MIT researchers recently published work in the journal Nature Communications which shows that the release of sulfur to the atmosphere occurs largely in hotspots of co-located marine bacteria and phytoplankton. Phytoplankton produces dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP), a large nutrient source for bacteria. Bacteria process DMSP via one of two pathways (demethylation or cleavage) and researchers found that the pathway which is activated depends on the concentration of DMSP in the area. Elevated concentrations of DMSP, typically found in phytoplankton hotspots, shift bacterial DMSP metabolism toward the cleavage pathway. Through the cleavage process, dimethylsulfide (DMS) gas is created which is responsible for most of the biologically derived sulfur that enters the atmosphere—which can affect rainfall patterns and cloud generation!