Cosmic Distribution of the Main Biogenic Elements

Author(s):  
Enrique Maciá-Barber
Keyword(s):  
1997 ◽  
Vol 161 ◽  
pp. 203-218 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tobias C. Owen

AbstractThe clear evidence of water erosion on the surface of Mars suggests an early climate much more clement than the present one. Using a model for the origin of inner planet atmospheres by icy planetesimal impact, it is possible to reconstruct the original volatile inventory on Mars, starting from the thin atmosphere we observe today. Evidence for cometary impact can be found in the present abundances and isotope ratios of gases in the atmosphere and in SNC meteorites. If we invoke impact erosion to account for the present excess of129Xe, we predict an early inventory equivalent to at least 7.5 bars of CO2. This reservoir of volatiles is adequate to produce a substantial greenhouse effect, provided there is some small addition of SO2(volcanoes) or reduced gases (cometary impact). Thus it seems likely that conditions on early Mars were suitable for the origin of life – biogenic elements and liquid water were present at favorable conditions of pressure and temperature. Whether life began on Mars remains an open question, receiving hints of a positive answer from recent work on one of the Martian meteorites. The implications for habitable zones around other stars include the need to have rocky planets with sufficient mass to preserve atmospheres in the face of intensive early bombardment.


Author(s):  
D.F. Blake ◽  
LJ. Allamandola ◽  
G. Palmer ◽  
A. Pohorille

The natural history of the biogenic elements H, C, N, O, P and S in the cosmos is of great interest because it is these elements which comprise all life. Material ejected from stars (or pre-existing in the interstellar medium) is thought to condense into diffuse bodies of gravitationally bound gas and dust called cold interstellar molecular clouds. Current theories predict that within these clouds, at temperatures of 10-100° K, gases (primarily H2O, but including CO, CO2, CH3OH, NH3, and others) condense onto submicron silicate grains to form icy grain mantles. This interstellar ice represents the earliest and most primitive association of the biogenic elements. Within these multicomponent icy mantles, pre-biotic organic compounds are formed during exposure to UV radiation. It is thought that icy planetesimals (such as comets) within our solar system contain some pristine interstellar material, including ices, and may have (during the early bombardment of the solar system, ∼4 Ga) carried this material to Earth.Despite the widespread occurrence of astrophysical ices and their importance to pre-biotic organic evolution, few experimental data exist which address the relevant phase equilibria and possible structural states. A knowledge of the petrology of astrophysical ice analogs will allow scientists to more confidently interpret astronomical IR observations. Furthermore, the development and refinement of procedures for analyzing ices and other materials at cryogenic temperatures is critical to the study of materials returned from the proposed Rosetta comet nucleus and Mars sample return missions.


2018 ◽  
Vol 44 (3) ◽  
pp. 240-247 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. N. Egorov ◽  
V. N. Popovichev ◽  
S. B. Gulin ◽  
N. I. Bobko ◽  
N. Yu. Rodionova ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ekaterina Ivanova ◽  
Grigory Gladkov ◽  
Anastasiia Kimeklis ◽  
Arina Kichko ◽  
Evgeny Andronov ◽  
...  

<p>Studying the diversity and abundance of cryoconite biota is relevant due to global climate warming, since organo-mineral particles in their composition have a significant impact on the ice albedo decrease and, thus, increase the rate of glacier melting. Since cryoconites are "hot spots" for biota development and the only loci where soil-like bodies can form on glaciers, they contribute significantly to the cycles of biogenic elements of ice and oligotrophic ecosystems.</p><p>Samples were collected from cryoconites from the Garabashi (GBg_c) and Shkhelda (SHKg_c) glaciers as well as from moraine (Garabashi); nearby soils (Chernozem, Forest-meadow, and organo-accumulative soil) were used as controls.</p><p>GBg_c samples were characterized by potentially higher values of microbial biomass (abundance of 16 S rRNA gene copies and ITS), with maximal values in samples taken from the cracked glacier. In contrast, minimal abundance values of the studied taxonomic markers in SHKg_c were determined. The values for the samples of nearby soils occupied an intermediate position. These results may be partially explained by different colors of cryoconites, determined by differences in their biochemical composition and origin: the GBg_c were represented by "black dust", with low values of albedo and, accordingly, higher values of temperature and moisture, apparently, more favorable for microbial activity compared to the "gray" dust of the SHKg_c.</p><p>Taxonomic structure analysis revealed a specific pattern of GBg_c samples– an oligotrophic psychrophilic community with a pronounced cyanobacterial dominance was detected. Despite significant differences between cryoconites and nearby moraine in the presence of major autotrophic representatives (cyanobacteria Tychonema, Phormidesmis), the heterotrophic component is similar and is represented by a very specific set of soil microorganisms of Bacteroides, Shingomonas, Burkholderiales groups, apparently, due to the flushing out of part of the microbiome from the autotrophic microbial consortia of the glacier, explaining, as well, the grouping of these samples in the Bray-Curtis NMDS ordination. No autotrophic microbiota predominance was detected in SHKg_c, these microbiomes were typical for soils without vegetative cover, as well as without biofilms on the surface (Verrucromicrobia, Sphingomonacia, Bacteroides). A low number of phylotypes was detected for the community of the GBg_c and Сhernozem. Moreover, the alpha-diversity indices were inversely proportional to the results of microbial biomass estimation, which can be explained by greater "homogeneity" (and, apparently, narrower functional specialization) of more numerous communities.</p><p>The metabolic profile of cryoconites (according to Picrust2) is characterized by the predominance of aerobic metabolic enzymes (cytochrome c) and proteins (amino acid synthesis), indicating a potentially high level of metabolic activity of the cryoconite microbial community. These results can be explained by the reparative needs of microbial cells under the conditions of oxygenic stress and extremely low temperatures. In contrast to the control soils (especially, Chernozem), relatively low levels of the catalytic pathway and carbon exchange were determined for the cryoconites’ metabolic pathways, possibly associated with both low available carbon stocks and supply of the glacier surface, as compared to soils with higher stocks of available forms of mineral nutrition.</p><p>The work is supported by RFBR  project No 19-05-50107. </p>


