Abiotic redox reactions in hydrothermal mixing zones: Decreased energy availability for the subsurface biosphere
Jill M. McDermott, Sean P. Sylva, Shuhei Ono, Christopher R. German, Jeffrey S. Seewald
Abstract
Significance Hydrothermal fluid geochemistry exerts a key control on subseafloor microbial community structure and function. However, the effects of microbial metabolic activity, thermal decomposition of biomass, and abiotic reactions on geochemistry remain unconstrained. Depletions in molecular hydrogen and enrichments in methane in submarine hydrothermal mixing zones have been interpreted to reflect the influence of an active subseafloor biosphere. In contrast, our work reveals that these chemical shifts are driven by abiotic and thermogenic processes at temperatures beyond the limit for life. These findings have critical implications for constraining the extent to which global geochemical cycles can sustain a deep biosphere, and for the global molecular hydrogen budget.