CIMRS Researchers Discover Burgeoning Life Amidst Acidic Environments at Deep Sea Volcano Eruptions

Comprehending how life may have begun amidst uncertain conditions associated with big bang theories has always been challenging - but our own deep ocean may harbor important clues. The National Science Foundation recently funded the return of researchers from the Cooperative Institute for Marine Resources Studies (CIMRS) at Oregon State University to study the NW Rota-1, an active submarine volcano in the Mariana Arc near the Island of Guam. They found that the volcano has grown considerably during the past three years, and its unique biological community is thriving despite ongoing eruptive activity. The unusual ecosystem includes shrimp, crab, limpets and barnacles, some of which are new species. Dives with a robotic underwater vehicle discovered that the volcano had built a new cone that is as tall as a 12-story building and as wide as a full city block since they last visited the site, said Bill Chadwick, a CIMRS researcher and Chief Scientist on the expedition. At the same time, the number and types of animals living at seafloor hot springs near the eruptive vent has also dramatically increased. Scientists think there is a direct connection between the two. "Life here," Chadwick said, "is actually nourished by the erupting volcano." Other CIMRS personnel on the NW Rota 2009 included Susan Merle, Andra Bobbitt, Ron Greene, and Leigh Evans, who maintained a cruise blog to document their discoveries.

Background: The new studies show that NW Rota-1 is a one-of-a-kind natural laboratory for the investigation of undersea volcanic activity and its relation to chemical-based ecosystems at hydrothermal vents where life on Earth may have originated. When volcanoes erupt in shallow water they can be extremely hazardous, creating huge explosions and even tsunamis. But here, for the first time, scientists can safely observe an eruption in the deep ocean and directly observe how hot lava and seawater interact.

Significance: One aspect that is of particular interest is that the eruption of volcanic gases make the surrounding area extremely acidic - more acidic than stomach acid - which is another challenge for biological communities living nearby. Ocean acidification is a serious concern because of human-induced carbon dioxide accumulating in the atmosphere. Submarine volcanoes are places where we can study how marine animals have adapted to very acidic conditions. This activity supports NOAA Mission Goal 1 - Protect, Restore, and Manage the Use of Coastal and Ocean Resources.