2004 ◽  
Vol 78 (1) ◽  
pp. 25-32 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Gabrashanska ◽  
S.E. Teodorova ◽  
M. Galvez-Morros ◽  
M. Mitov

AbstractThe biogenic elements zinc, manganese and cobalt are essential for metabolic processes in animals. Compounds of nGly.Me2+A. mH2O (Me2+=Zn2+, Mn2+, Co2+; A=Cl−, SO42−, n=1, 2; m=2, 5), as supplements in the diet, were used separately on different experimental groups of male Hisex chickens to correct the mineral deficiency caused byAscaridia galliinfections. An amelioration of body weight gain, reduction of mortality and restoration of trace element levels were estimated in infected chickens. A mathematical model has been proposed forA. gallipopulation kinetics in chickens, taking into account the stimulating effect of these elements on the nematodes. The model parameters are considered as phenomenological constants of the host–parasite system. An agreement with experimental data is observed using, for the parametersψ,α,μandμs, values equal to those calculated in previously investigatedA. galli–chicken systems. For parameterν(immunological constant) the same value was obtained as in a previous experiment with high infection. This model is likely to be suitable for a range of host–nematode systems, including varying degrees of infection and treatment with different trace elements.


2017 ◽  
Vol 14 (13) ◽  
pp. 3207-3220 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thierry Moutin ◽  
Andrea Michelangelo Doglioli ◽  
Alain de Verneil ◽  
Sophie Bonnet

Abstract. The overall goal of OUTPACE (Oligotrophy to UlTra-oligotrophy PACific Experiment) was to obtain a successful representation of the interactions between planktonic organisms and the cycle of biogenic elements in the western tropical South Pacific Ocean across trophic and N2 fixation gradients. Within the context of climate change, it is necessary to better quantify the ability of the oligotrophic ocean to sequester carbon through biological processes. OUTPACE was organized around three main objectives, which were (1) to perform a zonal characterization of the biogeochemistry and biological diversity of the western tropical South Pacific during austral summer conditions, (2) to study the production and fate of organic matter (including carbon export) in three contrasting trophic regimes (increasing oligotrophy) with a particular emphasis on the role of dinitrogen fixation, and (3) to obtain a representation of the main biogeochemical fluxes and dynamics of the planktonic trophic network. The international OUTPACE cruise took place between 18 February and 3 April 2015 aboard the RV L'Atalante and involved 60 scientists (30 onboard). The west–east transect covered  ∼  4000 km from the western part of the Melanesian archipelago (New Caledonia) to the western boundary of the South Pacific gyre (French Polynesia). Following an adaptive strategy, the transect initially designed along the 19° S parallel was adapted along-route to incorporate information coming from satellite measurements of sea surface temperature, chlorophyll a concentration, currents, and diazotroph quantification. After providing a general context and describing previous work done in this area, this introductory paper elucidates the objectives of OUTPACE, the implementation plan of the cruise and water mass and climatological characteristics and concludes with a general overview of the other papers that will be published in this special issue.


