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What is Deep-sea hydrothermal system?



HISTORY

Deep-sea hydrothermal vent ecosystems were first discovered at the Galápagos spreading center in 1977 [1,2]. Over the past four decades, more than 500 hydrothermal vent sites have been identified all over the world [3].

Despite harsh environments characterized by total darkness, high pressure, extremely hot temperature, and chemical toxicity, deep-sea hydrothermal systems support highly productive ecosystems with a dense population of vent faunas [4,5] as well as diverse microorganisms mostly endemic to vent fields [6].

MICROORGANISMS

In hydrothermal systems, free-living microorganisms thrive within the hydrothermal plumes, within diffuse vent fluids mixed with surrounding seawater, and as microbial mats on surface sediments or chimney structures [7].

Further, some microorganisms have evolved endo- or exo-symbiotic associations with vent faunas (e.g. tubeworms, snails or mussels), indicating that symbiosis could be one of the most important strategies to adapt to deep-sea hydrothermal systems [8].


My Research interest : Deep-sea microbiology

Microbial Ecophysiology

My greatest goal is to clarify "how microorganisms living in deep-sea hydrothermal systems have adapted to environmental conditions and evolved their unique metabolism.”

Biogeochemical Cycle

The distribution and composition of marine prokaryotes in each ecosystem are determined by geochemical environments and the availability of energy sources.
I am interested in identifying these various environmental factors that make each microbial community structure unique.

Deep-sea Expedition

Deep-sea microbiology is a discipline that has developed through direct contact with fields, with researchers diving into a deep sea to conduct sampling and observations.
Thus, I would like to be a field-based researcher who can gain a wide range of knowledge about the complex interactions between microbial functions and the geological environment from the breath of nature.
References1. Corliss, J. B. et al. Submarine thermal Springs on the Galápagos Rift. Science (80-. ). 203, 1073–1083 (1979).2. Spiess, F. N. et al. East Pacific Rise: Hot Springs and Geophysical Experiments. Science (80-. ). 207, 1421–1433 (1980).3. Beaulieu, S. E., Baker, E. T., German, C. R. & Maffei, A. An authoritative global database for active submarine hydrothermal vent fields. Geochemistry, Geophys. Geosystems 14, 4892–4905 (2013).4. Wolff, T. Composition and endemism of the deep-sea hydrothermal vent fauna. Cah. Biol. Mar. 46, 97–104 (2005).5. Grassle, J. F. Hydrothermal Vent Animals: Distribution and Biology. Science (80-. ). 229, 713–717 (1985).6. Takai, K., Nakagawa, S., Reysenbach, A. L. & Hoek, J. Microbial Ecology of Mid-Ocean Ridges and Back-Arc Basins. Geophys. Monogr. Ser. 166, 185–213 (2006).7. Karl, D. M. Ecology of free-hydrothermal vent microbial communities. in The Microbiology of Deep-sea Hydrothermal Vents (ed. Karl, D. M.) 35–124 (CRC Press, 1995).8. Nakagawa, S. & Takai, K. Deep-sea vent chemoautotrophs: diversity, biochemistry and ecological significance. FEMS Microbiol. Ecol. 65, 1–14 (2008).