Work

Does phosphite accelerate the phosphorus cycle in freshwater ecosystems?

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Phosphite is supposed to an essential compound for the origin of early life, and exist as the main form of phosphorus (P) in the P cycle of ancient anoxic marine environments. Recent researches have discovered the presence of phosphite in contemporary aquatic ecosystems, considering its utilization by microorganisms via assimilatory and dissimilatory phosphite oxidation, as well as the indirect photooxidization to orthophosphate by ultraviolet light, which indicate the potential contribution of phosphite for P cycle in modern earth. Given its high solubility, phosphite is believed to expedite P transformations in freshwater aquatic environments, particularly in lacustrine systems. Compared to oceans, these systems have shallower waters, which favor the rapid transport of released phosphite from reducing sediments to surface water. This is especially significant if the sediment is a major production site for phosphite, indicating that its role in the P cycle might have been previously understated.

Source: Water Research X

DOI: 10.1016/j.wroa.2025.100417

Authors: Wenqiang Zhang, Songjie Han, Baoqing Shan, Quan Zhou

Institutions: Chinese Academy of Sciences, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, South China Institute Of Environmental Sciences

Language: English

Topic: Aquatic Ecosystems and Phytoplankton Dynamics

Subfield: Environmental Chemistry

Field: Environmental Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Clean water and sanitation

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,943