Metabolic variability in seafloor brines revealed by carbon and sulphur dynamics

Joye, Samantha B.; Samarkin, V.; Orcutt, Beth N.; MacDonald, Ian R.; Hinrichs, Kai‐Uwe; Elvert, Marcus; Teske, Andreas; Lloyd, Karen G.; Lever, Mark A.; Montoya, Joseph P.; Meile, Christof

doi:10.1038/ngeo475

Cited by 101 publications

(88 citation statements)

References 26 publications

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“…Although moderate conditions are found in Orca Basin brine compared to other deepsea brines (Antunes et al, 2011;Joye et al, 2005), studies of microbial abundance and activity in Orca Basin have concluded that very little physiological activity can be measured below the seawater-brine interface (Dickins and Van Vleet, 1992;LaRock et al, 1979;Tuovila et al, 1987;Wiesenburg et al, 1985). This lack of microbial activity stands in contrast to other Gulf of Mexico brines in the Gulf of Mexico (Joye et al, 2009(Joye et al, , 2010.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 69%

“…Both the geochemistry of the brine and composition of underlying sediments indicate the ∼ 200 m thick brine originates from dissolution of a nearby salt exposure and lateral advection of brine to the basin (Addy and Behrens, 1980;Pilcher and Blumstein, 2007;Sheu et al, 1988;Shokes et al, 1977;Trabant and Presley, 1978). This formation mechanism is unlike many other Gulf of Mexico brines that have in situ sources of dissolved ions and reduced gases (Joye et al, 2005(Joye et al, , 2009(Joye et al, , 2010.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Carbon isotopic evidence for microbial control of carbon supply to Orca Basin at the seawater–brine interface

et al. 2013

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Orca Basin, an intraslope basin on the Texas-Louisiana continental slope, hosts a hypersaline, anoxic brine in its lowermost 200 m in which limited microbial activity has been reported. This brine contains a large reservoir of reduced and aged carbon, and appears to be stable at decadal time scales: concentrations and isotopic composition of dissolved inorganic (DIC) and organic carbon (DOC) are similar to measurements made in the 1970s. Both DIC and DOC are more "aged" within the brine pool than in overlying water, and the isotopic contrast between brine carbon and seawater carbon is much greater for DIC than DOC. While the stable carbon isotopic composition of brine DIC points towards a combination of methane and organic carbon remineralization as its source, radiocarbon and box model results point to the brine interface as the major source region for DIC, allowing for only limited oxidation of methane diffusing upwards from sediments. This conclusion is consistent with previous studies that identify the seawater–brine interface as the focus of microbial activity associated with Orca Basin brine. Isotopic similarities between DIC and DOC suggest a different relationship between these two carbon reservoirs than is typically observed in deep ocean basins. Radiocarbon values implicate the seawater–brine interface region as the likely source region for DOC to the brine as well as DIC

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 69%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Carbon isotopic evidence for microbial control of carbon supply to Orca Basin at the seawater–brine interface

et al. 2013

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“…DHABs are also found in the Mediterranean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico (Joye et al, 2009;Antunes et al, 2011;and references therein). Generally, individual brines contain dense mixtures of gases and heavy metals Schmidt et al, 2003), are characterized by geochemically and spatially distinct layers (Antunes et al, 2011) and some are still hydrothermally active (Swift et al, 2012).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Molecular-based evidences and geochemical data gathered in all brine pools studied to date document that sulfur cycling and aerobic oxidation of methane are the main energy-generating processes in the BSI habitat (Faber et al, 1998;Eder et al, 2002;Schmidt et al, 2003;Daffonchio et al, 2006;Yakimov et al, 2007;Borin et al, 2009;Joye et al, 2009;La Cono et al, 2011;Ferrer et al, 2012;Bougouffa et al, 2013). Although ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) typically predominate the deep-sea realm of the global ocean (Stahl and de la Torre, 2012; and references therein), data from some Mediterranean Sea brines suggest that Archaea are less predominant in the BSI environment (B10% of all prokaryotes; Daffonchio et al, 2006;Yakimov et al, 2007;Borin et al, 2009).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparative genomics reveals adaptations of a halotolerant thaumarchaeon in the interfaces of brine pools in the Red Sea

