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Linking Topographical Ring Features to Geochemical and Geophysical Anomalies.

Authors :
von Gunten, Konstantin
Hamilton, Stewart M.
DiLoreto, Zach A.
Alam, Md Samrat
Snihur, Katherine N.
Dittrich, Maria
Konhauser, Kurt O.
Alessi, Daniel S.
Source :
Geomicrobiology Journal; Feb2024, Vol. 41 Issue 2, p120-127, 8p
Publication Year :
2024

Abstract

Circular features in forests seen from air have been studied for several decades at different locations around the world. Forest rings, as they are called in Canada's boreal forests, express several geochemical (pH, carbonate content) and geophysical (surface potential) anomalies on their 20–30 m wide ring edges. Although it has been proposed that microbial processes may cause these anomalies, the exact mechanisms of ring formation are still unknown. We focused on the Thorn North forest ring in Ontario, Canada to correlate the surface potential anomaly to soil gas concentrations. Field measurements showed that the surface potential drop at the ring edge center is framed by peaks in CO<subscript>2</subscript> production, which is linked to O<subscript>2</subscript> depletion and methane generation. Carbon isotope signatures were found to drop to lighter values (down to −20‰), suggesting increased respiration. Higher concentrations of uronic acids bound to extracellular polymeric substances were found, indicating that the surface potential anomaly is linked to respiration. 16S rRNA gene sequencing of shallow soil did not indicate a dominant microbial group on the edges; instead, principal component analysis showed that the microbial composition was controlled by the substrate (clayey vs. sandy soil), therefore future studies should focus on deeper ground layers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
01490451
Volume :
41
Issue :
2
Database :
Complementary Index
Journal :
Geomicrobiology Journal
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
175195119
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1080/01490451.2023.2286505