scholarly journals Hydrothermal trace metal release and microbial metabolism in the Northeast Lau Basin of the south Pacific Ocean

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Natalie R. Cohen ◽  
Abigail E. Noble ◽  
Dawn M. Moran ◽  
Matthew R. McIlvin ◽  
Tyler J. Goepfert ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Trace Metals ◽  
Pacific Ocean ◽  
Hydrothermal Vents ◽  
Spreading Center ◽  
Marine Microorganisms ◽  
Dissolved Metals ◽  
Lau Basin ◽  
Southwest Pacific ◽  
South Pacific Ocean ◽  
Close Proximity

Abstract. Bioactive trace metals are critical micronutrients for marine microorganisms due to their role in mediating biological redox reactions, and complex biogeochemical processes control their distributions. Hydrothermal vents may represent an important source of metals to microorganisms, especially those inhabiting low iron waters, such as in the southwest Pacific Ocean. Previous measurements of primordial 3He indicate a significant hydrothermal source originating in the Northeast (NE) Lau Basin, with the plume advecting into the southwest Pacific Ocean at 1,500–2,000 m depth (Lupton et al. 2004). Studies investigating the long range of trace metals associated with such dispersing plumes are rare, and the biogeochemical impacts on local microbial physiology have not yet been described. Here we quantified dissolved metals and assessed microbial metaproteomes across a transect spanning the tropical and equatorial Pacific with a focus on the hydrothermally active NE Lau Basin, and report elevated iron and manganese concentrations across 441 km of the southwest Pacific. The most intense signal was detected near the Mangatolu Triple Junction (MTJ) and Northeast Lau Spreading Center (NELSC), in close proximity to the previously reported 3He signature. Protein content in distal plume-influenced seawater, which was high in metals, was overall similar to background locations, though key prokaryotic proteins involved in metal and organic uptake, protein degradation and chemoautotrophy were comparatively abundant compared to deep waters outside of the distal plume. Our results demonstrate that trace metals derived from the NE Lau Basin are transported over appreciable distances into the southwest Pacific Ocean, and that bioactive chemical resources released from submarine vent systems are utilized by surrounding deep sea microbes, influencing both their physiology and their contributions to ocean biogeochemical cycling.

scholarly journals Hydrothermal trace metal release and microbial metabolism in the northeastern Lau Basin of the South Pacific Ocean

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (19) ◽  
pp. 5397-5422
Author(s):  
Natalie R. Cohen ◽  
Abigail E. Noble ◽  
Dawn M. Moran ◽  
Matthew R. McIlvin ◽  
Tyler J. Goepfert ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Trace Metals ◽  
Pacific Ocean ◽  
Hydrothermal Vents ◽  
Spreading Center ◽  
Marine Microorganisms ◽  
Dissolved Metals ◽  
Lau Basin ◽  
Southwest Pacific ◽  
South Pacific Ocean ◽  
Close Proximity

Abstract. Bioactive trace metals are critical micronutrients for marine microorganisms due to their role in mediating biological redox reactions, and complex biogeochemical processes control their distributions. Hydrothermal vents may represent an important source of metals to microorganisms, especially those inhabiting low-iron waters, such as in the southwest Pacific Ocean. Previous measurements of primordial 3He indicate a significant hydrothermal source originating in the northeastern (NE) Lau Basin, with the plume advecting into the southwest Pacific Ocean at 1500–2000 m depth (Lupton et al., 2004). Studies investigating the long-range transport of trace metals associated with such dispersing plumes are rare, and the biogeochemical impacts on local microbial physiology have not yet been described. Here we quantified dissolved metals and assessed microbial metaproteomes across a transect spanning the tropical and equatorial Pacific with a focus on the hydrothermally active NE Lau Basin and report elevated iron and manganese concentrations across 441 km of the southwest Pacific. The most intense signal was detected near the Mangatolo Triple Junction (MTJ) and Northeast Lau Spreading Center (NELSC), in close proximity to the previously reported 3He signature. Protein content in distal-plume-influenced seawater, which was high in metals, was overall similar to background locations, though key prokaryotic proteins involved in metal and organic uptake, protein degradation, and chemoautotrophy were abundant compared to deep waters outside of the distal plume. Our results demonstrate that trace metals derived from the NE Lau Basin are transported over appreciable distances into the southwest Pacific Ocean and that bioactive chemical resources released from submarine vent systems are utilized by surrounding deep-sea microbes, influencing both their physiology and their contributions to ocean biogeochemical cycling.

Tectonic activity of the northern and southern plate boundaries of the Niuafo’ou microplate, Lau Basin, southwest Pacific Ocean

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anouk Beniest ◽  
Michael Schnabel ◽  
Anke Dannowski ◽  
Florian Schmid ◽  
Anna Jegen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pacific Ocean ◽  
Tectonic Evolution ◽  
Tectonic Setting ◽  
Tectonic Activity ◽  
Scale Model ◽  
Spreading Center ◽  
Rift System ◽  
Plate Boundaries ◽  
Lau Basin ◽  
Southwest Pacific

