Dr. Benner

Ronald Benner

Professor of Biological Sciences and Marine Sciences
Ph.D., 1984, University of Georgia

Office/Lab: 346 Sumwalt
(803) 777-9561
E-mail: BENNER@mailbox.sc.edu
Click here for C.V.

Research Interests
Biogeochemistry
  • origin, composition, and reactivity of POM and DOM
  • photochemical and microbial transformations of organic matter
  • relationships between the structure and reactivity of natural organic matter
  • lignin, carbohydrate, and amino acid geochemistry
  • stable isotope (C, N) geochemistry
  • organic matter diagenesis
 Microbial Ecology
  • heterotrophic production and respiration
  • N cycle (nitrogen fixation, nitrification, denitrification, ammonification)
  • microbial production of exopolymers
  • microbial food webs, fate of microbial biomass
  • microbial contributions to DOM and POM
  • nitrogen immobilization

Microorganisms have a profound impact on the composition of the biosphere and global biogeochemical cycles.  Microbes play key roles in the cycling of bioactive elements, such as C, N and P, and in the transfer of these elements into complex food webs.  Bacterial growth and activity  are supported primarily by detrital material in both dissolved and particulate form.  Dissolved organic matter (DOM) is by far the most abundant form of reduced carbon and detrital material in the ocean, and it is one of the largest reactive reservoirs of organic carbon on Earth.  POM and DOM are chemically complex, and they are derived from a variety of sources.  A primary research objective in my laboratory is to characterize the origins, compositions, transformations and fates of DOM and POM in freshwater, estuarine and marine environments.  In the ocean, combined carbohydrates and amino acids are the major reactive components of DOM, and ongoing studies are investigating rates of bacterial production and utilization of these compounds and the factors controlling bacterial growth and respiration.  Research on DOM and POM in large rivers (e.g. Amazon, Mississippi, Ob, Yenisei) indicates that it is derived primarily from decaying plant material in soils.  The DOM and POM in these rivers is rich in aromatic components, such as tannins and lignins, and is resistant to bacterial oxidation.  Photochemical reactions appear to play an important role in the decomposition of these biorefractory components.  Ongoing research projects in my laboratory are investigating various aspects of the cycling of organic matter in environments ranging from the Arctic Ocean to the Amazon River.


Current Laboratory Personnel


  • Karl Kaiser, Postdoctoral Associate
  • Cedric Fichot, Ph.D. student in Marine Science
  • Yuan Shen, MS student in Marine Science
  • Shengkang Liang, visiting professor from the Ocean University of Qingdao

Selected Publications

Davis, J., K. Kaiser, and R. Benner. 2009. Amino acid and amino sugar yields and compositions as indicators of dissolved organic matter diagenesis. Org. Geochem., 40: 343-352. (PDF)

Kaiser, K., and R. Benner. 2009. Biochemical composition and size distribution of organicmatter at the Pacific and Atlantic times-series stations. Mar. Chem., doi: 10.1016/j.marchem.2008.12.004. (PDF)

Tremblay, L., and R. Benner. 2009. Organic matter diagenesis and bacterial contributions to detrital carbon and nitrogen in the Amazon River system. Limnol. Oceanogr., 54:681-691. (PDF)

Kaiser, K., and R. Benner. 2008. Major bacterial contribution to the ocean reservoir of detrital organic carbon and nitrogen. Limnol. Oceanogr., 53: 99-112. (PDF)

Davis., J., and R. Benner. 2007. Quantitative estimates of labile and semi-labile DOC in the western Arctic Ocean: A molecular approach. Limnol. Oceanogr., 52: 2434-2444. (PDF)

Tremblay, L., and R. Benner. 2006. Microbial contributions to N-immobilization and organic matter preservation in decaying plant detritus. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta., 70: 133-146. (PDF)

Hernes, P.J., and R. Benner. 2006. Terrigenous organic matter sources and reactivity in the North Atlantic Ocean and a comparison to the Arctic and Pacific oceans. Mar. Chem., 100: 66-79. (PDF)

Kawasaki, N., and R. Benner. 2006. Bacterial release of dissolved organic matter during cell growth and decline: molecular origin and composition. Limnol. Oceanogr., 51: 2170-2180.(PDF)

Benner, R., P. Louchouarn, and R.M.W. Amon. 2005. Terrigenous dissolved organic matter in the Arctic Ocean and its transport to surface and deep waters of the North Atlantic. Global Biogeochem. Cycles. 19, GB2025, doi:10.1029/2004GB002398. (PDF)

Benner, R., B. Benitez-Nelson, K. Kaiser, and R. M. W. Amon. 2004. Export of young terrigenous dissolved organic carbon from rivers to the Arctic Ocean. Geophys. Res. Lett., 31, L05305, doi:10.1029/2003GL019251.(PDF)

