Distributions of manganese, iron, and manganese-oxidizing bacteria in Lake Superior sediments of different organic carbon content

Journal Article · Sun Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1989 · J. Great Lakes Res.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/S0380-1330(89)71466-0· OSTI ID:6082283

Richardson, L L; Nealson, K H

Profiles of oxygen, soluble and particulate manganese and iron, organic carbon and nitrogen were examined in Lake Superior sediment cores, along with the distribution and abundance of heterotrophic and manganese oxidizing bacteria. Analyses were performed using cores collected with the submersible Johnson Sea Link II. Three cores, exhibiting a range of organic carbon content, were collected from the deepest basin in Lake Superior and the north and south ends of the Caribou trough, and brought to the surface for immediate analysis. Minielectrode profiles of oxygen concentration of the three cores were carried out using a commercially available minielectrode apparatus. Oxygen depletion to less than 1% occurred within 4 cm of the surface for two of the cores, but not until approximately 15 cm for the core from the south basin of the Caribou trough. The three cores exhibited very different profiles of soluble, as well as leachable, manganese and iron, suggesting different degrees of remobilization of these metals in the sediments. Vertical profiles of viable bacterial and Mn oxidizing bacteria, determined by plating and counting, showed that aerobic heterotrophic bacteria were present at the highest concentrations near the surface and decreased steadily with depth, while Mn oxidizing bacteria were concentrated primarily at and above the oxic/anoxic interface. Soluble manganese in the pore waters, along with abundant organic carbon, appeared to enhance the presence of manganese oxidizing bacteria, even below the oxic/anoxic interface. Profiles of solid-phase leachable manganese suggested a microbial role in manganese reprecipitation in these sediments.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Wisconsin, Milwaukee (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6082283
• Journal Information: J. Great Lakes Res.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Great Lakes Res.; (United States) Vol. 15:1; ISSN JGLRD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

520200* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
560300 -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
BACTERIA
BIOGEOCHEMISTRY
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHEMISTRY
DISTRIBUTION
DRILL CORES
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ELEMENTS
GEOCHEMISTRY
GREAT LAKES
GROUND WATER
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INTERSTITIAL WATER
IRON
LAKE SUPERIOR
LAKES
MANGANESE
METALS
MICROORGANISMS
MONITORING
NONMETALS
ORGANIC MATTER
OXYGEN
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
REDOX REACTIONS
SEDIMENTS
SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION
SURFACE WATERS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
WATER
WATER POLLUTION