The Irony of Iron - Biogenic Iron Oxides as an Iron Source to the Ocean

Frontiers in Microbiology
David Emerson

Abstract

Primary productivity in at least a third of the sunlit open ocean is thought to be iron-limited. Primary sources of dissolved iron (dFe) to the ocean are hydrothermal venting, flux from the sediments along continental margins, and airborne dust. This article provides a general review of sources of hydrothermal and sedimentary iron to the ocean, and speculates upon the role that iron-cycling microbes play in controlling iron dynamics from these sources. Special attention is paid to iron-oxidizing bacteria (FeOB) that live by oxidizing iron and producing biogenic iron oxides as waste products. The presence and ubiquity of FeOB both at hydrothermal systems and in sediments is only beginning to be appreciated. The biogenic oxides they produce have unique properties that could contribute significantly to the dynamics of dFe in the ocean. Changes in the physical and chemical characteristics of the ocean due to climate change and ocean acidification will undoubtedly impact the microbial iron cycle. A better understanding of the contemporary role of microbes in the iron cycle will help in predicting how these changes could ultimately influence marine primary productivity.

References

Dec 1, 1996·Limnology and Oceanography·B Thamdrup, D E Canfield
Jun 23, 2010·Annual Review of Microbiology·David EmersonJoyce M McBeth
Dec 7, 2010·Applied and Environmental Microbiology·Joyce M McBethDavid Emerson
Jan 20, 2011·FEMS Microbiology Ecology·Carsten J SchubertAntje Boetius
Jul 23, 2013·Nature Communications·William B HomokyRachel A Mills
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Oct 29, 2014·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Jessica N FitzsimmonsWilliam J Jenkins
Nov 19, 2014·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Alessandro Tagliabue
Jul 15, 2015·Nature·Joseph A ResingAlessandro Tagliabue

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Citations

Jan 19, 2018·The ISME Journal·Jacob P BeamDavid Emerson
Feb 6, 2021·World Journal of Microbiology & Biotechnology·T JabirA A Mohamed Hatha

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Methods Mentioned

BETA
light microscopy
microsensor

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