (GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre für Ocean Research Kiel) |
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ftoceanrep |
language |
English |
description |
Rock-derived or petrogenic organic carbon has traditionally been regarded as being non-bioavailable and bypassing the active carbon cycle when eroded. However, it has become apparent that this organic carbon might not be so inert, especially in fjord systems where petrogenic organic carbon influxes can be high, making its degradation another potential source of greenhouse gas emissions. The extent to which subsurface micro-organisms use this organic carbon is not well constrained, despite its potential impacts on global carbon cycling. Here, we performed compound-specific radiocarbon analyses on intact polar lipid–fatty acids of live micro-organisms from marine sediments in Hornsund Fjord, Svalbard. By this means, we estimate that local bacterial communities utilize between 5 ± 2% and 55 ± 6% (average of 25 ± 16%) of petrogenic organic carbon for their biosynthesis, providing evidence for the important role of petrogenic organic carbon as a substrate after sediment redeposition. We hypothesize that the lack of sufficient recently synthesized organic carbon from primary production forces micro-organisms into utilization of petrogenic organic carbon as an alternative energy source. The input of petrogenic organic carbon to marine sediments and subsequent utilization by subsurface micro-organisms represents a natural source of fossil greenhouse gas emissions over geological timescales. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Ruben, Manuel Hefter, Jens Schubotz, Florence Geibert, Walter Butzin, Martin Gentz, Torben Grotheer, Hendrik Forwick, Matthias Szczuciński, Witold Mollenhauer, Gesine |
spellingShingle |
Ruben, Manuel Hefter, Jens Schubotz, Florence Geibert, Walter Butzin, Martin Gentz, Torben Grotheer, Hendrik Forwick, Matthias Szczuciński, Witold Mollenhauer, Gesine Fossil organic carbon utilization in marine Arctic fjord sediments by subsurface micro-organisms |
author_facet |
Ruben, Manuel Hefter, Jens Schubotz, Florence Geibert, Walter Butzin, Martin Gentz, Torben Grotheer, Hendrik Forwick, Matthias Szczuciński, Witold Mollenhauer, Gesine |
author_sort |
Ruben, Manuel |
title |
Fossil organic carbon utilization in marine Arctic fjord sediments by subsurface micro-organisms |
title_short |
Fossil organic carbon utilization in marine Arctic fjord sediments by subsurface micro-organisms |
title_full |
Fossil organic carbon utilization in marine Arctic fjord sediments by subsurface micro-organisms |
title_fullStr |
Fossil organic carbon utilization in marine Arctic fjord sediments by subsurface micro-organisms |
title_full_unstemmed |
Fossil organic carbon utilization in marine Arctic fjord sediments by subsurface micro-organisms |
title_sort |
fossil organic carbon utilization in marine arctic fjord sediments by subsurface micro-organisms |
publisher |
Nature Research |
publishDate |
2023 |
url |
https://oceanrep.geomar.de/id/eprint/59793/ https://oceanrep.geomar.de/id/eprint/59793/1/s41561-023-01198-z.pdf https://doi.org/10.1038/s41561-023-01198-z |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(15.865,15.865,76.979,76.979) |
geographic |
Arctic Hornsund Svalbard |
geographic_facet |
Arctic Hornsund Svalbard |
genre |
Arctic Arctic Hornsund Svalbard |
genre_facet |
Arctic Arctic Hornsund Svalbard |
op_relation |
https://oceanrep.geomar.de/id/eprint/59793/1/s41561-023-01198-z.pdf Ruben, M., Hefter, J., Schubotz, F., Geibert, W., Butzin, M., Gentz, T., Grotheer, H., Forwick, M., Szczuciński, W. and Mollenhauer, G. (2023) Fossil organic carbon utilization in marine Arctic fjord sediments by subsurface micro-organisms. Open Access Nature Geoscience, 16 (7). pp. 625-630. DOI 10.1038/s41561-023-01198-z <https://doi.org/10.1038/s41561-023-01198-z>. doi:10.1038/s41561-023-01198-z |
op_rights |
cc_by_4.0 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41561-023-01198-z |
container_title |
Nature Geoscience |
container_volume |
16 |
container_issue |
7 |
container_start_page |
625 |
op_container_end_page |
630 |
_version_ |
1790595448695685120 |