High-flying diatoms: Widespread dispersal of microorganisms in an explosive volcanic eruption

Abstract

Research Article| November 01, 2013 High-flying diatoms: Widespread dispersal of microorganisms in an explosive volcanic eruption Alexa R. Van Eaton; Alexa R. Van Eaton School of Geography, Environment and Earth Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, PO Box 600, Wellington 6140, New Zealand *Current address: U.S. Geological Survey, Cascades Volcano Observatory, 1300 SE Cardinal Court, Suite 100, Vancouver, Washington 98683, USA; E-mail: avaneaton@usgs.gov. Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Margaret A. Harper; Margaret A. Harper School of Geography, Environment and Earth Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, PO Box 600, Wellington 6140, New Zealand Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Colin J.N. Wilson Colin J.N. Wilson School of Geography, Environment and Earth Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, PO Box 600, Wellington 6140, New Zealand Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Alexa R. Van Eaton *Current address: U.S. Geological Survey, Cascades Volcano Observatory, 1300 SE Cardinal Court, Suite 100, Vancouver, Washington 98683, USA; E-mail: avaneaton@usgs.gov. School of Geography, Environment and Earth Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, PO Box 600, Wellington 6140, New Zealand Margaret A. Harper School of Geography, Environment and Earth Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, PO Box 600, Wellington 6140, New Zealand Colin J.N. Wilson School of Geography, Environment and Earth Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, PO Box 600, Wellington 6140, New Zealand Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 10 Jun 2013 Revision Received: 07 Aug 2013 Accepted: 12 Aug 2013 First Online: 09 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 © 2013 Geological Society of America Geology (2013) 41 (11): 1187–1190. https://doi.org/10.1130/G34829.1 Article history Received: 10 Jun 2013 Revision Received: 07 Aug 2013 Accepted: 12 Aug 2013 First Online: 09 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Alexa R. Van Eaton, Margaret A. Harper, Colin J.N. Wilson; High-flying diatoms: Widespread dispersal of microorganisms in an explosive volcanic eruption. Geology 2013;; 41 (11): 1187–1190. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/G34829.1 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 Explosive eruptions create a transient bridge between the solid Earth and atmosphere, frequently injecting volcanic aerosols to stratospheric levels. Although known to disrupt terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems at the surface, the role of explosive volcanism in airborne transport of microscopic organisms has never been characterized. This study documents abundant freshwater diatoms (microskeletons of siliceous algae) in widespread tephra from the 25.4 ka Oruanui eruption of Taupo volcano, New Zealand. By matching the tephra-hosted species assemblages to those in coerupted clasts of lacustrine sediment, we demonstrate that ∼0.6 km3 of diatom remains were incorporated during magma-water interaction with a lake system overlying the vents, and were dispersed along with fine ash particles hundreds of kilometers downwind. One of the dominant species, Cyclostephanos novaezeelandiae, is endemic to New Zealand’s North Island and serves as a unique identifier of the eruptive source region. Our results suggest that dispersal of microorganisms may be an overlooked feature of a number of ancient and modern eruptions, and indicate a novel pathway of microbe transport in airborne volcanic plumes. We conclude that the biogenic signatures contained within distal tephras have potential application in the characterization of eruption dynamics, location, and environmental settings of volcanic source areas. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.