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Chemosynthetic origin of 14C-depleted dissolved organic matter in a ridge-flank hydrothermal system

Nature Geoscience volume 4, pages 32–36 (2011)Cite this article

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Abstract

Hydrothermal fluids circulate through extensive areas of the upper oceanic crust. Most hydrothermal circulation occurs on ridge flanks1,2, where low-temperature fluids flow through porous basalts. These fluids contain variable levels of dissolved organic carbon, but the source and composition of this carbon are uncertain. Here, we report Δ14C and δ13C measurements of dissolved organic carbon in ridge-flank and on-axis hydrothermal fluids sampled from the Juan de Fuca Ridge. Dissolved organic carbon from two independent ridge-flank sites was characterized by low δ13C and Δ14C values. The δ13C values ranged from −26 to −35‰, and were consistent with a chemoautotrophic origin. The 14C ages of the dissolved organic carbon ranged from 11,800 to 14,400 years before present, revealing that the carbon was around three times older than dissolved organics in the deep ocean. The Δ14C values of the ridge-flank dissolved organic matter also corresponded closely to those of dissolved inorganic carbon in the same fluid samples. Taken together, the data suggest that chemosynthetic crustal microbial communities synthesize dissolved organic carbon from inorganic carbon in ridge-flank fluids. We suggest that ridge-flank circulation may support an indigenous biosphere extensive enough to export substantial fixed carbon, with distinct isotopic and probably compositional character, to the overlying ocean.

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Figure 1: Sampling locations on JDFR spreading centre.
Figure 2: Carbon isotopic composition of UDOC from low-temperature hydrothermal fluids.

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Acknowledgements

The authors gratefully acknowledge the assistance at sea of our co-investigators on the LEXEN project, especially H. Paul Johnson, S. Lang and T. Bjorklund. We also thank A. Fisher and D. Butterfield for comments and insight regarding the JDFR system, and D. Butterfield for sharing inorganic composition data. This work was supported by NSF (LEXEN programme), as well as grants from the University of California Office of the President (CLC programme) and the Packard Foundation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ocean Sciences, University of California, 1156 High Street, Santa Cruz, California 95064, USA

    Matthew D. McCarthy & Brett D. Walker

  2. Department of Geology & Geophysics, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, 266 Woods Hole Road, MS #8, Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543, USA

    Steven R. Beaupré

  3. Shell International Exploration and Production, Carel van Bylandtlaan 5, 2596 Den Haag, The Netherlands

    Ian Voparil

  4. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Center for Accelerator Mass Spectrometry, 7000 East Avenue

    Thomas P. Guilderson

  5. Department of Ocean Sciences and Institute of Marine Sciences, University of California, 1156 High Street, Santa Cruz, California 95064, USA

    Thomas P. Guilderson

  6. Department of EarthSystem Science, University of California, Irvine California 92697, USA

    Ellen R. M. Druffel

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Contributions

M.D.M. planned the project, supervised sampling and analyses, analysed data and wrote the paper; B.D.W. designed and carried out UDOC isolations and sample processing, analysed and plotted data. I.V. designed sampling and ultrafiltration equipment, carried out UDOC isolations and assisted with sample processing. S.R.B. carried out 14C-UDOC sample analyses and analysed data. T.P.G. and E.R.M.D. supervised 14C sample analyses and interpreted data.

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Correspondence to Matthew D. McCarthy.

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McCarthy, M., Beaupré, S., Walker, B. et al. Chemosynthetic origin of 14C-depleted dissolved organic matter in a ridge-flank hydrothermal system. Nature Geosci 4, 32–36 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1038/ngeo1015

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