Viable cold-tolerant iron-reducing microorganisms in geographically diverse subglacial environments

Subglacial environments are known to harbour metabolically diverse microbial communities. These microbial communities drive chemical weathering of underlying bedrock and influence the geochemistry of glacial meltwater. Despite its importance in weathering reactions, the microbial cycling of iron in...

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Published in:Biogeosciences
Main Authors: Nixon, Sophie L., Telling, Jon P., Wadham, Jemma L., Cockell, Charles S.
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: 2017
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/1983/6c118591-441f-4e2e-b070-5f2d5c32730c
https://research-information.bris.ac.uk/en/publications/6c118591-441f-4e2e-b070-5f2d5c32730c
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-14-1445-2017
https://research-information.bris.ac.uk/ws/files/119649555/Full_text_PDF_final_published_version_.pdf
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spelling ftubristolcris:oai:research-information.bris.ac.uk:publications/6c118591-441f-4e2e-b070-5f2d5c32730c 2024-04-28T08:00:02+00:00 Viable cold-tolerant iron-reducing microorganisms in geographically diverse subglacial environments Nixon, Sophie L. Telling, Jon P. Wadham, Jemma L. Cockell, Charles S. 2017-03-21 application/pdf https://hdl.handle.net/1983/6c118591-441f-4e2e-b070-5f2d5c32730c https://research-information.bris.ac.uk/en/publications/6c118591-441f-4e2e-b070-5f2d5c32730c https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-14-1445-2017 https://research-information.bris.ac.uk/ws/files/119649555/Full_text_PDF_final_published_version_.pdf eng eng https://research-information.bris.ac.uk/en/publications/6c118591-441f-4e2e-b070-5f2d5c32730c info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess Nixon , S L , Telling , J P , Wadham , J L & Cockell , C S 2017 , ' Viable cold-tolerant iron-reducing microorganisms in geographically diverse subglacial environments ' , Biogeosciences , vol. 14 , no. 6 , pp. 1445-1455 . https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-14-1445-2017 article 2017 ftubristolcris https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-14-1445-2017 2024-04-10T00:01:20Z Subglacial environments are known to harbour metabolically diverse microbial communities. These microbial communities drive chemical weathering of underlying bedrock and influence the geochemistry of glacial meltwater. Despite its importance in weathering reactions, the microbial cycling of iron in subglacial environments, in particular the role of microbial iron reduction, is poorly understood. In this study we address the prevalence of viable iron-reducing microorganisms in subglacial sediments from five geographically isolated glaciers. Iron-reducing enrichment cultures were established with sediment from beneath Engabreen (Norway), Finsterwalderbreen (Svalbard), Leverett and Russell glaciers (Greenland), and Lower Wright Glacier (Antarctica). Rates of iron reduction were higher at 4 °C compared with 15 °C in all but one duplicated second-generation enrichment culture, indicative of cold-tolerant and perhaps cold-adapted iron reducers. Analysis of bacterial 16S rRNA genes indicates Desulfosporosinus were the dominant iron-reducing microorganisms in low-temperature Engabreen, Finsterwalderbreen and Lower Wright Glacier enrichments, and Geobacter dominated in Russell and Leverett enrichments. Results from this study suggest microbial iron reduction is widespread in subglacial environments and may have important implications for global biogeochemical iron cycling and export to marine ecosystems. Article in Journal/Newspaper Antarc* Antarctica glacier glacier glacier Greenland Svalbard University of Bristol: Bristol Research Biogeosciences 14 6 1445 1455
institution Open Polar
collection University of Bristol: Bristol Research
op_collection_id ftubristolcris
language English
description Subglacial environments are known to harbour metabolically diverse microbial communities. These microbial communities drive chemical weathering of underlying bedrock and influence the geochemistry of glacial meltwater. Despite its importance in weathering reactions, the microbial cycling of iron in subglacial environments, in particular the role of microbial iron reduction, is poorly understood. In this study we address the prevalence of viable iron-reducing microorganisms in subglacial sediments from five geographically isolated glaciers. Iron-reducing enrichment cultures were established with sediment from beneath Engabreen (Norway), Finsterwalderbreen (Svalbard), Leverett and Russell glaciers (Greenland), and Lower Wright Glacier (Antarctica). Rates of iron reduction were higher at 4 °C compared with 15 °C in all but one duplicated second-generation enrichment culture, indicative of cold-tolerant and perhaps cold-adapted iron reducers. Analysis of bacterial 16S rRNA genes indicates Desulfosporosinus were the dominant iron-reducing microorganisms in low-temperature Engabreen, Finsterwalderbreen and Lower Wright Glacier enrichments, and Geobacter dominated in Russell and Leverett enrichments. Results from this study suggest microbial iron reduction is widespread in subglacial environments and may have important implications for global biogeochemical iron cycling and export to marine ecosystems.
format Article in Journal/Newspaper
author Nixon, Sophie L.
Telling, Jon P.
Wadham, Jemma L.
Cockell, Charles S.
spellingShingle Nixon, Sophie L.
Telling, Jon P.
Wadham, Jemma L.
Cockell, Charles S.
Viable cold-tolerant iron-reducing microorganisms in geographically diverse subglacial environments
author_facet Nixon, Sophie L.
Telling, Jon P.
Wadham, Jemma L.
Cockell, Charles S.
author_sort Nixon, Sophie L.
title Viable cold-tolerant iron-reducing microorganisms in geographically diverse subglacial environments
title_short Viable cold-tolerant iron-reducing microorganisms in geographically diverse subglacial environments
title_full Viable cold-tolerant iron-reducing microorganisms in geographically diverse subglacial environments
title_fullStr Viable cold-tolerant iron-reducing microorganisms in geographically diverse subglacial environments
title_full_unstemmed Viable cold-tolerant iron-reducing microorganisms in geographically diverse subglacial environments
title_sort viable cold-tolerant iron-reducing microorganisms in geographically diverse subglacial environments
publishDate 2017
url https://hdl.handle.net/1983/6c118591-441f-4e2e-b070-5f2d5c32730c
https://research-information.bris.ac.uk/en/publications/6c118591-441f-4e2e-b070-5f2d5c32730c
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-14-1445-2017
https://research-information.bris.ac.uk/ws/files/119649555/Full_text_PDF_final_published_version_.pdf
genre Antarc*
Antarctica
glacier
glacier
glacier
Greenland
Svalbard
genre_facet Antarc*
Antarctica
glacier
glacier
glacier
Greenland
Svalbard
op_source Nixon , S L , Telling , J P , Wadham , J L & Cockell , C S 2017 , ' Viable cold-tolerant iron-reducing microorganisms in geographically diverse subglacial environments ' , Biogeosciences , vol. 14 , no. 6 , pp. 1445-1455 . https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-14-1445-2017
op_relation https://research-information.bris.ac.uk/en/publications/6c118591-441f-4e2e-b070-5f2d5c32730c
op_rights info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
op_doi https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-14-1445-2017
container_title Biogeosciences
container_volume 14
container_issue 6
container_start_page 1445
op_container_end_page 1455
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