CENTER for DARK ENERGY BIOSPHERE INVESTIGATIONS

C-DEBI Newsletter – October 16, 2019

C-DEBI Newsletter – October 16, 2019
This newsletter is also accessible via our website.
 

 

Publications

Deep Carbon: Past to Present
Biogeography, Ecology, and Evolution of Deep Life – NEW!
Cara Magnabosco*, Jennifer F. Biddle, Charles S. Cockell, Sean P. Jungbluth, Katrina I. Twing
*C-DEBI Contribution 444

Recent advances in nucleic acid extraction and sequencing have changed and expanded our understanding of the diversity of life in the terrestrial and marine subsurface. This chapter highlights recent developments in sequencing genetic material from the deep biosphere (spurred in part by the Census of Deep Life) and new bioinformatics approaches to present a synthesis of our current understanding of the biogeography of life in the deep biosphere. Building from this data framework, this chapter also explores emerging trends in understanding the ecology and evolution of subsurface life.

Deep Carbon: Past to Present
Energy Limits for Life in the Subsurface – NEW!
Douglas E. LaRowe*, Jan P. Amend*
*C-DEBI Contribution 453

Recent studies reveal that life in the terrestrial and marine subsurface exists on far less energy flux than is commonly understood from laboratory incubations with isolated organisms. This has profound implications for understanding the development of life on Earth, as well as for the search for life in the universe. Similarly, several recent research efforts have also addressed other limits to life, such as high temperature. This chapter presents an overview of the current understanding of the energetic limits of life on Earth.

Deep Carbon: Past to Present
Carbon in the Deep Biosphere – NEW!
Susan Q. Lang*, Magdalena R. Osburn, Andrew D. Steen*
*C-DEBI Contribution 475

Building on the synthesis of carbon reservoirs in Earth's subsurface, this chapter focuses on the forms, cycling, and fate of the carbon supporting microbial life in the terrestrial and marine subsurface. As the subsurface is estimated to host a vast reservoir of life on Earth, identifying the carbon compounds that life uses for energy and growth is key to understanding ecosystem functioning in the past and at present, and also for extrapolating these findings to the search for life in the universe. This chapter highlights advances in quantifying small carbon compounds, measuring rates of carbon turnover, and the fate of carbon in the deep biosphere.

Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems
Subseafloor fluid and chemical fluxes along a buried‐basement ridge on the eastern flank of the Juan de Fuca Ridge – NEW!
Samuel M. Hulme, Charles Geoffrey Wheat*
*C-DEBI Contribution 488

Hydrothermal circulation of low temperature fluids within oceanic crust affects global biogeochemical cycles. We present data from a warm temperature (64°C) hydrothermal system on the eastern flank of the Juan de Fuca Ridge to assess whether chemical fluxes to the ocean from these systems arise from the basaltic crust or the overlying sediment pore waters. Extensive sampling of this system included fluid chemical data from deep sea drilling, gravity coring, and submersible operations from five sites on a buried ridge that is parallel to the spreading center to the west. These data were subjected to a transport (advection‐diffusion) model to constrain chemical and fluid fluxes along this five‐site transect. Solutes (K, Cl, sulfate, Ba, Sr, Cs, Mo, and Y) that are non reactive within the basaltic crust constrain the volumetric fluid flux per unit width within the basaltic crust from 0.05 to 0.2 m3 y‐1 cm‐1, consistent with a recent tracer study. Using this average fluid flux, reactive fluxes were determined for twenty‐four solutes and partitioned among seawater, sediment and basaltic sources and sinks. Only Ca, Ce, and Gd were released from basaltic basement to the ocean, whereas other solutes (sulfate, Mg, K, Li, Rb, Cd, U, Y, Yb, Gd, and La) were consumed in the basaltic crust, and still others (Cl, Ba, Sr, Cs, Mo, Mn, Fe, Co, NH3, and Zn) had a sediment origin with a net flux to the ocean. Diffusive exchange with the overlying sediment had a greater impact than seawater‐basalt reactions for some solutes.