Obernosterer, I., and R. Benner. 2004. Competition between biological and photochemical processes in the mineralization of dissolved organic carbon. Limnol. Oceanogr.. 49: 117-124.(PDF)

Benner, R., and K. Kaiser. 2003. Abundance of amino sugars and peptidoglycan in marine particulate and dissolved organic matter. Limnol. Oceanogr. 48: 118-128.(PDF)

Obernosterer, I., N. Kawasaki, and R. Benner. 2003. Phosphate limitation of respiration in the Sargasso Sea and uncoupling of P cycling in size fraction experiments. Aquat. Microb. Ecol. 32: 229-237.(PDF)

Hernes, P. J., and R. Benner. 2003. Photochemical and microbial degradation of dissolved lignin phenols: Implications for the fate of terrigenous dissolved organic matter in marine environments. J. Geophys. Res., 108 (C9), doi: 10.1029/2002JC001421, 2003. (PDF)

Ogawa, H., Y. Amagai, I. Koike, K. Kaiser, and R. Benner. 2001. Production of refractory dissolved organic matter by bacteria. Science 292: 917-920. (PDF)

Amon, R. M. W., H.-P. Fitznar, and R. Benner. 2001. Linkages among the bioreactivity, chemical composition, and diagenetic state of marine dissolved organic matter. Limnol. Oceanogr. 46: 287-297. (PDF)

Ziegler, S., and R. Benner. 2000. Effects of solar radiation on dissolved organic matter cycling in a subtropical seagrass meadow. Limnol. Oceanogr. 45: 257–266. (PDF)

Ziegler, S., and R. Benner. 1999. Dissolved organic carbon cycling in a subtropical seagrass-dominated lagoon. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser., 180: 149-160. (PDF)

Opsahl, S., R. Benner, and R. M. W. Amon. 1999. Major flux of terrigenous dissolved organic matter through the Arctic Ocean. Limnol. Oceanogr. 44: 2017-2023. (PDF)

Clark, L. L., E. D. Ingall, and R. Benner. 1998. Marine phosphorus is selectively remineralized. Nature 393: 426. (PDF)

McCarthy, M., J. I. Hedges, and R. Benner. 1998. Major bacterial contribution to marine dissolved organic nitrogen. Science 281: 231-234.(PDF)

Benner, R., and B. Biddanda. 1998. Photochemical transformations of surface and deep marine dissolved organic matter: Effects on bacterial growth. Limnol. Oceanogr. 43: 1373-1378. (PDF)

Opsahl, S., and R. Benner. 1997. Distribution and cycling of terrigenous dissolved organic matter in the ocean. Nature 386: 480-482. (PDF)

McCarthy, M., T. Pratum, J. I. Hedges, and R. Benner. 1997. Chemical composition of dissolved organic nitrogen in the ocean. Nature 390: 150-154. (PDF)

Skoog, A., and R. Benner. 1997. Aldoses in various size fractions of marine organic matter: implications for carbon cycling. Limnol. Oceanogr. 42: 1803-1813. (PDF)

Hedges, J. I., R. Keil, and R. Benner. 1997. What happens to terrestrial organic matter in the ocean? Org. Geochem. 27: 195-212. (PDF)

Amon, R. M. W., and R. Benner. 1996. Bacterial utilization of different size classes of dissolved organic matter. Limnol. Oceanogr. 41: 41-51. (PDF)

Benner, R., S. Opsahl, G. Chin-Leo, J. E. Richey, and B. Forsberg. 1995. Bacterial carbon metabolism in the Amazon River system. Limnol. Oceanogr. 40: 1262-1270. (PDF)

Opsahl, S., and R. Benner. 1995. Early diagenesis of vascular plant tissues: lignin and cutin decomposition and biogeochemical implications. Geochem. Cosmochim. Acta 59: 4889-4904. (PDF)

Amon, R. M. W., and R. Benner. 1994. Rapid cycling of high-molecular-weight dissolved organic matter in the ocean. Nature 369: 549-552. (PDF)

Biddanda, B., S. Opsahl, and R. Benner. 1994. Plankton respiration and carbon flux through bacterioplankton on the Louisiana shelf. Limnol. Oceanogr. 39: 1259-1275. (PDF)

Benner, R., J.D. Pakulski, M. McCarthy, J.I. Hedges and P.G. Hatcher. 1992. Bulk chemical characterization of dissolved organic matter in the ocean. Science 255: 1561-1564. (PDF)

Benner, R., M. F. Fogel, E. K. Sprague, and R. E. Hodson. 1987. Depletion of 13C in lignin and its implications for stable carbon isotope studies. Nature 329: 708-710. (PDF)