Exploring the Bacteria Found In Underwater Environments

Motivation

Bahamas blue holes link

Blue Hole Research link

Related People/Researchers

- Julie A. Huber

• Julie Huber (WHOI) 2: Subseafloor Life at Axial Seamount (2019, 24 mins
• Julie Huber (WHOI) 1: Microbes, Fluids, and Rocks (2019, 16 mins)

- Stephanie J. Schwabe

- Jennifer L. Macalady

Introduction

- All organisms respire, i.e. have a metabolic mechanism by which they obtain energy. This oxidation-reduction (redox) mechanism requires electrons to be transferred from the electron donor (ie the fuel) to the electron acceptor.

- Carbon compounds are the most common electron donor, although inorganic nitrogen is also a fuel for some bacteria.

- Bacteria can exist in aerobic (with oxygen) and anaerobic (without oxygen) environments.

- Aerobic bacteria that can only use dioxygen (O₂) as the electron acceptor are called obligate aerobes.

- Anaerobic bacteria must use something other than dioxygen as an electron acceptor.

- Facultative bacteria can carryout respiration using either aerobic or anaerobic mechanisms.

- We are particularly interested in anaerobic bacteria.

• sulfate-reducing bacteria
• sulfur-reducing bacteria

References

Coupled reductive and Oxidative sulfur cycling (Gebiol, 2014)

Energy, Ecology, and the Distribution of Microbial Life (Philosophical Transactions, 2013)