Carbon and nitrogen cycling in thermally heated sediments
Abstract
Hydrothermally heated sediment environments, such as are found in abundance throughout Yellowstone National Park, host fully functional microbial ecosystems. As with any ecosystem, both sources and sinks of carbon, nitrogen, and a myriad of other nutrients and energy-driving factors must be supplied. While we know microbial communities in hydrothermal environments can be surprisingly diverse, we know little about basic ecological functions such as carbon and nitrogen cycling. Previous work has shown that carbon cycling in one hot spring in Yellowstone National Park [“Bison Pool”] and its associated runoff channel functions as a complex system. Analysis of carbon and nitrogen isotopes in sediments and biofilms across a temperature and chemical gradient at this location revealed that the four best studied carbon fixation pathways [Calvin, reverse tricarboxylic acid, acetyl-CoA, 3-hydroxypropionate cycles] may all be functioning in this system, and nitrogen fixation varies across the chemosynthetic/photosynthetic ecotone [1]. Microcosm experiments using biofilms from this hot spring as inoculae with 13C labeled carbon substrates indicate heterotrophic growth [2]. In addition, metagenomic analysis of environmental DNA has indicated the presence of genes involved in carbon fixation [both phototrophic and autotrophic], and heterotrophy, as well as nitrogen fixation [3]. Studies from other Yellowstone locations have also found genetic evidence for carbon and nitrogen fixation [4, 5]. Of particular interest is the role of individuals in carbon and nitrogen cycling as environmental conditions suitable for chemosynthetic and photosynthetic growth vary. This study explores the diversity of cbbM/cbbL [Calvin cycle], aclB/oor/porA [rTCA cycle], nifH [nitrogen fixation], nirK [nitrite reduction] and amoA [ammonia oxidation] genes across a variety of Yellowstone environments. The transition of genetic diversity within sediments and biofilms is focused on the chemosynthetic/photosynthetic ecotone from a variety of hot springs spanning a range of pH and geochemical conditions. By sampling across this ecotone, changes in carbon and nitrogen fixation as a function of changing community structure become apparent. Environmental DNA was extracted from these samples, and the presence/absence of Bacteria and Archaea determined by PCR. In addition, PCR-directed screens reveal the presence or absence of the aforementioned functional genes. Further, comparison across a broad spectrum of environmental conditions supplies context for phylogenetic analysis of diversity. [1] Havig, J.R., 2009. Geochemistry of Hydrothermal Biofilms: Composition of Biofilms in Siliceous Sinter-Deposting Hot Springs. Doctoral Dissertation, Arizona State University. [2] Meyer-Dombard et al., 2007. Microbial Diversity and SIP Investigations of Streamer Biofilm Communities in Yellowstone. Goldschmidt Geochemical Conference. [3] Raymond et al., 2008. EOS Trans AGU. Abstract B14A-03. [4] Hall et al., 2008. AEM 74:4910-4922. [5] Steunou et al., 2006. PNAS 103:2398-2403.
- Publication:
-
AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2009
- Bibcode:
- 2009AGUFM.B23C0390M
- Keywords:
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- 0414 BIOGEOSCIENCES / Biogeochemical cycles;
- processes;
- and modeling;
- 0448 BIOGEOSCIENCES / Geomicrobiology;
- 0450 BIOGEOSCIENCES / Hydrothermal systems;
- 0456 BIOGEOSCIENCES / Life in extreme environments