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The Darwin Phosporus cycle project: Role of sulphate-reducing bacteria in sediment phosporus preservation and consequences for global climate change
Program coordinator(s): Prof. dr. P. Van Cappellen
Theme(s): 1
Funding date: 10-jan-07

Abstract
Phosphorus (P) is a key nutrient element regulating marine biological productivity, atmospheric composition and, ultimately, Earth’s climate. The main removal mechanism for reactive P is burial in sediments. The efficiency of P burial in sediments decreases when the overlying bottom waters are anoxic, hence creating a feedback loop between deep water oxygenation, oceanic P recycling, primary production and the drawdown of atmospheric CO2. This feedback loop may have played a major role in the biogeochemical functioning of the ocean-atmosphere system during glacial-interglacial cycles and global-scale Oceanic Anoxic Events (OAEs). Our recent work in Mediterranean sapropels and black shales indicates that the physiology of sulfate reducing bacteria may play a key role in the preferential release of P from anoxic sediments. This proposal aims at elucidating the ecological functioning of sulphatereducing bacteria in anoxic marine sediments and characterizing their role in sediment P cycling. Using global models of the coupled C, P, N and O2 cycles, we then address the consequences of our findings for oceanic nutrient cycles in the past, present and future. An important goal is also to include a realistic representation of the P cycle in a General Circulation Model (GCM).

This program contains the following projects:
1101: The Role of sulfate-reducing bacteria in controlling sediment phosphorus preservation in sediments overlain by anoxic bottom waters
1102: The Darwin Phosphorus cycle project: from preservation mechanisms in marine sediments to global climate change

Publications
Anne K. Steenbergh, Marion M. Meima, Miranda Kamst & Paul L.E. Bodelier (2010). Biphasic kinetics of amethanotrophic community is a combination of growth and increased activityper cell. FEMS Microbiol Ecol71: 12-12.
Darwin Center authors: Bodelier P. L. E., Steenbergh A. K.

Anne K. Steenbergh, Paul L. E. Bodelier, Hans L. Hoogveld, Caroline P. Slomp, and Hendrikus J. Laanbroek (2011). Phosphatases relieve carbon limitation of microbial activity in Baltic Sea sediments along a redox-gradient. Limnology & Oceanography56(6): 2018-2026.
Darwin Center authors: Bodelier P. L. E., Laanbroek H. J., Slomp C. P., Steenbergh A. K.

V. Palastanga, C. P. Slomp, and C. Heinze (2011). Long‐term controls on ocean phosphorus and oxygen in a global biogeochemical model. GLOBAL BIOGEOCHEMICAL CYCLES25 - doi:10.1029/2010GB003827:
Darwin Center authors: Palastanga V., Slomp C. P.

Anne Steenbergh (2012). The microbial control of phosphorus fluxes in marine sediments.
Darwin Center authors: Steenbergh A. K.

Matthias Egger, Olivia Rasigraf, Célia J. Sapart, Tom Jilbert, Mike S. M. Jetten, Thomas Röckmann, Carina van der Veen, Narcisa Bândă, Boran Kartal, Katharina F. Ettwig, and Caroline P. Slomp (2015). Iron-Mediated Anaerobic Oxidation of Methane in Brackish Coastal Sediments. Environmental Science and Technology49: 277-283.
Darwin Center authors: Ettwig K.F., Jetten M. S. M., Slomp C. P.

Egger MJ, O Rasigraf, CJ Sapart, T Jilbert, MSM Jetten, T Röckmann, C van der Veen, N Banda, B Kartal, KF Ettwig & CP Slomp (2015). Iron-Mediated Anaerobic Oxidation of Methane in Brackish Coastal Sediments. Environmental Science and Technology49: 277-283.
Darwin Center authors: Ettwig K.F., Jetten M. S. M., Slomp C. P.