Premium
Vertical distribution of sulfur species in benthic algal mats 1
Author(s) -
Doemel William N.,
Brock Thomas D.
Publication year - 1976
Publication title -
limnology and oceanography
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.7
H-Index - 197
eISSN - 1939-5590
pISSN - 0024-3590
DOI - 10.4319/lo.1976.21.2.0237
Subject(s) - sulfide , sulfur , ferrous , benthic zone , sulfate , algae , ammonium , environmental chemistry , chemistry , photosynthesis , mineralogy , environmental science , geology , botany , oceanography , biology , biochemistry , organic chemistry
Methods are described for measuring the concentration and vertical distribution of sulfide, elemental sulfur, and sulfate in benthic mats consisting of blue‐green algae and photosynthetic bacteria. For visualizing microzonation of sulfide production, cores of the mat are placed in ferrous ammonium sulfate agar and incubated for 24 h. Zones of sulfide production are then revealed as black bands of ferrous sulfide of varying thickness. For quantitative measurement, cores are cut into segments, extracted, and assayed by colorimetric methods. Sulfide formation never occurs in the top 3 mm of the mat and occurs mainly in a thick rather diffuse zone between about 3–10 mm, below which extremely thin laminae of sulfide production are seen. The techniques reported should have wider utility and are especially useful in revealing location of reducing conditions within stratified mats.