201
References
Acknowledgements
This is contribution No 0331 of the Research Center
Ocean Margins (RCOM) which is financed by the
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) at Bremen
University, Germany.
5.7
Problems
Problem 1
Following the last glaciation, the salinity of the
oceans decreased due to melting of the polar ice
caps. This decrease in chloride and sodium and
other major ions of sea water has led to a lowered
concentration in the pore water of the upper seabed. By using the equation for diffusion distance
versus time (ca. 10,000 years), calculate how deep
this concentration decrease has diffused into the
seabed. Diffusion coefficients are given in Chapter
3. Make sure that similar units are being used.
Problem 2
Which of the following processes are energetically
feasible (exergonic)?
1) Fe(II) oxidation with SO 4
22) CH 4 oxidation with NO 3
-
3) Fe(II) oxidation with MnO 2
4) H 2 S oxidation with SO 4
25) H 2 oxidation with CO 2
Problem 3
The filamentous sulfur bacteria, Thioploca, oxidize
sulfide with nitrate in their energy metabolism.
Alternatively, they can assimilate CO 2 or acetate as
a carbon source. What kind(s) of “-troph” is
Thioploca? (use Table 5.3 and 5.4).
Problem 4
Bacteria in the open ocean tend to be smaller than
bacteria in nutrient-rich coastal ecosystems. What
could be the reason?
Problem 5
A dead phytoplankton cell sinks to the sea floor.
What must happen to it (burial, degradation) before
its organic carbon can be converted to methane by
autotrophic methanotrophs?
Problem 6
Methane is produced from acetate at extremely low
rates in deep sub-seafloor sediments. The process
can be measured experimentally using a radioactive
isotope,
14
C-acetate. How can the experiment be
designed to obtain the highest sensitivity and
detect the low rate?
1) increase/decrease in sample size?
2) increase/decrease in amount of
radioactivity?
3) increase/decrease in incubation time?
4) other?
References
Alperin, M.J. and Reeburgh, W.S., 1985. Inhibition
Experiments on Anaerobic Methane Oxidation.
Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 50: 940945.
Arnosti, C., 1996. A new method for measuring
polysaccharide hydrolysis rates in marine environments. Organic Geochemistry, 25: 105-115.
Arnosti, C., 2004. Speed bumps and barricades in the
carbon cycle: Substrate structural effects on carbon
cycling. Marine Chemistry, 92: 263-273.
Bak, F. and Cypionka, H., 1987. A novel type of energy
metabolism involving fermentation of inorganic
sulphur compounds. Nature, 326: 891-892.
Benz, M., Brune, A. and Schink, B., 1998. Anaerobic and
aerobic oxidation of ferrous iron and neutral pH by
chemoheterotrophic
nitrate-reduction
bacteria.
Archives of Microbiology, 169: 159-165.
Berelson, W.M., Hammond, D.E., Smith, K.L. Jr;
Jahnke, R.A., Devol, A.H., Hinge, K.R., Rowe, G.T.
and Sayles, F. (eds), 1987. In situ benthic flux
measurement devices: bottom lander technology.
MTS Journal, 21: 26-32.
Berg, P., Røy, H., Janssen, F., Meyer, V., Jørgensen,
B.B., Hüttel, M. and De Beer, D., 2003. Oxygen
uptake by aquatic sediments measured with a novel
non-invasive EDDY-correlation technique. Marine
Ecology Progress Series, 261: 75-83.
Berner, R.A., 1980. Early diagenesis: A theoretical
approach. Princton Univ. Press, Princton, NY, 241 pp.
Boetius, A. and Lochte, K., 1996. Effect of organic
enrichments on hydrolytic potentials and growth of
bacteria in deep-sea sediments. Marine Ecology
Progress Series, 140: 239-250.
