Chemosynthesis: a neglected foundation of marine ecology and biogeochemistry

Francesco Ricci; Chris Greening

doi:10.1016/j.tim.2023.11.013

Chemosynthesis: a neglected foundation of marine ecology and biogeochemistry

Francesco Ricci, Chris Greening

Research output: Contribution to journal › Review Article › Research › peer-review

5 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Chemosynthesis is a metabolic process that transfers carbon to the biosphere using reduced compounds. It is well recognised that chemosynthesis occurs in much of the ocean, but it is often thought to be a negligible process compared to photosynthesis. Here we propose that chemosynthesis is the underlying process governing primary production in much of the ocean and suggest that it extends to a much wider range of compounds, microorganisms, and ecosystems than previously thought. In turn, this process has had a central role in controlling marine biogeochemistry, ecology, and carbon budgets across the vast realms of the ocean, from the dawn of life to contemporary times.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	631-639
Number of pages	9
Journal	Trends in Microbiology
Volume	32
Issue number	7
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tim.2023.11.013
Publication status	Published - Jul 2024

Keywords

carbon fixation
chemosynthesis
hydrogen
nitrification
ocean
primary production
sulfur
symbiosis

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.1016/j.tim.2023.11.013

Cite this

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title = "Chemosynthesis: a neglected foundation of marine ecology and biogeochemistry",

abstract = "Chemosynthesis is a metabolic process that transfers carbon to the biosphere using reduced compounds. It is well recognised that chemosynthesis occurs in much of the ocean, but it is often thought to be a negligible process compared to photosynthesis. Here we propose that chemosynthesis is the underlying process governing primary production in much of the ocean and suggest that it extends to a much wider range of compounds, microorganisms, and ecosystems than previously thought. In turn, this process has had a central role in controlling marine biogeochemistry, ecology, and carbon budgets across the vast realms of the ocean, from the dawn of life to contemporary times.",

keywords = "carbon fixation, chemosynthesis, hydrogen, nitrification, ocean, primary production, sulfur, symbiosis",

author = "Francesco Ricci and Chris Greening",

note = "Funding Information: We thank our laboratory members and collaborators for discussions that led to the writing of this manuscript and NOAA ( https://photolib.noaa.gov/ ) for providing images used in Figure 2 and specifically images credit to Lieutenant Elizabeth Crapo, NOAA (C), Dr Bob Embley, NOAA (D) and Prof Monika Bright, University of Vienna (H). C.G. acknowledges support from the National Health and Medical Research Council (Emerging Leader Fellowship APP1178715 ), Australian Research Council ( DP210101595 ), and the Human Frontiers Science Program ( RGY0058/2022 ). Funding Information: We thank our laboratory members and collaborators for discussions that led to the writing of this manuscript and NOAA (https://photolib.noaa.gov/) for providing images used in Figure 2 and specifically images credit to Lieutenant Elizabeth Crapo, NOAA (C), Dr Bob Embley, NOAA (D) and Prof Monika Bright, University of Vienna (H). C.G. acknowledges support from the National Health and Medical Research Council (Emerging Leader Fellowship APP1178715), Australian Research Council (DP210101595), and the Human Frontiers Science Program (RGY0058/2022). There are no interests to declare. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2023 Elsevier Ltd",

year = "2024",

month = jul,

doi = "10.1016/j.tim.2023.11.013",

language = "English",

volume = "32",

pages = "631--639",

journal = "Trends in Microbiology",

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AU - Greening, Chris

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N2 - Chemosynthesis is a metabolic process that transfers carbon to the biosphere using reduced compounds. It is well recognised that chemosynthesis occurs in much of the ocean, but it is often thought to be a negligible process compared to photosynthesis. Here we propose that chemosynthesis is the underlying process governing primary production in much of the ocean and suggest that it extends to a much wider range of compounds, microorganisms, and ecosystems than previously thought. In turn, this process has had a central role in controlling marine biogeochemistry, ecology, and carbon budgets across the vast realms of the ocean, from the dawn of life to contemporary times.

AB - Chemosynthesis is a metabolic process that transfers carbon to the biosphere using reduced compounds. It is well recognised that chemosynthesis occurs in much of the ocean, but it is often thought to be a negligible process compared to photosynthesis. Here we propose that chemosynthesis is the underlying process governing primary production in much of the ocean and suggest that it extends to a much wider range of compounds, microorganisms, and ecosystems than previously thought. In turn, this process has had a central role in controlling marine biogeochemistry, ecology, and carbon budgets across the vast realms of the ocean, from the dawn of life to contemporary times.

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Chemosynthesis: a neglected foundation of marine ecology and biogeochemistry

Abstract

Keywords

UN SDGs

Access to Document

Other files and links

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Chemosynthesis: a neglected foundation of marine ecology and biogeochemistry

Abstract

Keywords

UN SDGs

Access to Document

Other files and links

Projects

The atmosphere: a living breathing ecosystem?

Coastal permeable sediments as a novel source of greenhouse gases

What doesn't kill tuberculosis makes it stronger: carbon monoxide as a host-derived energy source for mycobacterial persistence

Cite this