Sulfhydrolase activity in sediments of wintergreen lake, kalamazoo county, michigan.

The hydrolysis of p-nitrophenyl sulfate, p-nitrocatechol sulfate, and [S]sodium dodecyl sulfate was examined in anoxic sediments of Wintergreen Lake, Michigan. Significant levels of sulfhydrolase activity were observed in littoral, transition, and profundal sediment samples. Rates of sulfate formation suggest that the sulfhydrolase system would represent a major source of sulfate within these sediments. Sulfate formed by ester sulfate hydrolysis can support dissimilatory sulfate reduction as shown by the incorporation of S from labeled sodium dodecyl sulfate into H(2)S. Sulfhydrolase activity varied with sediment depth, was greatest in the littoral zone, and was sensitive to the presence of oxygen. Estimations of ester sulfate concentrations in sediments revealed large quantities of ester sulfate ( approximately 30% of total sulfur). Both total sulfur and ester sulfate concentrations varied with the sediment type and were two to three orders of magnitude greater than the inorganic sulfur concentration.