Silica Precipitation Induced by the Anaerobic Sulfate Reducing Bacterium Desulfovibrio Desulfuricans: Effects Upon Cell Morphology and Implications for Preservation

Birnbaum, S. J.; Wireman, John W.; Borowski, Robert S.

doi:10.1007/978-1-4757-6114-6_39

Cited by 24 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 4 publications

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“…The progressive covering of S. elongatus cells by the nucleation of fine-grained particles of silica on their walls, observed in the 30 and 150 ppm Si experiments (Figs. 3c, 4c), has previously been observed in numerous fossilization studies, performed in situ (Schultze-Lam et al, 1995;Cady and Farmer, 1996;Konhauser et al, 2001;Jones et al, 1998Jones et al, , 2001Jones et al, , 2003Jones et al, , 2004Handley et al, 2005;Tobler et al, 2008) and in vitro (Oehler and Schopf, 1971;Oehler, 1976;Ferris et al, 1988;Birnbaum et al, 1989;Westall et al, 1995;Westall, 1997;Toporski et al, 2002;Lalonde et al, 2005;Orange et al, 2009Orange et al, , 2011. The complete entombment of the cells in a dense silica matrix observed in the 300 ppm Si experiment (Fig.…”

Section: Simulation Of Evaporation-driven Sinter Formationsupporting

confidence: 62%

“…In all other experimental studies, rapid pH neutralization was employed to induce silica deposition (e.g., Ferris et al, 1988;Birnbaum et al, 1989;Westall et al, 1995;Westall, 1997;Phoenix et al, 2000;Toporski et al, 2002;Yee et al, 2003;Benning et al, 2004aBenning et al, , 2004bLalonde et al, 2005;Orange et al, 2009Orange et al, , 2013, and evaporation as a viable pathway for rapid cellular fossilization was neither considered nor examined. Accordingly, the rationale for this study was to reproduce, in a simple way, the formation of laminated silica sinter in both the presence and absence of microorganisms and exclusively by evaporative processes.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Experimental Simulation of Evaporation-Driven Silica Sinter Formation and Microbial Silicification in Hot Spring Systems

2013

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Evaporation of silica-rich geothermal waters is one of the main abiotic drivers of the formation of silica sinters around hot springs. An important role in sinter structural development is also played by the indigenous microbial communities, which are fossilized and eventually encased in the silica matrix. The combination of these two factors results in a wide variety of sinter structures and fabrics. Despite this, no previous experimental fossilization studies have focused on evaporative-driven silica precipitation. We present here the results of several experiments aimed at simulating the formation of sinters through evaporation. Silica solutions at different concentrations were repeatedly allowed to evaporate in both the presence and absence of the cyanobacterium Synechococcus elongatus. Without microorganisms, consecutive silica additions led to the formation of well-laminated deposits. By contrast, when microorganisms were present, they acted as reactive surfaces for heterogeneous silica particle nucleation; depending on the initial silica concentration, the deposits were then either porous with a mixture of silicified and unmineralized cells, or they formed a denser structure with a complete entombment of the cells by a thick silica crust. The deposits obtained experimentally showed numerous similarities in terms of their fabric to those previously reported for natural hot springs, demonstrating the complex interplay between abiotic and biotic processes during silica sinter growth.

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Section: Simulation Of Evaporation-driven Sinter Formationsupporting

confidence: 62%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Experimental Simulation of Evaporation-Driven Silica Sinter Formation and Microbial Silicification in Hot Spring Systems

2013

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“…2e, which has a similar aspect to the free particles present around the virion). These mechanisms have previously been described in studies of the fossilisation of microorganisms (Birnbaum et al, 1989;Schultze-Lam et al, 1995;Westall et al, 1995;Toporski et al, 2002;Orange et al, 2009). Silica probably binds via covalent or hydrogen bonds between the silica particles and the hydroxyl and/or carboxyl functional groups contained in the protein of the helix (see review of the fossilisation processes in Konhauser et al, 2004).…”

Section: Fossilisation Of the Virusesmentioning

confidence: 87%

Experimental fossilisation of viruses from extremophilic Archaea

et al. 2011

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Abstract. The role of viruses at different stages of the origin of life has recently been reconsidered. It appears that viruses may have accompanied the earliest forms of life, allowing the transition from an RNA to a DNA world and possibly being involved in the shaping of tree of life in the three domains that we know presently. In addition, a large variety of viruses has been recently identified in extreme environments, hosted by extremophilic microorganisms, in ecosystems considered as analogues to those of the early Earth. Traces of life on the early Earth were preserved by the precipitation of silica on the organic structures. We present the results of the first experimental fossilisation by silica of viruses from extremophilic Archaea (SIRV2 -Sulfolobus islandicus rod-shaped virus 2, TPV1 -Thermococcus prieurii virus 1, and PAV1 -Pyrococcus abyssi virus 1). Our results confirm that viruses can be fossilised, with silica precipitating on the different viral structures (proteins, envelope) over several months in a manner similar to that of other experimentally and naturally fossilised microorganisms. This study thus suggests that viral remains or traces could be preserved in the rock record although their identification may be challenging due to the small size of the viral particles.

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“…need for a concentration mechanism for selective silicification of root traces, peat fragments, and fossil wood in the Lashly Formation. Considering indications of low-temperature silicification early during burial and local pyrite cubes, a likely mechanism for silicification of root traces, peat, and wood is as a consequence of plant decay by sulfate-reducing bacteria (Birnbaum and Wireman 1984;Birnbaum et al 1986). This process requires chemically reducing conditions and an organic substrate.…”

Section: Origin Of the White Root Tracesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A frost barrier in or near the pan could also pond water at shallow levels within the soil during early spring melt. In a forested soil with thick leaf litter this water could become stagnant enough to encourage sulfate-reducing bacteria to generate patchy silica cement by mechanisms that have been duplicated experimentally (Birnbaum and Wireman 1984;Birnbaum et al 1986). By this model, prismatic peds of the Scott pedotype can be regarded as indications of a seasonally cold climate.…”

Section: Vertical Jointingmentioning

confidence: 99%