Electric currents couple spatially separated biogeochemical processes in marine sediment

Lars Peter Nielsen (), Nils Risgaard-Petersen, Henrik Fossing, Peter Bondo Christensen and Mikio Sayama
Additional contact information
Lars Peter Nielsen: Department of Biological Sciences,
Nils Risgaard-Petersen: Center for Geomicrobiology, Aarhus University, Ny Munkegade 114, DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
Henrik Fossing: National Environmental Research Institute, Aarhus University, Vejlsøvej 25, DK-8600 Silkeborg, Denmark
Peter Bondo Christensen: National Environmental Research Institute, Aarhus University, Vejlsøvej 25, DK-8600 Silkeborg, Denmark
Mikio Sayama: National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, 16-1 Onogawa, Tsukuba 305-8569, Japan

Nature, 2010, vol. 463, issue 7284, 1071-1074

Abstract: Down through the wire Some microbes are capable of extracellular electron transport through so-called bacterial nanowires or electron shuttles. It is now shown that this may be a significant process in the marine sediment, allowing oxygen to oxidize compounds located centimetres away. The remains of dead algae and faeces buried in marine sediment are a good food resource for microbes, but at sediment depths greater than a few millimetres the lack of oxygen limits utilization of this resource. A study of sediment samples from the seabed off Aarhus in Denmark reveals that microbes can overcome this obstacle by making intercellular electric connections and establishing a division of labour. Cells at the surface utilize sufficient oxygen for all cells in the community, and those at depth acquire nutrients for all.

Date: 2010
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DOI: 10.1038/nature08790

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