Coupled microbiological and
biogeochemical studies of the deep
crustal biosphere along the Juan de Fuca
Ridge flank
Juan de Fuca Ridge Flank CORK Observatories
Goals
 Provide comprehensive inventories of crustal fluid inorganic
and organic geochemistry
 Quantify microbial biomass
 Provide high integrity inventories of resident microbial
community structure:
 Phylogenetic markers
 Metagenomics & single cell genomics
 Quantify rates of microbial activity:
 Carbon fixation via chemoautotrophy
 Microbial secondary production
 Metabolic reactions emerging from genomic assays
High integrity crustal fluid sample summary
High integrity crustal fluid sample?
Microbiology of Borehole 1301A
86.3
Microbial cell abundance
(X 103 cells ml-1)
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
9.0
15.3
0
1301A 2009
1301A 2010
Seawater
(2008-2010
average)
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
Gene abundance (rel. %)
100
2008
2009
2010
Microbiology of JdF Ridge Boreholes
• GeoMICROBE and mobile pumping systems are yielding
pristine samples of ocean crustal fluids from CORK
observatories along the Juan de Fuca Ridge flank
• Annual sample window reveals a microbial community that is
temporally variable
• The different boreholes harbor unique microbial assemblages,
though common members present
CORK-Mediated Crustal Fluid Sampling Systems
• GeoMICROBE: instrumented sled that functions as an
autonomous sensor and fluid sampling system.
• Mobile Pumping System (MPS): many of the same
components as the GeoMICROBE, but is directly powered and
controlled in real time by submersible.
• Large Volume Bag Sampler (LVBS): fluid retrieval system
consisting of a 60L-capacity acid-clean bag in a plastic
protective frame. Can load one on submersible or ROV basket,
or multiple on elevator.
• Medium Volume Bag Sampler (MVBS): fluid retrieval system
consisting of a 6 independent 15L-capacity acid-clean bags.
CORK-Mediated Crustal Fluid Sampling Systems
• GeoMICROBE: instrumented sled that functions as an
autonomous sensor and fluid sampling system.
GeoMICROBE to LVBS umbilical
LVBS
CORK to GeoMICROBE umbilical
Clean pump
courtesy of J. Cowen
GeoMICROBE
• Quick connects to fluid lines at seafloor ports
• “Clean” high-power pump and fluid distribution system
• Current sensors: flow rate, temperature, O2, pH, redox
(voltametry)
• 48 ports on dual McClane manifolds provide flexible whole
water, in situ filtration, and large volume fluid sampling
options
• Designed to easily distribute crustal fluid to other
instruments/systems/containers
• Designed with long-term autonomous deployments in mind
Flow rate and power critical for long-term
autonomous deployments
Monthly System Data for 2010/11Deployment at 1301A (1/8” FDL)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Cowen et al. 2012 (DSR)
9
Coated casings
New CORKs (1362A & 1362B)
Downhole and Bio-Fluid Lines
Seals/packers
Bio-FDLs
between & below
packers
‘Hans-connectors’
New FDLs: Larger Diameter Results in Higher
Flow at Less Energy
Fluid Delivery Lines:
Diam.
Length
(inches)
(m)
1301A
1362A
1362B
0.125
0.5
0.5
277
440
280
Cowen et al. 2012
FDL in new CORKs 1362A & 1362B: Fluid pump rates 10x
faster @ 1/3 power
The GeoMICROBE:
 Ready access to downhole fluids
via clean pumps, tubing, and
connectors
 The ability to couple with
versatile, continuously evolving
fluid samplers/sensors
 A programmable controller for
autonomous deployment
The GeoMICROBE:
 Ready access to downhole fluids
via clean pumps, tubing, and
connectors
 The ability to couple with
versatile, continuously evolving
fluid samplers/sensors
 A programmable controller for
autonomous deployment
 Prolonged (i.e. year-long or more)
autonomous deployment
 Real-time, adaptive monitoring
and sampling
Cowen, JP, DA Copson, J Jolly, CC Hsieh, HT Lin, BT Glazer, & CG Wheat (2012)
Advanced instrument system for real-time and time-series microbial
geochemical sampling of the deep (basaltic) crustal biosphere. Deep-Sea Res I
161: 43-56.
Lin, HT, JP Cowen, EJ Olson, JP Amend, & MD Lilley (2012) Inorganic chemistry,
gas compositions and dissolved organic carbon in fluids from sedimented
young basaltic crust on the Juan de Fuca Ridge flanks. Geochim Cosmochim
Acta 85: 213-227.
Jungbluth, SP, J Grote, HT Lin, JP Cowen, & MS Rappé (2012) Microbial diversity
within basement fluids of the sediment-buried Juan de Fuca Ridge flank. ISME
Journal. doi:10.1038/ismej.2012.73.
1025C
~67 km
1026B
0.233 km
1362A
1362B
2.215 km
3.258 km
2.313 km
1027C
0.311 km
3.239 km
2.339 km
0.553 km
3.100 km
1.689 km
2.479 km
1301A
2.916 km
NEPTUNE
Node 1027
1025C
~67 km
1026B
0.233 km
1362A
3.258 km
1027C
0.311 km
1362B
3.239 km
1.689 km
0.553 km
3.100 km
1301A
2.916 km
NEPTUNE
Node 1027
Acknowledgements
•
UH Deep Subsurface Team (Rappé, Cowen, & Glazer Lab groups)
•
Captain and Crew of the R/V Atlantis
•
HOV Alvin team and ROV Jason II team
•
A. Fisher, K. Becker, G. Wheat
•
Consortium for Ocean Leadership – Schlanger Fellowship to S. Jungbluth
•
Center for Dark Energy Biosphere Investigations (C-DEBI) – NSF STC based at USC
(Edwards, PI)
•
Microbial Ecology of Ocean Basement Aquifers: ODP Borehole Observatories (NSF
Microbial Observatory; Cowen, Rappé and Glazer)
•
Center for Microbial Oceanography: Research and Education (C-MORE) – NSF STC based at
UH (Karl, PI)
•
Department of Oceanography and SOEST, University of Hawaii Manoa
NSF
Potential instruments for connection at proposed
new Junction Boxe(s) connected to Node-1027
CORK-Associated
Non-CORK-Associated
•
Pressure sensors
•
ADCP
•
Temperature sensors
•
Seismometer
•
GeoMICROBE instrument sled •
Camera/Video
•
Experimental incubation system •
Sediment traps
•
Voltametry analyzer
•
CTD
•
UV-Fluorescence Biomass Sensor
CORK= Circulation Obviation Retrofit Kit
Illustration by James Provost; Wired Magazine (2011)
2008 & 2009
1025C
~67 km
1x high integrity sample
each year, split between
chem and micro
1026B
2.215 km
1027C
1.077 km
2.479 km
1301A
1301B
2010
1025C
~67 km
Multiple large volume,
high integrity samples
split between chem and
micro
1026B
2.215 km
1027C
1.077 km
2.479 km
1301A
1301B
2011
1025C
~67 km
1026B
0.233 km
1362A
2.215 km
2.313 km
0.311 km
1362B
2.339 km
0.553 km
2.479 km
1301A
1027C
CORK Characteristics
2011
1025C
~67 km
Multiple large volume,
high integrity samples
split between chem and
micro
1026B
0.233 km
1362A
2.215 km
2.313 km
0.311 km
1362B
2.339 km
0.553 km
2.479 km
1301A
1027C
DOC removal with time
& 1362 A,B
Crustal fluids
Lin et al., 2012