Hyperthermophilic archaebacteria within the crater and open-sea plume of erupting Macdonald Seamount

摘要: HYPERTHERMOPHILIC archaebacteria, found in terrestrial and submarine hydrothermal areas1–6, thrive at temperatures between 80 110 °C are unable to grow below 60 °C. They represent life the known upper temperature limit. On continent, their biotopes solfataric fields hot springs. Within marine environment, hyperthermophilic archaebacteria have been shallow-water as well deep sediments vents1,2,4–6. include strictly anaerobic sul-phidogenic methanogenic chemolithoautotrophs fermentative sulphidogenic heterotrophs, important primary producers consumers of organic matter within high-temperature ecosystems. Their distribution possible modes dissemination present unknown. Here, we report for first time on a community active zone an erupting volcano7, its spread through ensuing cooled-down open-ocean plume. Most organisms close relatives species previously only from field Italy, whereas others new. By conversion volcanic gases sulphur high temperatures, archaebacterial communities living seamounts may be participants ecological, geochemical processes.