Subaqueous silicification of the contents of small ponds in an Early Devonian hot-spring complex, Rhynie, Scotland

2003 ◽  
Vol 40 (11) ◽  
pp. 1697-1712 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nigel H Trewin ◽  
Stephen R Fayers ◽  
Ruth Kelman
Keyword(s):  
National Park ◽  
Hot Springs ◽  
Hot Spring ◽  
Aquatic Biota ◽  
Early Devonian ◽  
Climatic Extremes ◽  
Rhynie Chert ◽  
Freshwater Biota ◽  
Shallow Ponds ◽  
Surface Environment

The Early Devonian Rhynie and Windyfield cherts of northeast Scotland originated as siliceous sinters deposited by hot springs. Silicification affected both subaerial and subaqueous environments, preserving a diverse terrestrial and freshwater biota. Cherts originally deposited in small shallow pools can be recognised on the basis of both texture and fossil content. Textures comprise clotted and microcoprolitic textures, bacterial coatings on plant axes that can be stromatolitic, and a variety of bacterial and fungal meshworks. The crustacean Lepidocaris, the euthycarcinoid Heterocrania, the charophyte alga Palaeonitella, and chytrid fungi are typical elements of the aquatic biota. Observations of modern hot springs in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, U.S.A., demonstrate that shallow ponds and streams on low-angle outwash areas and dormant vent orifices provide suitable environmental analogues. Textures comparable to those described from Rhynie are recorded from Yellowstone sinters, but examples of the rapid and complete silicification of delicate organic structures as seen in a few of the Rhynie chert beds have not been noted. Petrographic textures comparable to those seen in the cherts of freshwater origin from Rhynie occur in modern stream sinters at Yellowstone, where they form from waters at 20–28 °C and with a pH of 8.7. This similarity occurs despite differences in environment at Yellowstone, such as the oxidizing surface environment, water table fluctuations, complex modern vegetation, fixing of silica by diatoms, and climatic extremes. Thus there are close similarities between textures seen in the Rhynie cherts and Yellowstone sinters deposited in freshwater pools and streams by hot springs.

Charophyte algae from the Rhynie chert

2003 ◽  
Vol 94 (4) ◽  
pp. 445-455 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruth Kelman ◽  
Monique Feist ◽  
Nigel H. Trewin ◽  
Hagen Hass
Keyword(s):  
National Park ◽  
Hot Springs ◽  
Hot Spring ◽  
Single Layer ◽  
Parent Plant ◽  
Early Devonian ◽  
Apical Pore ◽  
Molecular Studies ◽  
Rhynie Chert

ABSTRACTThe discovery of new specimens of Palaeonitella cranii (Kidston & Lang) Pia in the Early Devonian Rhynie chert permits the classification of this charophyte alga. This relatively small charophyte is composed of multicellular furcating branchlets with antheridia attached to the parent plant by a pedicel. The non-calcified gyrogonites, which are not seen in life position, are composed of six sinistrally spiralling cells and have six coronula cells arranged in a single layer around an apical pore.Because the oogonia of P. cranii have six sinistrally spiralling cells and an apical pore, Palaeonitella has been assigned to the Palaeocharaceae. The shape and form of the oogonia is reminiscent of the extant Chareae, but the morphology of the thalli is indicative of the Nitelleae. This suggests that P. cranii, although retaining some characteristics of the Nitelleae, has some of the characteristics of the Chareae, supporting existing molecular studies which place the Nitelleae at the base of the Characeae.Palaeonitella cranii inhabited the freshwater alkaline pools and streams which formed on sinter aprons created by hot spring activity. Extant charophytes exist in a similar environment (pH 8·66–8·9, temperature 25–30°C in summer) in pools and channels fed by hot springs in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, USA.

scholarly journals Carbon Source Preference in Chemosynthetic Hot Spring Communities

2015 ◽  
Vol 81 (11) ◽  
pp. 3834-3847 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew R. Urschel ◽  
Michael D. Kubo ◽  
Tori M. Hoehler ◽  
John W. Peters ◽  
Eric S. Boyd
Keyword(s):  
High Temperature ◽  
National Park ◽  
Hot Springs ◽  
Dissolved Inorganic Carbon ◽  
Hot Spring ◽  
Affinity Constant ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
Organic Substrates ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Acetate Assimilation

