Anchialine pools and cenotes: Difference between revisions
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===Hydrology=== | ===Hydrology=== | ||
Anchialine pools experience tidal fluctations and lack surface connections that are near the ocean. They contain very clear water and large channels. They | Anchialine pools experience tidal fluctations and lack surface connections that are near the ocean. They contain very clear water and large channels. They are filled with brackish water. | ||
===Topography=== | ===Topography=== |
Revision as of 01:30, 5 April 2011
Introduction
Anchialine pools, also known as Cenotes in the Yucatan Peninsula region, are subterranean bodies of water that have a connection to the surface. Anchialine pools are circular and cliffed sinkholes that contain watertable lakes. They are filled with brackish water. hThey contain large passage ways which make them desirable for cave explorations. They are very common globally, with a majority located in the Hawaiian Islands and the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico.
Anchialine pools are home to different types of grazers. Thick and intricate microbial mats also form in these areas due to nutrients provided by hydrothermal inputs. The microbes in the microbial mats undergo anaerobic respiration. Microbial processes that occur here include: methanogenesis, sulfur reduction, and anaerobic ammonia oxidation.
Physical environment
Vegetation
There are many species that are endemic to anchialine pools including flora, fauna, and microbial communities. Characteristic heterogeneous vegetation, including tall evergreen trees like Ficus species, surrounds the opening of the pools. Removal of vegetation by large herbivores is threatening the ecosystems that reside in the anchialine pools.
Formation
Anchialine pools are formed by the dissolution of limestone by carbonic acid in karst landforms. Underlying these landforms is calcerous rock. As the rock breaks off and falls into the pool, it is further dissolved.
Hydrology
Anchialine pools experience tidal fluctations and lack surface connections that are near the ocean. They contain very clear water and large channels. They are filled with brackish water.
Topography
Salinity
Animal Community
Microbial communities
What kind of microbes do we typically find in this environment? Or associated with important processes in this environment? Describe key groups of microbes that we find in this environment, and any special adaptations they may have evolved to survive in this environment. List examples of specific microbes that represent key groups or are associated with important processes found in this environment. Link to other MicrobeWiki pages where possible.
Are there important biological interactions that are important in this environment? Do these interactions influence microbial populations and their activities? How do these interactions influence other organisms? Describe biological interactions that might take place in this environment, using as many sections/subsections as you require. Look at other topics available in MicrobeWiki. Create links where relevant.
Methanogens
Sulfur reducing bacteria
Microbial processes
What microbial processes define this environment? Describe microbial processes that are important in this habitat, adding sections/subsections as needed. Look at other topics in MicrobeWiki. Are some of these processes already described? Create links where relevant.
Anaerobic respiration
Anaerobic respiration occurs when microbes use other terminal electron acceptors other than oxygen. In environments, like anchialine pools and cenotes, microbes use terminal electron acceptors like sulfate (SO4-2), nitrate (NO3-), sulfur (S), and carbon dioxide (CO2). This type of respiration occurs in the absence of oxygen. Although these terminal electron acceptors produce energy, they release less energy than oxygen. Therefore, anaerobic respiration produces less energy than aerobic respiration.
Methanogenesis
Sulfate reduction
Anaerobic ammonium oxidation
Current Research
"A Comparative Molecular analysis of Water-filled Limestone Sinkholes in North-eastern Mexico"
References
Edited by Lauren Behnke, a student of Angela Kent at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.