Stable isotope evidence for microbial sulphate reduction at the bed of a polythermal high Arctic glacier

Details Stable isotope evidence for microbial sulphate reduction at the bed of a polythermal high Arctic glacier Stable isotope evidence for microbial sulphate reduction at the bed of a polythermal high Arctic glacier

Mar 2004

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2004e%26psl.219..341w&link_type=abstract

Earth and Planetary Science Letters, Volume 219, Issue 3-4, p. 341-355.

Biology

9

Sulphate Reduction, Subglacial Microbiology, Subglacial Geochemistry, Chemical Weathering

Scientific paper

Glacier beds may be host to a range of microbial communities, which drive oxic waters towards anoxia along certain hydrological flowpaths. Chemical and isotopic signatures in meltwaters from Finsterwalderbreen, a polythermal glacier on sedimentary bedrock in Svalbard, show clear evidence for anoxia at the glacier bed. Increases in δ34S and δ18O of sulphate indicate that microbial sulphate reduction has resulted in significant decreases in sulphate concentration. The δ13C of the dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) is isotopically light (δ13C=-8‰), which is consistent with the use of bedrock kerogen and/or the necromass of sulphide oxidising bacteria as organic substrates for the sulphate-reducing bacteria. Calculated rates of organic carbon mineralisation correspond to ~10% of the total annual DIC flux of the glacial meltwaters. This microbial ecosystem is chemoautotrophically based, ultimately being sustained by the kerogen and/or bacterial necromass and sulphides in the bedrock. This work suggests that glacier beds can be refugia for life when climatic and/or atmospheric conditions are otherwise inclement and also supports the contention that microbial life is present in subglacial Lake Vostok.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Stable isotope evidence for microbial sulphate reduction at the bed of a polythermal high Arctic glacier does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Stable isotope evidence for microbial sulphate reduction at the bed of a polythermal high Arctic glacier, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Stable isotope evidence for microbial sulphate reduction at the bed of a polythermal high Arctic glacier will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1132918