Central OC Times

Marine bacteria have been identified as a potential solution for long-term carbon storage, according to researchers at the University of California, Irvine. The study, published in Nature Communications, explores how complex organic molecules created by marine bacteria can store climate-warming carbon in the deep ocean.

Brett Walker, an associate professor in the Department of Earth System Science and senior author of the study, explained, “It’s the first time we’ve measured this type of thing in the seawater.” He emphasized that their new technique allows scientists to analyze the composition of all organic molecules in seawater and observe their cycles.

The research team conducted fieldwork at Baffin Bay between Canada and Greenland. They measured concentrations of carboxyl-rich alicyclic molecules (CRAM) and found that some organic molecules are stored preferentially in the deep ocean while others cycle quickly back to the surface. Walker noted, “In the deep ocean, what we find is about one-quarter to half of the CRAM goes away,” indicating biological removal by heterotrophic bacteria using it as an energy source.

The findings suggest that if half of CRAM remains unreactive and stored in the deep ocean, these bacteria could potentially store planet-warming carbon derived from surface CO2 over extended periods. Walker added, “If more CRAM can be stored in the deep ocean, presumably it would have the potential to mitigate atmospheric climate on centennial timescales.”

The next phase involves exploring ways to encourage bacteria to store more CRAM in deeper waters. Walker stated, “The goal would be to explore if there’s a natural process by which you could enhance the natural production of these inert compounds at depth with native bacterial populations or something like that.”

Further research will determine whether similar biochemical processes occur globally. Collaborators on this project include Kayla McKee and Lauren O’Reilly from the University of Ottawa and Hussain Abdulla from Texas A&M Corpus Christi. The study was funded by various Canadian research grants.

UC Irvine continues its efforts through its Brilliant Future campaign launched on October 4, 2019. This initiative aims to raise awareness and support for university endeavors across student success, health and wellness, research, among other areas.

Founded in 1965, UC Irvine is part of the Association of American Universities and ranks among America's top public universities according to U.S. News & World Report. The campus has produced five Nobel laureates and offers 224 degree programs with more than 36,000 students enrolled.