Geomicrobiology and Biogeochemistry
We study interactions between life, geology and environmental chemistry to unravel biogeochemical processes important for Earth’s habitability through Earth history.
The Geomicrobiology and biogeochemistry group unites cross-disciplinary scientists in microbiology, biology and geochemistry.
We investigate the linkages between geomicrobiology and biogeochemistry to explain key biogeochemical processes that sustain ecosystems at local to global scale.
Research
Geomicrobiology
The Geomicrobiology unit studies diverse ecosystems, ranging from marine to terrestrial, from the surface to the deep continental and marine biosphere, spanning the modern to the ancient earth where life evolved.
We use the evidence to unravel how microbial life interacts with geological processes, minerals, metals and with each other to produce and maintain the major biogeochemical cycles that are key to earth’s habitability.
Biogeochemistry
We combine geomicrobiological observations with geochemistry to unlock Earth’s biogeochemical history. This multidisciplinary work which connects the geomicrobiology and geochemistry units, allows the application of high resolution geochemical methods for investigating how geomicrobiology and geochemistry function together in the environment.
Researchers are interested in identifying and using biogeochemical signals as proxies for unravelling how life interacts with geochemistry to create and sustain the living biosphere.
Funding
Sosdian, S. COACTION - Characterisation of Ocean Acidification over Decadal Timescales in Fiji. NERC. October 2018, £11,200
Andersen, M., Chi Fru, E., Millet, M. Isotope geochemistry of IOCG systems. Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. July 2018-February 2019, £28,250
Sosdian, S. Coral reefs, ecosystem connectivity and plastic pollution: Past, present and future impacts on coral reef health. Sêr Cymru NRN Bangor. June 2018-July 2018, £9,375
Bagshaw, E. Dynamics of meltwater beneath the Greenland ice sheet. Sêr Cymru Bangor. June 2018-December 2018, £9,340
Bagshaw, E. Polar snow in a warming world. The Percy Sladen Memorial Fund. April 2017-March 2018, £700
Bagshaw, E. Microbial community structure changes during temporal development of cryoconie holes. Antarctic Science Ltd. June 2016-May 2019, £4,590
Bagshaw, E. WISECAM: Development and testing of a smartphone app for water quality monitoring. Sêr Cymru NRN Bangor. December 2015-February 2016, £500
Sosdian, S. Assess the impacts from oil palm expansion in Borneo on coral reef water quality and ecology suing environmental archives in coral reef skeletons. Sêr Cymru NRN Bangor. April 2016-June 2018, £20,000
Meet the team
Group Leader
Academic staff
Postgraduate students
Associated staff
Publications
- Aubineau, J. et al., 2021. Benthic redox conditions and nutrient dynamics in the ca. 2.1 Ga Franceville sub-basin. Precambrian Research 360 106234. (10.1016/j.precamres.2021.106234)
- Chraiki, I. et al., 2021. A 571 million-year-old alkaline volcanic lake photosynthesizing microbial community, the Anti-atlas, Morocco. Geobiology 19 (2), pp.105-124. (10.1111/gbi.12425)
- Spencer, C. , Sass, H. and van Paassen, L. 2020. Effect of jute fibres on the process of MICP and properties of biocemented sand. Materials 13 (23) 5429. (10.3390/ma13235429)
- Poniecka, E. A. et al. 2020. Physiological capabilities of cryoconite hole microorganisms. Frontiers in Microbiology 11 1783. (10.3389/fmicb.2020.01783)
- Flynn, K. J. et al., 2019. Mixotrophic protists and a new paradigm for marine ecology: where does plankton research go now?. Journal of Plankton Research 41 (4), pp.375-391. (10.1093/plankt/fbz026)
- Goncalves Leles, S. et al., 2019. Sampling bias misrepresents the biogeographical significance of constitutive mixotrophs across global oceans. Global Ecology and Biogeography 28 (4), pp.418-428. (10.1111/geb.12853)
- Parkes, R. J. et al. 2019. Rock-crushing derived hydrogen directly supports a methanogenic community: significance for the deep biosphere.. Environmental Microbiology Reports 11 (2), pp.165-172. (10.1111/1758-2229.12723)
- Sandhu, S. et al., 2019. Exploring nonlinear functional responses of zooplankton grazers in dilution experiments via optimization techniques. Limnology and Oceanography 64 (2), pp.774-784. (10.1002/lno.11073)
- El Albani, A. et al., 2019. Organism motility in an oxygenated shallow-marine environment 2.1 billion years ago. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 116 (9), pp.3431-3436. (10.1073/pnas.1815721116)
- Chi Fru, E. et al. 2019. The rise of oxygen-driven arsenic cycling at ca. 2.48 Ga. Geology 47 (3), pp.243-246. (10.1130/G45676.1)
- Chi Fru, E. et al. 2018. Arsenic and high affinity phosphate uptake gene distribution in shallow submarine hydrothermal sediments. Biogeochemistry 141 (18), pp.41-62. (10.1007/s10533-018-0500-8)
- Callac, N. et al., 2017. Modes of carbon fixation in an arsenic and CO2-rich shallow hydrothermal ecosystem. Scientific Reports 7 14708. (10.1038/s41598-017-13910-2)
- Bonaglia, S. et al., 2017. Methane fluxes from coastal sediments are enhanced by macrofauna. Scientific Reports 7 13145. (10.1038/s41598-017-13263-w)
- Polimene, L. et al., 2017. Biological or microbial carbon pump? The role of phytoplankton stoichiometry in ocean carbon sequestration. Journal of Plankton Research 39 (2), pp.180-186. (10.1093/plankt/fbw091)
- Chi Fru, E. et al. 2016. Cu isotopes in marine black shales record the Great Oxidation Event. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 113 (18), pp.4941-4946. (10.1073/pnas.1523544113)
- Nobu, M. K. et al., 2016. Phylogeny and physiology of candidate phylum 'Atribacteria' (OP9/JS1) inferred from cultivation-independent genomics. ISME Journal 10 (2), pp.273-286. (10.1038/ismej.2015.97)
- Roussel, E. G. P. et al. 2015. Complex coupled metabolic and prokaryotic community responses to increasing temperatures in anaerobic marine sediments: critical temperatures and substrate changes. FEMS Microbiology Ecology 91 (8) fiv084. (10.1093/femsec/fiv084)
- O'Sullivan, L. A. et al. 2015. Survival of Desulfotomaculum spores from estuarine sediments after serial autoclaving and high-temperature exposure. ISME Journal 9 , pp.922-933. (10.1038/ismej.2014.190)
- Flynn, K. J. et al., 2015. Ocean acidification with (de)eutrophication will alter future phytoplankton growth and succession. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 282 (1804) 20142604. (10.1098/rspb.2014.2604)
- Mitra, A. et al. 2014. Bridging the gap between marine biogeochemical and fisheries sciences; configuring the zooplankton link. Progress in Oceanography 129 (Part B), pp.176-199. (10.1016/j.pocean.2014.04.025)
- Chi Fru, E. et al. 2013. Fossilized iron bacteria reveal a pathway to the biological origin of banded iron formation. Nature Communications 4 2050. (10.1038/ncomms3050)
Schools
Next steps
Research that matters
Our research makes a difference to people’s lives as we work across disciplines to tackle major challenges facing society, the economy and our environment.
Postgraduate research
Our research degrees give the opportunity to investigate a specific topic in depth among field-leading researchers.
Our research impact
Our research case studies highlight some of the areas where we deliver positive research impact.