Microbially mediated biogeochemical processes across the sediment-water interface

• Grant number: 08/04594-4
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Duration: November 01, 2008 - October 31, 2010
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Oceanography - Biological Oceanography
• Principal Investigator: Paulo Yukio Gomes Sumida
• Grantee: Paulo Yukio Gomes Sumida
• Host Institution: Instituto Oceanográfico (IO). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

An important fraction of the primary productivity occurring in the oceans takes place in coastal areas, which act as sources and sinks of biogenic particles. In marine sediments, organic matter cycling controls the pathways of important chemical elements, which depend upon a number of factors. Oxygen content in interstitial water, deposition rates of particulate material, redox condition, microbial activity and organic matter composition are all important in the cycling of organic material. These benthic processes offer a fundamental service to the marine ecosystem through the burial of organic matter and remineralization of nutrients, which cycle back to the water column allowing phytoplankton to produce new organic material. Knowledge of budgets involved in the process, as well as the main biological links, are nonetheless poorly understood. The present proposal aims to measure sedimentary nutrient fluxes in response to varying oceanographic conditions simulated in laboratory. A molecular characterization of the sedimentary microbial community will also be made in order to identify the main groups of microorganisms involved in the different stages of the experiment. Together with the measurement of a series of sediment parameters we expected to produce a quali- quantitative view of the origin and fate of organic of organic matter in coastal areas. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

DE MORAES, PAULA CARPINTERO; FRANCO, DIEGO CASTILLO; PELLIZARI, VIVIAN HELENA; GOMES SUMIDA, PAULO YUKIO. Effect of plankton-derived organic matter on the microbial community of coastal marine sediments. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, v. 461, p. 257-266, DEC 2014. (08/04594-4, 08/08244-8)