Microbial community on oceanic ferro-manganese crusts from Takuyo-Daigo Seamount and Ryusei Seamount

Background and Purpose Iron and manganese oxide deposits are often found on deep seafloor. Rocks covered with these oxides are called ferro-manganese crusts (Mn crusts), and are ubiquitously distributed on deep seafloor (Rona 2003). Because Mn crusts contain rare metals such as Co, Pt and rare earth element, it can be resources in the future. Mn crusts and microbes on Mn crusts may contribute to material, especially carbon and nitrogen circulation between hydrosphere and lithosphere. Mechanism of Mn crust formation is not completely understood. Wang et al. propose a model that microorganisms associate with initial Mn mineral deposition (Wang et al., 2011). There is a possibility that microbes may contribute to formation of Mn crust relying on their ability to oxidize Fe and Mn. However, there is limited information about diversity, spatial distribution and abundance of microbes on Mn crust surface. Our purpose is to clarify microbial community composition, spatial distribution, diversity and abundance of microbes on Mn crusts collected from Takuyo-Daigo seamount and Ryusei seamount. Method We collected Mn crusts, sediments and ambient seawater from Takuyo-Daigo seamount at the depth of 1200 m, 1419 m, 2209 m and 2991 m during NT09-02 cruise in Feb 2009 and Ryusei seamount at the depth of 1194 m, 2079 m during KY11-02 in Feb 2011 with remotely operated vehicle Hyper-Dolphin (JAMSTEC). Genomic DNA was extracted from each sample using Fast DNA kit for soil (Qbiogene). Partial 16S rRNA gene and amoA gene were amplified by PCR with prokaryote-universal primer set (Uni516F-Uni1407R) and bacterial and archaeal amoA specific primer sets. PCR products were cloned. The nucleotide sequences of randomly selected clones were determined. We performed phylogenetic and statistical analysis to determine microbial community compositions, and estimated diversity indices. We also estimated the copy numbers of 16S rRNA and amoA genes of Bacteria and Archaea by quantitative PCR. Results and Discussion We estimated the numbers of bacterial and archaeal cell on Mn crusts from Takuyo-Daigo seamount by QPCR. Bacterial cell number on Mn crust was estimated to be approximately 10^7 cells/g. Those of archaea were estimated to be between 10^6 and 10^7 cells/g. Archaea dominated in three of four Mn crust samples (50~83 % of total cell numbers). Microbial community of Mn crusts was different from those of sediment and seawater. This suggests that unique microbial community present on Mn crusts. Many phylotypes related to uncultured group were detected. Phylotypes closely related to Marine Group I (MGI) were detected from six Mn crust samples, collected from Takuyo-Daigo and Ryusei seamounts. MGI includes Ammonia-Oxidizing Archaea (AOA) and is ubiquitously distributed in ocean (Karner et al., 2001). Phylotypes closely related to Nitrosospira, ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB), were detected from four Mn crusts collected from Takuyo-Daigo seamount. Presence of these ammonia oxidizers was supported by detection of bacterial and archaeal amoA genes. The copy numbers of bacterial and archaeal amoA genes were estimated to be approximately 10^5 -10^6 copy/g by QPCR. These facts suggest that ammonia oxidizers are present abundantly on Mn crusts. MGI and Nitrosospira include autotrophic ammonia oxidizers. These groups may play a role as primary producers in Mn crust ecosystems.