Deep-sea primary production at the Galapagos hydrothermal vents

Journal Article · Fri Mar 21 04:00:00 EST 1980 · Science; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1126/science.207.4437.1345· OSTI ID:5341819

Karl, D M ^[1]; Wirsen, C O; Jannasch, H W

---

1. Univ. of Hawaii, Honolulu

Dense animal populations surrounding recently discovered hydrothermal vents at the Galapagos Rift sea-floor spreading center, 2550 meters deep, are probably sustained by microbial primary production. Energy in the form of geothermically reduced sulfur compounds emitted from the vents is liberated during oxidation and used for the reduction of carbon dioxide to organic matter by chemosynthetic bacteria.

• OSTI ID: 5341819
• Journal Information: Science; (United States), Journal Name: Science; (United States) Vol. 207; ISSN SCIEA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
150202 -- Geology & Hydrology of Geothermal Systems-- Non-USA-- (-1989)
550700* -- Microbiology
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
ATP
BACTERIA
BIOSYNTHESIS
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON DIOXIDE
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
FOOD CHAINS
GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES
GEOTHERMAL SYSTEMS
HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
HYDROTHERMAL SYSTEMS
MICROORGANISMS
NUCLEOSIDES
NUCLEOTIDES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
OXIDATION
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PACIFIC OCEAN
PRODUCTION
PURINES
REDUCTION
RIBOSIDES
RIFT ZONES
SAMPLING
SEA BED
SEAS
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SURFACE WATERS
SYNTHESIS