A Shallow Water Ferrous-Hulled Shipwreck Reveals a Distinct Microbial Community

Area of Science:

• Marine microbiology
• Biogeochemistry
• Cultural heritage science

Background:

• Shipwrecks function as artificial reefs, supporting diverse microbial life and biogeochemical cycling.
• Microbial communities can influence shipwreck preservation or deterioration, with variations occurring even within a single wreck.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate microbial community differences on and around the Pappy Lane shipwreck (a shallow water ferrous-hulled wreck).
• To determine if microbial communities vary across different parts of the wreck and from the surrounding environment.

Main Methods:

• Widespread sampling of shipwreck debris, shipcores, surrounding sediment, and seawater.
• Characterization of microbial communities using molecular techniques.
• Genomic analysis of an isolated novel iron-oxidizing bacterium.

Main Results:

• Shipwreck-associated microbial communities formed a distinct niche, differing from surrounding environments.
• Significant microbial community variations were observed across the shipwreck, correlating with visible corrosion.
• Neutrophilic iron-oxidizing bacteria (FeOB) and Zetaproteobacteria were more abundant on corroded samples.
• A novel Zetaproteobacteria strain, Mariprofundus ferrooxydans O1, was isolated and found to have potential for carbon and nitrogen fixation.

Conclusions:

• Microbial communities on shallow water ferrous-hulled shipwrecks are specialized and vary with corrosion levels.
• Understanding these microbial dynamics is crucial for developing effective management and preservation strategies for shipwrecks as cultural resources.