Biomass and production of bacterioplankton at the hydrothermal vent areas in the rift system of the North Fiji Basin

Abstract

Mesoscale distribution of the density and productivity of bacterioplankton at representative geological locations in the rift ecosystem of the North Fiji Basin were clarified by sampling using a mannedShinkai 6500 submersible. The bacterioplankton density inside the hot and warm fluids of hydrothermal vents was one order magnitude greater than that in the deep water outside the vent plume. The bacterial production was highest inside the hot and warm vent fluids, and was higher just outside the hot and warm vent fluids than further outside in the deep water surrounding the vent plume, respectively. Productivity from outside to inside the vent fluid varied from 0.01 to 0.71 gC m−3 day−1.