et al. 2014

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The bottom of the Red Sea harbors over 25 deep hypersaline anoxic basins that are geochemically distinct and characterized by vertical gradients of extreme physicochemical conditions. Because of strong changes in density, particulate and microbial debris get entrapped in the brine-seawater interface (BSI), resulting in increased dissolved organic carbon, reduced dissolved oxygen toward the brines and enhanced microbial activities in the BSI. These features coupled with the deep-sea prevalence of ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) in the global ocean make the BSI a suitable environment for studying the osmotic adaptations and ecology of these important players in the marine nitrogen cycle. Using phylogenomic-based approaches, we show that the local archaeal community of five different BSI habitats (with up to 18.2% salinity) is composed mostly of a single, highly abundant Nitrosopumilus-like phylotype that is phylogenetically distinct from the bathypelagic thaumarchaea; ammonia-oxidizing bacteria were absent. The composite genome of this novel Nitrosopumilus-like subpopulation (RSA3) co-assembled from multiple single-cell amplified genomes (SAGs) from one such BSI habitat further revealed that it shares B54% of its predicted genomic inventory with sequenced Nitrosopumilus species. RSA3 also carries several, albeit variable gene sets that further illuminate the phylogenetic diversity and metabolic plasticity of this genus. Specifically, it encodes for a putative proline-glutamate 'switch' with a potential role in osmotolerance and indirect impact on carbon and energy flows. Metagenomic fragment recruitment analyses against the composite RSA3 genome, Nitrosopumilus maritimus, and SAGs of mesopelagic thaumarchaea also reiterate the divergence of the BSI genotypes from other AOA.

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“…The hypothesis guiding these calculations is that the reactions that are the most energyyielding in a particular environment are most likely to be catalyzed by resident microorganisms. These kinds of calculations have been carried out to varying extents in deepsea sediments located in the Bay of Bengal , Guaymas Basin, and the Black Sea (LaRowe et al, 2008), Peru Margin (Biddle et al, 2006;Wang et al, 2010;, the Gulf of Mexico (Joye et al, 2009), the South Pacific Gyre (LaRowe and Amend, 2014), the Juan de Fuca Ridge (LaRowe and Amend, 2014), and the Juan de Fuca Ridge flank (Lever et al, 2010). In a related study, the energetic potential of iron and sulfur-bearing minerals from a number of DSDP/ODP drill sites was also quantified (Bach and Edwards, 2003).…”

Section: Using Geochemical and Geophysical Data To Constrain Microbiamentioning

confidence: 99%

IODP Deep Biosphere Research Workshop report – a synthesis of recent investigations, and discussion of new research questions and drilling targets

et al. 2014

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Abstract. During the past decade, the IODP (International Ocean Discovery Program) has fostered a significant increase in deep biosphere investigations in the marine sedimentary and crustal environments, and scientists are well-poised to continue this momentum into the next phase of the IODP. The goals of this workshop were to evaluate recent findings in a global context, synthesize available biogeochemical data to foster thermodynamic and metabolic activity modeling and measurements, identify regional targets for future targeted sampling and dedicated expeditions, foster collaborations, and highlight the accomplishments of deep biosphere research within IODP. Twenty-four scientists from around the world participated in this one-day workshop sponsored by IODP-MI and held in Florence, Italy, immediately prior to the Goldschmidt 2013 conference. A major topic of discussion at the workshop was the continued need for standard biological sampling and measurements across IODP platforms. Workshop participants renew the call to IODP operators to implement recommended protocols.

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Metabolic variability in seafloor brines revealed by carbon and sulphur dynamics

Cited by 101 publications

References 26 publications

Carbon isotopic evidence for microbial control of carbon supply to Orca Basin at the seawater–brine interface

Carbon isotopic evidence for microbial control of carbon supply to Orca Basin at the seawater–brine interface

Comparative genomics reveals adaptations of a halotolerant thaumarchaeon in the interfaces of brine pools in the Red Sea

IODP Deep Biosphere Research Workshop report – a synthesis of recent investigations, and discussion of new research questions and drilling targets

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