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Fe(II)-Oxidizing Prokaryotes

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Encyclopedia of Geobiology

Part of the book series: Encyclopedia of Earth Sciences Series ((EESS))

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Synonyms

Fe-oxidizers; Fe(II)-oxidizing prokaryotes/microorganisms; Ferrous iron-oxidizing prokaryotes/microorganisms; Iron-oxidizers; Iron-oxidizing prokaryotes/microorganisms.; Iron(II)-oxidizing prokaryotes/microorganisms

Definition

Fe(II)-oxidizing prokaryotes. Diverse species of the prokaryotic domains Bacteria and Archaea have the ability to oxidize Fe(II), ferrous iron , to Fe(III), ferric iron. The electrons obtained from the oxidation of Fe(II) are utilized for energy generation in aerobic or anaerobic respiration and/or for assimilative reduction reactions.

Introduction

Aerobic neutrophilic Fe(II)-oxidizing bacteria were among the first environmentally relevant prokaryotes that were discovered and studied in the nineteenth century. At that time, eye-catching ochre deposits in ponds and slowly running waters had attracted the attention of microbiologists. Microscopic analyses of such ochre deposits revealed the prevalence of twisted stalks and/or sheaths that were covered with...

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Straub, K.L. (2011). Fe(II)-Oxidizing Prokaryotes. In: Reitner, J., Thiel, V. (eds) Encyclopedia of Geobiology. Encyclopedia of Earth Sciences Series. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-9212-1_88

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