[Microbiological processes in the Lost City vent field, mid-Atlantic ridge]

Microbiological and biogeochemical measurements showed that the intensities of CO2 assimilation, methane oxidation, and sulfate reduction in the Lost City vent field (30 degrees N) reach 3.8 microg C/(1 day), 0.06 microg C/(1 day), and 117 microg S/(1 day), respectively. On the surface of the carbonate structures occurring in this field, two varieties of bacterial mats were found. The first variety, which is specific to the Lost City alkaline vent field, represents jelly bacterial mats dominated by slime-producing bacteria of several morphotypes. This mat variety also contains chemolithotrophic and heterotrophic microorganisms, either microaerobic or anaerobic. The intensities of CO2 assimilation, methane oxidation, and sulfate reduction in this variety reach 747 microg C/(dm3 day), 0.02 microg C/(dm3 day), and 28,000 microg S/(dm3 day), respectively. Bacterial mats of the second variety are formed by nonpigmented filamentous sulfur bacteria, which are close morphologically to Thiothrix. The intensities of CO2 assimilation, methane oxidation, and sulfate reduction in the second mat variety reach 8.2 microg C/(dm3 day), 5.8 microg C/(dm3 day), and 17,000 microg S/(dm3 day), respectively. These data suggest the existence of subsurface microflora in the Lost City vent field.