Foreword to the research front on ‘Biogeochemical Cycles across Spatial and Temporal Scales’
William Maher A C and Kimberly Myers BA Ecochemistry Laboratory, Institute for Applied Ecology, University of Canberra, Bruce, ACT 2601, Australia.
B Department Geology and Geophysics, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77845, USA.
C Corresponding author. Email: bill.maher@canberra.edu.au
Environmental Chemistry 15(2) 1-1 https://doi.org/10.1071/ENv15n2_FO
Published: 29 May 2018
Understanding the biogeochemical cycling of elements in the environment has three main facets: (1) characterising chemical species in the environmental compartments (air, water, soils, sediments and biota); (2) identifying the transformations that occur in response to changes in prevailing physiochemical conditions and biotic communities; and (3) defining the mechanisms by which chemical species are formed and transferred between compartments by physical, chemical and biological processes.
Biogeochemical processes occur at various scales, both physical (submicron to planetary) and in time (microseconds to multidecadal), and involve organisms ranging from microbes (viruses, bacteria and fungi) to macro cetaceans (whales). The papers in this Research Front explore biogeochemical processes at various scales and the roles that changing physiochemical conditions and biota play in the formation and cycling of chemical species in natural environments.
The first two papers deal with iron biogeochemistry. Ling et al. explore the importance of microbes in iron and sulfur cycling in coastal acid sulfate soils,[1] while Hemmingsson et al. investigate the role of iron(oxyhydr) oxides in scavenging dissolved inorganic phosphate from oceanic waters under changing physiochemical conditions and elemental composition.[2] Such information is essential for understanding ocean productivity and atmospheric gas composition.
Maher et al. examine the accumulation and species of arsenic in common Australian bivalve molluscs to gain insights into the links between arsenic sources (sediments and primary producers) and molluscs and animals at higher trophic feeding levels.[3] Berube et al. investigate the fate of arsenic in ground water discharges into the Meghna River, Bangladesh, giving insights into the effect of changing redox conditions on the precipitation of iron–manganese oxides and the immobilisation–mobilisation of arsenic in solid phases.[4]
These four comprehensive papers illustrate the complexity of understanding processes and the importance of combining a diverse range of chemical and biological measurements to gain insights into the biogeochemical cycling of elements.
William Maher and Kimberly Myers
Guest Editors
Environmental Chemistry
References
[1] Y.-C. Ling, H. M. Gan, M. Bush, R. Bush, J. W. Moreau, Time-resolved microbial guild responses to tidal cycling in a coastal acid-sulfate system. Environ. Chem. 2018, 15, 2.| Time-resolved microbial guild responses to tidal cycling in a coastal acid-sulfate system.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[2] C. Hemmingsson, I. K. Pitcairn, E. C. Fru, Evaluation of phosphate-uptake mechanisms by Fe(III) (oxyhydr)oxides in Early Proterozoic oceanic conditions. Environ. Chem. 2018, 15, 18.
| Evaluation of phosphate-uptake mechanisms by Fe(III) (oxyhydr)oxides in Early Proterozoic oceanic conditions.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[3] W. Maher, J. Waring, F. Krikowa, E. Duncan, S. Foster, Ecological factors affecting the accumulation and speciation of arsenic in twelve Australian coastal bivalve molluscs. Environ. Chem. 2018, 15, 46.
| Ecological factors affecting the accumulation and speciation of arsenic in twelve Australian coastal bivalve molluscs.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[4] M. Berube, K. Jewell, K. D. Myers, P. S. K. Knappett, P. Shuai, A. Hossain, M. Lipsi, S. Hossain, A. Hossain, J. Aitkenhead-Peterson, K. M. Ahmed, S. Datta, The fate of arsenic in groundwater discharged to the Meghna River, Bangladesh. Environ. Chem. 2018, 15, 29.
| The fate of arsenic in groundwater discharged to the Meghna River, Bangladesh.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