Environmental Microbiology
Genome‐resolved metagenomics and metatranscriptomics reveal niche differentiation in functionally redundant microbial communities at deep‐sea hydrothermal vents – NEW!
David Galambos, Rika E. Anderson*, Julie Reveillaud, Julie A. Huber*
*C-DEBI Contribution 492

The structure and function of microbial communities inhabiting the subseafloor near hydrothermal systems are influenced by fluid geochemistry, geologic setting, and fluid flux between vent sites, as well as biological interactions. Here we used genome‐resolved metagenomics and metatranscriptomics to examine patterns of gene abundance and expression and assess potential niche differentiation in microbial communities in venting fluids from hydrothermal vent sites at the Mid‐Cayman Rise. We observed similar patterns in gene and transcript abundance between two geochemically distinct vent fields at the community level, but found that each vent site harbors a distinct microbial community with differing transcript abundances for individual microbial populations. Through an analysis of metabolic pathways in 64 metagenome‐assembled genomes (MAGs), we show that MAG transcript abundance can be tied to differences in metabolic pathways and to potential metabolic interactions between microbial populations, allowing for niche‐partitioning and divergence in both population distribution and activity. Our results illustrate that most microbial populations have a restricted distribution within the seafloor, and that the activity of those microbial populations is tied to both genome content and abiotic factors.

 

 
 
 
Have an upcoming manuscript about the deep subseafloor biosphere and want to increase your press coverage? NSF's Office of Legislative and Public Affairs is looking to coordinate press releases between your home institution and the NSF to coincide with the date of publication. Please contact us as soon as your publication is accepted!

Calls for Papers for a PLOS Cross-Journal Collection – NEW!
The study of life in extreme environments is a highly interdisciplinary subject, which helps further the understanding of the biological and biogeochemical processes taking place in various environments on the Earth generally considered hostile to life. Life in extreme environments tells us about the limits of life, and in turn, about the possibility of life beyond the Earth. PLOS ONE and PLOS Biology are delighted to announce a Call for Papers on the topic of Life in Extreme Environments, bringing together studies from different disciplines such as biosciences, geosciences, planetary sciences, oceanography and related disciplines in order to shed light on this crucial topic, and to present this research to the broad readership of PLOS ONE and PLOS Biology. This interdisciplinary topic helps us better understand the biodiversity of life on Earth, and the biological processes, geochemistry and nutrient cycling taking place in many of the Earth’s most inhospitable environments, and enables us to make inferences about the potential for life beyond the Earth. Microorganisms and other life in extreme environments are fundamental agents of geochemical and nutrient cycling, in many of the most poorly understood environments on the Earth. A particular set of challenges is present when studying extreme environments, such as the problem of detecting small cell numbers and slow metabolisms, as well as contamination and false positives introduced during sampling and analysis. We particularly welcome submissions with a strong interdisciplinary focus, and papers seeking to improve methodology for sampling and characterizing extreme environments. The submission deadline for this Collection has been extended to October 25, 2019.

 

Meetings & Activities

Networked Speaker Series Seminar, Thursday, November 7, 2019, 12:30pm PST – NEW!
With Dr. James Bradley, Queen Mary University of London on “The power of microbial life in marine sediments.” Abstract: Marine sediments harbor more than half of all microbial cells in the ocean, many of which have been shown to survive for millennia – calling into question the limit for life. The energy turnover, i.e. power, of subseafloor microorganisms sets a limit on gene expression, mutation rates, and the survival of rare and novel taxa. However outside of measurements, laboratory experiments and modelling from specific sites, the power of subsurface life is virtually unknown. Here, we simultaneously quantify the distribution, rate and thermodynamic properties of particulate organic carbon degradation, as well as the global distribution of cells, and electron acceptors. Based on these factors, we estimate cell-specific power utilization in all Quaternary sediments. We report extreme and widespread energy-limitation in subseafloor sediments: >80% of cells subsist at powers that are less than the lowest energy flux calculated for any microbial habitat previously. Furthermore, we find global delineation of major subsurface metabolic zones, with stepwise decreases in per-cell power utilization following the redox state of the sediment. We assert that sediments should be considered as critical to understanding the cell-specific minimum power requirement for survival, as well as to predict the habitable boundaries of life on Earth.

Missed the last seminar with Dr. Jessica Labonté on “You are what you eat: a geochemical and microbial study of a 3000-year old stratigraphic sediment succession”? Watch it on YouTube.

IODP-USSSP: Workshop on Demystifying the IODP Proposal Process for Early Career Scientists, February 17-20, 2020
The deadline to submit an application is October 18, 2019.

Goldschmidt 2020: Call for Session Proposals, Honolulu, HI, June 21-26
Session Proposal Deadline: October 18, 2019.

IODP: Submit an IODP Workshop Proposal
The submission deadline is December 1, 2019.

Ongoing Activities:

 

Education & Outreach

IODP: Expedition 385 Guaymas Basin Cruise Blog
Follow along on IODP Expedition 385 “Guaymas Basin Tectonics and Deep Biosphere” with the cruise blog of Andreas Teske, co-chief scientist and professor in the Department of Marine Sciences at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. This expedition will explore the most famous ocean spreading center in the Gulf of California, Guaymas Basin, by drilling a Northwest-to-Southeast transect across its flanking regions and axial valley.  Look for expedition updates and images from the drill ship, the JOIDES Resolution, and for background on this expedition, deep earth science, hydrothermal vents, seafloor spreading in action, and subsurface microbiology and geochemistry. Take this opportunity to follow an exciting expedition probing the inner workings of an active seafloor spreading center!

