Microbial consumption of zero‐valence sulfur in marine benthic habitats. (27th February 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pjevac, Petra; Kamyshny, Alexey; Dyksma, Stefan; Mußmann, Marc
• Is Part Of: Environmental microbiology. Volume 16:Number 11(2014:Nov.)
• Page Start: 3416
• Page End: 3430
• Publication Date: 2014-02-27
• Subjects: Microbial ecology -- Periodicals; Environmental Microbiology -- Periodicals; 579.17
• DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.12410
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1462-2912

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title>Summary</title> <p>Zero‐valence sulfur (S<sup>0</sup>) is a central intermediate in the marine sulfur cycle and forms conspicuous accumulations at sediment surfaces, hydrothermal vents and in oxygen minimum zones. Diverse microorganisms can utilize S<sup>0</sup>, but those consuming S<sup>0</sup> in the environment are largely unknown. We identified possible key players in S<sup>0</sup> turnover on native or introduced S<sup>0</sup> in benthic coastal and deep‐sea habitats using the 16S ribosomal RNA approach, (<italic>in situ</italic>) growth experiments and activity measurements. In all habitats, the epsilonproteobacterial <italic>S</italic><italic>ulfurimonas/</italic><italic>S</italic><italic>ulfurovum</italic> group accounted for a substantial fraction of the microbial community. Deltaproteobacterial <italic>D</italic><italic>esulfobulbaceae</italic> and <italic>D</italic><italic>esulfuromonadales</italic> were also frequently detected, indicating S<sup>0</sup> disproportionation and S<sup>0</sup> respiration under anoxic conditions. Sulfate production from S<sup>0</sup> particles colonized <italic>in situ</italic> with <italic>S</italic><italic>ulfurimonas/</italic><italic>S</italic><italic>ulfurovum</italic> suggested that this group oxidized S<sup>0</sup>. We also show that the type strain <italic>S</italic><italic>ulfurimonas denitrificans</italic> is able to access cyclooctasulfur (S<sub>8</sub>), a metabolic feature not yet demonstrated for sulfur oxidizers. The ability to oxidize S<sup>0</sup>, in particular S<sub>8</sub>, likely facilitates niche partitioning among sulfur oxidizers in habitats with intense microbial sulfur cycling such as sulfidic sediment surfaces. Our results underscore the previously overlooked but central role of <italic>S</italic><italic>ulfurimonas</italic>/<italic>S</italic><italic>ulfurovum</italic> group for conversion of free S<sup>0</sup> at the seafloor surface.</p> </abstract>