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Chemical speciation drives hydrothermal vent ecology

Nature volume 410, pages 813–816 (2001)Cite this article

Abstract

The physiology and biochemistry of many taxa inhabiting deep-sea hydrothermal vents have been elucidated1,2,3,4; however, the physicochemical factors controlling the distribution of these organisms at a given vent site remain an enigma after 20 years of research5,6,7,8,9,10,11. The chemical speciation of particular elements has been suggested as key to controlling biological community structure in these extreme aquatic environments7,11,12. Implementation of electrochemical technology13,14 has allowed us to make in situ measurements of chemical speciation at vents located at the East Pacific Rise (9° 50′ N) and on a scale relevant to the biology. Here we report that significant differences in oxygen, iron and sulphur speciation strongly correlate with the distribution of specific taxa in different microhabitats. In higher temperature (> 30 °C) microhabitats, the appreciable formation of soluble iron-sulphide molecular clusters markedly reduces the availability of free H2S/HS- to vent (micro)organisms, thus controlling the available habitat.

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Figure 1: Representative in situ voltammetry data.
Figure 2: Histogram of free H2S/HS- and AVS data from discrete samples.
Figure 3: Fe/AVS versus pH/temperature plots from discrete samples.

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Acknowledgements

We thank A. L. Reysenbach, K. Longnecker, the DSV Alvin pilots (P. Hickey, S. Faluotico and B. Williams), and the crew and Captain of the R/V Atlantis for their help and encouragement. This work was funded by grants from the National Science Foundation and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and by the University of Delaware Sea Grant Program through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the Devonshire Foundation.

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Author notes

  1. Martial Taillefert

    Present address: School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, 30322, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Marine Studies, University of Delaware, Lewes, 19958, Delaware, USA

    George W. Luther III, Tim F. Rozan, Martial Taillefert, Carol Di Meo & S. Craig Cary

  2. Analytical Instrument Systems, Inc., 1059C Old York Road, Ringoes, 08851, New Jersey, USA

    Donald B. Nuzzio

  3. Biology Department, MS #34 1-16 Redfield, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, 02543, Massachusetts, USA

    Timothy M. Shank

  4. Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences, Rutgers University, 71 Dudley Road, New Brunswick, 08901, New Jersey, USA

    Richard A. Lutz

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Correspondence to George W. Luther III.

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Luther, G., Rozan, T., Taillefert, M. et al. Chemical speciation drives hydrothermal vent ecology. Nature 410, 813–816 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1038/35071069

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