Bacterial contributions to the formation of polymetallic nodules in the Pacific Ocean
Polymetallic nodules, widely distributed in the deep seafloor of the Pacific Ocean, are characterized by their abundance of diverse metal elements and considerable economic value. Previous studies have suggested a partial biogenic origin of these nodules. This study investigated the role of microorg...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-03-01
|
| Series: | Frontiers in Marine Science |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2025.1533654/full |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850239839083954176 |
|---|---|
| author | Xinyi He Xinyi He Xinyi He Xinyi He Qian Liu Xiaohu Li Xiaohu Li Xiaohu Li Zhenggang Li Zhenggang Li Hao Wang Hao Wang Zhimin Zhu Zhimin Zhu Yanhui Dong Yanhui Dong Jie Li Jie Li Huaiming Li Huaiming Li |
| author_facet | Xinyi He Xinyi He Xinyi He Xinyi He Qian Liu Xiaohu Li Xiaohu Li Xiaohu Li Zhenggang Li Zhenggang Li Hao Wang Hao Wang Zhimin Zhu Zhimin Zhu Yanhui Dong Yanhui Dong Jie Li Jie Li Huaiming Li Huaiming Li |
| author_sort | Xinyi He |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Polymetallic nodules, widely distributed in the deep seafloor of the Pacific Ocean, are characterized by their abundance of diverse metal elements and considerable economic value. Previous studies have suggested a partial biogenic origin of these nodules. This study investigated the role of microorganisms in nodule formation by examining biological-like structures and bacterial communities within nodules and sediments. Scanning electron microscopy revealed bacteria-like microspheres, skeleton-like structures and extracellular polymeric substances-like structures in the nodules. Energy dispersive spectroscopy showed that these biological-like structures facilitated metal enrichment, enabling subsequent mineral precipitation. Shewanella, Colwellia, Leptospirillum, Sulfitobacter, and other bacteria may possess mineralization potential due to their Mn or Fe oxidation capabilities. Differences in internal structures and bacterial community composition between nodules from the western and eastern Pacific Ocean could potentially suggest that growth environment factors may contribute to nodule formation variation. These findings highlight the involvement of microorganisms in nodule formation and contribute to a better understanding of the biogenic mineralization process. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-4cd245f758b94a4ea7cbf17a742ba09b |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2296-7745 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Marine Science |
| spelling | doaj-art-4cd245f758b94a4ea7cbf17a742ba09b2025-08-20T02:01:03ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Marine Science2296-77452025-03-011210.3389/fmars.2025.15336541533654Bacterial contributions to the formation of polymetallic nodules in the Pacific OceanXinyi He0Xinyi He1Xinyi He2Xinyi He3Qian Liu4Xiaohu Li5Xiaohu Li6Xiaohu Li7Zhenggang Li8Zhenggang Li9Hao Wang10Hao Wang11Zhimin Zhu12Zhimin Zhu13Yanhui Dong14Yanhui Dong15Jie Li16Jie Li17Huaiming Li18Huaiming Li19State Key Laboratory of Submarine Geoscience, Hangzhou, ChinaSecond Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Hangzhou, ChinaSchool of Oceanography, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, ChinaBureau of Marine Development, Qingdao West Coast New Area, Qingdao, ChinaKey Laboratory of Marine Ecosystem Dynamics, Second Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Hangzhou, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Submarine Geoscience, Hangzhou, ChinaSecond Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Hangzhou, ChinaSchool of Oceanography, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Submarine Geoscience, Hangzhou, ChinaSecond Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Hangzhou, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Submarine Geoscience, Hangzhou, ChinaSecond Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Hangzhou, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Submarine Geoscience, Hangzhou, ChinaSecond Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Hangzhou, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Submarine Geoscience, Hangzhou, ChinaSecond Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Hangzhou, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Submarine Geoscience, Hangzhou, ChinaSecond Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Hangzhou, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Submarine