ScienceRise ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 66-72
Author(s):  
Sergii Shamanskyi ◽  
Sergii Boichenko ◽  
Lesia Pavliukh

The object of research: the process of wastewater treatment using bioconversion for subsequent motor fuel production. Investigated problem: improving the efficiency of bioconversion process for biofuel production with simultaneous wastewater treatment by removing nitrogen and phosphorous compounds. The main scientific results: providing the possibility of biofuel production with energy and economic inefficiency. It is done by combining the process of motor biofuel production with the process of treating wastewater from biogenic elements makes it perspective for commercial use. Traditional technology for the production of motor biofuels from microalgae includes cultivation, harvesting, dehydration and drying of biomass, extraction of oils from them and subsequent production of methyl esters and glycerol. Such technology is often not economically effective. It requires significant amount of energy for carrying out all necessary processes. In addition, it requires significant expenditures of water and nutrients. The use of nutrient-rich wastewater as a culture medium for the cultivation of microalgae allows not only to reduce costs, but also to purify wastewater from nitrogen and phosphorus compounds, which makes this process economically effective. The area of practical use of the research results: Sewage and gray water treatment plants. Industrial and agricultural effluents treatment plants. Different types of enterprises, which have wastewater enriched with nitrogen and phosphorous compounds. Innovative technological product: The technology of microalgae cultivation using wastewater as a culture medium. The technology allows effectively purifying used wastewaters from nitrogen and phosphorous compounds with no waste at the end. Scope of the innovative technological product: Improved technology of motor biofuel production with simultaneous wastewater purification, which is economically effective and environmentally safe.


10.5219/1327 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 14 ◽  
pp. 385-392
Author(s):  
Erika Zetochová ◽  
Alena Vollmannová ◽  
Ivana Tirdiľová

The aim of this work was to determine the influence of the inoculant on the content of biogenic elements in tenoreign varieties of white lupine (Lupinus albus) and threearieties of grass pea (Lathyrus sativus L.) of Slovak origin. Rizobine was used as the inoculum before sowing. Dried and homogenised seed samples were mineralised using concentrated HNO3 using the MARS X ”“ Press 5 instrument. Analytical determination of macro- and microelements in all samples was performed using ARIAN DUO 240FS/240Z atomic absorption spectrometer. The determined values of biogenic elements content were expressed as mg.kg”“1 of dry matter. The average content of Cu was lower for both crops in variant A compared to variant B. The addition of the inoculant increased the content of Cu in both crops in lupine by 3.7% and grass pea by 10.94%. The Zn content of variant A in lupine was 19.14% higher than that of the grass pea. Grass pea seeds contained 97.76% less Mn than white lupine seeds in both variants. The Cr content of white lupine was 67.74% higher in variant A than in grass pea. The inoculant also increased the content of Cr in lupine by 25.0%. Lupine contained 30.02% less Fe in variant A and 41.27% less Fe in variant B than the grass pea. The results we have obtained show that Ca, K, and P are the predominant elements in the seeds of grass pea in both variants. By comparing selected types of legumes we found that the grass pea features a higher content of Cu, Fe, K, and P. The analysed seeds of white lupine had a higher content of Zn, Mn, Cr, Ni, Co, Na, Ca, and Mg. In conclusion, inoculation does not significantly affect the content of biogenic elements of selected legume species.


2019 ◽  
Vol 57 (2) ◽  
pp. 79-84
Author(s):  
Olga Yu. Shiryaeva ◽  

Important biogenic elements of plants are zinc and copper, which come into them from the soil in the form of cations. Plants selectively absorb the elements they need in accordance with physiological and biochemical needs, as well as the characteristics of their vegetation. Copper and zinc are part of the enzymes that are necessary for the normal course of many biochemical reactions. Lack or excess of any chemical element causes a violation of the normal course of biochemical and physiological processes in plants. The paper presents the results of the study of zinc and copper content in the soil, as well as in the above-ground and underground organs of the studied plant object. Quantitative determination of zinc and copper was carried out on an atomic absorption spectrometer. As an object of study, a flower plant of the Gentian family (lat. Gentianáceae), genus Eustoma (lat. Eustoma), grade Aube Pink Picotee. Vegetation experiments were carried out on the basis of LLC "Greenhouse "Iceberg". According to the data, the content of zinc and copper in the organs of the studied plant decreases in a number of root – aboveground part – flower. In different periods of vegetation there is a different accumulation of copper and zinc in the aboveground and underground organs. The root of this plant performs a barrier function, blocking the flow of copper into the plant from the soil at 27 weeks of development. In this case, the zinc content in the root of the plant during this period increases significantly, but this figure in the above-ground part of the plant varies slightly. According to the calculated average value of the biological absorption coefficient, it can be seen that the accumulation of zinc in the plant occurs to a greater extent than the accumulation of copper.


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