Yellowstone National Park hot spring microbial community. hot springs metagenome

Norris Geyser Basin (YSTONE2). An acidic (pH 3) Fe(III)-oxyhydroxide microbial mat from the outflow channel of Beowulf Spring (44o 43' 53.4" N. Lat 110o 42' 40.9" W. Lon) was included (sampled August 30, 2006) in the five-site study to obtain phylogenetic and functional information useful for understanding the biotic mechanisms of Fe(II)-oxidation at high-temperature (65-70 deg C). Oxidation of Fe(II) occurs within this high-velocity stream channel commencing with the disappearance of dissolved sulfide and measurable influx of dissolved oxygen. The oxidation of Fe(II) results in the biomineralization of amorphous Fe(III)-oxides with 0.6-0.7 mole arsenic per mole Fe. Arsenite is oxidized to arsenate by microorganisms within the same environment, resulting in the surface complexation of arsenate by Fe-oxide phases, and the formation of Fe-mats that contain over 20% arsenic by weight. Sequences deposited into the Trace Archive can be found using the Project data link (GenomeProject ID #42237).