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Chemical speciation drives hydrothermal vent ecology

Author

Listed:
  • George W. Luther

    (College of Marine Studies, University of Delaware)

  • Tim F. Rozan

    (College of Marine Studies, University of Delaware)

  • Martial Taillefert

    (College of Marine Studies, University of Delaware
    Georgia Institute of Technology)

  • Donald B. Nuzzio

    (Analytical Instrument Systems, Inc.)

  • Carol Di Meo

    (College of Marine Studies, University of Delaware)

  • Timothy M. Shank

    (MS #34 1-16 Redfield, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution)

  • Richard A. Lutz

    (Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences, Rutgers University)

  • S. Craig Cary

    (College of Marine Studies, University of Delaware)

Abstract

The physiology and biochemistry of many taxa inhabiting deep-sea hydrothermal vents have been elucidated1,2,3,4; however, the physicochemical factors controlling the distribution of these organisms at a given vent site remain an enigma after 20 years of research5,6,7,8,9,10,11. The chemical speciation of particular elements has been suggested as key to controlling biological community structure in these extreme aquatic environments7,11,12. Implementation of electrochemical technology13,14 has allowed us to make in situ measurements of chemical speciation at vents located at the East Pacific Rise (9° 50′ N) and on a scale relevant to the biology. Here we report that significant differences in oxygen, iron and sulphur speciation strongly correlate with the distribution of specific taxa in different microhabitats. In higher temperature (> 30 °C) microhabitats, the appreciable formation of soluble iron-sulphide molecular clusters markedly reduces the availability of free H2S/HS- to vent (micro)organisms, thus controlling the available habitat.

Suggested Citation

  • George W. Luther & Tim F. Rozan & Martial Taillefert & Donald B. Nuzzio & Carol Di Meo & Timothy M. Shank & Richard A. Lutz & S. Craig Cary, 2001. "Chemical speciation drives hydrothermal vent ecology," Nature, Nature, vol. 410(6830), pages 813-816, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:410:y:2001:i:6830:d:10.1038_35071069
    DOI: 10.1038/35071069
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    Cited by:

    1. Husson, Bérengère & Sarrazin, Jozée & van Oevelen, Dick & Sarradin, Pierre-Marie & Soetaert, Karline & Menesguen, Alain, 2018. "Modelling the interactions of the hydrothermal mussel Bathymodiolus azoricus with vent fluid," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 377(C), pages 35-50.
    2. Jarrod J Scott & John A Breier & George W Luther III & David Emerson, 2015. "Microbial Iron Mats at the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and Evidence that Zetaproteobacteria May Be Restricted to Iron-Oxidizing Marine Systems," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 10(3), pages 1-19, March.
    3. Sean F. Jordan & Ioannis Ioannou & Hanadi Rammu & Aaron Halpern & Lara K. Bogart & Minkoo Ahn & Rafaela Vasiliadou & John Christodoulou & Amandine Maréchal & Nick Lane, 2021. "Spontaneous assembly of redox-active iron-sulfur clusters at low concentrations of cysteine," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-14, December.

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