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Impact of volcanic ash on anammox communities in deep sea sediments
Author(s) -
Song Bongkeun,
Buckner Caroline T.,
Hembury Deborah J.,
Mills Rachel A.,
Palmer Martin R.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
environmental microbiology reports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.229
H-Index - 69
ISSN - 1758-2229
DOI - 10.1111/1758-2229.12137
Subject(s) - anammox , volcanic ash , volcano , oceanography , environmental science , earth science , geology , geochemistry , chemistry , denitrifying bacteria , organic chemistry , nitrogen , denitrification
Summary Subaerial explosive volcanism contributes substantial amounts of material to the oceans, but little is known about the impact of volcanic ash on sedimentary microbial activity. We have studied anammox communities in deep sea sediments near the volcanically active island of M ontserrat, L esser A ntilles. The rates of anammox and denitrification in the sediments were measured using 15 N isotope pairing incubation experiments, while 16 S rRNA genes were used to examine anammox community structures. The higher anammox rates were measured in sediment containing the lower accumulation of volcanic ash in the surface sediments, while the lowest activities were found in sediments with the highest ash deposit. 16 S rRNA gene analysis revealed the presence of ‘ C andidatus S calindua spp .’ in the sediments. The lowest diversity of anammox bacteria was observed in the sediments with the highest ash deposit. Overall, this study demonstrates that the deposition of volcanic material in deep sea sediments has negative impacts on activity and diversity of the anammox community. Since anammox may account for up to 79% of N 2 production in marine ecosystems, periods of extensive explosive volcanism in E arth history may have had a hitherto unrecognized negative impact on the sedimentary nitrogen removal processes.