Open AccessIn situ microbial ecology of hydrothermal vent sediments
Author(s) -
Hedrick David B.,
Pledger Ralph D.,
White David C.,
Baross John A.
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
fems microbiology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1574-6968
pISSN - 0378-1097
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-6968.1992.tb05755.x
Subject(s) - microbial population biology , community structure , hydrothermal vent , ecology , biology , sediment , microbial ecology , chemosynthesis , in situ , biomass (ecology) , extreme environment , environmental chemistry , hydrothermal circulation , environmental science , chemistry , bacteria , paleontology , organic chemistry
Lipid analysis of a preliminary sampling of the Endeavor Ridge hydrothermal vent site was performed in order to estimate the extent and nature of the diversity of the microbial community. The vent microbial community was found to be highly variable in density and composition. Evidence was found for a dense microbial community of archaebacteria and possibly Thiobacilli in the interior of the flange of a black smoker, a red Beggiatoa ‐type colony in a sediment sample, and large amounts of polyenoic fatty acids of the type previously found in barophilic eubacteria. Lipid analysis provided a ‘snapshot’ of the in situ biomass, community structure, and metabolic status of the microbial community, a valuable addition to the techniques available to the microbial ecologist.