The State of Arts: Sources,Microbial Processes and Ecological Effects of Iron in the Marine Environment

Iron is the fourth most abundant element in the earth's crust, and it often appears as a trace element in the ocean. Iron has a variable valence and diverse functions, and is an important force to regulate marine primary productivity and drive the geochemical cycle in the ocean. Previous studies have shown that iron plays an important role in maintaining primary productivity, coupling matter cycles, and regulating the transformation of biogenic factors. In recent years, with the development of microbial ecology, iron research has enter more in-depth levels, including microbial-driven iron oxidation-reduction behavior, metabolic processes, and interactions with other major elements(C/N/P). This paper attempts to review the latest progress of iron, focusing on the published literatures of the past fifteen years. Firstly, we explained the sources and occurrence states of iron in the ocean (such as dissolved, colloidal, granular and organic state); Secondly, we reviewed the types and process mechanisms of microbial-mediated iron redoxbehavior (for example nitrate oxidation, and biological reduction, etc.); Finally, we summarized the coupling relationship between iron and C/N/P cycle. Additionally, the ecological roles of iron in specific ecological event (for instance algal bloom) has also been described. Furthermore, the "chemical-biological-physical" theoretical framework for marine iron research is also discussed. The purpose of this paper is to provide more information for marine microecological research and their effects on iron cycle under changing environment, such as global change.