<p>The northern Lau Basin in the southwest Pacific Ocean is one of the fastest opening back-arc basins on Earth, resulting in a mosaic of microplates, including the Niuafo’ou and Tongan microplates. The Fonualei Rift and Spreading Center (FRSC) is the eastern plate boundary that separates the Niuafo’ou from the Tongan microplate. The northern part of the FRSC is actively spreading, whereas the southern part is rifting. What is unclear, however, is how extension of the Lau Basin is accommodated north and south of the FRSC.</p><p>We present the results of six Multi-Channel Seismic profiles acquired during the ARCHIMEDES-I expedition and show an analogue lithosphere-scale model example of our proposed tectonic evolution. Profiles P1 (oriented NW-SE) and P2 (oriented W-E) cover the Mangatolu Triple Junction (MTJ) and the northern part of the FRSC. P3 and P4 (both oriented W-E) cover the southern Niuafo’ou microplate. P5 and P6 (both oriented W-E) cover the area south of the FRSC.</p><p>The northern profiles (P1 and P2) reveal a thick package of sediment towards the east, covering a heavily faulted basement over a wide area. Some indication for intrusive material is observed closer to the volcanic arc, but also further towards the western end of P2. Faults cross-cutting the basement but that do not reach the surface are considered inactive today. Faults reach the surface close to the MTJ and the northern tip of the FRSC and are considered active today. This leads to the interpretation that an earlier rift phase accommodated extension in a wide rift tectonic setting, whereas today, the extension is accommodated in a narrow rift or spreading tectonic setting. We will show an analogue model example that demonstrates this wide-to-narrow extensional tectonic evolution.</p><p>The profiles that cover the southern extent of the FRSC (P3, P4, P5 and P6), show that active faulting occurs towards the west, close to the Central Lau Spreading Center. Hidden faults that have deformed the basement, but do not affect the surface today anymore are observed in the abyssal parts of P3, P4, P5 and P6. Active faults that reach the surface are also observed towards the east. Recent volcanism is observed, both in the form of intrusive bodies, i.e. sills, as well as volcanoes that pierce through the stratigraphy. The observations lead to the conclusion that south of the FRSC an earlier (wide) rift system affected a larger area in the current abyssal parts of the profiles, whereas extension is currently accommodated through spreading in the CLSC, west of the southern tip of the FRSC.</p>

A new species of Phyllochaetopterus (Chaetopteridae: Annelida) from near hydrothermal vents in the Lau Basin, western Pacific Ocean

Zootaxa ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 1621 (1) ◽  
pp. 55-64 ◽  
Author(s):  
EIJIROH NISHI ◽  
GREG W. ROUSE
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Pacific Ocean ◽  
Hydrothermal Vents ◽  
Western Pacific ◽  
Anterior Region ◽  
Western Pacific Ocean ◽  
Middle Region ◽  
Lau Basin ◽  
The Pacific ◽  
A New Species

Phyllochaetopterus lauensis n. sp., a new species of Chaetopteridae, is described from material collected by the DSV Jason II from the vicinity of hydrothermal vents in the Lau Basin, western Pacific Ocean. The new species is characterized by the coloration and patterning of the ventral shield of the anterior region (region A), the presence of one large cutting chaeta on each parapodium of the fourth chaetiger (A4), the shape of these A4 cutting chaetae (with a pear-shaped head), and presence of two middle-region (region B) chaetigers with foliose notopodia. The new species is very similar to some Spiochaetopterus species, but belongs in Phyllochaetopterus based on its possession of a pair of anterior ‘antennae’, which are in fact cirri of chaetiger one with internal chaetae. The new species is compared to other Phyllochaetopterus species, particularly from the Pacific, and we provide a table for all species currently referred to the genus.

Basin-scale transport of hydrothermal dissolved metals across the South Pacific Ocean

Nature ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 523 (7559) ◽  
pp. 200-203 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph A. Resing ◽  
Peter N. Sedwick ◽  
Christopher R. German ◽  
William J. Jenkins ◽  
James W. Moffett ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pacific Ocean ◽  
South Pacific ◽  
The South ◽  
Dissolved Metals ◽  
South Pacific Ocean ◽  
Basin Scale

Deep circulation in the Lau Basin and Havre Trough of the western South Pacific Ocean from floats and hydrography

2019 ◽  
Vol 77 (5) ◽  
pp. 353-374
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Simons ◽  
Kevin Speer ◽  
Andreas M. Thurnherr
Keyword(s):  
Pacific Ocean ◽  
Circulation Model ◽  
South Pacific ◽  
Western Boundary Current ◽  
Western Boundary ◽  
Boundary Current ◽  
Lau Basin ◽  
The North ◽  
South Pacific Ocean ◽  
North Fiji Basin

A system of meridional ridges in the western South Pacific Ocean frame the Lau Basin and Havre Trough, and form a barrier to direct communication between the far western South Pacific basins and the interior South Pacific Ocean. The eastern side of this system comprises the Tonga and Kermadec Ridges, the location of the main deep western boundary current entering the Pacific Ocean. Observations from floats released in the Lau Basin as part of the RIDGE2000 program suggested the presence of a western boundary current along the Lau Ridge exiting into the North Fiji Basin. Those observations, together with Argo sub-surface float data and repeat hydrographic sections, confirm and expand the boundary current observations along the Lau Ridge throughout the Lau Basin and into the Havre Trough, along the Colville Ridge. The observations also reveal two previously unrecognized westward flowing jets bisecting the Lau Basin and Havre Trough. Using an extension to the classic Stommel-Arons abyssal circulation model, the predicted strength and location of these boundary currents and their bifurcation is compared with the float observations. The model provides a simplified view of the dynamics controlling the boundary current structure in the deep basins. A comparison of transport within the western boundary current derived from float data, hydrographic sections, and the idealized analytical model indicates that roughly 4 Sv (below 1,000 db) is transported northward through the Lau Basin, exiting into the North Fiji Basin.

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