Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-842
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-842
18 Apr 2024
 | 18 Apr 2024

The geothermal gradient from mesophilic to thermophilic temperatures shapes microbial diversity and processes in natural gas-bearing sedimentary aquifers

Taiki Katayama, Hideyoshi Yoshioka, Toshiro Yamanaka, Susumu Sakata, and Yasuaki Hanamura

Abstract. The majority of Earth’s prokaryotes live under the deep sedimentary biosphere. Geochemical processes driven by geothermal heating may play a crucial role in fueling deep subsurface microbial biomass and activities, yet their full breadth remains uncaptured. Here, we investigated the microbial community composition and metabolism in microbial natural gas-bearing aquifers at temperatures ranging from 35−80 °C, situated above nonmicrobial gas and oil-bearing sediments at temperatures exceeding 90 °C. Cultivation-based and molecular gene sequencing analyses, including radiotracer measurements, of formation water indicated variations in predominant methanogenic pathways across different temperature regimes of upper aquifers: high potential for hydrogenotrophic/methylotrophic, hydrogenotrophic and acetoclastic methanogenesis at depths with mesophilic, thermophilic and hyperthermophilic temperatures, respectively. The potential for acetoclastic methanogenesis correlated with elevated acetate concentrations with increasing depth, possibly due to the thermal decomposition of sedimentary organic matter. In addition to acetoclastic methanogenesis, in aquifers with hyperthermophilic temperatures, acetate is potentially utilized by microorganisms responsible for the dissimilatory reduction of sulfur compounds other than sulfate because of its high relative abundance at greater depths. The stable sulfur isotopic analysis of sulfur compounds in water and oil samples suggested that hydrogen sulfide generated through the thermal decomposition of sulfur compounds in oil migrates upward and is subsequently oxidized with iron oxides present in sediments, yielding elemental sulfur and thiosulfate. These compounds are consumed by sulfur-reducing microorganisms, possibly reflecting elevated microbial populations in aquifers with hyperthermophilic temperatures. These findings reveal previously overlooked geothermal heat-driven geochemical and microbiological processes involved in carbon and sulfur cycling in the deep sedimentary biosphere.

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Journal article(s) based on this preprint

01 Oct 2024
The geothermal gradient shapes microbial diversity and processes in natural-gas-bearing sedimentary aquifers
Taiki Katayama, Hideyoshi Yoshioka, Toshiro Yamanaka, Susumu Sakata, and Yasuaki Hanamura
Biogeosciences, 21, 4273–4283, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-21-4273-2024,https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-21-4273-2024, 2024
Short summary
Taiki Katayama, Hideyoshi Yoshioka, Toshiro Yamanaka, Susumu Sakata, and Yasuaki Hanamura

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2024-842', Anonymous Referee #1, 13 Jun 2024
    • AC1: 'Reply on RC1', Taiki Katayama, 11 Jul 2024
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2024-842', Anonymous Referee #2, 18 Jun 2024
    • AC2: 'Reply on RC2', Taiki Katayama, 11 Jul 2024
      • RC3: 'Reply on AC2', Anonymous Referee #2, 11 Jul 2024
        • AC3: 'Reply on RC3', Taiki Katayama, 11 Jul 2024
          • RC4: 'Reply on AC3', Anonymous Referee #2, 12 Jul 2024
            • AC4: 'Reply on RC4', Taiki Katayama, 26 Jul 2024

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2024-842', Anonymous Referee #1, 13 Jun 2024
    • AC1: 'Reply on RC1', Taiki Katayama, 11 Jul 2024
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2024-842', Anonymous Referee #2, 18 Jun 2024
    • AC2: 'Reply on RC2', Taiki Katayama, 11 Jul 2024
      • RC3: 'Reply on AC2', Anonymous Referee #2, 11 Jul 2024
        • AC3: 'Reply on RC3', Taiki Katayama, 11 Jul 2024
          • RC4: 'Reply on AC3', Anonymous Referee #2, 12 Jul 2024
            • AC4: 'Reply on RC4', Taiki Katayama, 26 Jul 2024

Peer review completion

AR: Author's response | RR: Referee report | ED: Editor decision | EF: Editorial file upload
ED: Publish subject to minor revisions (review by editor) (31 Jul 2024) by Carolin Löscher
AR by Taiki Katayama on behalf of the Authors (06 Aug 2024)  Author's response   Author's tracked changes   Manuscript 
ED: Publish subject to technical corrections (15 Aug 2024) by Carolin Löscher
AR by Taiki Katayama on behalf of the Authors (18 Aug 2024)  Manuscript 

Journal article(s) based on this preprint

01 Oct 2024
The geothermal gradient shapes microbial diversity and processes in natural-gas-bearing sedimentary aquifers
Taiki Katayama, Hideyoshi Yoshioka, Toshiro Yamanaka, Susumu Sakata, and Yasuaki Hanamura
Biogeosciences, 21, 4273–4283, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-21-4273-2024,https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-21-4273-2024, 2024
Short summary
Taiki Katayama, Hideyoshi Yoshioka, Toshiro Yamanaka, Susumu Sakata, and Yasuaki Hanamura
Taiki Katayama, Hideyoshi Yoshioka, Toshiro Yamanaka, Susumu Sakata, and Yasuaki Hanamura

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Short summary
To understand microbial processes in deep sedimentary environments where the majority of Earth’s prokaryotes inhabit, we investigated the microbial communities in microbial natural gas-bearing aquifers at temperatures ranging from 35−80 °C, situated above non-microbial oil-bearing sediments. Our results indicate the microbial carbon and sulfur cycling driven by geothermal heating, showing previously overlooked biosphere–geosphere interaction in deep biosphere.