Boetius, A. and Damm, E., 1998. Benthic oxygen
uptake, hydrolytic potentials and microbial biomass
References
Acknowledgements
This is contribution No 0331 of the Research Center
Ocean Margins (RCOM) which is financed by the
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) at Bremen
University, Germany.
5.7
Problems
Problem 1
Following the last glaciation, the salinity of the
oceans decreased due to melting of the polar ice
caps. This decrease in chloride and sodium and
other major ions of sea water has led to a lowered
concentration in the pore water of the upper seabed. By using the equation for diffusion distance
versus time (ca. 10,000 years), calculate how deep
this concentration decrease has diffused into the
seabed. Diffusion coefficients are given in Chapter
3. Make sure that similar units are being used.
Problem 2
Which of the following processes are energetically
feasible (exergonic)?
1) Fe(II) oxidation with SO 4
22) CH 4 oxidation with NO 3
-
3) Fe(II) oxidation with MnO 2
4) H 2 S oxidation with SO 4
25) H 2 oxidation with CO 2
Problem 3
The filamentous sulfur bacteria, Thioploca, oxidize
sulfide with nitrate in their energy metabolism.
Alternatively, they can assimilate CO 2 or acetate as
a carbon source. What kind(s) of “-troph” is
Thioploca? (use Table 5.3 and 5.4).
Problem 4
Bacteria in the open ocean tend to be smaller than
bacteria in nutrient-rich coastal ecosystems. What
could be the reason?
Problem 5
A dead phytoplankton cell sinks to the sea floor.
What must happen to it (burial, degradation) before
its organic carbon can be converted to methane by
autotrophic methanotrophs?
Problem 6
Methane is produced from acetate at extremely low
rates in deep sub-seafloor sediments. The process
can be measured experimentally using a radioactive
isotope,
14
C-acetate. How can the experiment be
designed to obtain the highest sensitivity and
detect the low rate?
1) increase/decrease in sample size?
2) increase/decrease in amount of
radioactivity?
3) increase/decrease in incubation time?
4) other?
References
Alperin, M.J. and Reeburgh, W.S., 1985. Inhibition
Experiments on Anaerobic Methane Oxidation.
Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 50: 940945.
Arnosti, C., 1996. A new method for measuring
polysaccharide hydrolysis rates in marine environments. Organic Geochemistry, 25: 105-115.
Arnosti, C., 2004. Speed bumps and barricades in the
carbon cycle: Substrate structural effects on carbon
cycling. Marine Chemistry, 92: 263-273.
Bak, F. and Cypionka, H., 1987. A novel type of energy
metabolism involving fermentation of inorganic
sulphur compounds. Nature, 326: 891-892.
Benz, M., Brune, A. and Schink, B., 1998. Anaerobic and
aerobic oxidation of ferrous iron and neutral pH by
chemoheterotrophic
nitrate-reduction
bacteria.
Archives of Microbiology, 169: 159-165.
Berelson, W.M., Hammond, D.E., Smith, K.L. Jr;
Jahnke, R.A., Devol, A.H., Hinge, K.R., Rowe, G.T.
and Sayles, F. (eds), 1987. In situ benthic flux
measurement devices: bottom lander technology.
MTS Journal, 21: 26-32.
Berg, P., Røy, H., Janssen, F., Meyer, V., Jørgensen,
B.B., Hüttel, M. and De Beer, D., 2003. Oxygen
uptake by aquatic sediments measured with a novel
non-invasive EDDY-correlation technique. Marine
Ecology Progress Series, 261: 75-83.
Berner, R.A., 1980. Early diagenesis: A theoretical
approach. Princton Univ. Press, Princton, NY, 241 pp.
Boetius, A. and Lochte, K., 1996. Effect of organic
enrichments on hydrolytic potentials and growth of
bacteria in deep-sea sediments. Marine Ecology
Progress Series, 140: 239-250.
Boetius, A. and Damm, E., 1998. Benthic oxygen
uptake, hydrolytic potentials and microbial biomass