Geoscience, Hangzhou, ChinaSecond Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Hangzhou, ChinaPolymetallic nodules, widely distributed in the deep seafloor of the Pacific Ocean, are characterized by their abundance of diverse metal elements and considerable economic value. Previous studies have suggested a partial biogenic origin of these nodules. This study investigated the role of microorganisms in nodule formation by examining biological-like structures and bacterial communities within nodules and sediments. Scanning electron microscopy revealed bacteria-like microspheres, skeleton-like structures and extracellular polymeric substances-like structures in the nodules. Energy dispersive spectroscopy showed that these biological-like structures facilitated metal enrichment, enabling subsequent mineral precipitation. Shewanella, Colwellia, Leptospirillum, Sulfitobacter, and other bacteria may possess mineralization potential due to their Mn or Fe oxidation capabilities. Differences in internal structures and bacterial community composition between nodules from the western and eastern Pacific Ocean could potentially suggest that growth environment factors may contribute to nodule formation variation. These findings highlight the involvement of microorganisms in nodule formation and contribute to a better understanding of the biogenic mineralization process.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2025.1533654/fullpolymetallic nodulessedimentbacterial compositionbiomineralizationscanning electron microscopePacific Ocean |
| spellingShingle | Xinyi He Xinyi He Xinyi He Xinyi He Qian Liu Xiaohu Li Xiaohu Li Xiaohu Li Zhenggang Li Zhenggang Li Hao Wang Hao Wang Zhimin Zhu Zhimin Zhu Yanhui Dong Yanhui Dong Jie Li Jie Li Huaiming Li Huaiming Li Bacterial contributions to the formation of polymetallic nodules in the Pacific Ocean Frontiers in Marine Science polymetallic nodules sediment bacterial composition biomineralization scanning electron microscope Pacific Ocean |
| title | Bacterial contributions to the formation of polymetallic nodules in the Pacific Ocean |
| title_full | Bacterial contributions to the formation of polymetallic nodules in the Pacific Ocean |
| title_fullStr | Bacterial contributions to the formation of polymetallic nodules in the Pacific Ocean |
| title_full_unstemmed | Bacterial contributions to the formation of polymetallic nodules in the Pacific Ocean |
| title_short | Bacterial contributions to the formation of polymetallic nodules in the Pacific Ocean |
| title_sort | bacterial contributions to the formation of polymetallic nodules in the pacific ocean |
| topic | polymetallic nodules sediment bacterial composition biomineralization scanning electron microscope Pacific Ocean |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2025.1533654/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT xinyihe bacterialcontributionstotheformationofpolymetallicnodulesinthepacificocean AT xinyihe bacterialcontributionstotheformationofpolymetallicnodulesinthepacificocean AT xinyihe bacterialcontributionstotheformationofpolymetallicnodulesinthepacificocean AT xinyihe bacterialcontributionstotheformationofpolymetallicnodulesinthepacificocean AT qianliu bacterialcontributionstotheformationofpolymetallicnodulesinthepacificocean AT xiaohuli bacterialcontributionstotheformationofpolymetallicnodulesinthepacificocean AT xiaohuli bacterialcontributionstotheformationofpolymetallicnodulesinthepacificocean AT xiaohuli bacterialcontributionstotheformationofpolymetallicnodulesinthepacificocean AT zhenggangli bacterialcontributionstotheformationofpolymetallicnodulesinthepacificocean AT zhenggangli bacterialcontributionstotheformationofpolymetallicnodulesinthepacificocean AT haowang bacterialcontributionstotheformationofpolymetallicnodulesinthepacificocean AT haowang bacterialcontributionstotheformationofpolymetallicnodulesinthepacificocean AT zhiminzhu bacterialcontributionstotheformationofpolymetallicnodulesinthepacificocean AT zhiminzhu bacterialcontributionstotheformationofpolymetallicnodulesinthepacificocean AT yanhuidong bacterialcontributionstotheformationofpolymetallicnodulesinthepacificocean AT yanhuidong bacterialcontributionstotheformationofpolymetallicnodulesinthepacificocean AT jieli bacterialcontributionstotheformationofpolymetallicnodulesinthepacificocean AT jieli bacterialcontributionstotheformationofpolymetallicnodulesinthepacificocean AT huaimingli bacterialcontributionstotheformationofpolymetallicnodulesinthepacificocean AT huaimingli bacterialcontributionstotheformationofpolymetallicnodulesinthepacificocean |