Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-1285
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-1285
06 May 2024
 | 06 May 2024

Animal burrowing at cold seep ecotones boosts productivity by linking macromolecule turnover with chemosynthesis and nutrient cycling

Maxim Rubin-Blum, Eyal Rahav, Guy Sisma-Ventura, Yana Yudkovski, Zoya Harbozov, Or Bialik, Oded Ezra, Anneleen Foubert, Barak Herut, and Yizhaq Makovsky

Abstract. Hydrocarbon seepage at the deep seafloor fuels flourishing chemosynthetic communities. These seeps impact the functionality of the benthic ecosystem beyond hotspots of gas emission, altering the abundance, diversity and activity of microbiota and fauna, and affecting geochemical processes. Yet, these chemosynthetic ecotones (chemotones) are far less explored than the foci of seepage. To better understand the functionality of chemotones, we: i) mapped seabed morphology at the periphery of gas seeps in the deep Eastern Mediterranean Sea, using video analyses and synthetic aperture sonar; ii) sampled chemotone sediments and described burrowing using computerized tomography; iii) explored nutrient concentrations; iv) quantified microbial abundance, activity and N2 fixation rates in selected samples and v) extracted DNA and explored microbial diversity and function using amplicon sequencing and metagenomics. Our results indicate that the gas seepage yields gradients of burrowing intensity at the seep ecotones, especially by the ghost shrimp Calliax lobata. This burrowing alters nitrogen and sulfur cycling through the activity of diverse microbes. Burrow walls form a unique habitat, where macromolecules are degraded by Bacterioida, and their fermentation products fuel sulfate reduction by Desulfobacterota and Nitrospirota. These in turn support chemosynthetic Campylobacterota and giant sulfur bacteria Thiomargarita, which can aid C. lobata nutrition. These interactions may support enhanced productivity at seep ecotones.

Publisher's note: Copernicus Publications remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims made in the text, published maps, institutional affiliations, or any other geographical representation in this preprint. The responsibility to include appropriate place names lies with the authors.
Maxim Rubin-Blum, Eyal Rahav, Guy Sisma-Ventura, Yana Yudkovski, Zoya Harbozov, Or Bialik, Oded Ezra, Anneleen Foubert, Barak Herut, and Yizhaq Makovsky

Status: final response (author comments only)

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2024-1285', Anonymous Referee #1, 27 Jun 2024
    • AC1: 'Reply on RC1', Maxim Rubin Blum, 02 Dec 2024
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2024-1285', Wang Minxiao, 22 Nov 2024
    • AC2: 'Reply on RC2', Maxim Rubin Blum, 02 Dec 2024
  • RC3: 'Comment on egusphere-2024-1285', Wang Minxiao, 22 Nov 2024
    • AC3: 'Reply on RC3', Maxim Rubin Blum, 02 Dec 2024
Maxim Rubin-Blum, Eyal Rahav, Guy Sisma-Ventura, Yana Yudkovski, Zoya Harbozov, Or Bialik, Oded Ezra, Anneleen Foubert, Barak Herut, and Yizhaq Makovsky
Maxim Rubin-Blum, Eyal Rahav, Guy Sisma-Ventura, Yana Yudkovski, Zoya Harbozov, Or Bialik, Oded Ezra, Anneleen Foubert, Barak Herut, and Yizhaq Makovsky

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Short summary
Geochemical cycles and biodiversity are altered at transition zones of chemosynthetic ecosystems, chemotones. We asked if burrowing alters the functionality of these habitats. We surveyed the seafloor, analyzed sediment properties, and explored microbial communities in ghost shrimp burrows. We made an exciting discovery of chemosynthetic biofilms, linking them to macromolecule turnover and nutrient cycling, using metagenomics. This phenomenon may play an important role in biogeochemical cycles.