Mineralogy, geochemistry and microbial diversity of marine sediments at Tempelfjorden Fjords, Svalbard, Norway

Abstract

Svalbard fjords, affected by turbid overlow emanating from outlet glaciers, are modern analogues for Quaternary deglacial settings. To better understand the response of the geochemistry, mineralogy, and microbial community to the discharge of glacial meltwater, we sampled the subsurface sediments at 8 stations along the axis of Tempelfjorden fjords. The sediment samples were used for geochemical and mineralogical characterizations as well as for microbial community by genomic analysis. Iron-oxidizing and reducing bacteria were enriched from the marine sediments at 8C and the development of bacterial and archeal structures in the sediments of fjords was examined using cloning and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis analysis of rRNA gene.