Microbial consumption of zero-valence sulfur in marine benthic habitats (original) (raw)
2014, Environmental Microbiology
and in oxygen minimum zones. Diverse microorganisms can utilize S 0 , but those consuming S 0 in the environment are largely unknown. We identified possible key players in S 0 turnover on native or introduced S 0 in benthic coastal and deep-sea habitats using the 16S ribosomal RNA approach, (in situ) growth experiments and activity measurements. In all habitats, the epsilonproteobacterial Sulfurimonas/ Sulfurovum group accounted for a substantial fraction of the microbial community. Deltaproteobacterial Desulfobulbaceae and Desulfuromonadales were also frequently detected, indicating S 0 disproportionation and S 0 respiration under anoxic conditions. Sulfate production from S 0 particles colonized in situ with Sulfurimonas/Sulfurovum suggested that this group oxidized S 0 . We also show that the type strain Sulfurimonas denitrificans is able to access cyclooctasulfur (S8), a metabolic feature not yet demonstrated for sulfur oxidizers. The ability to oxidize S 0 , in particular S8, 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 Sulfurimonas/Sulfurovum group for conversion of free S 0 at the seafloor surface.
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