Hydrothermal vents supporting persistent plumes and microbial chemoautotrophy at Gakkel Ridge (Arctic Ocean).

ABSTRACT: Hydrothermal vents emit hot fluids enriched in energy sources for microbial life. Here, we compare the ecological and biogeochemical effects of hydrothermal venting of two recently discovered volcanic seamounts, Polaris and Aurora of the Gakkel Ridge, in the ice-covered Central Arctic Ocean. At both sites, persistent hydrothermal plumes increased up to 800 m into the deep Arctic Ocean. In the two non-buoyant plumes, rates of microbial carbon fixation were strongly elevated compared to background values of 0.5-1 μmol m^-3 day^-1 in the Arctic deep water, which suggests increased chemoautotrophy on vent-derived energy sources. In the Polaris plume, free sulfide and up to 360 nM hydrogen enabled microorganisms to fix up to 46 μmol inorganic carbon (IC) m^-3 day

SUBMITTER: Wegener G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11484012 | biostudies-literature | 2024

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature