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Elevated heterotrophic activity in Guaymas Basin hydrothermal plumes influences deep-sea carbon cycling

Author

Listed:
  • Andrew Montgomery

    (University of Georgia)

  • Guang-Chao Zhuang

    (University of Georgia
    Ocean University of China)

  • Zhichao Zhou

    (University of Wisconsin-Madison)

  • Marguerite V. Langwig

    (University of Wisconsin-Madison
    University of Wisconsin-Madison)

  • María del Carmen Millán-Motolinía

    (Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México)

  • Hannah Y. L. Choi

    (University of Georgia)

  • Kimberley S. Hunter

    (University of Georgia)

  • Carlos A. Mortera-Gutiérrez

    (Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México)

  • Christelle Hyancinthe

    (University of Georgia)

  • Zachary Marinelli

    (University of Georgia)

  • Karthik Anantharaman

    (University of Wisconsin-Madison)

  • Andreas Teske

    (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill)

  • Samantha B. Joye

    (University of Georgia)

Abstract

Deep-sea hydrothermal plumes are characterized by chemoautotrophic production fueled by the oxidation of reduced inorganic substrates. Recently, organic carbon cycling was proposed, but the metabolic fate of organic carbon is unconstrained. Here, we investigate organic carbon metabolisms in and around a hydrothermal plume to constrain the impacts of hydrothermal vents on deep-sea carbon cycling. Acetate and methanol are detected throughout the water column and are rapidly metabolized in Guaymas Basin waters. Heterotrophic production, up to 7.69 µg C L−1 d−1, greatly exceeds chemoautotrophic production. Relative to shallow water, elevated microbial activity coincides with a distinct plume signature, indicating that microbial communities respond quickly to hydrothermal inputs. Metatranscriptomic analysis of functional genes for heterotrophic metabolisms implicates Gammaproteobacteria and diverse heterotrophs in hydrothermally-sourced organic carbon degradation. Our results illustrate that organic carbon is differentially cycled within hydrothermal plumes, suggesting that hydrothermal inputs profoundly impact heterotrophic activity in the deep sea.

Suggested Citation

  • Andrew Montgomery & Guang-Chao Zhuang & Zhichao Zhou & Marguerite V. Langwig & María del Carmen Millán-Motolinía & Hannah Y. L. Choi & Kimberley S. Hunter & Carlos A. Mortera-Gutiérrez & Christelle Hy, 2025. "Elevated heterotrophic activity in Guaymas Basin hydrothermal plumes influences deep-sea carbon cycling," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-13, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-59793-0
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-59793-0
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Anna-Louise Reysenbach & Amy B. Banta & David R. Boone & Stephen C. Cary & George W. Luther, 2000. "Microbial essentials at hydrothermal vents," Nature, Nature, vol. 404(6780), pages 835-835, April.
    2. Cécile Cathalot & Erwan G. Roussel & Antoine Perhirin & Vanessa Creff & Jean-Pierre Donval & Vivien Guyader & Guillaume Roullet & Jonathan Gula & Christian Tamburini & Marc Garel & Anne Godfroy & Pier, 2021. "Hydrothermal plumes as hotspots for deep-ocean heterotrophic microbial biomass production," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-10, December.
    3. Jillian M. Petersen & Frank U. Zielinski & Thomas Pape & Richard Seifert & Cristina Moraru & Rudolf Amann & Stephane Hourdez & Peter R. Girguis & Scott D. Wankel & Valerie Barbe & Eric Pelletier & Den, 2011. "Hydrogen is an energy source for hydrothermal vent symbioses," Nature, Nature, vol. 476(7359), pages 176-180, August.
    4. Meng Li & Brett J. Baker & Karthik Anantharaman & Sunit Jain & John A. Breier & Gregory J. Dick, 2015. "Genomic and transcriptomic evidence for scavenging of diverse organic compounds by widespread deep-sea archaea," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 6(1), pages 1-6, December.
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