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Millimetre-Scale Stratification of Microbial Communities in Hydrothermal Sediments
Janina Groninga1, Weimin Liu1, Lars Wörmer1
1MARUM-Center for Marine Environmental Sciences, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany.
Environmental Microbiology
|January 5, 2026
Summary
High-resolution mass spectrometry imaging revealed distinct microbial lipid zones in Guaymas Basin hydrothermal sediments. These zones, compressed near the surface, highlight resilient microbial communities adapting to extreme geochemical gradients.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Biogeochemistry
- Microbial Ecology
- Geochemistry
Background:
- Understanding microbial spatial organization in extreme environments is crucial.
- Conventional methods struggle with millimetre-scale resolution in heterogeneous ecosystems.
- Hydrothermal vents present unique challenges due to steep thermal and geochemical gradients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the spatial organization of microbial populations in Guaymas Basin hydrothermal sediments.
- To overcome limitations of conventional methods by employing high-resolution mass spectrometry imaging.
- To map lipidome zonation and its relationship with geochemical gradients at micrometre scales.
Main Methods:
- Application of high-resolution mass spectrometry imaging (MSI).
- Analysis of an 11.5 cm sediment core from the Guaymas Basin hydrothermal mat complex.
- Correlation of lipid patterns with thermal and geochemical gradients.
Main Results:
- Nuanced lipidome zonation was observed, compressed within a 5 cm segment below the sediment-water interface.
- Surface layers showed molecular patterns influenced by oxygen and sulphide gradients.
- Anoxic zones were dominated by anaerobic methane-oxidising archaea (ANME) and sulphate-reducing bacteria (SRB), with specific lipids found in a siliceous concretion at greater depths.
Conclusions:
- Sharp lipid zonation indicates persistent redox zones and resilient microbial niches.
- Microbial communities adapt to intense fluid flow and dynamic geochemical gradients.
- MSI is a powerful tool for resolving microbial spatial organization in extreme environments.
Keywords:
Guaymas BasinMALDI‐FTICR‐MSanaerobic methane oxidationhigh‐resolution MSintact polar lipidsredox gradientsMore Related Videos
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