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Primary Production

Primary Production

The total amount of energy acquired by primary producers in an ecosystem is called gross primary production (GPP). However, of this energy, producers use some for metabolic processes, and some is lost as heat, decreasing the amount of energy available to the next trophic level. The remaining usable amount of energy is called the net primary productivity (NPP). In terrestrial ecosystems, NPP is driven by climate, while light penetration and nutrient availability drive NPP in aquatic ecosystems.

Bioremediation

Bioremediation

Bioremediation is the use of prokaryotes, fungi, or plants to remove pollutants from the environment. This process has been used to remove harmful toxins in groundwater as a byproduct of agricultural run-off and also to clean up oil spills.

The Phosphorus Cycle

The Phosphorus Cycle

Unlike carbon, water, and nitrogen, phosphorus is not present in the atmosphere as a gas. Instead, most phosphorus in the ecosystem exists as compounds, such as phosphate ions (PO43-), found in soil, water, sediment and rocks. Phosphorus is often a limiting nutrient (i.e., in short supply). Consequently, phosphorus is added to most agricultural fertilizers, which can cause environmental problems related to runoff in aquatic ecosystems.

What are Biogeochemical Cycles?

What are Biogeochemical Cycles?

The most common elements in organic molecules, carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, and phosphorus, are only available in the ecosystem in limited amounts. Therefore, these nutrients must be recycled through both biotic and abiotic components of the ecosystem, in processes generally called biogeochemical cycles.

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 28, 2025

A Strain Gauge Monitor SGM for Continuous Valve Gape Measurements in Bivalve Molluscs in Response to Laboratory Induced Diel-cycling Hypoxia and pH

A Strain Gauge Monitor SGM for Continuous Valve Gape Measurements in Bivalve Molluscs in Response to Laboratory Induced Diel-cycling Hypoxia and pH

Published on: August 1, 2018

Cable bacteria delay euxinia and modulate phosphorus release in coastal hypoxic systems.

Laurine D W Burdorf¹, Sebastiaan J van de Velde¹, Silvia Hidalgo-Martinez¹

¹Geobiology Research Group, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.

Royal Society Open Science

|April 18, 2024

Summary

Cable bacteria create an "iron firewall" by oxidizing iron sulfides. This process prevents hydrogen sulfide release and controls phosphorus release in coastal sediments.

Keywords:

cable bacteria euxinia hypoxia iron cycling phosphorus

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Laboratory-determined Phosphorus Flux from Lake Sediments as a Measure of Internal Phosphorus Loading

Laboratory-determined Phosphorus Flux from Lake Sediments as a Measure of Internal Phosphorus Loading

Published on: March 6, 2014

Area of Science:

Microbial ecology
Biogeochemistry
Environmental science

Background:

Cable bacteria are filamentous microbes with unique electron transport capabilities.
They thrive in seasonally hypoxic sediments, influencing iron and sulfur cycling.
Their metabolism dissolves iron sulfides (FeS), releasing ferrous iron (Fe2+).

Purpose of the Study:

To experimentally investigate the 'iron firewall hypothesis' proposed for cable bacteria.
To assess the role of cable bacteria in controlling hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and phosphorus (P) release from sediments.
To understand the seasonal impact of cable bacteria on coastal biogeochemical cycles.

Main Methods:

Collection of natural sediment cores from a seasonally hypoxic basin across three seasons.
Incubation of undisturbed sediment cores under anoxic conditions.
Monitoring of effluxes for hydrogen sulfide (H2S), dissolved iron (dFe), and phosphate (PO43-) over 140 days.

Main Results:

Sediment cores with active cable bacteria showed a significant stock of iron oxyhydroxides (FeOx).
This FeOx layer delayed the efflux of H2S for up to 102 days.
Evidence supports the role of cable bacteria in retaining H2S and modulating P release.

Conclusions:

Cable bacteria establish an 'iron firewall' that effectively prevents the release of H2S.
This mechanism plays a crucial role in regulating phosphorus release and preventing euxinia in coastal environments.
The findings highlight the ecological importance of cable bacteria in marine sediment biogeochemistry.