In her third talk, Dr. Huber describes how a method known as RNA stable isotope probing (SIP) was used to characterize the metabolically active autotrophic microbes at an underwater vent at Axial Seamount. Dr. Huber’s group found that temperature influences the metabolic pathways, including the carbon fixation pathways, used by different organisms collected at the same vent. In addition, Dr. Huber’s group compared microbial activity across three vents and found that all three have different microbes that are active in a similar temperature environment. These findings suggest that subseafloor microbes prefer some environments over others and use different metabolic pathways in different environmental contexts.
View the full talk with additional resources on our website
Deep Sea Life: Studying Subseafloor Microbes
Julie Huber describes her research to better understand the microbes that dominate deep sea life in the rocky crust below the ocean floor. (Talk recorded in July 2018)
- Part 1: Microbes, Fluids, and RocksAudience:
- Student
- Researcher
- Educators of H. School / Intro Undergrad
- Educators of Adv. Undergrad / Grad
Duration: 00:16:18 - Part 2: Subseafloor Life at Axial SeamountAudience:
- Researcher
- Educators of H. School / Intro Undergrad
- Educators of Adv. Undergrad / Grad
Duration: 00:24:30 - Part 3: Combining Stable Isotopes and Sequencing to Understand Subseafloor LifeAudience:
- Researcher
- Educators of Adv. Undergrad / Grad
Duration: 00:15:48