Bacterial methane oxidation in sea-floor gas hydrate: Significance to life in extreme environments

Abstract

Research Article| September 01, 1998 Bacterial methane oxidation in sea-floor gas hydrate: Significance to life in extreme environments Roger Sassen; Roger Sassen 1Geochemical and Environmental Research Group, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77845 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Ian R. MacDonald; Ian R. MacDonald 1Geochemical and Environmental Research Group, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77845 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Norman L. Guinasso, Jr; Norman L. Guinasso, Jr 1Geochemical and Environmental Research Group, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77845 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Samantha Joye; Samantha Joye 2Department of Marine Sciences, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30506 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Adolfo G. Requejo; Adolfo G. Requejo 1Geochemical and Environmental Research Group, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77845 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Stephen T. Sweet; Stephen T. Sweet 1Geochemical and Environmental Research Group, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77845 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Javier Alcalá-Herrera; Javier Alcalá-Herrera 1Geochemical and Environmental Research Group, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77845 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Debra A. DeFreitas; Debra A. DeFreitas 1Geochemical and Environmental Research Group, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77845 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar David R. Schink David R. Schink 1Geochemical and Environmental Research Group, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77845 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Roger Sassen 1Geochemical and Environmental Research Group, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77845 Ian R. MacDonald 1Geochemical and Environmental Research Group, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77845 Norman L. Guinasso, Jr 1Geochemical and Environmental Research Group, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77845 Samantha Joye 2Department of Marine Sciences, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30506 Adolfo G. Requejo 1Geochemical and Environmental Research Group, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77845 Stephen T. Sweet 1Geochemical and Environmental Research Group, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77845 Javier Alcalá-Herrera 1Geochemical and Environmental Research Group, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77845 Debra A. DeFreitas 1Geochemical and Environmental Research Group, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77845 David R. Schink 1Geochemical and Environmental Research Group, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77845 Publisher: Geological Society of America First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 Geological Society of America Geology (1998) 26 (9): 851–854. https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1998)026<0851:BMOISF>2.3.CO;2 Article history First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Roger Sassen, Ian R. MacDonald, Norman L. Guinasso, Samantha Joye, Adolfo G. Requejo, Stephen T. Sweet, Javier Alcalá-Herrera, Debra A. DeFreitas, David R. Schink; Bacterial methane oxidation in sea-floor gas hydrate: Significance to life in extreme environments. Geology 1998;; 26 (9): 851–854. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1998)026<0851:BMOISF>2.3.CO;2 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract Samples of thermogenic hydrocarbon gases, from vents and gas hydrate mounds within a sea-floor chemosynthetic community on the Gulf of Mexico continental slope at about 540 m depth, were collected by research submersible. Our study area is characterized by low water temperature (mean =7 °C), high pressure (about 5400 kPa), and abundant structure II gas hydrate. Bacterial oxidation of hydrate-bound methane (CH4) is indicated by three isotopic properties of gas hydrate samples. Relative to the vent gas from which the gas hydrate formed, (1) methane-bound methane is enriched in 13C by as much as 3.8‰ PDB (Peedee belemnite), (2) hydrate-bound methane is enriched in deuterium (D) by as much as 37‰ SMOW (standard mean ocean water), and (3) hydrate-bound carbon dioxide (CO2) is depleted in 13C by as much as 22.4‰ PDB. Hydrate-associated authigenic carbonate rock is also depleted in 13C. Bacterial oxidation of methane is a driving force in chemosynthetic communities, and in the concomitant precipitation of authigenic carbonate rock that modifies sea-floor geology. Bacterial oxidation of hydrate-bound methane expands the potential boundaries of life in extreme environments. This content is PDF only. Please click on the PDF icon to access. First Page Preview Close Modal You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.