Solar Lake (Sinai). 5. The sulfur cycle of the benthic cyanobacterial mats

Journal Article · Sat Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1977 · Limnol. Oceanogr.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.4319/lo.1977.22.4.0657· OSTI ID:7135412

Jorgensen, B B; Cohen, Y

The littoral sediments of Solar Lake (Sinai) consist of cyanobacterial mats up to 1 m thick. The vertical distributions in these mats of sulfur compounds, organic carbon, carbonate, and of sulfate-reducing and other anaerobic, heterotrophic bacteria are presented. The in situ rate of sulfate reduction measured with a radiotracer technique, decreased 10,000-fold from 5,400 Nmol SO/sub 4//sup 2 -//cm/sup 3//d at the surface to less than 1 at the bottom of the mats. Turnover rates of inorganic sulfur compounds and of organic matter were estimated. A high influx down into the cyanobactyerial mats of dissolved organic compounds produced by the epibenthic algae and bacteria could be deduced from the anaerobic respiration rates. A quantitative flow diagram of the sedimentary sulfur and carbon cycle is presented.

• OSTI ID: 7135412
• Journal Information: Limnol. Oceanogr.; (United States), Vol. 22
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
SULFUR CYCLE
ALGAE
BACTERIA
BENTHOS
CARBON CYCLE
CARBONATES
LAKES
ORGANIC MATTER
SEDIMENTS
SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION
SULFATES
WATER POLLUTION
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
CARBON COMPOUNDS
DISTRIBUTION
MICROORGANISMS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PLANTS
POLLUTION
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SURFACE WATERS
520200* - Environment
Aquatic- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)