 

Proposal Calls

NSF: Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP)
Application deadlines October 21-25, 2019 and October 19-23, 2020.

NSF: Accelerating Research through International Network-to-Network Collaborations (AccelNet)
Letter of intent due date: October 30, 2019.

NASA: Postdoctoral Program Opportunities
Please contact Associate Director Julie Huber (jhuber@whoi.edu, @JulesDeep) to discuss your interest studying the marine deep biosphere as an analog for life on ocean worlds. Fellowship applications due Nov 1, 2019.

NSF: Postdoctoral Research Fellowships in Biology (PRFB)
Proposal deadline November 19, 2019.

NSF: Research Traineeship (NRT) Program
Next letter of intent window: November 25, 2019 – December 6, 2019.

IODP: Apply to sail: Expedition 392 Agulhas Plateau Cretaceous Climate
The deadline to apply is December 2, 2019.

IODP-USSSP: Schlanger Ocean Drilling Fellowships – NEW!
The Schlanger Ocean Drilling Fellowship Program offers merit-based awards for graduate students enrolled in a Ph.D. program to conduct research related to the International Ocean Discovery Program. The Fellowship year begins in either June or August (summer or fall semester) and runs one year. During the following summer, at the conclusion of the fellowship, Schlanger Fellows may attend a meeting of the U.S. Advisory Committee for Scientific Ocean Drilling (USAC) to present the initial results of their research and take part in U.S. Science Support Program-related activities. Fellowship awards are $30,000 for a 12-month period and are made to the fellow’s home institution. The entire amount is intended to be applied to the research project, student stipend, tuition, benefits, and, if necessary, related travel. No part of the award is to be used to cover institutional overhead, administrative costs, or permanent equipment. Award start dates can be negotiated on an individual basis—but in general are based on the academic year and following summer. The deadline for submission is December 6, 2019.

Rolling Calls:

 

Employment

Oklahoma State U: Tenure-Track Assistant Professor – Hydrogeochemistry/Low Temperature Geochemistry – NEW!
The Boone Pickens School of Geology at Oklahoma State University invites applications for a tenure-track, assistant professor position in hydrogeochemistry/low temperature geochemistry. The anticipated start date is August 1, 2020. The successful applicant should have a PhD degree in geosciences or related field at the time of appointment. Postdoctoral experience is preferred. We seek an individual with outstanding research and teaching capabilities who uses field and laboratory approaches to assess geochemical or biogeochemical processes that affect aqueous environments. Areas of interest may include geochemical/biogeochemical characterization of surface/subsurface aqueous systems, the influence of human activities on groundwater resources, and produced or high salinity waters. Screening of candidates will begin on October 15, 2019 and will continue until the position is filled.

Stanford: Science Fellows program – NEW!
Stanford Science Fellowships are intended for exceptional early career scientists with great promise who have recently been awarded their PhD (within three years of  starting fellowship, but with no more than two years of prior postdoctoral experience) or will be awarded their PhD by the start of the fellowship. Candidates are sought who intend to pursue experimental and/or theoretical research in any natural science discipline. Fellows will hold primary appointments in an academic unit in any participating school appropriate to their research interests. Successful candidates will have a strong record of scientific achievement, clear intellectual drive to advance scientific understanding, and a commitment to engage collaboratively with a diverse community of scholars and transcend traditional disciplinary boundaries. Eight to ten fellows will be selected to start appointments between July 1 and September 1, 2020. International scholars are eligible to apply. Applications must be submitted by November 1, 2019.

UofSC: Tenure-track Assistant Professor in Marine Population Dynamics in a Changing Climate – NEW!
The School of the Earth, Ocean and Environment at the University of South Carolina seeks applications for a tenure-track faculty position at the rank of Assistant Professor in the area of Marine Population Dynamics in a Changing Climate. The nine-month academic appointment will commence on August 16, 2020. We invite candidates who will apply observational and/or quantitative modeling approaches to study the responses of marine populations to changes in ecosystem conditions at a regional scale. Topics could include, but are not limited to, research that considers relationships among marine ecosystems (including their productivity, resilience, distribution, and composition), physical climate stressors, effects of coastal development, or living marine resource availability. The new faculty member will complement existing expertise in the SEOE addressing adjustment of marine biological resources to various future climate scenarios. The successful candidate will teach undergraduate and graduate courses and direct a vigorous, externally funded research program. Teaching responsibilities will include undergraduate courses in the areas of marine science and/or fisheries, as well as upper-level undergraduate and graduate-level courses in the candidate’s area of specialization. The position will remain open until filled, and the search committee will begin reviewing applications on November 6, 2019.

