scholarly journals Reviews and syntheses: Heterotrophic fixation of inorganic carbon – significant but invisible flux in environmental carbon cycling

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (12) ◽  
pp. 3689-3700
Author(s):  
Alexander Braun ◽  
Marina Spona-Friedl ◽  
Maria Avramov ◽  
Martin Elsner ◽  
Federico Baltar ◽  
...  

Abstract. Heterotrophic CO2 fixation is a significant yet underappreciated CO2 flux in environmental carbon cycling. In contrast to photosynthesis and chemolithoautotrophy – the main recognized autotrophic CO2 fixation pathways – the importance of heterotrophic CO2 fixation remains enigmatic. All heterotrophs – from microorganisms to humans – take up CO2 and incorporate it into their biomass. Depending on the availability and quality of growth substrates, and drivers such as the CO2 partial pressure, heterotrophic CO2 fixation contributes at least 1 %–5 % and in the case of methanotrophs up to 50 % of the carbon biomass. Assuming a standing stock of global heterotrophic biomass of 47–85 Pg C, we roughly estimate that up to 5 Pg C might be derived from heterotrophic CO2 fixation, and up to 12 Pg C yr−1 originating from heterotrophic CO2 fixation is funneled into the global annual heterotrophic production of 34–245 Pg C yr−1. These first estimates on the importance of heterotrophic fixation of inorganic carbon indicate that this pathway should be incorporated in present and future carbon cycling budgets.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander Braun ◽  
Marina Spona-Friedl ◽  
Maria Avramov ◽  
Martin Elsner ◽  
Federico Baltar ◽  
...  

Abstract. Heterotrophic CO2 fixation is a significant, yet underappreciated CO2 flux in the global carbon cycle. In contrast to photosynthesis and chemolithoautotrophy – the main recognized autotrophic CO2 fixation pathways – the importance of heterotrophic CO2 fixation remains enigmatic. All heterotrophs – from microorganisms to humans – take up CO2 and incorporate it into their biomass. Depending on the available growth substrates, heterotrophic CO2 fixation contributes at least 2–8 % and in the case of methanotrophs up to 50 % of the carbon building up their biomass. Assuming a standing stock of global heterotrophic biomass of 47–85 Pg C, we estimate that up to 7 Pg C have been derived from heterotrophic CO2 fixation and up to 20 Pg C yr−1 originating from heterotrophic CO2 fixation are funneled into the global annual heterotrophic production of 34–245 Pg C yr−1. These first estimates on the importance of heterotrophic fixation of inorganic carbon indicate that this carbon fixation pathway should be included in present and future global carbon budgets.


Ocean Science ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 193-216 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Rödenbeck ◽  
R. F. Keeling ◽  
D. C. E. Bakker ◽  
N. Metzl ◽  
A. Olsen ◽  
...  

Abstract. A temporally and spatially resolved estimate of the global surface-ocean CO2 partial pressure field and the sea–air CO2 flux is presented, obtained by fitting a simple data-driven diagnostic model of ocean mixed-layer biogeochemistry to surface-ocean CO2 partial pressure data from the SOCAT v1.5 database. Results include seasonal, interannual, and short-term (daily) variations. In most regions, estimated seasonality is well constrained from the data, and compares well to the widely used monthly climatology by Takahashi et al. (2009). Comparison to independent data tentatively supports the slightly higher seasonal variations in our estimates in some areas. We also fitted the diagnostic model to atmospheric CO2 data. The results of this are less robust, but in those areas where atmospheric signals are not strongly influenced by land flux variability, their seasonality is nevertheless consistent with the results based on surface-ocean data. From a comparison with an independent seasonal climatology of surface-ocean nutrient concentration, the diagnostic model is shown to capture relevant surface-ocean biogeochemical processes reasonably well. Estimated interannual variations will be presented and discussed in a companion paper.


2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katja Fennel ◽  
Simone Alin ◽  
Leticia Barbero ◽  
Wiley Evans ◽  
Timotheé Bourgeois ◽  
...  

Abstract. A quantification of carbon fluxes in the coastal ocean and across its boundaries, specifically the air-sea, land-to-coastal-ocean and coastal-to-open-ocean interfaces, is important for assessing the current state and projecting future trends in ocean carbon uptake and coastal ocean acidification, but is currently a missing component of global carbon budgeting. This synthesis reviews recent progress in characterizing these carbon fluxes with focus on the North American coastal ocean. Several observing networks and high-resolution regional models are now available. Recent efforts have focused primarily on quantifying net air-sea exchange of carbon dioxide (CO2). Some studies have estimated other key fluxes, such as the exchange of organic and inorganic carbon between shelves and the open ocean. Available estimates of air-sea CO2 flux, informed by more than a decade of observations, indicate that the North American margins act as a net sink for atmospheric CO2. This net uptake is driven primarily by the high-latitude regions. The estimated magnitude of the net flux is 160 ± 80 Tg C/y for the North American Exclusive Economic Zone, a number that is not well constrained. The increasing concentration of inorganic carbon in coastal and open-ocean waters leads to ocean acidification. As a result conditions favouring dissolution of calcium carbonate occur regularly in subsurface coastal waters in the Arctic, which are naturally prone to low pH, and the North Pacific, where upwelling of deep, carbon-rich waters has intensified and, in combination with the uptake of anthropogenic carbon, leads to low seawater pH and aragonite saturation states during the upwelling season. Expanded monitoring and extension of existing model capabilities are required to provide more reliable coastal carbon budgets, projections of future states of the coastal ocean, and quantification of anthropogenic carbon contributions.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 10-16
Author(s):  
George Dasat Shwamyil ◽  
G. Danjuma ◽  
E. S. Chundusu

