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UV radiation limited the expansion of cyanobacteria in early marine photic environments.


ABSTRACT: Prior to atmospheric oxygenation, ecosystems were exposed to higher UV radiation fluxes relative to modern surface environments. Iron-silica mineral coatings have been evoked as effective UV radiation shields in early terrestrial settings. Here we test whether similar protection applied to planktonic cyanobacteria within the Archean water column. Based on experiments done under Archean seawater conditions, we report that Fe(III)-Si-rich precipitates absorb up to 70% of incoming UV-C radiation, with a reduction of <20% in photosynthetically active radiation flux. However, we demonstrate that even short periods of UV-C irradiation in the presence of Fe(III)-Si precipitates resulted in high mortality rates, and suggest that these effects would have persisted throughout much of the photic zone. Our findings imply that despite the shielding properties of Fe(III)-Si-rich precipitates in the early water column, UV radiation would continue to limit cyanobacterial expansion and likely had a greater effect on Archean ecosystem structure before the formation of an ozone layer.

SUBMITTER: Mloszewska AM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6079077 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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UV radiation limited the expansion of cyanobacteria in early marine photic environments.

Mloszewska Aleksandra M AM   Cole Devon B DB   Planavsky Noah J NJ   Kappler Andreas A   Whitford Denise S DS   Owttrim George W GW   Konhauser Kurt O KO  

Nature communications 20180806 1


Prior to atmospheric oxygenation, ecosystems were exposed to higher UV radiation fluxes relative to modern surface environments. Iron-silica mineral coatings have been evoked as effective UV radiation shields in early terrestrial settings. Here we test whether similar protection applied to planktonic cyanobacteria within the Archean water column. Based on experiments done under Archean seawater conditions, we report that Fe(III)-Si-rich precipitates absorb up to 70% of incoming UV-C radiation, w  ...[more]

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2019-12-03 | GSE123308 | GEO