Synonyms
Biogeochemical sulfur cycle; Sulfate reduction and sulfide oxidation; Transformation of sulfur compounds
Definition
Sulfur. Chemical element that is one of the constituents of the Earth’s compartments and living organisms. While the average sulfur content of the whole Earth is about 2%, the crust contains only about 0.07% sulfur (Brimblecombe, 2003).
Sulfur cycle. Biogeochemical system of biotic and abiotic transformations of inorganic and organic sulfur-bearing components, in and between, the lithosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, and biosphere. Sulfur initially enters the biogeochemical cycle via volcanic activity and continental erosion. Today, the modern sulfur cycle is influenced by human activity. The Earth sulfur reservoir is assumed to have been essentially constant through time (Garrels and Lerman, 1984).
Assimilative sulfate reduction. Sulfate (SO4 2−) is reduced to organic R-SH groups by plants, algae, and fungi.
Dissimilative sulfur and sulfate reduction.Hydrogen...
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Böttcher, M.E. (2011). Sulfur Cycle. 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_200
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