Publication Details

Category Text Publication
Reference Category Journals
DOI 10.1080/01490451.2012.758195
Title (Primary) Geochemistry and microbial populations in sediments of the Northern Baffin Bay, Arctic
Author Algora, C.; Gründger, F.; Adrian, L.; Damm, V.; Richnow, H.-H.; Krüger, M.
Source Titel Geomicrobiology Journal
Year 2013
Department ISOBIO
Volume 30
Issue 8
Page From 690
Page To 705
Language englisch
Keywords microbial activities, microbial ecology, quantitative PCR, pore water analysis, sediment cores, subsurface microbiology
UFZ wide themes ru3
Abstract

The Northern Baffin Bay between Greenland and Canada is a remote Arctic area restricted in primary production by seasonal ice cover, with presumably low sedimentation rates, carbon content and microbial activities in its sediments. Our aim was to study the so far unknown subseafloor geochemistry and microbial populations driving seafloor ecosystems. Shelf sediments had the highest organic carbon content, numbers of Bacteria and Archaea, and microcosms inoculated from Shelf sediments showed highest sulfate reduction and methane production rates. Sediments in the central deep area and on the southern slope contained less organic carbon and overall lower microbial numbers. Similar 16S rRNA gene copy numbers of Archaea and Bacteria were found for the majority of the sites investigated. Sulfate in pore water correlated with dsrA copy numbers of sulfate-reducing prokaryotes and differed between sites. No methane was found as free gas in the sediments, and mcrA copy numbers of methanogenic Archaea were low. Methanogenic and sulfate-reducing cultures were enriched on a variety of substrates including hydrocarbons. In summary, the Greenlandic shelf sediments contain vital microbial communities adapted to their specific environmental conditions.

Persistent UFZ Identifier https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=13877
Algora, C., Gründger, F., Adrian, L., Damm, V., Richnow, H.-H., Krüger, M. (2013):
Geochemistry and microbial populations in sediments of the Northern Baffin Bay, Arctic
Geomicrobiol. J. 30 (8), 690 - 705 10.1080/01490451.2012.758195