“Edifice Rex” Sulfide Recovery Project: Analysis of submarine hydrothermal, microbial habitat

Abstract

Recent scientific developments place inquiries about submarine volcanic systems in a broad planetary context. Among these is the discovery that submarine eruptions are intimately linked with massive effusions of microbes and their products from below the sea floor [Holden et al., 1998]. This material includes microbes that only grow at temperatures tens of degrees higher than the temperatures of the vent fluids from which they were sampled. Such results lend support for the existence of a potentially extensive, but currently unexplored sub‐sea floor microbial biosphere associated with active submarine volcanoes [Deming and Baross, 1993; Delaney et al., 1998; Summit and Baross, 1998].

Incidence and Diversity of Microorganisms within the Walls of an Active Deep-Sea Sulfide Chimney

“…Four large sulfide structures were recovered from the Faulty Towers ( Fig. 1) and Crab Basin complexes within the Mothra Field as part of the Edifice Rex sulfide recovery project (14). The four structures included an inactive structure (Phang), two structures venting warm diffuse fluids (Roane, Gwenen), and a black smoker chimney (Finn) venting 302°C fluids ( Fig.…”

“…Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) was performed with domain-and group-specific oligonucleotide probes (EUB338, ARC915, EUK502, EURY498, CREN499, MC688, MC1109, TC589) ( [14]). The textured nature of some of the chimneys reflects the dense growth of macrofaunal communities that colonize the exterior surfaces of active vent structures.…”

“…The textured nature of some of the chimneys reflects the dense growth of macrofaunal communities that colonize the exterior surfaces of active vent structures. Three structures from the Faulty Towers complex (Finn, Roane, and Phang) were recovered as part of the Edifice Rex Sulfide Recovery Project (14). Scale bar ϭ 13 m. (12).…”

“…The Edifice Rex sulfide recovery project in 1997 and 1998 resulted in retrieval of the largest and most pristine hydrothermal vent chimneys yet obtained from the deep-sea environment (14). A black smoker sulfide chimney, designated Finn, was among the structures recovered.…”

Temporal Changes in Archaeal Diversity and Chemistry in a Mid-Ocean Ridge Subseafloor Habitat

“…In all of these biotopes, microorganisms utilize either chemical energy derived from the reaction of water with rock at high temperatures or organic compounds derived from multiple sources (27). The microbial diversity varies from a single species of bacteria, as is the case for animal endosymbionts (52), to complex communities of different thermal groups of bacteria and archaea observed in hot vent fluids (42, 48, 49), sulfide structures (14,20,48,50), and microbial mats (31, 36). The subseafloor biotopes are probably the most enigmatic, since they are characterized by variable porosity (22) and complex thermal and chemical gradients (6) due to mixing of seawater with hydrothermal fluids.…”