ABSTRACTRates of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC), formate, and acetate mineralization and/or assimilation were determined in 13 high-temperature (>73°C) hot springs in Yellowstone National Park (YNP), Wyoming, in order to evaluate the relative importance of these substrates in supporting microbial metabolism. While 9 of the hot spring communities exhibited rates of DIC assimilation that were greater than those of formate and acetate assimilation, 2 exhibited rates of formate and/or acetate assimilation that exceeded those of DIC assimilation. Overall rates of DIC, formate, and acetate mineralization and assimilation were positively correlated with spring pH but showed little correlation with temperature. Communities sampled from hot springs with similar geochemistries generally exhibited similar rates of substrate transformation, as well as similar community compositions, as revealed by 16S rRNA gene-tagged sequencing. Amendment of microcosms with small (micromolar) amounts of formate suppressed DIC assimilation in short-term (<45-min) incubations, despite the presence of native DIC concentrations that exceeded those of added formate by 2 to 3 orders of magnitude. The concentration of added formate required to suppress DIC assimilation was similar to the affinity constant (Km) for formate transformation, as determined by community kinetic assays. These results suggest that dominant chemoautotrophs in high-temperature communities are facultatively autotrophic or mixotrophic, are adapted to fluctuating nutrient availabilities, and are capable of taking advantage of energy-rich organic substrates when they become available.

scholarly journals Nanoarchaeota, Their Sulfolobales Host, and Nanoarchaeota Virus Distribution across Yellowstone National Park Hot Springs

2015 ◽  
Vol 81 (22) ◽  
pp. 7860-7868 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacob H. Munson-McGee ◽  
Erin K. Field ◽  
Mary Bateson ◽  
Colleen Rooney ◽  
Ramunas Stepanauskas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Single Cell ◽  
Yellowstone National Park ◽  
National Park ◽  
Hot Springs ◽  
Hot Spring ◽  
Genome Comparison ◽  
Fish Analysis ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Cell Genome ◽  
Single Cell Genome

ABSTRACTNanoarchaeotaare obligate symbionts with reduced genomes first described from marine thermal vent environments. Here, both community metagenomics and single-cell analysis revealed the presence ofNanoarchaeotain high-temperature (∼90°C), acidic (pH ≈ 2.5 to 3.0) hot springs in Yellowstone National Park (YNP) (United States). Single-cell genome analysis of two cells resulted in two nearly identical genomes, with an estimated full length of 650 kbp. Genome comparison showed that these two cells are more closely related to the recently proposedNanobsidianus stetterifrom a more neutral YNP hot spring than to the marineNanoarchaeum equitans. Single-cell and catalyzed reporter deposition-fluorescencein situhybridization (CARD-FISH) analysis of environmental hot spring samples identified the host of the YNPNanoarchaeotaas aSulfolobalesspecies known to inhabit the hot springs. Furthermore, we demonstrate thatNanoarchaeotaare widespread in acidic to near neutral hot springs in YNP. An integrated viral sequence was also found within oneNanoarchaeotasingle-cell genome and further analysis of the purified viral fraction from environmental samples indicates that this is likely a virus replicating within the YNPNanoarchaeota.

scholarly journals Characterizing and Evaluating the Diverse Microbial Communities and Their Mercury Resistance Potential from Hot Spring Sites Representing Gradients in Temperature and pH in Yellowstone National Park

2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yelizaveta Rassadkina ◽  
Spencer Roth ◽  
Tamar Barkay
Keyword(s):  
Microbial Communities ◽  
Yellowstone National Park ◽  
National Park ◽  
Hot Springs ◽  
Hot Spring ◽  
Thermophilic Bacteria ◽  
Sequence Data ◽  
Mercury Resistance ◽  
Sample Site ◽  
Microorganism Community

Yellowstone National Park is home to many different hot springs, lakes, geysers, pools, and basins that range in pH, chemical composition, and temperature. These different environmental variations provide a broad range of conditions that select and grow diverse communities of microorganisms. In this study, we collected samples from geochemically diverse lakes and springs to characterize the microbial communities present through 16S rRNA metagenomic analysis. This information was then used to observe how various microorganisms survive in high mercury environments. The results show the presence of microorganisms that have been studied in previous literature. The results also depict gradients of microorganisms including thermophilic bacteria and archaea that exist in these extreme environments. In addition, beta diversity analyses of the sequence data showed site clustering based primarily on temperature instead of pH or sample site, suggesting that while pH, temperature, and sample site were all shown to be significant, temperature is the strongest factor driving microorganism community development. While it is important to characterize the microorganism community present, it is also important to understand how this community functions as a result of its selection. Along with looking at community composition, genomic material was tested to see if it contained mercury methylating (hgcA) or mercury reducing (merA) genes. Out of 22 samples, three of them were observed to have merA genes, while no samples had hgcA genes. These results indicate that microorganisms in Mustard and Nymph Springs may use mercury reduction. Understanding how microorganisms survive in environments with high concentrations of toxic pollutants is crucial because it can be used as a model to better understand mechanisms of resistance and the biogeochemical cycle, as well as for bioremediation and other solutions to anthropogenic problems.

