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Metabolic Influence of Psychrophilic Diatoms on Travertines at the Huanglong Natural Scenic District of China

Author

Listed:
  • Shiyong Sun

    (Department of Geological and Mineral Engineering, Key Laboratory of Solid Waste Treatment and Resource Recycle & Fundamental Science on Nuclear Waste and Environmental Security Laboratory, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang 621010, China)

  • Faqin Dong

    (Department of Geological and Mineral Engineering, Key Laboratory of Solid Waste Treatment and Resource Recycle & Fundamental Science on Nuclear Waste and Environmental Security Laboratory, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang 621010, China)

  • Hermann Ehrlich

    (Institute of Experimental Physics, Technische Universität Bergakademie Freiberg, Freiberg 09599, Germany)

  • Xueqing Zhao

    (Department of Geological and Mineral Engineering, Key Laboratory of Solid Waste Treatment and Resource Recycle & Fundamental Science on Nuclear Waste and Environmental Security Laboratory, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang 621010, China)

  • Mingxue Liu

    (Department of Geological and Mineral Engineering, Key Laboratory of Solid Waste Treatment and Resource Recycle & Fundamental Science on Nuclear Waste and Environmental Security Laboratory, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang 621010, China)

  • Qunwei Dai

    (Department of Geological and Mineral Engineering, Key Laboratory of Solid Waste Treatment and Resource Recycle & Fundamental Science on Nuclear Waste and Environmental Security Laboratory, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang 621010, China)

  • Qiongfang Li

    (Department of Geological and Mineral Engineering, Key Laboratory of Solid Waste Treatment and Resource Recycle & Fundamental Science on Nuclear Waste and Environmental Security Laboratory, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang 621010, China)

  • Dejun An

    (Huanglong National Scenic Resort Administrative Bureau, Songpan 623300, China)

  • Hailiang Dong

    (Department of Geology and Environmental Earth Science, Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056, USA)

Abstract

Diatoms are a highly diversified group of algae that are widely distributed in aquatic ecosystems, and various species have different nutrient and temperature requirements for optimal growth. Here, we describe unusual psychrophilic diatoms of Cymbella in a travertine deposition environment in southwestern China in winter season. Travertine surfaces are colonized by these psychrophilic diatoms, which form biofilms of extracellular polysaccharide substances (EPS) with active metabolic activities in extremely cold conditions. The travertine in Huanglong, is a typical single crystalline calcite with anisotropic lattice distortions of unit cell parameters along axes of a and c , and this structure is suggestive of some level of metabolic mediation on mineralization. Near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy (NEXAFS) results further confirmed the occurrence of biogenic distortion of the crystal lattice of travertine calcite. Overall, our results imply that the metabolic influence of psychrophilic diatoms may be particularly important for promoting formation and dissolution of travertine in extremely cold environments of Huanglong. The EPS of psychrophilic diatoms will protect travertine from HCO 3 − etching and provide template for forming travertine when water re-flowing, in warm season.

Suggested Citation

  • Shiyong Sun & Faqin Dong & Hermann Ehrlich & Xueqing Zhao & Mingxue Liu & Qunwei Dai & Qiongfang Li & Dejun An & Hailiang Dong, 2014. "Metabolic Influence of Psychrophilic Diatoms on Travertines at the Huanglong Natural Scenic District of China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 11(12), pages 1-13, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:11:y:2014:i:12:p:13084-13096:d:43595
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