title: A serpentinite-hosted ecosystem: the Lost City hydrothermal field.
abstract: The serpentinite-hosted Lost City hydrothermal field is a remarkable submarine ecosystem in which geological, chemical, and biological processes are intimately interlinked. Reactions between seawater and upper mantle peridotite produce methane- and hydrogen-rich fluids, with temperatures ranging from <40 degrees to 90 degrees C at pH 9 to 11, and carbonate chimneys 30 to 60 meters tall. A low diversity of microorganisms related to methane-cycling Archaea thrive in the warm porous interiors of the edifices. Macrofaunal communities show a degree of species diversity at least as high as that of black smoker vent sites along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, but they lack the high biomasses of chemosynthetic organisms that are typical of volcanically driven systems.
authors.affiliation: School of Oceanography, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA. kelley@ocean.washington.edu
authors.forename: Deborah S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Kelley
authors.forename: Jeffrey A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Karson
authors.forename: Gretchen L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Früh-Green
authors.forename: Dana R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Yoerger
authors.forename: Timothy M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Shank
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Butterfield
authors.forename: John M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Hayes
authors.forename: Matthew O
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Schrenk
authors.forename: Eric J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Olson
authors.forename: Giora
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Proskurowski
authors.forename: Mike
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jakuba
authors.forename: Al
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bradley
authors.forename: Ben
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Larson
authors.forename: Kristin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ludwig
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Glickson
authors.forename: Kate
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Buckman
authors.forename: Alexander S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Bradley
authors.forename: William J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Brazelton
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Roe
authors.forename: Mitch J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Elend
authors.forename: Adélie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Delacour
authors.forename: Stefano M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Bernasconi
authors.forename: Marvin D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Lilley
authors.forename: John A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Baross
authors.forename: Roger E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Summons
authors.forename: Sean P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Sylva
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001105:Archaea / Q000145:classification / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism; D001419:Bacteria / Q000145:classification / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism; D044822:Biodiversity; D018533:Biomass; D002254:Carbonates; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D017753:Ecosystem; D004777:Environment; D005399:Fishes; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry / Q000382:microbiology; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006859:Hydrogen / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007448:Invertebrates; D008055:Lipids / Q000032:analysis; D008697:Methane / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D010802:Phylogeny; D012623:Seawater
chemical_list: D002254:Carbonates; D008055:Lipids; D006859:Hydrogen; D008697:Methane