Interactions between temperature and energy supply drive microbial communities in hydrothermal sediment

Abstract

Lagostina et al. show that relative abundances of Bacteria and Archaea in sediments of Guaymas Basin, Gulf of California, are controlled by temperature, while energy flux explains microbial community structure at the phylum-level and below. Hot diffusion-dominated and energy-depleted sediments are dominated by taxa with relatives in cold subseafloor sediments, while hot sediments with high energy supply from fluid seepage are dominated by taxa also found at hydrothermal vents and in hot springs.