Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 9, 2025
10:11
The Benthic Exchange of O2, N2 and Dissolved Nutrients Using Small Core Incubations
Published on: August 3, 2016
9.9K
Reactive oxygen species affect the potential for mineralization processes in permeable intertidal flats
Marit R van Erk1,2, Olivia M Bourceau3, Chyrene Moncada4
1Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology, Bremen, Germany. merk@mpi-bremen.de.
Nature Communications
|February 22, 2023
Summary
Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are present in intertidal sediments and impact microbial activity. Removing ROS significantly boosts organic matter remineralization and biogeochemical cycling in these dynamic environments.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Microbiology
- Geochemistry
Background:
- Intertidal permeable sediments are key sites for organic matter breakdown.
- Shifting oxygen levels and iron-sulfur cycling suggest high reactive oxygen species (ROS) production potential.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify ROS in intertidal sediments.
- To investigate the influence of ROS on microbial degradation rates during oxygen-anoxia transitions.
Main Methods:
- Microsensor measurements and chemiluminescent analysis to detect hydrogen peroxide.
- Incubation of sediment slurries under controlled oxic-anoxic conditions.
- Enzymatic ROS removal to assess microbial process rates.
Main Results:
- High concentrations of hydrogen peroxide were detected in intertidal sediments.
- Enzymatic ROS removal significantly enhanced aerobic respiration, sulfate reduction, and hydrogen accumulation.
- Sulfate reduction, inhibited during oxygen exposure, resumed immediately upon anoxia.
Conclusions:
- Reactive oxygen species are produced in intertidal sediments and regulate microbial mineralization.
- Transient oxygenation and ROS strongly influence the biogeochemistry of these environments.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:29Oxygen Requirements and Growth Patterns
183
Microorganisms exhibit diverse oxygen requirements and growth patterns driven by their metabolic strategies and environmental adaptations. Oxygen, while essential for many organisms, can also be toxic under certain conditions, shaping how microorganisms grow and survive.Oxygen Requirements of MicroorganismsMicroorganisms are classified based on their ability to use or tolerate oxygen:● Obligate aerobes like Mycobacterium tuberculosis need oxygen for energy production, as it serves as the...
183
01:15Metabolism of Chemolithotrophs
67
Chemolithotrophs are microorganisms that obtain energy by oxidizing inorganic molecules such as hydrogen gas (H₂), ammonia (NH₃), reduced sulfur compounds (H₂S, S²⁻), and ferrous iron (Fe²⁺). Unlike heterotrophic organisms that rely on organic carbon, chemolithotrophs transfer electrons from these inorganic donors to the electron transport chain (ETC), generating a proton motive force (PMF) that drives ATP synthesis through oxidative phosphorylation.
67
01:27Oxygen Transport in the Blood
3.0K
Hemoglobin (Hb) is a crucial molecule in the human body, consisting of four polypeptide chains, each bound to an iron-containing heme group. This unique structure enables hemoglobin to bind to oxygen, with each molecule capable of combining with four molecules of oxygen, leading to rapid and reversible oxygen loading. When fully loaded with oxygen, it is called oxyhemoglobin, while hemoglobin that has released oxygen is called reduced hemoglobin or deoxyhemoglobin. As hemoglobin binds oxygen,...
3.0K