蛇形岩がホストする生態系:失われた都市水熱場
Deborah S Kelley1, Jeffrey A Karson, Gretchen L Früh-Green
1School of Oceanography, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA. kelley@ocean.washington.edu
まとめ
ロスト・シティの水熱場は,サーペンチナイト-ペリドータイトの反応によって供給されるユニークな生態系をホストし,メタン循環アーカイアと多様なマクロファウナをサポートしています. この地質学的な環境は,火山によって駆動されるシステムとは異なり,生物質は低いが,種の多様性は同じである.
科学分野:
- *海洋地質学と地球化学
- * 微生物生態学
- * 熱水噴出システム
背景:
- * ロストシティ熱水場は,大西洋のサーペンチナイトが宿る生態系です.
- *地質学的および化学的プロセスは,生物学的活動と関連しています.
- * 液体はメタンと水素が豊富で,アルカリ性pH (9-11) と温度 (40-90°C) を有する.
研究 の 目的:
- * ロストシティ水熱場の独特の地質,化学,生物学的特徴を記述する.
- * 微生物とマクロファウナのコミュニティとその環境との関係を調査する.
- * このシステムを他の熱水噴出場と比較するために.
主な方法:
- * 流体化学と温度を分析する.
- *炭酸ガスの煙突構造物の地質調査.
- * 微生物とマクロファウナのコミュニティの評価.
主要な成果:
- *サーペンチナイトが宿主となる反応から,高い炭酸ガスの煙突 (30~60m) が形成される.
- * 毛細な煙突の内部にメタンを循環するアーケアの豊富さ.
- *マクロファウナコミュニティは,ミッド・アトランティック・リッジのサイトに匹敵する顕著な種の多様性を表しています.
- *火山による熱水システムと比較して,全体的なバイオマスが低い.
結論:
- * ロスト・シティの水熱場は,蛇形化によって引き起こされる独特の深海の生態系を表しています.
- * 微生物の生命は,メタンに富み,アルカリ状態に適応しています.
- *生態系の構造と多様性は,火山の熱よりも地質的,化学的要因の影響を受けている.
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