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Sulfide Toxicity as Key Control on Anaerobic Oxidation of Methane in Eutrophic Coastal Sediments.

Authors :
Dalcin Martins P
de Monlevad JPRC
Echeveste Medrano MJ
Lenstra WK
Wallenius AJ
Hermans M
Slomp CP
Welte CU
Jetten MSM
van Helmond NAGM
Source :
Environmental science & technology [Environ Sci Technol] 2024 Jul 02; Vol. 58 (26), pp. 11421-11435. Date of Electronic Publication: 2024 Jun 18.
Publication Year :
2024

Abstract

Coastal zones account for 75% of marine methane emissions, despite covering only 15% of the ocean surface area. In these ecosystems, the tight balance between methane production and oxidation in sediments prevents most methane from escaping into seawater. However, anthropogenic activities could disrupt this balance, leading to an increased methane escape from coastal sediments. To quantify and unravel potential mechanisms underlying this disruption, we used a suite of biogeochemical and microbiological analyses to investigate the impact of anthropogenically induced redox shifts on methane cycling in sediments from three sites with contrasting bottom water redox conditions (oxic-hypoxic-euxinic) in the eutrophic Stockholm Archipelago. Our results indicate that the methane production potential increased under hypoxia and euxinia, while anaerobic oxidation of methane was disrupted under euxinia. Experimental, genomic, and biogeochemical data suggest that the virtual disappearance of methane-oxidizing archaea at the euxinic site occurred due to sulfide toxicity. This could explain a near 7-fold increase in the extent of escape of benthic methane at the euxinic site relative to the hypoxic one. In conclusion, these insights reveal how the development of euxinia could disrupt the coastal methane biofilter, potentially leading to increased methane emissions from coastal zones.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
1520-5851
Volume :
58
Issue :
26
Database :
MEDLINE
Journal :
Environmental science & technology
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
38888209
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.3c10418