Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Lichao Fan, Michaela A. Dippold, Volker Thiel, Tida Ge, Jinshui Wu, Yakov Kuzyakov, Maxim Dorodnikov
Summary: The study analyzed the effects of temperature on methane oxidation and methane production, finding that methane oxidation is highly temperature-dependent and has a similar temperature dependence to methane production. Additionally, it was found that methane oxidation in paddy soils consumes a significant amount of CH4 globally, but at a lower rate compared to methane production.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Mina Bizic, Danny Ionescu, Rajat Karnatak, Camille L. Musseau, Gabriela Onandia, Stella A. Berger, Jens C. Nejstgaard, Gunnar Lischeid, Mark O. Gessner, Sabine Wollrab, Hans-Peter Grossart
Summary: Changes in land use and agricultural intensification have negative impacts on biodiversity and ecosystem functioning of small water bodies. A study in northeastern Germany found that land-use type affects the structure of active bacterial, archaeal, and eukaryotic communities in kettle holes, but does not significantly impact gene expression patterns. This suggests a high level of functional redundancy across the communities. The study highlights the importance of considering the effects of surrounding landscape on water bodies for sustainable management and biodiversity conservation.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Luke H. Steller, Martin J. Van Kranendonk, Anna Wang
Summary: The dehydration/rehydration process can transform dense lipid aggregates into thin-walled vesicles capable of RNA encapsulation even at acidic pHs, which is a crucial step in the emergence of cell-based life.
ACS CENTRAL SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Geology
Eric A. Runge, Jan-Peter Duda, Martin J. Van Kranendonk, Joachim Reitner
Summary: This paper presents a sedimentary section from the Dresser Formation in Western Australia, dating back to 3.48 billion years ago, which may be the oldest reported tsunami deposit on Earth. The analysis suggests that the tsunami was likely triggered by local fault-induced seismic activity. This study further emphasizes the significance of high-energy depositional events for the early evolution of life on Earth.
DEPOSITIONAL RECORD
(2022)
Article
Biology
Raphael J. Baumgartner, Siyu Hu, Martin J. Van Kranendonk, Michael Verrall
Summary: This study examines fossilized microorganisms and related microtextures in deep-sea hydrothermal chimneys, revealing important insights into the adaptation of microorganisms to extreme environments. The findings have significant implications for micropaleontological and palaeoecological research.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Sebastiaan W. Rampen, Thomas Friedl, Nataliya Rybalka, Volker Thiel
Summary: Long chain 1,13- and 1,15-diols are lipids found in marine environments and can be used as a proxy for sea surface temperature. This study reveals that early-branching marine eustigmatophytes are the main biological source of these lipids. The Long chain Diol Index (LDI) primarily reflects temperatures from the warmest month. Factors such as diatoms and freshwater input can affect the accuracy of LDI, but can be identified and corrected for.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Sebastian Zeman-Kuhnert, Volker Thiel, Christine Heim
Summary: This study examined the impact of extreme weather events on algal and cyanobacterial blooms in Lake Seeburg, Germany. The results showed that a heavy rain event in 2017 caused a short but severe cyanobacterial bloom due to external nutrient input. In contrast, the exceptionally hot and dry summer of 2018 led to a sustained bloom supported by internal nutrient delivery. These findings highlight the importance of considering the effects of extreme weather events in future remediation strategies.
Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
Bronwyn L. Teece, Jeff R. Havig, Simon C. George, Trinity L. Hamilton, Raphael J. Baumgartner, Julie Hartz, Martin J. Van Kranendonk
Summary: This study investigates the preservation and evolution of organic matter in hot spring sinters through the analysis of fossilized sinters from Yellowstone National Park. The results suggest that the organic matter maturation occurred in the deeper parts of the hydrothermal system and that exogenous material was transported and emplaced within the sinter.
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Stefano Caruso, Raphael J. Baumgartner, Martin J. Van Kranendonk, Marco L. Fiorentini, Anthony Dosseto
Summary: This study provides a new perspective on the evolution of the hydrothermal system of the Dresser caldera by analyzing the altered North Star Basalt. The B and Li concentrations and stable isotope ratios in different samples suggest inputs from different fluid reservoirs and emphasize the significant contribution of magmatic fluids in the hydrothermal system.
Article
Ecology
Mina Bizic, Traian Brad, Danny Ionescu, Lucian Barbu-Tudoran, Luca Zoccarato, Joost W. Aerts, Paul-Emile Contarini, Olivier Gros, Jean-Marie Volland, Radu Popa, Jessica Ody, Daniel Vellone, Jean-Francois Flot, Scott Tighe, Serban M. Sarbu
Summary: Thiovulum spp. are large sulfur bacteria that form veil-like structures in aquatic environments. The study focused on Thiovulum strains found in the sulfidic Movile Cave and other subsurface environments, which were found to be genetically distinct from marine Thiovulum strains. The analysis revealed a new species called Candidatus Thiovulum stygium, and showed that cave Thiovulum can switch between aerobic and anaerobic sulfide oxidation, playing a role in both sulfur and nitrogen cycles. Electron microscopy analysis suggested that the short peritrichous structures of Thiovulum are type IV pili, which may contribute to veil formation and the motility of these bacteria.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
David Kamanda Ngugi, Michaela M. Salcher, Adrian-Stefan Andrei, Rohit Ghai, Franziska Klotz, Maria-Cecilia Chiriac, Danny Ionescu, Petra Buesing, Hans-Peter Grossart, Peng Xing, John C. Priscu, Salmor Alymkulov, Michael Pester
Summary: A study has found that the species diversity of ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) in freshwater is lower compared to marine environments. The research also reveals that an uncultured freshwater AOA, Candidatus Nitrosopumilus limneticus, evolved in European lakes 13 million years ago and has remained genetically stable. These findings provide insights into the genetic diversity and adaptive mechanisms of AOA in lakes.
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Doris Ilicic, Danny Ionescu, Jason Woodhouse, Hans-Peter Grossart
Summary: In recent years, our understanding of the roles of bacterial communities in the Antarctic Ocean has significantly improved. It has been found that Antarctic marine bacteria are metabolically versatile, and even closely related strains may differ in their functionality and, therefore, affect the ecosystem differently. However, most studies have focused on entire bacterial communities, with little attention given to individual taxonomic groups. This study shows that a 1-degree Celsius increase in water temperature is enough to alter bacterial communities on a short-term temporal scale, emphasizing the importance of understanding how climate change affects bacterial species in the Antarctic.
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Danny Ionescu, Jean-Marie Volland, Paul-Emile Contarini, Olivier Gros
Summary: Bacteria and Archaea, traditionally considered to have simple morphology, have been found to include giant bacteria. Genomic studies have revealed the physiology and evolutionary mechanisms of these giant bacteria.
GENOME BIOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Michael O. Eze, Volker Thiel, Grant C. Hose, Simon C. George, Rolf Daniel
Summary: Through genomic analyses and greenhouse-based experiments, the synergistic interactions of Medicago sativa L. and Paraburkholderia tropica WTPI1 were found to enhance rhizoremediation of diesel fuel-contaminated soils by promoting plant growth and degrading hydrocarbons.
COMMUNICATIONS EARTH & ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Yu Pei, Hans Hagdorn, Thomas Voigt, Jan-Peter Duda, Joachim Reitner
Summary: This study examines and compares microbialites from different regions in Germany and finds that they form in slightly evaporitic environments. The distribution of stromatolites and microbe-metazoan build-ups may be controlled by subtle differences in salinity and water depth.