HR: 16:00h
AN: B44A-01 INVITED     [Abstracts]
TI: Geochemistry and Microbiology of Hot Springs in Kamchatka, Russia
AU: * Bonch-Osmolovsk, L
EM: lbo@mail.ru
AF: Institute of Microbiology Russian Academy of Sciences, Prospect 60 Let Oktyabrya 7/2, Moscow, 117811 Russian Federation
AU: Zhao, W
EM: zhao@srel.edu
AF: University of Georgia, Department of Marine Sciences, Athens, GA3 30602 United States
AU: Zhao, W
EM: zhao@srel.edu
AF: University of Georgia, Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, Aiken, SC 29802 United States
AU: Romanek, C
EM: romanek@srel.edu
AF: University of Georgia, Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, Aiken, SC 29802 United States
AU: Romanek, C
EM: romanek@srel.edu
AF: University of Georgia, Department of Geology, Athens, GA 30602 United States
AU: Mills, G
EM: mills@srel.edu
AF: University of Georgia, Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, Aiken, SC 29802 United States
AU: Mills, G
EM: mills@srel.edu
AF: University of Georgia, Department of Geology, Athens, GA 30602 United States
AU: Wiegel, J
EM: jwiegel@uga.edu
AF: University of Georgia, Department of Microbiology, Athens, GA 30602
AU: Zhang, C
EM: zhang@srel.edu
AF: University of Georgia, Department of Marine Sciences, Athens, GA3 30602 United States
AU: Zhang, C
EM: zhang@srel.edu
AF: University of Georgia, Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, Aiken, SC 29802 United States
AB: Kamchatka is one of the most active regions of volcanism in the world because it is located in the transitional zone where the Eurasian plate, North American plate, and Pacific plates meet. As a result, Kamchatka has numerous geothermal springs, which constantly release gases and fluids out to the earth surface. Geothermal gases such as N₂ and CO₂ prevail in the outflows but H₂, CH₄ and H₂S occur frequently. Hot spring waters may have multiple origins including meteoric and magmatic water. The temperature of these hot springs ranges from ~20^oC to greater than 90^oC. Water chemistry also varies dramatically with pH ranging from 3.1 to 9.8. Hydrothermal fluids are dominated by sodium chloride and may contain various dissolved constituents including K⁺, H₃BO₃, H₄SiO₄, Ca²⁺, and SO₄^2-. Volcanic ore-formation prevails in the high thermal activity regions and is accompanied by silica crusts, sulfur and Hg-Sb-As-FeS deposits. Oils are also generated in some springs and dominated by n-alkanes. More than 24 novel thermophilic microorganisms have been isolated from hot springs in Kamchatka. Most of these isolates are heterotrophs; however, autotrophs may be equally abundant depending on the spring conditions. Collectively, these organisms may play important roles in biogeochemical cycling of carbon, sulfur, and iron in the hydrothermal system. Culture-independent approaches and quantitative methods have been employed to enhance our understanding of the ecology and biogeochemical functions of microorganisms in Kamchatka hot springs.
DE: 0400 BIOGEOSCIENCES
SC: Biogeosciences [B]
MN: Fall Meeting 2005