Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 21, 2026

Development of Sulfidogenic Sludge from Marine Sediments and Trichloroethylene Reduction in an Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket Reactor
Published on: October 15, 2015
Large sulfur bacteria and the formation of phosphorite
Heide N Schulz1, Horst D Schulz
1Institute for Microbiology, University of Hannover, Schneiderberg 50, D-30167 Hannover, Germany. schulz@ifmb.uni-hannover.de
Abstract:
Phosphorite deposits in marine sediments are a long-term sink for an essential nutrient, phosphorus. Here we show that apatite abundance in sediments on the Namibian shelf correlates with the abundance and activity of the giant sulfur bacterium Thiomargarita namibiensis, which suggests that sulfur bacteria drive phosphogenesis. Sediments populated by Thiomargarita showed sharp peaks of pore water phosphate (=300 micromolar) and massive phosphorite accumulations (>/=50 grams of phosphorus per kilogram). Laboratory experiments revealed that under anoxic conditions, Thiomargarita released enough phosphate to account for the precipitation of hydroxyapatite observed in the environment.
More Related Videos
09:45Laboratory Simulation of an Iron(II)-rich Precambrian Marine Upwelling System to Explore the Growth of Photosynthetic Bacteria
Published on: July 24, 2016
09:31Preparation of Authigenic Pyrite from Methane-bearing Sediments for In Situ Sulfur Isotope Analysis Using SIMS
Published on: August 31, 2017
Related Concept Videos
Anoxygenic Photosynthesis
Sulfur Assimilation
Anoxygenic Phototrophic Bacteria
Microbes and the Sulfur Cycle
Microbes and Other Elemental Cycles
Acid Mine Drainage