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Vignette 14: Eelgrass Wasting Disease, Olivia Graham, Morgan Eisenlord, Drew Harvell

Institute Publications

Rising seawater temperatures can increase the risk of disease outbreaks in many taxa. Pathogens are potentially the ultimate keystone species in that their small biomass can have massive impacts that ripple through ecosystems. Disease outbreaks can be particularly damaging when they affect ecosystem engineers, such as seagrasses. Outbreaks of wasting disease in seagrasses are one of a myriad of stressors associated with declining temperate and tropical seagrass meadows around the globe. Levels of eelgrass wasting disease are high in the San Juan Islands and Puget Sound. These increasing levels of disease are a threat to sustainability of eelgrass meadows, our …

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Community Structure Of Lithotrophically-Driven Hydrothermal Microbial Mats From The Mariana Arc And Back-Arc, Kevin W. Hager, Heather Fullerton, David A. Butterfield, Craig L. Moyer

Biology Faculty and Staff Publications

The Mariana region exhibits a rich array of hydrothermal venting conditions in a complex geological setting, which provides a natural laboratory to study the influence of local environmental conditions on microbial community structure as well as large-scale patterns in microbial biogeography. We used high-throughput amplicon sequencing of the bacterial small subunit (SSU) rRNA gene from 22 microbial mats collected from four hydrothermally active locations along the Mariana Arc and back-arc to explore the structure of lithotrophically-based microbial mat communities. The vent effluent was classified as iron- or sulfur-rich corresponding with two distinct community types, dominated by either Zetaproteobacteria or Epsilonproteobacteria, …

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Hidden Diversity Revealed By Genome-Resolved Metagenomics Of Iron-Oxidizing Microbial Mats From Lō’Ihi Seamount, Hawai’I, Heather Fullerton, Kevin W. Hager, Sean M. Mcallister, Craig L. Moyer

Biology Faculty and Staff Publications

The Zetaproteobacteria are ubiquitous in marine environments, yet this class of Proteobacteria is only represented by a few closely-related cultured isolates. In high-iron environments, such as diffuse hydrothermal vents, the Zetaproteobacteria are important members of the community driving its structure. Biogeography of Zetaproteobacteria has shown two ubiquitous operational taxonomic units (OTUs), yet much is unknown about their genomic diversity. Genome-resolved metagenomics allows for the specific binning of microbial genomes based on genomic signatures present in composite metagenome assemblies. This resulted in the recovery of 93 genome bins, of which 34 were classified as Zetaproteobacteria. Form II ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase genes …

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Silica Biomineralization Of Calothrix-Dominated Biofacies From Queen's Laundry Hot-Spring, Yellowstone National Park, Usa, Wendy F. Smythe, Sean M. Mcallister, Kevin W. Hager, Kyle R. Hager, Bradley M. Tebo, Craig L. Moyer

Biology Faculty and Staff Publications

Experiments on microorganisms capable of surviving silicification are often conducted to gain a better understanding of the process of silica biomineralization and to gain insights into microbially influenced rock formations and biofabrics like those found in ancient deposits such as the Early Archean Apex Chert formation (Schopf, 1993; House et al., 2000). An ideal microorganism for studying silicification is the large sheathed cyanobacterium Calothrix, which form distinctive organo-sedimentary structures in the low to moderate temperature regions of hydrothermal springs or columnar stromatolitic structures in aquatic systems. Our ability to identify and characterize microfossils from ancient deposits …

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Comparative Single-Cell Genomics Of Chloroflexi From The Okinawa Trough Deep-Subsurface Biosphere, Craig L. Moyer

Biology Faculty and Staff Publications

Chloroflexi small-subunit (SSU) rRNA gene sequences are frequently recovered from subseafloor environments, but the metabolic potential of the phylum is poorly understood. The phylum Chloroflexi is represented by isolates with diverse metabolic strategies, including anoxic phototrophy, fermentation, and reductive dehalogenation; therefore, function cannot be attributed to these organisms based solely on phylogeny. Single-cell genomics can provide metabolic insights into uncultured organisms, like the deep-subsurface Chloroflexi. Nine SSU rRNA gene sequences were identified from single-cell sorts of whole-round core material collected from the Okinawa Trough at Iheya North hydrothermal field as part of Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP) expedition 331 …

