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Garuglieri E, Marasco R, Odobel C, Chandra V, Teillet T, Areias C, Sánchez-Román M, Vahrenkamp V, Daffonchio D. Searching for microbial contribution to micritization of shallow marine sediments. Environ Microbiol 2024; 26:e16573. [PMID: 38217094 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.16573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/15/2024]
Abstract
Micritization is an early diagenetic process that gradually alters primary carbonate sediment grains through cycles of dissolution and reprecipitation of microcrystalline calcite (micrite). Typically observed in modern shallow marine environments, micritic textures have been recognized as a vital component of storage and flow in hydrocarbon reservoirs, attracting scientific and economic interests. Due to their endolithic activity and the ability to promote nucleation and reprecipitation of carbonate crystals, microorganisms have progressively been shown to be key players in micritization, placing this process at the boundary between the geological and biological realms. However, published research is mainly based on geological and geochemical perspectives, overlooking the biological and ecological complexity of microbial communities of micritized sediments. In this paper, we summarize the state-of-the-art and research gaps in micritization from a microbial ecology perspective. Since a growing body of literature successfully applies in vitro and in situ 'fishing' strategies to unveil elusive microorganisms and expand our knowledge of microbial diversity, we encourage their application to the study of micritization. By employing these strategies in micritization research, we advocate promoting an interdisciplinary approach/perspective to identify and understand the overlooked/neglected microbial players and key pathways governing this phenomenon and their ecology/dynamics, reshaping our comprehension of this process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Garuglieri
- Red Sea Research Center, Division of Biological Environmental Science and Engineering, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ramona Marasco
- Red Sea Research Center, Division of Biological Environmental Science and Engineering, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Charlene Odobel
- Red Sea Research Center, Division of Biological Environmental Science and Engineering, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Viswasanthi Chandra
- Ali I. Al-Naimi Petroleum Engineering Research Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Thomas Teillet
- Ali I. Al-Naimi Petroleum Engineering Research Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Camila Areias
- Department of Earth Sciences, Faculty of Science, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Mónica Sánchez-Román
- Department of Earth Sciences, Faculty of Science, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Volker Vahrenkamp
- Ali I. Al-Naimi Petroleum Engineering Research Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Daniele Daffonchio
- Red Sea Research Center, Division of Biological Environmental Science and Engineering, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
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