Adaptations of Organisms at the Sulfide- and Methane-Containing Hydrothermal Areas of Deception Island, Antarctica

费尔贝克欺骗岛（英语：Felbeck Deception Island）是位于南极洲南设得兰群岛的一个火山口。 最近的一次喷发发生在1970年代，在火山口和其他各种结构中形成了新的岛屿。 它拥有许多温泉和淹没在破火山口和潮间带的洞穴。 硫化物和甲烷是流出的沃茨中的主要化学物质。 破火山口的细菌密度达到异常高的值，可能是由于减少化学品作为能源的输入。 泉水周围的环境类似于热液喷口，那里的整个群落都是基于热沃茨的化学能输入。 与热液喷口环境的相似之处包括温泉周围的沃茨较冷，导致距离下一个温水栖息地较远，而且缺乏外部食物来源。 后者是由于欺骗岛冬季的冰层覆盖以及喷口处距离真光层较远。 这些参数促进了支持生命的替代方式的进化，例如建立细菌共生。 这个探索性研究项目的小额赠款将集中在欺骗岛周围的暖泉的存在与化能自养共生体的海洋无脊椎动物的检查。 将绘制任何淹没在水中的洞穴以及潮间带的温泉和温泉的地图。 如果动物被发现附近的洞穴或在温泉，标本将被收集。 将使用酶试验实验孵育来分析代谢途径和显微镜检查，检查采集的标本中是否存在化能自养细菌以及对热硫化物和甲烷富集环境的其他适应性。

9811427 Felbeck Deception Island is a flooded caldera in the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica. The most recent eruption was in the 1970s causing the formation of new islands in the caldera and various other structures. It harbors many hot springs and fumaroles submerged in the caldera and intertidally. Sulfide and methane are prominent chemicals in the outflowing waters. Bacterial densities in the caldera reach unusually high values probably due to the input of reduced chemicals as energy sources. The environment around the springs resembles that found at hydrothermal vents where whole communities are based on the input of chemical energy by the hot waters. Similarities to hydrothermal vent environments include cold waters surrounding the hot springs resulting in large distances to the next warm water habitat and a lack of external food sources. The latter is due to ice cover during winter at Deception Island and the large distance to the euphotic zone at the vent sites. These parameters encourage the evolution of alternative ways to support life such as the establishment of a bacterial symbiosis. This Small Grant for Exploratory Research project will focus on an examination of the warm springs around Deception Island for the presence of marine invertebrates with chemoautotrophic symbionts. Maps will be made of any submerged fumaroles and of warm and hot springs in the intertidal zone. If animals are found near the fumaroles or in the hot springs, specimens will be collected. Collected specimens will be examined for the presence of chemoautotrophic bacteria and other adaptations to a hot sulfide- and methane-rich environment using enzyme text experimental incubations to analyze metabolic pathways and microscopic examination.