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Un acidófilo extremo arqueal oxidante del hierro importante en el drenaje de la mina ácida
K J Edwards1, P L Bond, T M Gihring
1Department of Geology and Geophysics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1215 West Dayton Street, Madison, WI 53706, USA. kedwards@whoi.edu
Science (New York, N.Y.)
|March 10, 2000
Resumen
Un arqueón recién descubierto prospera en una acidez extrema (pH 0,5) y temperaturas moderadas (40 ° C) en Iron Mountain, California. Este microbio oxidante de hierro tiene un impacto significativo en el drenaje ácido de la mina y en los ciclos biogeoquímicos.
Área de la Ciencia:
- Microbiología Microbiología.
- Ciencias ambientales Ciencias ambientales.
- La geoquímica es la geoquímica.
Sus antecedentes:
- Los entornos extremos albergan una vida microbiana única.
- El drenaje ácido de la mina (AMD) es un problema ambiental significativo.
- Los cuerpos de mineral de sulfuro se caracterizan por un pH bajo y altas concentraciones de metales.
Objetivo del estudio:
- Identificar y caracterizar una nueva especie arqueal de un entorno ácido.
- Para entender el papel de este arqueón en la AMD y el ciclo de los elementos.
Principales métodos:
- Muestreo de campo en Iron Mountain, California.
- Técnicas microscópicas y de cultivo para aislar e identificar arqueas.
- Análisis físico-químico del medio ambiente (pH, temperatura, conductividad).
Principales resultados:
- Se descubrió una nueva especie de Archaea, capaz de crecer a pH 0.
- Este arqueón oxidante del hierro prospera a 40°C en asociación con la pirita.
- La especie dominó las comunidades microbianas en el limo y los sedimentos de alta conductividad, alcanzando hasta el 85%.
Conclusiones:
- Este arqueón acidófilo es un jugador clave en los entornos de AMD.
- El organismo probablemente influye en los ciclos biogeoquímicos del hierro y el azufre.
- Los termoplasmas contribuyen significativamente a la geoquímica de los hábitats ácidos y ricos en metales.
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