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Interaction between Physical Heterogeneity and Microbial Processes in Subsurface Sediments: A Laboratory-Scale Column

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Grain size distribution in sandy sediments significantly impacts subsurface water flow and nutrient cycling. Heterogeneity creates hotspots for microbial activity but can impair processes like denitrification.

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Area of Science:

  • Environmental Science
  • Geology
  • Microbiology

Background:

  • Physical heterogeneity in porous media dictates interstitial fluid flow.
  • Nutrient and organic matter distribution influences subsurface physicochemical and microbial processes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effect of spatial grain size heterogeneity on physicochemical and microbial processes in sandy sediments.
  • To understand the interaction between interstitial fluxes and microbial activity under varying sediment compositions.

Main Methods:

  • Experimental columns (50 cm) filled with sterile silica sand in five different grain size configurations.
  • Continuous water supply for 33 days.
  • Analysis of hydraulic conductivity, nutrient/organic matter content, biofilm biomass, and activity.

Main Results:

  • Coarse sediments supported higher deep-area biomass/activity but led to incomplete denitrification and low functional diversity.
  • Fine sediments in upper layers enhanced phosphorus retention but limited biofilm development due to low hydraulic conductivity.
  • A sharp coarse-to-fine grain transition zone created a hotspot for organic matter degradation and biomass growth.

Conclusions:

  • Grain size arrangement in subsurface sandy sediments is a key driver of interstitial fluxes.
  • Sediment heterogeneity significantly influences the location and efficiency of microbial processes in porous media.