Microbially enhanced dissolution of calcite in sinking marine particles.
Saved in:
| Title: | Microbially enhanced dissolution of calcite in sinking marine particles. |
|---|---|
| Authors: | Borer, Benedict1,2 benborer@marine.rutgers.edu, Subhas, Adam V.3, Hayden, Matthew G.3, Woosley, Ryan J.4, Babbin, Andrew R.1 babbin@mit.edu |
| Source: | Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 3/17/2026, Vol. 123 Issue 11, p1-12. 19p. |
| Subjects: | Microbial metabolism, Microbial respiration, Biogeochemical cycles, Carbon sequestration, Ocean acidification, Mesopelagic zone |
| Abstract: | Evidence for the shallow cycling of calcium carbonate in the global ocean is mounting, but the mechanisms driving the dissolution of thermodynamically stable polymorphs, like aragonite and calcite, in the surface ocean remain unconstrained. Here, we quantify how microbial metabolism creates acidic microenvironments in marine particles that enhance the local dissolution of calcite despite supersaturated conditions in bulk waters. A temporal decoupling of particle deoxygenation and acidification suggests that respiration-derived carbon dioxide is not the sole driver of the observed undersaturation. Rapid dissolution occurs in particles exhibiting bacterial growth, with rates exceeding abiotic dissolution at the same bulk saturation by more than an order of magnitude. We observe the highest particle-associated dissolution rates at intermediate settling velocities, indicating that a trade-off between elevated mass transfer due to settling and bacterial respiration governs the ensuing dissolution rates. Translation of our experiments to the water column suggests that microbially driven undersaturation in marine particles may dissolve sufficient calcite in the mesopelagic ocean to extend particle transit times by eliminating this vital ballast mineral, reducing the efficiency of organic carbon sequestration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America is the property of National Academy of Sciences and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | Engineering Source |
| FullText | Text: Availability: 0 |
|---|---|
| Header | DbId: egs DbLabel: Engineering Source An: 192860010 AccessLevel: 6 PubType: Academic Journal PubTypeId: academicJournal PreciseRelevancyScore: 0 |
| IllustrationInfo | |
| Items | – Name: Title Label: Title Group: Ti Data: Microbially enhanced dissolution of calcite in sinking marine particles. – Name: Author Label: Authors Group: Au Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Borer%2C+Benedict%22">Borer, Benedict</searchLink><relatesTo>1,2</relatesTo><i> benborer@marine.rutgers.edu</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Subhas%2C+Adam+V%2E%22">Subhas, Adam V.</searchLink><relatesTo>3</relatesTo><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Hayden%2C+Matthew+G%2E%22">Hayden, Matthew G.</searchLink><relatesTo>3</relatesTo><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Woosley%2C+Ryan+J%2E%22">Woosley, Ryan J.</searchLink><relatesTo>4</relatesTo><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Babbin%2C+Andrew+R%2E%22">Babbin, Andrew R.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo><i> babbin@mit.edu</i> – Name: TitleSource Label: Source Group: Src Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Proceedings+of+the+National+Academy+of+Sciences+of+the+United+States+of+America%22">Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America</searchLink>. 3/17/2026, Vol. 123 Issue 11, p1-12. 19p. – Name: Subject Label: Subjects Group: Su Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Microbial+metabolism%22">Microbial metabolism</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Microbial+respiration%22">Microbial respiration</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Biogeochemical+cycles%22">Biogeochemical cycles</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Carbon+sequestration%22">Carbon sequestration</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Ocean+acidification%22">Ocean acidification</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Mesopelagic+zone%22">Mesopelagic zone</searchLink> – Name: Abstract Label: Abstract Group: Ab Data: Evidence for the shallow cycling of calcium carbonate in the global ocean is mounting, but the mechanisms driving the dissolution of thermodynamically stable polymorphs, like aragonite and calcite, in the surface ocean remain unconstrained. Here, we quantify how microbial metabolism creates acidic microenvironments in marine particles that enhance the local dissolution of calcite despite supersaturated conditions in bulk waters. A temporal decoupling of particle deoxygenation and acidification suggests that respiration-derived carbon dioxide is not the sole driver of the observed undersaturation. Rapid dissolution occurs in particles exhibiting bacterial growth, with rates exceeding abiotic dissolution at the same bulk saturation by more than an order of magnitude. We observe the highest particle-associated dissolution rates at intermediate settling velocities, indicating that a trade-off between elevated mass transfer due to settling and bacterial respiration governs the ensuing dissolution rates. Translation of our experiments to the water column suggests that microbially driven undersaturation in marine particles may dissolve sufficient calcite in the mesopelagic ocean to extend particle transit times by eliminating this vital ballast mineral, reducing the efficiency of organic carbon sequestration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] – Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright Label: Group: Ab Data: <i>Copyright of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America is the property of National Academy of Sciences and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) |
| PLink | https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=egs&AN=192860010 |
| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Identifiers: – Type: doi Value: 10.1073/pnas.2510025123 Languages: – Code: eng Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 19 StartPage: 1 Subjects: – SubjectFull: Microbial metabolism Type: general – SubjectFull: Microbial respiration Type: general – SubjectFull: Biogeochemical cycles Type: general – SubjectFull: Carbon sequestration Type: general – SubjectFull: Ocean acidification Type: general – SubjectFull: Mesopelagic zone Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: Microbially enhanced dissolution of calcite in sinking marine particles. Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Borer, Benedict – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Subhas, Adam V. – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Hayden, Matthew G. – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Woosley, Ryan J. – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Babbin, Andrew R. IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 17 M: 03 Text: 3/17/2026 Type: published Y: 2026 Identifiers: – Type: issn-print Value: 00278424 Numbering: – Type: volume Value: 123 – Type: issue Value: 11 Titles: – TitleFull: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America Type: main |
| ResultId | 1 |
