Hydrogen Fueled Deep Sea Ecosystems

[thebanker]

Not sure where else to post this, but this is some interesting news.

Nature 476, 176–180 (11 August 2011) doi:10.1038/nature10325
Received 15 April 2011 Accepted 20 June 2011 Published online 10 August 2011

Sources:

http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v476/n7359/full/nature10325.html
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/08/110810132832.htm

The discovery of deep-sea hydrothermal vents in 1977 revolutionized our understanding of the energy sources that fuel primary productivity on Earth. Hydrothermal vent ecosystems are dominated by animals that live in symbiosis with chemosynthetic bacteria. So far, only two energy sources have been shown to power chemosynthetic symbioses: reduced sulphur compounds and methane. Using metagenome sequencing, single-gene fluorescence in situ hybridization, immunohistochemistry, shipboard incubations and in situ mass spectrometry, we show here that the symbionts of the hydrothermal vent mussel Bathymodiolus from the Mid-Atlantic Ridge use hydrogen to power primary production. In addition, we show that the symbionts of Bathymodiolus mussels from Pacific vents have hupL, the key gene for hydrogen oxidation. Furthermore, the symbionts of other vent animals such as the tubeworm Riftia pachyptila and the shrimp Rimicaris exoculata also have hupL. We propose that the ability to use hydrogen as an energy source is widespread in hydrothermal vent symbioses, particularly at sites where hydrogen is abundant.

 

[curlykid]

This is news? i've seen so many shows about this. John's got some sausage for you.

 

[thebanker]

Before, it was speculated that these creatures thrived only on dissolved sulfur or methane. Hydrothermal vents arent news, but the confirmation of life down there using hydrogen for energy is.

Sausage hasn't been confirmed as a source of deep sea nitrates yet, but I think some further studies are needed.

 

[curlykid]

yes, maybe you should look into it.