The Xiamen Symposium on Marine Environmental Sciences

2027 Xiamen Symposium on Marine Environmental Sciences

January 12-15, 2027

Decoupling Mechanisms and Carbon Cycling Implications of Iron-Bound Microbial Necromass in Marine Sediments
ID:1461 Poster Presentation

2027-01-15 17:15 (China Standard Time)

Session:Session 82 - Deep Ocean Microbiomes and Ecosystems⎯⎯Biodiversity and Ecological Processes in a Changing Climate

Abstract
The binding of organic carbon (OC) to reactive iron (Fe) phases is a critical mechanism enabling long-term carbon preservation, with the stability of such associations exerting profound influences on global carbon cycling. At redox interfaces, decaying biomass (termed microbial necromass) and microbial byproducts, along with transformed organic matter (OM), recombine with minerals to form mineral-organic assemblies (MOA) that mediate OM sequestration. Notably, microbially derived products constitute a significant fraction of preserved OM—up to ~50% in soils, and similarly substantial proportions in marine sediments and black shales—highlighting the importance of microbial necromass-Fe interactions in carbon stabilization. The preservation potential of iron-bound microbial derivatives warrants explicit incorporation into global carbon budget models. However, previous research has predominantly focused on terrestrial systems, with insufficient biological and mechanistic insights into marine sedimentary environments—particularly in hadal trenches (>6,000 m depth)—where necromass cycling remains severely underestimated. This study addresses the destabilizing role of microbial dissimilatory iron reduction (MDIR) in modulating the stability of iron-bound microbial necromass. Utilizing Shewanella sp. MTB7—a hadal zone bacterium isolated from the seawater-sediment interface at 6,000 m depth that couples MDIR activity with siderophore production—we mechanistically demonstrate how iron reduction and siderophore-driven mineral dissolution synergistically liberate iron-bound organic carbon. By establishing a quantitative framework for necromass-mineral interaction dynamics, this work advances the theoretical foundation for iron-mediated carbon sequestration geoengineering. Furthermore, it provides empirical constraints to reconcile centennial-scale carbon mineralization with millennial-scale burial efficiency, enabling precise integration of microbially driven iron-carbon decoupling into Earth system models for global carbon flux quantification. These insights are critical for refining predictive assessments of marine carbon sink resilience under shifting oceanic redox regimes and anthropogenic perturbations.
Speaker
Jixin Tao Shanghai Ocean University

Author
Jixin Tao Shanghai Ocean University

    Important Dates

    • Jan 30

      2026

      Session / Event proposals open

    • Mar 31

      2026

      Session / Event proposals close
      (Extended to April 7)

    • Apr 30

      2026

      Session acceptance notifications

    • Apr 30

      2026

      Abstract submissions & registration open

    • Jun 30

      2026

      Abstract submissions close
      (Extended to July 21)

    • Aug 31

      2026

      Abstract acceptance notifications

    • Sep 15

      2026

      Scientific program released

    • Oct 15

      2026

      Early bird registration closes

    • Jan 12–15

      2027

      XMAS 2027