REACH
Remineralization of blAck Carbon in Halong Bay under different oxidation states
Embedded Files
REACH investigates the colonization and potential degradation of black carbon particles by marine microbes
REACH investigates the colonization and potential degradation of black carbon particles by marine microbes
Black carbon (BC) is emitted to the atmosphere and deposited onto land and ocean surfaces via dry and wet deposition and riverine runoff at rates of up to 37 Tg C per year. BC particles are highly surface-active and adsorb dissolved organic matter (DOM) attracting bacteria. The BC degradation potential of marine bacteria and its impact on the biological carbon pump is unknown.
In November 2018 we inspected DOM adsorption and microbial colonization of BC particles in Halong Bay. Using nanoscale secondary ion mass spectrometry (nanoSIMS) and scanning electron microscopy we witnessed an increasing adsorption of DOM (as 15N-labeled amino acids) on BC surfaces coinciding with an increase in bacterial biomass over 48 h (see below).
BC particles are depicted by 12C enrichment (A), the adsorption of 15N-labeled algal amino acids is depicted by the 15N/14N ratio (B), and the presence of bacteria is depicted by 31P (C). Bacterial colonies colonizing BC particles (D).
Such proliferation of bacteria suggests that the added DOM acted as a 'priming effect', promoting the colonization of BC particles and presumably their degradation. These results have been recently published in Science of the Total Environment.
Google Sites
Report abuse