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Microbially promoted calcite precipitation in the pelagic redoxcline: elucidating the formation of the turbid layer

Large bell-shaped calcite formations called “Hells Bells” were discovered underwater in the stratified cenote El Zapote on the Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico. Together with these extraordinary speleothems, divers found a white, cloudy turbid layer into which some Hells Bells partially extend. Here, we a...

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Main Authors: Leberecht, Kerstin (Author) , Ritter, Simon M. (Author) , Lapp, Christian Jonas (Author) , Klose, Lukas (Author) , Eschenröder, Julian (Author) , Scholz, Christian (Author) , Kühnel, Sebastian (Author) , Stinnesbeck, Wolfgang (Author) , Kletzin, Arnulf (Author) , Isenbeck-Schröter, Margot (Author) , Gescher, Johannes (Author)
Corporate Authors: Technische Universität Hamburg (Other) , Technische Universität Hamburg, Institut für Technische Mikrobiologie (Other)
Format: Article (Journal)
Language:English
Published: 2022
In: Geobiology
Year: 2022, Volume: 20, Issue: 4, Pages: 498-517
ISSN:1472-4669
DOI:10.15480/882.4440
Online Access:Resolving-System, kostenfrei: http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:gbv:830-882.0189084
Resolving-System, kostenfrei: https://doi.org/10.15480/882.4440
Resolving-System, kostenfrei: http://hdl.handle.net/11420/12967
Resolving-System: https://doi.org/10.1111/gbi.12492
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Author Notes:Kerstin M. Leberecht, Simon M. Ritter, Christian J. Lapp, Lukas Klose, Julian Eschenröder, Christian Scholz, Sebastian Kühnel, Wolfgang Stinnesbeck, Arnulf Kletzin, Margot Isenbeck-Schröter, Johannes Gescher
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Summary:Large bell-shaped calcite formations called “Hells Bells” were discovered underwater in the stratified cenote El Zapote on the Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico. Together with these extraordinary speleothems, divers found a white, cloudy turbid layer into which some Hells Bells partially extend. Here, we address the central question if the formation of the turbid layer could be based on microbial activity, more specifically, on microbially induced calcite precipitation. Metagenomic and metatranscriptomic profiling of the microbial community in the turbid layer, which overlaps with the pelagic redoxcline in the cenote, revealed chemolithoautotrophic Hydrogenophilales and unclassified ß-Proteobacteria as the metabolic key players. Bioinformatic and hydrogeochemical data suggest chemolithoautotrophic oxidation of sulfide to zero-valent sulfur catalyzed by denitrifying organisms due to oxygen deficiency. Incomplete sulfide oxidation via nitrate reduction and chemolithoautotrophy are both proton-consuming processes, which increase the pH in the redoxcline favoring authigenic calcite precipitation and may contribute to Hells Bells growth. The observed mechanism of microbially induced calcite precipitation is potentially applicable to many other stagnant sulfate-rich water bodies.
Item Description:Sonstige Körperschaft: Technische Universität Hamburg
Sonstige Körperschaft: Technische Universität Hamburg, Institut für Technische Mikrobiologie
Physical Description:Online Resource
ISSN:1472-4669
DOI:10.15480/882.4440
Access:Open Access

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