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Hydrothermal Venting And Mineralization In The Crater Of Kick’Em Jenny Submarine Volcano, Grenada (Lesser Antilles), Steven Carey, Rene Olsen, Katherine L. C. Bell, Robert Ballard, Frederic Dondin, Chris Roman, Clara Smart, Marvin Lilley, John Lupton, Brad Seibel, Winton Cornell, Craig L. Moyer

Biology Faculty and Staff Publications

Kick’em Jenny is a frequently erupting, shallow submarine volcano located 7.5 km off the northern coast of Grenada in the Lesser Antilles subduction zone. Focused and diffuse hydrothermal venting is taking place mainly within a small (~70 3 110 m) depression within the 300 m diameter crater of the volcano at depths of about 265 m. Much of the crater is blanketed with a layer of fine-grained tephra that has undergone hydrothermal alteration. Clear fluids and gas are being discharged near the center of the depression from mound-like vents at a maximum temperature of 180^ᵒC. The gas consists …

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Genetic And Phylogenetic Analysis Of Vibrio Parahaemolyticus Reveals Distinct Differences In Strains From The Pacific Northwest Of The U.S., Rohinee Paranjpye, Jeffery Turner, William Nilsson, Gladys Yanagida, Mark Strom

Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference

Genetic and phylogenetic analyses of Vibrio parahaemolyticus (Vp) strains isolated from the U.S. Pacific Northwest demonstrate that clinical isolates are genetically distinct from the environmental isolates. Several environmental isolates are clonally related to strains that have been responsible for Vp-related illnesses world-wide (the pandemic complex) but have not been responsible for illnesses in the Pacific Northwest. While both clinical and a significant proportion of environmental isolates encode one of the putative virulence markers, the thermostable direct hemolysin (tdh), clinical isolates also encoded a second virulence marker, the tdh-related hemolysin (trh). Our findings suggest that V. parahaemolyticus isolates from the Pacific …

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The First Microbiological Contamination Assessment By Deep-Sea Drilling And Coring By The D/V Chikyu At The Iheya North Hydrothermal Field In The Mid-Okinawa Trough (Iodp Expedition 331), Katsunori Yanagawa, Takuro Nunoura, Sean M. Mcallister, Miho Hirai, Anja Breuker, Leah Brandt, Christopher H. House, Craig L. Moyer, Jean-Louis Birrien, Kan Aoike, Michinari Sunamura, Tetsuro Urabe, Michael J. Mottl, Ken Takai

Biology Faculty and Staff Publications

During the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP) Expedition 331 at the Iheya North hydrothermal system in the Mid-Okinawa Trough by the D/V Chikyu, we conducted microbiological contamination tests of the drilling and coring operations. The contamination from the drilling mud fluids was assessed using both perfluorocarbon tracers (PFT) and fluorescent microsphere beads. PFT infiltration was detected from the periphery of almost all whole round cores (WRCs). By contrast, fluorescent microspheres were not detected in hydrothermally active core samples, possibly due to thermal decomposition of the microspheres under high-temperature conditions. Microbial contamination from drilling mud fluids to the core interior subsamples …

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Prospects For The Study Of Evolution In The Deep Biosphere, Jennifer F. Biddle, Jason B. Sylvan, William J. Brazelton, Katina J. Edwards, Craig L. Moyer, John F. Heidelberg, William C. Nelson

Biology Faculty and Staff Publications

Since the days of Darwin, scientists have used the framework of the theory of evolution to explore the interconnectedness of life on Earth and adaptation of organisms to the ever-changing environment. The advent of molecular biology has advanced and accelerated the study of evolution by allowing direct examination of the genetic material that ultimately determines the phenotypes upon which selection acts. The study of evolution has been furthered through examination of microbial evolution, with large population numbers, short generation times, and easily extractable DNA. Such work has spawned the study of microbial biogeography, with the realization that concepts developed in …

