Articles | Volume 22, issue 19
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-22-5483-2025
© 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-22-5483-2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
10 Oct 2025
Research article |
| 10 Oct 2025
| 10 Oct 2025
Microbial sulfur cycling across a 13 500-year-old lake sediment record
Institute of Earth Surface Dynamics, Department of Geosciences and Environment, University of Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
Paula C. Rodriguez
Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, ETH Zurich, 8049 Zurich, Switzerland
Cara Magnabosco
Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, ETH Zurich, 8049 Zurich, Switzerland
Longhui Deng
Institute of Biogeochemistry and Pollutant Dynamics, Department of Environmental Systems Science, ETH Zurich, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland
present address: School of Oceanography, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
Stefano M. Bernasconi
Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, ETH Zurich, 8049 Zurich, Switzerland
Hendrik Vogel
Institute of Geological Sciences, University of Bern, Baltzerstrasse 1+3, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
Oeschger Center for Climate Change Research, University of Bern, Hochschulstrasse 4, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
Marina Morlock
Institute of Geological Sciences, University of Bern, Baltzerstrasse 1+3, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
Oeschger Center for Climate Change Research, University of Bern, Hochschulstrasse 4, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
present address: Department of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Umeå Universitet, 901 87 Umeå, Sweden
Mark A. Lever
Institute of Biogeochemistry and Pollutant Dynamics, Department of Environmental Systems Science, ETH Zurich, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland
present address: Marine Science Institute, University of Texas at Austin, Port Aransas, TX 78373, USA
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Short summary
Our research explores microbial sulfur cycling in the 13 500-year-old sediment record of a sulfate-rich alpine lake. We present evidence for active sulfur cycling across sediment layers, even in sulfate-depleted zones, driven by uncultivated microorganisms. In addition, rapid organic matter sulfurization could contribute to its preservation. These findings enhance our understanding of the role of sulfur in organic matter preservation and deep biosphere processes.
Our research explores microbial sulfur cycling in the 13 500-year-old sediment record of a...
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