First evidence for the presence of iron oxidizing zetaproteobacteria at the levantine continental margins

Maxim Rubin-Blum, Gilad Antler, Rami Tsadok, Eli Shemesh, James A. Austin, Dwight F. Coleman, Beverly N. Goodman-Tchernov, Zvi Ben-Avraham, Dan Tchernov

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

25 Scopus citations

Abstract

During the 2010-2011 E/V Nautilus exploration of the Levantine basin's sediments at the depth of 300-1300 m, densely patched orange-yellow flocculent mats were observed at various locations along the continental margin of Israel. Cores from the mat and the control locations were collected by remotely operated vehicle system (ROV) operated by the E/V Nautilus team. Microscopic observation and phylogenetic analysis of microbial 16S and 23S rRNA gene sequences indicated the presence of zetaproteobacterial stalk forming Mariprofundus spp. - like prokaryotes in the mats. Bacterial tag-encoded FLX amplicon pyrosequencing determined that zetaproteobacterial populations were a dominant fraction of microbial community in the biofilm. We show for the first time that zetaproteobacterial may thrive at the continental margins, regardless of crustal iron supply, indicating significant fluxes of ferrous iron to the sediment-water interface. In light of this discovery, we discuss the potential bioavailability of sediment-water interface iron for organisms in the overlying water column.

Original languageEnglish
Article numbere91456
JournalPLoS ONE
Volume9
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - 10 Apr 2014
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
  • General Agricultural and Biological Sciences
  • General

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