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Comparative metagenomics of hydrocarbon and methane seeps of the Gulf of Mexico

Lookup NU author(s): Dr David Lavallee, Professor Ian Head

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).


Abstract

Oil and gas percolate profusely through the sediments of the Gulf of Mexico, leading to numerous seeps at the seafloor, where complex microbial, and sometimes animal communities flourish. Sediments from three areas (two cold seeps with contrasting hydrocarbon composition and a site outside any area of active seepage) of the Gulf of Mexico were investigated and compared. Consistent with the existence of a seep microbiome, a distinct microbial community was observed in seep areas compared to sediment from outside areas of active seepage. The microbial community from sediments without any influence from hydrocarbon seepage was characterized by Planctomycetes and the metabolic potential was consistent with detrital marine snow degradation. By contrast, in seep samples with methane as the principal hydrocarbon, methane oxidation by abundant members of ANME-1 was likely the predominant process. Seep samples characterized by fluids containing both methane and complex hydrocarbons, were characterized by abundant Chloroflexi (Anaerolinaceae) and deltaproteobacterial lineages and exhibited potential for complex hydrocarbon degradation. These different metabolic capacities suggested that microorganisms in cold seeps can potentially rely on other processes beyond methane oxidation and that the hydrocarbon composition of the seep fluids may be a critical factor structuring the seafloor microbial community composition and function.


Publication metadata

Author(s): Vigneron A, Alsop EB, Cruaud P, Philibert G, King B, Baksmaty L, Lavallée D, PLomans B, Kyrpides NC, Head IM, Tsesmetzis N

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: Scientific Reports

Year: 2017

Volume: 7

Online publication date: 22/11/2017

Acceptance date: 10/11/2017

Date deposited: 07/12/2017

ISSN (electronic): 2045-2322

Publisher: Springer Nature

URL: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-16375-5

DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-16375-5

PubMed id: 29167487


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