Cited by 80Microbial Community Ecology and PhysiologyMarine Biology and Ecology ResearchMethane Hydrates and Related Phenomena

Pathways of carbon and energy metabolism of the epibiotic community associated with the deep-sea hydrothermal vent shrimp Rimicaris exoculata.

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Hügler, Michael, Petersen, Jillian M., Dubilier, Nicole, Imhoff, Johannes F., Sievert, Stefan M.·2011·PLoS ONE

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The shrimp Rimicaris exoculata dominates the faunal biomass at many deep-sea hydrothermal vent sites at the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. In its enlarged gill chamber it harbors a specialized epibiotic bacterial community for which a nutritional role has been proposed. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We analyzed specimens from the Snake Pit hydrothermal vent field on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge by complementing a 16S rRNA gene survey with the analysis of genes involved in carbon, sulfur and hydrogen metabolism. In addition to Epsilon- and Gammaproteobacteria, the epibiotic community unexpectedly also consists of Deltaproteobacteria of a single phylotype, closely related to the genus Desulfocapsa. The association of these phylogenetic groups with the shrimp was confirmed by fluorescence in situ hybridization. Based on functional gene analyses, we hypothesize that the Gamma- and Epsilonproteobacteria are capable of autotrophic growth by oxidizing reduced sulfur compounds, and that the Deltaproteobacteria are also involved in sulfur metabolism. In addition, the detection of proteobacterial hydrogenases indicates the potential for hydrogen oxidation in these communities. Interestingly, the frequency of these phylotypes in 16S rRNA gene clone libraries from the mouthparts differ from that of the inner lining of the gill chamber, indicating potential functional compartmentalization. CONCLUSIONS: Our data show the specific association of autotrophic bacteria with Rimicaris exoculata from the Snake Pit hydrothermal vent field, and suggest that autotrophic carbon fixation is contributing to the productivity of the epibiotic community with the reductive tricarboxylic acid cycle as one important carbon fixation pathway. This has not been considered in previous studies of carbon fixation and stable carbon isotope composition of the shrimp and its epibionts. Furthermore, the co-occurrence of sulfur-oxidizing and sulfur-reducing epibionts raises the possibility that both may be involved in the syntrophic exchange of sulfur compounds, which could increase the overall efficiency of this epibiotic community.

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Authors
Hügler, M., Petersen, J. M., Dubilier, N., Imhoff, J. F., & Sievert, S. M.
Affiliations
  • GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel (DE)
  • Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology (DE)
  • Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (US)
Corresponding author
Sievert, Stefan M.
Venue
PLoS ONE
Published
2011-01-07
Volume
6
Issue
1
Pages
e16018
ISSN
1932-6203 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2025053207
Cited by
80
References
72
Citations by year
2025: 1 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 7 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 9 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 11 · 2014: 8 · 2013: 6 · 2012: 8
FWCI
7.61
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • PLoS ONE (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel (GEOMAR) (acceptedVersion, other-oa)
  • MPG.PuRe (Max Planck Society) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • Open Access Server of the Woods Hole Scientific Community (Woods Hole Scientific Community) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
  • Max Planck Digital Library (submittedVersion)
  • Figshare (submittedVersion, cc-by)
Funders
  • National Science Foundation (0452333)
  • Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
  • Max-Planck-Gesellschaft
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Ecology › Microbial Community Ecology and Physiology
  • Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Oceanography › Marine Biology and Ecology Research
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Environmental Chemistry › Methane Hydrates and Related Phenomena
Keywords
Rimicaris exoculata, epibiotic bacteria, deep-sea hydrothermal vents, Mid-Atlantic Ridge, sulfur-oxidizing bacteria, sulfur-reducing bacteria, reductive tricarboxylic acid cycle, autotrophic carbon fixation, hydrogen oxidation, hydrogenase, bacterial community composition, gene function analysis
MeSH terms
Animals, Carbon, Energy Metabolism, Hydrogen, Oceans and Seas, Sulfur, Symbiosis, Gammaproteobacteria, Epsilonproteobacteria, Decapoda, Carbon Cycle

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