Comparative Analysis of Microbial Communities in Iron-Dominated Flocculent Mats in Deep-Sea Hydrothermal Environments

It has been suggested that iron is one of the most important energy sources for photosynthesis-independent microbial ecosystems in the ocean crust. Iron-metabolizing chemolithoautotrophs play a key role as primary producers, but little is known about their distribution and diversity and their ecological role as submarine iron-metabolizing chemolithotrophs, particularly the iron oxidizers. In this study, we investigated the microbial communities in several iron-dominated flocculent mats found in deep-sea hydrothermal fields in the Mariana Volcanic Arc and Trough and the Okinawa Trough by culture-independent molecular techniques and X-ray mineralogical analyses. The abundance and composition of the 16S rRNA gene phylotypes demonstrated the ubiquity of zetaproteobacterial phylotypes in iron-dominated mat communities affected by hydrothermal fluid input. Electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray microanalysis and X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) analysis revealed the chemical and mineralogical signatures of biogenic Fe-(oxy)hydroxide species and the potential contribution of Zetaproteobacteria to the in situ generation. These results suggest that putative iron-oxidizing chemolithoautotrophs play a significant ecological role in producing iron-dominated flocculent mats and that they are important for iron and carbon cycles in deep-sea low-temperature hydrothermal environments

Microorganisms involved in the formation of Iron-dominated flocculent mats in deep-sea hydrothermal environments

http://www.godac.jamstec.go.jp/darwin/cruise/natsushima/nt14-06/ehttp://www.godac.jamstec.go.jp/darwin/cruise/natsushima/nt11-18/ehttp://www.godac.jamstec.go.jp/darwin/cruise/yokosuka/yk10-10/ehttp://www.godac.jamstec.go.jp/darwin/cruise/natsushima/nt10-13_leg2/ehttp://www.godac.jamstec.go.jp/darwin/cruise/natsushima/nt10-06_leg2/

Microorganisms involved in the formation of distinctive iron oxide in deep-sea environments of Earth and even in extraterrestrial bodies

http://www.godac.jamstec.go.jp/darwin/cruise/natsushima/nt14-06/ehttp://www.godac.jamstec.go.jp/darwin/cruise/natsushima/nt11-18/ehttp://www.godac.jamstec.go.jp/darwin/cruise/yokosuka/yk10-10/ehttp://www.godac.jamstec.go.jp/darwin/cruise/natsushima/nt10-13_leg2/ehttp://www.godac.jamstec.go.jp/darwin/cruise/natsushima/nt10-06_leg2/

Comparative Analysis of Microbial Communities in Iron-Dominated Flocculent Mats in Deep Sea Hydrothermal Environments

http://www.godac.jamstec.go.jp/darwin/cruise/natsushima/nt09-10_leg2/ehttp://www.godac.jamstec.go.jp/darwin/cruise/natsushima/nt10-13_leg2/ehttp://www.godac.jamstec.go.jp/darwin/cruise/yokosuka/yk10-10/ehttp://www.godac.jamstec.go.jp/darwin/cruise/natsushima/nt11-18/