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Un críptico ciclo de azufre en aguas de la zona de oxígeno mínimo frente a la costa chilena
Don E Canfield1, Frank J Stewart, Bo Thamdrup
1Institute of Biology and Nordic Center for Earth Evolution, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, 5230 Odense M, Denmark. dec@biology.sdu.dk
Science (New York, N.Y.)
|November 13, 2010
Resumen
Las zonas marinas con mínimo de oxígeno están dominadas por el ciclo del nitrógeno, pero este estudio revela un significativo ciclo críptico del azufre. La reducción de sulfato y la oxidación de sulfuro son claves para la energía y el ciclo elemental en estos entornos libres de oxígeno.
Área de la Ciencia:
- La biogeoquímica marina es la biogeoquímica marina.
- Ecología microbiana ecología microbiana.
- Oceanografía La oceanografía es la oceanografía.
Sus antecedentes:
- El ciclo del nitrógeno tradicionalmente domina el estudio de las zonas marinas de oxígeno mínimo (OMZ).
- Los procesos microbianos en las ZMO son cruciales para los ciclos elementales globales.
- Comprender las ZMO es clave para predecir las respuestas oceánicas al cambio climático.
Objetivo del estudio:
- Para investigar el papel del ciclo del azufre en las zonas de oxígeno mínimo.
- Determinar la contribución de la reducción de sulfato y la oxidación de sulfuro al flujo de energía en las ZMO.
- Explorar el vínculo entre el ciclo de azufre y nitrógeno en entornos marinos.
Principales métodos:
- Empleó técnicas moleculares para analizar comunidades microbianas.
- Utilizó mediciones de velocidad de proceso para cuantificar flujos biogeoquímicos.
- Estudió aguas libres de oxígeno frente a la costa del norte de Chile.
Principales resultados:
- La reducción de sulfato y la oxidación de sulfuro contribuyen significativamente al flujo de energía y al ciclo elemental en las ZMO.
- Se identificó un ciclo críptico de azufre, donde el sulfuro producido se re-oxida inmediatamente.
- Este ciclo de azufre está estrechamente relacionado con el anammox y otros procesos de ciclo de nitrógeno.
Conclusiones:
- El ciclo del azufre juega un papel más significativo en la biogeoquímica de la OMZ de lo que se reconocía anteriormente.
- El ciclo críptico del azufre influye en el ciclo biogeoquímico general en las ZMO.
- Estos hallazgos sugieren un impacto más amplio en la biogeoquímica oceánica global.
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