scholarly journals Uranium and Thorium Decay Series Isotopic Contraints on the Source and Residence Time of Solutes in the Yellowstone Hydrothermal System

2011 ◽  
Vol 33 ◽  
pp. 187-207
Author(s):  
Timothy Moloney ◽  
Kenneth Sims ◽  
John Kaszuba
Keyword(s):  
Time Scale ◽  
Hydrothermal System ◽  
National Park ◽  
Hydrothermal Fluid ◽  
Hot Springs ◽  
Hot Spring ◽  
Co2 Flux ◽  
Hydrothermal Fluids ◽  
Geochemical Processes ◽  
Radium Isotope

Hydrothermal fluids in Yellowstone National Park have widely varying chemical composition. Heat and volatile flux from the hydrothermal system can be estimated by monitoring the composition and volume of emitted hydrothermal fluid, but the source of solutes in hydrothermal fluid is often nebulous and the geochemical processes that affect the nuclides are poorly understood. Measurements of 220Rn and 222Rn activity in hydrothermal fluids and of CO2 flux from fumaroles and hot springs were carried out in Yellowstone National Park during the summer of 2010. We observed a weak relationship between (220Rn/222Rn) and CO2 flux, which indicates that CO2 acts as a carrier gas to bring radon to the surface, but the radon is sourced from aquifer rocks rather than magma. If radon reaching the surface were sourced from magma below Yellowstone, there would be a stronger correlation between (220Rn/222Rn) and CO2 flux. Measurements of 223Ra, 224Ra, 226Ra, 228Ra, and major solute chemistry in hot spring waters support the hypothesis that the time scale of solute transport from the deep hydrothermal reservoir is long compared to the half lives of 220Rn and 222Rn, which are useful for processes operating on the time scale of 5 minutes to 20 days. Radium isotope activities in hot springs indicate that the solute transport time varies significantly from region to region, indicating that circulation in some areas operates on the time scale of 224Ra/223Ra (20-55 days) and circulation in other areas operates on the time scale of 228Ra/226Ra (25-1600 years). The radium isotope composition of hot spring water is also influenced by differences in regional aquifer rocks and geochemical processes such as sorption and mineral precipitation. In summary, geochemical and hydrothermal processes in Yellowstone operate on many different time scales and in diverse geologic conditions, but radionuclide activities possess excellent potential to study these complex phenomena.

scholarly journals Analysis of the attractions of Tangkahan Nature Tourism Area, Gunung Leuser National Park, North Sumatra Province

2021 ◽  
Vol 912 (1) ◽  
pp. 012065
Author(s):  
A Purwoko ◽  
A S Thoha ◽  
Syamsinar
Keyword(s):  
National Park ◽  
Hot Springs ◽  
Hot Spring ◽  
Likert Scale ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Nature Tourism ◽  
Great Demand ◽  
Level Data ◽  
Tourism Destinations ◽  
North Sumatra

Abstract Tangkahan Nature Tourism Area is one of the leading tourism destinations in Sumatera Utara Province for local, national and international tourists. It certainly has several attractions in great demand by tourists. Studies related to attractions are required as a basis for its development. The objective this research is to analyze description and attraction of the Tangkahan Nature Tourism Area, Gunung Leuser National Park, Langkat Regency, Sumatera Utara Province. Observations, structured interviews and surveys are the methods used to determine the attraction of objects. Attraction level data are analyzed using Likert Scale measurements. The results show that the natural attractions of Tangkahan include beauty of the natural panorama, elephant baths, hot springs, river tubing, patrolling with elephants, waterfalls, and river cruises, each of which has values of beauty, uniqueness, exclusiveness, and adventure. adventure. Overall attractions in the Tangkahan nature tourism area is classified into Attractive category with a total score of 2,781. The attraction in Very Attractive category (the most desired by visitors) is river cruises with a score of 432. The attractions in Interesting category are patrols with elephants (score 419), river tubing (scores 415), elephant baths (score 407), beauty natural panorama (scores 396), and waterfalls (score 379). The object in lowest attraction category (medium category) is hot spring with a score of 333.

scholarly journals A review of active hot-spring analogues of Rhynie: environments, habitats and ecosystems

2017 ◽  
Vol 373 (1739) ◽  
pp. 20160490 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alan Channing
Keyword(s):  
Hot Springs ◽  
Hot Spring ◽  
Terrestrial Ecosystem ◽  
Surface Expression ◽  
Geothermal Systems ◽  
Alkali Chloride ◽  
Shallow Subsurface ◽  
Elevated Salinity ◽  
Run Off ◽  
Rhynie Chert

