Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Microorganisms in deep-sea hydrothermal plumes

  • Letter
  • Published:

From Nature

View current issue Submit your manuscript

Abstract

The study of hydrothermal vents at oceanic spreading centres has led to a re-evaluation of some basic tenets concerning energy flux through oceanic ecosystems and the sources and sinks for dissolved ions in sea water. Hydrothermal vents vary considerably, from relatively low-temperature (<25 °C) fluid discharges to the spectacular high-temperature (∼350 °C) black smokers1–3. The high-temperature vents give rise to buoyant plumes which can be detected hundreds of kilometres away from ridge crests4,5. In the immediate vicinity of hydrothermal vents, chemoautotrophic bacteria are present in vent fluids6–8, attached to rock surfaces9,10, and as endosymbionts in certain macro fauna11. Deep-sea hydrothermal plumes have not, as yet, been examined for the presence of bacteria. We now report the presence of elevated bacterial biomass in a hydrothermal plume originating from the Juan de Fuca Ridge, and discuss the potential geochemical significance of these microorganisms

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Corliss, J. B. et al. Science 203, 1073–1083 (1979).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Spiess, F. N. et al. Science 207, 1421–1432 (1980).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Edmond, J. M., Von Damm, K. L., McDuff, R. E. & Measures, C. I. Nature 297, 187–191 (1982).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Craig, H. & Lupton, J. E. in The Sea Vol. 7 (ed. Cesare, E.) 391–428 (Wiley, New York, 1981).

    Google Scholar 

  5. Baker, E. T., Lavelle, J. W. & Massoth, G. J. Nature (in the press).

  6. Jannasch, H. W. & Wirsen, C. O. Bioscience 29, 592–598 (1979).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Karl, D. M., Wirsen, C. O. & Jannasch, H. W. Science 207, 1345–1347 (1980).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Jannasch, H. W. in Hydrothermal Processes at Seafloor Spreading Centers (eds Rona, P. A., Bostrom, K., Laubier, L. & Smith, K. L. Jr) 677–709 (Plenum, New York, 1983).

    Book  Google Scholar 

  9. Jannasch, H. W. & Wirsen, C. O. Appl. envir. Microbiol. 41, 528–538 (1981).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Baross, J. A. & Deming, J. W. Biol. Soc. Wash. Bull. 6, 355–371 (1985).

    Google Scholar 

  11. Cavanaugh, C. M., Gardiner, M. L., Jones, M. L., Jannasch, H. W. & Waterbury, J. B. Science 213, 340–342 (1981).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Karl, D. M. & Craven, D. B. Appl. envir. Microbiol. 40, 549–561 (1980).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Hobbie, J. E., Daley, R. J. & Jasper, S. Appl. envir. Microbiol. 33, 1225–1228 (1977).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Karl, D. M. Microbiol. Rev. 44, 739–796 (1980).

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  15. Karl, D. M. & Winn, C. D. in Heterotrophic Activity in the Sea (eds Hobbie, J. E. & Williams, P. J. LeB.) 197–215 (Plenum, New York, 1984).

    Book  Google Scholar 

  16. Swinnerton, J. W., Linnenbom, V. J. & Cheek, H. C. Analyt. Chem. 34, 483–485 (1962).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Taga, N. & Matsuda, O. in Effect of the Ocean Environment on Microbial Activities (eds Colwell, R. R. & Morita, R. Y.) 443–448 (Univ. Park Press, Baltimore, 1972).

    Google Scholar 

  18. Karl, D. M., Burns, D. J., Orrett, K. & Jannasch, H. W. Mar. Biol. Lett. 5, 227–231 (1984).

    Google Scholar 

  19. Lupton, J. E., Delaney, J. R., Johnson, H. P. & Tivey, M. K. Nature 316, 621–623 (1985).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  20. Welhan, J. A. & Craig, H. in Hydrothermal Processes at Seafloor Spreading Centers(eds Rona, P. A., Bostrom, K., Laubier, L. & Smith, K. L. Jr) 391–411 (Plenum, New York, 1983).

    Book  Google Scholar 

  21. Cowen, J. P. & Silver, M. W. Science 224, 1340–1342 (1984).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Cowen, J. P. & Bruland, K. W. Deep Sea Res. 32, 253–272 (1985).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Hawaii Institute of Geophysics and Department of Oceanography, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii, 96822, USA

    Christopher D. Winn & David M. Karl

  2. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Pacific Marine and Environmental Laboratory, 7600 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, Washington, 98115-0070, USA

    Gary J. Massoth

Authors
  1. Christopher D. Winn
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. David M. Karl
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Gary J. Massoth
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Winn, C., Karl, D. & Massoth, G. Microorganisms in deep-sea hydrothermal plumes. Nature 320, 744–746 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1038/320744a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/320744a0

  • Springer Nature Limited

This article is cited by

Search

Navigation