Open AccessSulphate reduction in oxic and sub‐oxic North‐East Atlantic sediments
Author(s) -
Battersby N.S.,
Malcolm S.J.,
Brown C.M.,
Stanley S.O.
Publication year - 1985
Publication title -
fems microbiology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1574-6968
pISSN - 0378-1097
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-6968.1985.tb01153.x
Subject(s) - sediment , alkalinity , continental shelf , nitrate , geology , environmental chemistry , sulfate reducing bacteria , sulfate , oceanography , chemistry , geomorphology , organic chemistry
Oxic and sub‐oxic N.‐E. Atlantic sediments were examined for sulphate‐reducing activity. Oxygen and/or nitrate reduction are probably the dominant mineralisation processes in the abyssal plain sediment studied. A low rate of sulphate reduction (0.1 nmol SO 2− 4 /ml/day) was recorded in the surface 5 cm of the continental slope sediment, together with the presence of a range of sulphate‐reducing bacteria (SRB). A higher activity of sulphate reduction (2.2 nmol SO 2− 4 /ml/day) occurred in the continental shelf sediment which led to a small decrease in pore water sulphate and an increase in titration alkalinity. This sediment contained approx. 10 2 –10 3 acetate, lactate and propionate oxidising SRB/ml. No low‐ M r organic acids were detected in these sediments. However, amendment with 75 μM acetate stimulated sulphate‐reducing activity in the shelf sediment.