Articles | Volume 22, issue 15
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-22-3931-2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-22-3931-2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
14 Aug 2025
Research article |
| 14 Aug 2025
| 14 Aug 2025
Hot-spring inputs and climate drive dynamic shifts in archaeal communities in Lake Magadi, Kenya Rift Valley
Evan R. Collins
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Department of Geology and Environmental Science, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
Troy M. Ferland
Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, Oak Ridge, TN 37830, USA
Isla S. Castañeda
Department of Earth, Geographic and Climate Sciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
R. Bernhart Owen
Department of Geography, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong SAR, China
Tim K. Lowenstein
Department of Geological Sciences, State University of New York, Binghamton, NY 13902, USA
Andrew S. Cohen
Department of Geosciences, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
deceased
Robin W. Renaut
Department of Geological Sciences, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5A2, Canada
Molly D. O'Beirne
Department of Geology and Environmental Science, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
Josef P. Werne
Department of Geology and Environmental Science, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
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Short summary
Archaeal molecular fossils (tetraethers) have been used around the globe to track changes in climate. Little is known about the archaeal response to environmental change in soda lakes, especially lakes influenced by hydrothermal inputs. For the first time in Lake Magadi, we show tetraethers tracking abrupt changes in methane and non-methane producers due to hydrothermal inputs to the lake. This study provides insight into the role of hydrothermal water and methane production in soda lakes.
Archaeal molecular fossils (tetraethers) have been used around the globe to track changes in...
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