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Microbial activities in undecompressed and decompressed deep-seawater samples.

H W Jannasch1, C O Wirsen

  • 1Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543.

Applied and Environmental Microbiology
|May 1, 1982
PubMed
Summary

Deep-sea microbial transformations of carbon substrates were slower under high pressure. Acetate utilization was least affected, while amino acid transformation significantly decreased, with a unique barophilic response observed for glucose.

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Area of Science:

  • Deep-sea microbiology
  • Biogeochemical cycles
  • High-pressure environments

Background:

  • Microbial activity is crucial for nutrient cycling in the deep ocean.
  • Understanding substrate utilization under extreme pressure is key to deep-sea ecosystem function.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To quantify the impact of hydrostatic pressure on microbial transformation rates of various carbon substrates.
  • To compare substrate utilization at in situ deep-sea pressures versus surface conditions.

Main Methods:

  • Incubation of 14C-labeled substrates (glutamate, Casamino Acids, glucose, acetate) in undecompressed deep-sea water samples.
  • Experiments conducted at in situ temperatures (3°C) and pressures (1,800–6,000 m) over 14–21 days.
  • Comparison of substrate transformation rates, CO2 production, and utilization with 1-atmosphere controls.

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Main Results:

  • Microbial transformation rates were generally lower under high pressure compared to controls.
  • Acetate utilization showed the least pressure sensitivity, with rates similar to 1-atmosphere controls in some experiments.
  • Amino acid transformation rates at pressure averaged only 38% of control rates.
  • A reproducible barophilic response was observed for glucose at 4,500 m in the NW Atlantic.
  • Increased lag periods for substrate transformation were observed at pressure for most substrates.

Conclusions:

  • Hydrostatic pressure significantly affects microbial substrate utilization in the deep sea, with varying impacts across different carbon sources.
  • The deep-sea microbial community exhibits differential responses to pressure, with some substrates being more resilient than others.
  • These findings highlight the complex interplay between pressure, microbial metabolism, and carbon cycling in abyssal environments.