Crustal fluid and ash alteration impacts on the biosphere of Shikoku Basin sediments, Nankai Trough, Japan

Torres, M.E., Cox, T., Hong, W.-L., McManus, J., Sample, J.C., Destrigneville, C., Gan, H.M., Gan, H.Y. and Moreau, J.W. (2015) Crustal fluid and ash alteration impacts on the biosphere of Shikoku Basin sediments, Nankai Trough, Japan. Geobiology, 13(6), pp. 562-580. (doi: 10.1111/gbi.12146) (PMID:26081483)

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Abstract

We present data from sediment cores collected from IODP Site C0012 in the Shikoku Basin. Our site lies at the Nankai Trough, just prior to subduction of the 19 Ma Philippine Sea plate. Our data indicate that the sedimentary package is undergoing multiple routes of electron transport and that these differing pathways for oxidant supply generate a complex array of metabolic routes and microbial communities involved in carbon cycling. Numerical simulations matched to pore water data document that Ca2+ and Cl1‐ are largely supplied via diffusion from a high‐salinity (44.5 psu) basement fluid, which supports the presence of halophile Archean communities within the deep sedimentary package that are not observed in shallow sediments. Sulfate supply from basement supports anaerobic oxidation of methane (AOM) at a rate of ~0.2 pmol cm−3 day−1 at ~400 mbsf. We also note the disappearance of δ‐Proteobacteria at 434 mbsf, coincident with the maximum in methane concentration, and their reappearance at 463 mbsf, coinciding with the observed deeper increase in sulfate concentration toward the basement. We did not, however, find ANME representatives in any of the samples analyzed (from 340 to 463 mbsf). The lack of ANME may be due to an overshadowing effect from the more dominant archaeal phylotypes or may indicate involvement of unknown groups of archaea in AOM (i.e., unclassified Euryarchaeota). In addition to the supply of sulfate from a basement aquifer, the deep biosphere at this site is also influenced by an elevated supply of reactive iron (up to 143 μmol g−1) and manganese (up to 20 μmol g−1). The effect of these metal oxides on the sulfur cycle is inferred from an accompanying sulfur isotope fractionation much smaller than expected from traditional sulfate‐reducing pathways. The detection of the manganese‐ and iron‐reducer γ‐Proteobacteria Alteromonas at 367 mbsf is consistent with these geochemical inferences.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Moreau, Dr John
Authors: Torres, M.E., Cox, T., Hong, W.-L., McManus, J., Sample, J.C., Destrigneville, C., Gan, H.M., Gan, H.Y., and Moreau, J.W.
College/School:College of Science and Engineering > School of Geographical and Earth Sciences > Earth Sciences
Journal Name:Geobiology
Publisher:Wiley
ISSN:1472-4677
ISSN (Online):1472-4669
Published Online:17 June 2015

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