Deeply-sourced formate fuels sulfate reducers but not methanogens at Lost City hydrothermal field
Year: 2018
Type: article
Abstract: Hydrogen produced during water-rock serpentinization reactions can drive the synthesis of organic compounds both biotically and abiotically. We investigated abiotic carbon production and microbial metabolic pathways at the high energy but low diversity serpentinite-hosted Lost City hydrothermal field. Compound-specific 14 C data demonstrates that formate is mantle-derived and abiotic in some locations and has an additional, seawater-derived component in others. Lipids produced by the dominant member of the archaeal community, the Lost City Methanosarcinales, largely lack 14 C, but metagenomic evidence suggests they cannot use formate for methanogenesis. Instead, sulfate-reducing bacteria may be the primary consumers of formate in Lost City chimneys. Paradoxically, the archaeal phylotype that numerically dominates the chimney microbial communities appears ill suited to live in pure hydrothermal fluids without the co-occurrence of organisms that can liberate CO 2 . Considering the lack of dissolved inorganic carbon in such systems, the ability to utilize formate may be a key trait for survival in pristine serpentinite-hosted environments.
Source: Scientific Reports
Language: English
Subfield: Environmental Chemistry
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,690
Awards: Unravelling Abiotic and Biotic Sources and Sinks of Carbon in Marine Hydrothermal Systems, Life in Extreme Environments II: Carbon and Nitrogen Cycles in High Alkaline Systems, How to organize compulsory secondary education? A study of educational reforms and their effects in three French-speaking cantons, G5599649393, G628552264, Collaborative Research: Investigating the Lost City as an ultramafic urban center of the subseafloor, fueled by energy and carbon from the mantle, Collaborative: Investigation of a new class of hydrothermal systems: The Lost City Hydrothermal Field: A Peridotite-hosted, Off-axis System at 30 degree N on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge
OpenAlex ID: W2782766996