A pioneering new research by Yuanzhi Tang, assistant professor within the College of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, has unearthed some thrilling findings. These results further demonstrate how quickly biogenic silica can go through authigenic clay. This new research, published in the journal Science Advances, answers a long-standing enigma. Second, it uncovers the ultimate destiny of silica within marine biological communities. This research emphasizes the importance of the powerful role diatoms have in the ocean and the significant impact they have on global carbon cycling.
In this study, Yuanzhi Tang, an associate professor of microbiology and immunology at Penn State, served as the senior author. The team used a custom-built, two-chamber reactor to simulate the seafloor conditions. This unique approach allowed Tang and her team to carefully track how diatom silica was breaking down. They did all their experiments in a very artificial lab environment. The findings were surprising, too—after only 40 days diatom silica had been converted into iron-rich clay minerals.
The implications of this transformation are profound. Tang was careful to point out that this swift process suggests reverse weathering should be considered an active player in modern ocean chemistry. “These subtle mineral reactions are part of the machinery that regulates Earth’s climate,” she stated, underscoring the importance of understanding such processes in the context of climate change.
Simin Zhao, the first author of the study, was instrumental in that research. She is a co-first author and now a former Ph.D. student in Tang’s lab. The results showed that in treatments without Fe(II), there was no morphological alteration. When we added Fe(II), that biogenic silica undergoes massive transformations. We were able to identify elemental associations of iron (Fe), silicon (Si), and oxygen (O).
Diatoms are essential actors in our marine ecosystems, helping to fuel the base of the global carbon pump. Their ability to affect biogeochemical cycling in our soil means that understanding their complex biochemical transformation processes is imperative for climate-smart science. This study helps to sharpen the picture of the fate of silica in the oceans. It serves to underscore the essential role of basic research in uncovering complex processes found in nature.
Yuanzhi Tang considers this study as a strong reminder of why we need fundamental research in the first place. Their work is leading to some fascinating findings, helping to fill in gaps in our understanding of marine chemistry. Further, it highlights the need for continued research into complex oceanic processes.