PRESSURISED: 061 – Trench nutrient cycling with Ronnie N. Glud

Welcome to the PRESSURISED version of episode 61, just the science, none of the waffle PRESSURISED: Trench nutrient cycling with Ronnie N. Glud | The Deep Sea Podcast | Episode 61 Guest Interview: Nutrient cycling in the hadal trenches (6 to 11 km) and the crucial role they play in global element cycling. Professor Ronnie N. Glud, a leading biochemist and Director of the Danish Centre for Hadal Research (HADAL) talks us through how the trenches, once thought to be barren, are actually "dynamic deep-sea hotspots with intensified microbial activity and diversity". Learn about: How hadal trenches act as "depocenters" for organic material, leading to microbial activity that's 2 to 6 times higher than in adjacent abyssal sites. The surprising diversity of microbial "generalists" that easily adapt to the immense pressure and low temperatures, aided by viruses that facilitate "horizontal gene transfer". The return of full anaerobic diagenetic processes (like sulphate reduction and anammox) in trench sediments, making them significant sinks for fixed nitrogen. The role of marine snow and seismic activity in efficiently transporting organic matter and, surprisingly, pollutants like PCBs and heavy metals to these remote depths. Why these trenches are not isolated environments but are highly connected to surface ocean processes, even responding to climate-driven changes in primary production. We also have a surprise blobfish guest! Support the show The podcast is self-sustaining (just) thanks to our lovely listeners. Thom and Alan take no money for the show. All money is put back into running it. Here’s a link to our page on how to support us, from the free options to becoming a patron of the show. We want to say a huge thank you to those patrons who have already pledged to support us: C Wright Check out our podcast merch here! Feel free to get in touch with us with questions or your own tales from the high seas on: podcast@deepseapod.com We’d love to actually play your voice, so feel free to record a short audio note on our brand new answerphone! Thanks again for tuning in; we’ll deep-see you next time! Find out more Social media BlueSky: @deepseapod.com Twitter: @DeepSeaPod Instagram: @deepsea_podcast Keep up with the team on social media Twitter: Alan - @Hadalbloke Thom - @ThomLinley Instagram: Thom - @thom.linley Inkfish - @inkfishexpeditions BlueSky: Thom @ thomaslinley.com Reference list Flourishing chemosynthetic life at the greatest depths of hadal trenches Element cycling and microbial life in the hadal realm Credits Theme: Hadal Zone Express by Märvel Logo image: Ronnie N. Glud

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PRESSURISED: 061 – Trench nutrient cycling with Ronnie N. Glud is an episode from The Deep-Sea Podcast by deepseapod.

This episode is 32:28 long.

This episode was published on Aug 16, 2025.

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