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Ultra-Diffuse Hydrothermal Venting Supports Fe-Oxidizing Bacteria And Massive Umber Deposition At 5000 M Off Hawaii, Katrina J. Edwards, B. T. Glazer, Olivier J. Rouxel, Wolfgang Bach, D. Emerson, Russ E. Davis, Brandy M. Toner, C. S. Chan, B. M. Tebo, Hubert Staudigel, Craig L. Moyer

Biology Faculty and Staff Publications

A novel hydrothermal field has been discovered at the base of Lōihi Seamount, Hawaii, at 5000 mbsl. Geochemical analyses demonstrate that ‘FeMO Deep’, while only 0.2 °C above ambient seawater temperature, derives from a distal, ultra-diffuse hydrothermal source. FeMO Deep is expressed as regional seafloor seepage of gelatinous iron- and silica-rich deposits, pooling between and over basalt pillows, in places over a meter thick. The system is capped by mm to cm thick hydrothermally derived iron-oxyhydroxide- and manganese-oxide-layered crusts. We use molecular analyses (16S rDNA-based) of extant communities combined with fluorescent in situ hybridizations to demonstrate that FeMO Deep deposits …

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Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences

Vignette 14: Eelgrass Wasting Disease, Olivia Graham, Morgan Eisenlord, Drew Harvell

Institute Publications

Community Structure Of Lithotrophically-Driven Hydrothermal Microbial Mats From The Mariana Arc And Back-Arc, Kevin W. Hager, Heather Fullerton, David A. Butterfield, Craig L. Moyer

Biology Faculty and Staff Publications

Hidden Diversity Revealed By Genome-Resolved Metagenomics Of Iron-Oxidizing Microbial Mats From Lō’Ihi Seamount, Hawai’I, Heather Fullerton, Kevin W. Hager, Sean M. Mcallister, Craig L. Moyer

Biology Faculty and Staff Publications

Silica Biomineralization Of Calothrix-Dominated Biofacies From Queen's Laundry Hot-Spring, Yellowstone National Park, Usa, Wendy F. Smythe, Sean M. Mcallister, Kevin W. Hager, Kyle R. Hager, Bradley M. Tebo, Craig L. Moyer

Biology Faculty and Staff Publications

Comparative Single-Cell Genomics Of Chloroflexi From The Okinawa Trough Deep-Subsurface Biosphere, Craig L. Moyer

Biology Faculty and Staff Publications

Hydrothermal Venting And Mineralization In The Crater Of Kick’Em Jenny Submarine Volcano, Grenada (Lesser Antilles), Steven Carey, Rene Olsen, Katherine L. C. Bell, Robert Ballard, Frederic Dondin, Chris Roman, Clara Smart, Marvin Lilley, John Lupton, Brad Seibel, Winton Cornell, Craig L. Moyer

Biology Faculty and Staff Publications

Genetic And Phylogenetic Analysis Of Vibrio Parahaemolyticus Reveals Distinct Differences In Strains From The Pacific Northwest Of The U.S., Rohinee Paranjpye, Jeffery Turner, William Nilsson, Gladys Yanagida, Mark Strom

Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference

Biology Faculty and Staff Publications

Prospects For The Study Of Evolution In The Deep Biosphere, Jennifer F. Biddle, Jason B. Sylvan, William J. Brazelton, Katina J. Edwards, Craig L. Moyer, John F. Heidelberg, William C. Nelson

Biology Faculty and Staff Publications

Ultra-Diffuse Hydrothermal Venting Supports Fe-Oxidizing Bacteria And Massive Umber Deposition At 5000 M Off Hawaii, Katrina J. Edwards, B. T. Glazer, Olivier J. Rouxel, Wolfgang Bach, D. Emerson, Russ E. Davis, Brandy M. Toner, C. S. Chan, B. M. Tebo, Hubert Staudigel, Craig L. Moyer

Biology Faculty and Staff Publications