UofSC: Tenure-track Assistant Professor in Marine Microbial Ecology – NEW!
The School of the Earth, Ocean, and Environment (SEOE) invites applications for a tenure-track, Assistant Professor position in Marine Microbial Ecology beginning August 16, 2020. We seek an individual with outstanding research and teaching capabilities, with broad interests that are likely to include – but are not limited to – one or more of the following areas:  microbial community structure and functional diversity, microbial roles in biogeochemical cycles, and/or microbial food web dynamics. The successful candidate will complement, strengthen, and diversify the School’s research program in marine science, will teach undergraduate and graduate courses, and will direct an active, externally funded research program. Teaching responsibilities will include an undergraduate core course in marine science, as well as upper-level undergraduate and graduate-level courses related to the candidate’s specialty. Review of complete applications will begin November 6, 2019.

NSF: Marine Geosciences Section, Science Assistants – NEW!
The Marine Geosciences Section is looking to hire two new Science Assistants, one for the Marine Geology and Geophysics (MGG) Program and one for the Chemical Oceanography (CO) Program. The Science Assistant will work with either the MGG Program Officers or the CO Program Officers, as well as others in the Division of Ocean Sciences, providing service of value to the Programs and simultaneously developing an understanding of key aspects of the science and engineering enterprise that will be valuable to a future professional scientific career. Science Assistants help to manage the Program’s merit review process and award oversight activities, as well as participate in other developmental assignments including report preparation, working with other parts of NSF and other government agencies, and exchanging information with the scientific research community. Please pass the word along to students or others who might be interested. The ideal candidate will have a Master’s or Bachelor’s degree in marine geosciences or marine biogeochemistry. Backgrounds in other fields of ocean sciences or earth sciences will also be considered. The preferred start date is January 2020, and the position will be for a maximum duration of two years. Statements of interest will be accepted until November 15, 2019. 

Dalhousie U: 2020 Killam Postdoctoral Program – NEW!
The Department of Earth and Environmental Science at Dalhousie University invites applications for the Izaak Walton Killam Postdoctoral Fellowships.  Dalhousie University awards annually approximately 5 new fellowships in all disciplines to Canadian or International scholars of superior academic research ability, who have not obtained their PhD degree from Dalhousie, and have obtained their degrees no earlier than Jan 1, 2018. The Department has a long history of demonstrated excellence in research and teaching, with a current emphasis on marine geology/geophysics, petroleum systems, tectonics, high temperature geochemistry/experimental petrology, earth surface processes, environment and human health, and environmental action research. It hosts various analytical and experimental facilities including the newly-established National Seismic Imaging Facility, recently upgraded and expanded facilities for cosmogenic isotope sample preparation, and a new stable isotope biogeochemistry laboratory (Facilities & Laboratories list). The main campus is situated in Halifax – a city known for its youthful spirit, rich history, and scenic waterfront. Information about the Earth and Environmental Sciences department, current faculty, and research and teaching programmes can be found at here. Killam Postdoctoral Fellowships are tenable for two years and currently valued at $55,000 annually including full benefits and a travel allowance for transportation to and from Halifax, a one-time research allowance ($3,000) and a conference travel grant ($1,000). In preparing the research proposal, applicants are expected to discuss potential research projects with the Faculty members in their area of research interest. All documents arranged by the applicant must be forwarded as both an electronic copy and as a hard copy. The application deadline is December 16, 2019.

WWU: Assistant Professor in Marine Molecular Biology

COL: Program Specialist, Ocean Exploration and Research

MSU: Postdoctoral Positions in the Department of Microbiology & Immunology

MBL: Computational Postdoctoral Scientist

DRI: Postdoctoral Fellow, Microbial Ecology: Genomes to Phenomes

UH Manoa: Assistant Researcher (Theoretical Ecologist)

 

 
 
 
Don’t forget to email me with any items you'd like to share in future newsletters! We will also broadcast this information on our social media outlets, Twitter and Facebook. You are what makes our deep biosphere community!

 

Best, 
 
Matt
 
— 
Matthew Janicak
Data Manager
Center for Dark Energy Biosphere Investigations (C-DEBI)
University of Southern California
janicak@usc.edu
3616 Trousdale Pkwy, AHF 209, Los Angeles, CA 90089-0371
Phone: 708-691-9563, Fax: 213-740-2437
Exploring life beneath the seafloor and making transformative discoveries that advance science, benefit society, and inspire people of all ages and origins.

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