Microbial Sulfate-Reducing Activities in Anoxic Sediment from Marine Lake Grevelingen: Screening of Electron Donors and Acceptors

Sulfate-reducing bacteria in marine sediments mainly utilize sulfate as a terminal electron acceptor with different organic compounds as electron donor. This chapter investigates microbial sulfate reducing activity of coastal sediment from the marine Lake Grevelingen (MLG), the Netherlands using different electron donors and electron acceptors. Microbial sulfate reduction (SR) to sulfide is a ubiquitous process in marine sediments, where it is mainly fueled by the microbial degradation of organic matter and the anaerobic oxidation of methane (CH₄) (AOM). This redox reaction is mediated by sulfate reducing bacteria (SRB). High rates of deposition and degradation of organic matter have resulted in CH₄ rich anoxic sediments, which, when combined with SO₄ from seawater renders the site a potential niche for SR, including AOM-SR. The chapter aims to explore microbial sulfate reducing activity of coastal sediment from the MLG using different electron donors and electron acceptors, including gaseous electron donor i.e. CH₄.