The Lower Devonian Rhynie chert formed as silica sinter entombed an early terrestrial ecosystem. Silica sinter precipitates only from water flowing from alkali-chloride hot springs and geysers, the surface expression of crustal-scale geothermal systems that form low-sulfidation mineral deposits in the shallow subsurface. Active alkali-chloride hot springs at Yellowstone National Park create a suite of geothermally influenced environments; vent pools, sinter aprons, run-off streams, supra-apron terrace pools and geothermal wetlands that are habitats for modern hot-spring ecosystems. The plant-rich chert, which makes Rhynie internationally famous, probably formed in low-temperature environments at the margins of a sinter apron where frequent flooding by geothermal water and less frequent flooding by river waters created ephemeral to permanent wetland conditions. Here, the plants and associated microbes and animals would be immersed in waters with elevated temperature, brackish salinity, high pH and a cocktail of phytotoxic elements which created stresses that the fossil ecosystem must have tolerated. The environment excluded coeval mesophytic plants, creating a low-diversity hot-spring flora. Comparison with Yellowstone suggests the Rhynie plants were preadapted to their environment by life in more common and widespread environments with elevated salinity and pH such as coastal marshes, salt lakes, estuaries and saline seeps. This article is part of a discussion meeting issue ‘The Rhynie cherts: our earliest terrestrial ecosystem revisited’.

scholarly journals The Prevalence of STIV c92-Like Proteins in Acidic Thermal Environments

2011 ◽  
Vol 2011 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jamie C. Snyder ◽  
Benjamin Bolduc ◽  
Mary M. Bateson ◽  
Mark J. Young
Keyword(s):  
National Park ◽  
Hot Springs ◽  
Hot Spring ◽  
Viral Lysis ◽  
Thermal Environments ◽  
Infected Host Cell ◽  
Archaeal Viruses ◽  
New Type ◽  
Pyramid Structures ◽  
Viral Sequences

A new type of viral-induced lysis system has recently been discovered for two unrelated archaeal viruses, STIV and SIRV2. Prior to the lysis of the infected host cell, unique pyramid-like lysis structures are formed on the cell surface by the protrusion of the underlying cell membrane through the overlying external S-layer. It is through these pyramid structures that assembled virions are released during lysis. The STIV viral protein c92 is responsible for the formation of these lysis structures. We searched for c92-like proteins in viral sequences present in multiple viral and cellular metagenomic libraries from Yellowstone National Park acidic hot spring environments. Phylogenetic analysis of these proteins demonstrates that, although c92-like proteins are detected in these environments, some are quite divergent and may represent new viral families. We hypothesize that this new viral lysis system is common within diverse archaeal viral populations found within acidic hot springs.

scholarly journals Terrestrial invertebrates in the Rhynie chert ecosystem

2017 ◽  
Vol 373 (1739) ◽  
pp. 20160493 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jason A. Dunlop ◽  
Russell J. Garwood
Keyword(s):  
Early Life ◽  
Hot Springs ◽  
Terrestrial Ecosystem ◽  
Early Devonian ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Terrestrial Invertebrates ◽  
Plant Parasitism ◽  
Liquid Feeding ◽  
Rhynie Chert ◽  
Nematode Worm

The Early Devonian Rhynie and Windyfield cherts remain a key locality for understanding early life and ecology on land. They host the oldest unequivocal nematode worm (Nematoda), which may also offer the earliest evidence for herbivory via plant parasitism. The trigonotarbids (Arachnida: Trigonotarbida) preserve the oldest book lungs and were probably predators that practiced liquid feeding. The oldest mites (Arachnida: Acariformes) are represented by taxa which include mycophages and predators on nematodes today. The earliest harvestman (Arachnida: Opiliones) includes the first preserved tracheae, and male and female genitalia. Myriapods are represented by a scutigeromorph centipede (Chilopoda: Scutigeromorpha), probably a cursorial predator on the substrate, and a putative millipede (Diplopoda). The oldest springtails (Hexapoda: Collembola) were probably mycophages, and another hexapod of uncertain affinities preserves a gut infill of phytodebris. The first true insects (Hexapoda: Insecta) are represented by a species known from chewing (non-carnivorous?) mandibles. Coprolites also provide insights into diet, and we challenge previous assumptions that several taxa were spore-feeders. Rhynie appears to preserve a largely intact community of terrestrial animals, although some expected groups are absent. The known fossils are (ecologically) consistent with at least part of the fauna found around modern Icelandic hot springs. This article is part of a discussion meeting issue ‘The Rhynie cherts: our earliest terrestrial ecosystem revisited’.

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