Effect of sulfate limitation on sulfur isotope fractionation in batch cultures of sulfate reducing bacteria

Dissimilatory reduction of sulfate to sulfide produces a wide range of sulfur isotope effects, enriching heavy isotopes of sulfur in the remaining sulfate. This isotope fractionation is known to decrease at low sulfate concentrations, which has been used to assess marine sulfate levels throughout the geologic record. So far, the relationships of fractionations to the sulfate concentrations have been examined exclusively in continuous cultures or...