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Microbial sulfur cycling determinants and implications for environmental impacts.

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Sulfur-oxidizing bacteria (SOB) in mine tailings are controlled by thiosulfate, pH, and oxygen. Understanding these factors helps manage sulfur oxidation intermediates (SOIs) and prevent environmental acidification.

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Area of Science:

  • Environmental Microbiology
  • Geochemistry
  • Biogeochemical Cycling

Background:

  • Sulfur oxidation intermediate (SOI) compounds are recalcitrant to abiotic treatment in mine tailings impoundments (TI).
  • Uncontrolled SOI discharge can lead to environmental acidification, necessitating understanding of SOB in these systems.
  • SOB play a critical role in sulfur cycling and SOI formation/transformation within TIs.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify environmental factors controlling SOB communities and sulfur cycling pathways in a Northern Ontario base metal TI.
  • To elucidate the relationship between physicochemical parameters, SOB, and SOI occurrence.
  • To provide insights for biologically informed management of sulfur-associated risks in TIs.

Main Methods:

  • Integrated physicochemical, geochemical, and microbial analyses over three field seasons (2016, 2017, 2021).
  • Field and experimental investigations in a stratified Northern Ontario base metal TI.
  • Targeted SOB enrichment cultures to confirm functional capabilities.

Main Results:

  • SOB community shifts and sulfur oxidation pathways were primarily driven by thiosulfate ([S2O32−]) concentration, influenced by pH, oxygen ([O2]), and conductivity.
  • Halothiobacillus spp. dominated at high [S2O32−] (>0.03 mM), low pH, and high conductivity, facilitating complete SOI oxidation via the Sox pathway.
  • Other SOB assemblages (Thiovirga, Thiobacillus, Sediminibacterium) dominated at low [S2O32−] (<0.03 mM), high pH, and low conductivity, associated with SOI persistence through incomplete Sox, rDSR, and S4I pathways.

Conclusions:

  • Thiosulfate availability is a key driver of SOB community structure and function in mine TIs.
  • Environmental conditions (pH, [O2], conductivity) modulate SOB activity and sulfur cycling pathways, impacting SOI fate.
  • Management strategies manipulating [S2O32−], pH, and/or [O2] can inform biologically-based risk mitigation for sulfur compounds in mine TIs.