Symbiosis in the Deep - Tubeworms and Bacteria Lecture (Part 1) 2021 PDF

Symbiosis in the Deep – Tubeworms and Bacteria Prof Simon Andrews [email protected] I2MBC MARINE BIOLOGY & CONSERVATION Content Screencast, in 3 parts Problems for life on the Ocean Floor The astounding discovery of hydrothermal vent communities What are h...

Symbiosis in the Deep – Tubeworms and Bacteria Prof Simon Andrews [email protected] I2MBC MARINE BIOLOGY & CONSERVATION Content Screencast, in 3 parts Problems for life on the Ocean Floor The astounding discovery of hydrothermal vent communities What are hydrothermal vents? Novel lifeforms around HTV Symbiosis and H2S-based life See: Marine Biology, An Ecological Approach. James W Nybakken (Benjamin Cummings) (several editions in Main Library).  Microbial communities in the Oceans Oceans - ~70% of earth’s surface Marine habitat regions 3.5% salt (Na+/Cl-) plus SO42+, I- The deep sea – the most extensive habitat on Earth (79% of the biosphere) Large no’s of bacteria and algae – supporting huge ecosystems https://www.slideshare.net/LeiramSejram/marine-habitats Challenges for Life on the Ocean Floor Benthos (benthic zone) Extreme pressure (several km) ‘barophiles’ Cold (2 degree C) Psychrophiles Darkness Detritus C/energy source A challenging environment with relatively low density populations  Alvin Hydrothermal Vents https://www.whoi.edu/feature/history-hydrothermal-vents/discovery/197 7.html https://www.whoi.edu/feature/history-hydrothermal-vents/discovery/197 9.html Alvin First discovered in 1977 Alvin – deep-sea submersible, exploring the Galápagos Rift An ‘Astounding Discovery’ – exotic, lush living communities 2.7 km depth 4 hot-water gysers, 8-16 ˚C Large numbers of new marine animals Returned 2 years later – with Biologists on-board Map showing the tectonic plates in the eastern Pacific Ocean and location of the Galápagos Rift. The red star shows the location of the site where hydrothermal vents were first discovered. The Southtow Expedition, on board Scripps Institution of Oceanography's R/V Thomas Washington in 1972, found clues leading to the discovery of hydrothermal vents at the Galápagos Rift. (Photo courtesy of Scripps Institution of Oceanography)  Fissures in the Earth’s crust Located on the ocean floor Areas of volcanic activity Release hot water – geothermal White smokers Black smokers High biological productivity Complex ecosystems Energy provided by chemicals from vent fluids ‘Chemosynthetic’ archaea and bacteria – Thermal vents base of food chain  A schematic overview of the geological settings at https:// hydrothermal www.mpi- vent sites bremen.de/ A hydrothermal vent chimney: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nsjAonXTX9I This hydrothermal vent chimney was one of many discovered by MBARI researchers deep in the southern Gulf of California, with some reaching over 65 feet tall. The "smoke" emanating from this chimney is actually tiny mineral particles. End of part 1 – please now view part 2 of this lecture