Probing the Geological Source and Biological Fate of Hydrogen in Yellowstone Hot Springs

Authors

Melody R. Lindsay, Daniel R. Colman, Maximiliano J. Amenabar, Kirsten E. Fristad, Kristopher M. Fecteau, Randall V. Debes II, John R. Spear, Everett L. Shock, Tori M. Hoehler, Eric S. Boyd

Publication

Environmental Microbiology

Abstract

Hydrogen (H2 ) is enriched in hot springs and can support microbial primary production. Using a series of geochemical proxies, a model to describe variable H2 concentrations in Yellowstone National Park (YNP) hot springs is presented. Interaction between water and crustal iron minerals yields H2 that partitions into the vapor phase during decompressional boiling of ascending hydrothermal fluids. Variable vapor input leads to differences in H2 concentration among springs. Analysis of 50 metagenomes from a variety of YNP springs reveals that genes encoding oxidative hydrogenases are enriched in communities inhabiting springs sourced with vapor-phase gas. Three springs in the Smokejumper (SJ) area of YNP that are sourced with vapor-phase gas and with the most H2 in YNP were examined to determine the fate of H2 . SJ3 had the most H2 , the most 16S rRNA gene templates, and the greatest abundance of culturable hydrogenotrophic and autotrophic cells of the three springs. Metagenomics and transcriptomics of SJ3 reveal a diverse community comprised of abundant populations expressing genes involved in H2 oxidation and carbon dioxide fixation. These observations suggest a link between geologic processes that generate and source H2 to hot springs and the distribution of organisms that use H2 to generate energy. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

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