Biosignatures in precipitates and altered rocks at hydrothermal systems of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge: organic geochemistry, microbiology and petrography

拟议的研究旨在深入了解chemolithoautotrophic生活相关的热液沉淀物和岩石相结合的信息，从详细的organicgeochemical，微生物和矿物学/岩相学调查相同的样品。重点有三个目标：（i）描述热液沉淀物和蚀变岩石中微生物群落的组成和特定生物标志物清单;（ii）将这些发现与基质特征（矿物组合、地球化学、孔隙度）联系起来;（iii）深入了解岩石伴生物的代谢及其对沉淀-蚀变-风化的可能影响。设想通过调查来自沿着MAR的各种热液区的现场样品和体外培养物，制定不同微生物群的脂质生物标志物特征清单。因此，要建立一个工具，允许定性和半定量估计的微生物协会在热液岩脂质生物标志物的调查结合化合物的稳定同位素特征的具体分析。

The proposed study aims to gain insight into the chemolithoautotrophic life associated to hydrothermal precipitates and rocks by combining the information from detailed organicgeochemical, microbiological, and mineralogical/petrographical investigations on identical samples. Three goals are in focus (i) to describe the composition and specific biomarker inventory of the microbial community present in hydrothermal precipitates and altered rocks (ii) to relate these findings to the characteristics of the substrate (mineral assemblage, geochemistry, porosity) (iii) to obtain insight into the metabolism of rock associates and their possible effect on precipitation - alteration - weathering. It is envisaged to develop an inventory of lipid biomarkers characteristic for the distinct groups of microbiota by investigation of field samples from a variety of hydrothermal areas along the MAR and in vitro cultures. Thus, a tool is to be established allowing for a qualitative and semi-quantitative estimation of microbial associations in hydrothermal rocks by lipid biomarker investigation combined with compound specific analysis of stable isotope signatures.