Wetlands provide several ecosystem services including carbon capture and storage, water filtration, nutrient cycling, and support agriculture among others. The biogeochemical process and decomposition parameters in ‘Fadama' wetland soils comprising of Gada biyu, Pwomol and Kpang referred to as sites A, B, and C respectively all of Heipang District in Barkin Ladi, Plateau State was investigated using standard operating procedures (SOP). Results of investigations revealed that soils from Kpang had slightly higher water content (34.52%) than those from Pwomol (33.48%) and Gada biyu (32.03%). While soils from Gada biyu had the highest solid organic matter (SOM) (10.79%) followed by Pwomol (8.15%) as Kpang had the least (7.85%). Gada biyu soils had the lowest Phenol oxidases activity (1536.56 nmol dicq g-1 h-1) while those from Pwomol (5340.44 nmol dicq g-1 h-1) was highest. All sites had similar concentrations of soil phenolics (76.58 µg g-1, 79.98µg g-1, and 83.25µg g-1). The activity of hydrolyses (β-glucosidase) in Gada biyu soil (2.93 nmol g-1 min-1) was lower than those from Pwomol (6.13 nmol g-1 min-1). These parameters indicate the level of biogeochemical processes in the soil at each site. Gada biyu had the highest rate of CH4 (0.84 ug g-1h-1) flux. Decomposition of organic matter, carbon cycling and greenhouse gas storage in wetland soil, is due to the anoxic condition comprising of low oxygen availability, cool temperatures, anaerobic conditions, reduced microbial activity, and the quality of organic matter substrates in such soils.  Anthropogenic disturbances affecting wetlands must be discouraged to promote vital ecosystem services.


2012 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 72-81 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wilawan Khanitchaidecha ◽  
Futaba Kazama

To study the performance of an attached growth reactor on nitrate-nitrogen (NO3-N) removal by a hydrogenotrophic denitrification process, the reactor was operated under various H2 flow rates (30, 50 and 70 mL/min), hydraulic retention times (HRTs) (2.6, 3.1, 4.7 and 6.7 h) and inorganic carbon (IC) concentrations (excess and no IC addition). Synthetic NO3-N water was prepared in accordance with the groundwater quality of the study area: Chyasal in Kathmandu Valley, Nepal. The results show an increase in denitrification efficiency with H2 flow rate and HRT. Further, for effective denitrification, the dissolved hydrogen (DH) during operation should be maintained at greater than 0.1 mg/L. A sharp decrease in the denitrification efficiency from ∼96% (under excess IC) to 10–35% (under no IC) suggested occurrence of denitrification inside the attached growth reactor by a hydrogenotrophic process (using H2) as well as heterotrophic process (using internal organic carbon). The good performance of the attached growth reactor in terms of high efficiency, low H2 supply and short HRT requirement indicates the reactor's appropriateness for groundwater remediation through NO3-N removal.


1987 ◽  
Vol 62 (3) ◽  
pp. 880-891 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. A. Cross ◽  
R. P. Stidwill ◽  
K. D. Leaver ◽  
S. J. Semple

Theory predicts that the rate of rise of the oscillation in arterial CO2 partial pressure (PaCO2) is linearly dependent on CO2 flux from venous blood to alveolar gas. We have measured, in the anesthetized cat, CO2 output (VCO2) and oscillations in arterial pH. The pH signal was differentiated to give the maximum rate of fall of pH on the downstroke of the oscillation (dpH/dt decreases max). Since oscillations in pH are due to oscillations in arterial PCO2, dpH/dt decreases max was considered to be equivalent to the maximum rate of rise of the PCO2 oscillation. VCO2 was increased by ventilating the intestines with CO2 and by the intra-arterial infusion of 2,4-dinitrophenol. VCO2 was decreased by filling the intestines with isotonic tris(hydroxymethyl)methylamine buffer. The maximum range of VCO2 covered was 7.8–51 ml/min, and the mean range was from 13.6 +/- 1.3 to 29.7 +/- 1.6 (SE) ml/min. Although CO2 loading produced a small rise and CO2 unloading a small fall in mean PaCO2, the changes were not statistically significant, so that overall the response was close to isocapnia. Over the limited range of VCO2 studied there was a highly significant linear association between dpH/dt decreases max and VCO2 which supports the contention that the slope of the upstroke of the PaCO2 oscillation is determined by the CO2 flux from mixed venous blood to alveolar gas. As such this slope is a potential chemical signal linking ventilation to CO2 production.


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