Deep Crustal Communities of the Juan de Fuca Ridge Are Governed by Mineralogy |
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| Authors: | Amy R Smith Martin R Fisk Andrew R Thurber Gilberto E Flores Olivia U Mason Radu Popa |
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| Institution: | 1. College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, USA;2. Department of Biology, California State University, Northridge, California, USA;3. Department of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, USA;4. Department of Biology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA |
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| Abstract: | Volcanic ocean crust contains a global chemosynthetic microbial ecosystem that impacts ocean productivity, seawater chemistry and geochemical cycling. We examined the mineralogical effect on community structure in the aquifer ecosystem by using a four-year in situ colonization experiment with igneous minerals and glasses in Integrated Ocean Drilling Program Hole 1301A on the Juan de Fuca Ridge. Microbial community analysis and scanning electron microscopy revealed that olivine phases and iron-bearing minerals bore communities that were distinct from iron-poor phases. Communities were dominated by Archaeoglobaceae, Clostridia, Thermosipho, Desulforudis and OP1 lineages. Our results suggest that mineralogy determines microbial composition in the subseafloor aquifer ecosystem. |
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| Keywords: | Borehole IODP Juan de Fuca Ridge microbial community structure mineralogy ocean crust pyrotag sequencing |
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