Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 21, 2026

Experimental Column Setup for Studying Anaerobic Biogeochemical Interactions Between Iron OxyHydroxides, Trace Elements, and Bacteria
Published on: December 19, 2017
The interplay of microbially mediated and abiotic reactions in the biogeochemical Fe cycle
Emily D Melton1, Elizabeth D Swanner1, Sebastian Behrens1
1Geomicrobiology, Center for Applied Geosciences, University of Tübingen, Sigwartstrasse 10, 72076 Tübingen, Germany.
Abstract:
Many iron (Fe) redox processes that were previously assumed to be purely abiotic, such as photochemical Fe reactions, are now known to also be microbially mediated. Owing to this overlap, discerning whether biotic or abiotic processes control Fe redox chemistry is a major challenge for geomicrobiologists and biogeochemists alike. Therefore, to understand the network of reactions within the biogeochemical Fe cycle, it is necessary to determine which abiotic or microbially mediated reactions are dominant under various environmental conditions. In this Review, we discuss the major microbially mediated and abiotic reactions in the biogeochemical Fe cycle and provide an integrated overview of biotic and chemically mediated redox transformations.
More Related Videos
09:45Laboratory Simulation of an IronII-rich Precambrian Marine Upwelling System to Explore the Growth of Photosynthetic Bacteria
Published on: July 24, 2016
07:22Author Spotlight: Unraveling the Role of Earthworms in Enhancing Mineral Weathering for CO2 Removal
Published on: November 10, 2023
Related Concept Videos
Microbes and Other Elemental Cycles
Microbes and the Sulfur Cycle
Microbial Nutrition
Soil Microbial Ecology
Metabolism of Chemolithotrophs
Microbial Corrosion