Dissimilatory sulfate reduction in hypersaline coastal pans: Activity across a salinity gradient

The impact of salinity on the metabolic activity of sulfate-reducing bacteria in five highly saline to hypersaline coastal pans was studied using a radioactive tracer technique. We recorded sulfate reduction at in situ porewater salinities of up to 422. Furthermore, enumeration of sulfate reduction rates in whole core incubations conducted under in situ conditions suggested a high variability in the activity of sulfate-reducers. Average reduction rates (27-3685 nmol cm⁻³ d⁻¹) varied according to depth, season and site sampled. The highest reduction rates measured in the hypersaline pan were comparable to the highest reported rates from highly productive salt marsh and microbial mat ecosystems. Correspondingly, the depth-integrated rates (integrated to 12 cm) varied from 6 to 241 mmol m⁻² d⁻¹ and were also among the highest ever reported rates. The reduction rates decreased down-core and, surprisingly, were highest in the winter season when the lowest sediment temperatures were encountered.High salt concentrations did not inhibit sulfate reduction rates. Rather, higher rates were measured at pans with higher in situ salinities. In laboratory slurry incubation experiments, sediments from the saltpans were treated with increasing salt concentrations. Regression analysis suggested that the short term response of microbial consortia to up-shock was an increase in sulfate reduction activity up to salinities of 272-311 and 134-244, in hypersaline and highly saline pans, respectively. Beyond these salinities, the cells showed evidence of reduced activities.