Carbon and nitrogen isotopic composition of hot spring biofilms from Yellowstone

National Park

Joseph Murray

Mentor: Dr. Ariel Anbar

Astrobiology at Yellowstone National Park

• Yellowstone abounds with diverse hydrothermal ecosystems

• Provides an excellent opportunity to observe many unique organisms living in extreme habitats

• Unique chance to search for variations in the elemental requirements for life– Biological Stoichiometry

Jeff Havig, Ph.D. Candidate

What is a bioflim?

Isotope fractionation

H2O12C 12C

14N 15N

Nutrients

Bison Pool

Source Flow Direction

High Temperature Low Temperature

93º C 67º C 50º C

“Photosynthetic Fringe”

-25

-20

-15

-10

-5

0

50 60 70 80 90 100Temperature (C)

D13 C

fro

m D

IC (

‰)

2005 Biofilm

2006 Biofilm

Ph

oto

syn

thet

ic F

rin

ge

This plot shows the D13C (fractionation from DIC) values for biofilms from ‘Bison Pool’ collected in 2005 and 2006. The lines and arrows are put in place only as estimates of averages and to help illustrate the assumed trend in fractionation.

Carbon Cycling In Bison Pool: 2005-2006

(J. Havig, in prep.)

-25

-20

-15

-10

-5

0

50 60 70 80 90 100Temperature (C)

D13 C

fro

m D

IC (

‰)

2005 Biofilm

2006 Biofilm

Ph

oto

syn

thet

ic F

rin

ge

This plot shows the D13C (fractionation from DIC) values for biofilms from ‘Bison Pool’ collected in 2005, 2006 and 2007. The lines and arrows are put in place only as estimates of averages and to help illustrate the assumed trend in fractionation.

2007 Biofilm

Carbon Cycling In Bison Pool: 2005-2007

(J. Havig, in prep.)

-25

-20

-15

-10

-5

0

50 60 70 80 90 100Temperature (C)

D13 C

fro

m D

IC (

‰)

2005 Biofilm

2006 Biofilm

Ph

oto

syn

thet

ic F

rin

ge

This plot shows the D13C (fractionation from DIC) values for biofilms from ‘Bison Pool’ collected in 2005, 2006 and 2007. The lines and arrows are put in place only as estimates of averages and to help illustrate the assumed trend in fractionation.

2007 Biofilm

Carbon Cycling In Bison Pool: 2005-2007

(J. Havig, in prep.)

TCA

PEP

-2

0

2

4

6

8

10

50 60 70 80 90 100Temperature (oC)

d15 N

vs

air

(‰)

Grasses

Sinter SoilInsects

Sedges

Bison Exc.

Bison Fur

Soil

Ph

oto

syn

thet

ic F

rin

ge

2006 Biofilm

Nitrogen Cycling In Bison Pool: 2006

(J. Havig, in prep.)

Nitrogen Cycling In Bison Pool: 2006-2007

(J. Havig, in prep.)

-2

0

2

4

6

8

10

50 60 70 80 90 100Temperature (oC)

d15 N

vs

air

(‰)

Grasses

Sinter SoilInsects

Sedges

Bison Exc.

Bison Fur

Soil

Ph

oto

syn

thet

ic F

rin

ge

2006 Biofilm

2007 Biofilm

Year-to-year variability?

-2

0

2

4

6

8

10

50 60 70 80 90 100Temperature (oC)

d15 N

vs

air

(‰)

Bison Exc.

Soil

Ph

oto

syn

thet

ic F

rin

ge Spent Kleenex

Spring

-25

-20

-15

-10

-5

0

50 60 70 80 90 100Temperature (C)

D13 C

fro

m D

IC (

‰)

Ph

oto

syn

thet

ic F

rin

ge Octopus Spring

-2

0

2

4

6

8

10

50 60 70 80 90 100Temperature (oC)

d15 N

vs

air

(‰)

Bison Exc.

Soil

Ph

oto

syn

thet

ic F

rin

ge Octopus Spring

-25

-20

-15

-10

-5

0

50 60 70 80 90 100Temperature (C)

D13 C

fro

m D

IC (

‰)

Ph

oto

syn

thet

ic F

rin

ge Spent Kleenex

Spring

Bison vs. Spent Kleenex

Similar chemistry, similar isotopes

Bison vs. Octopus Spring

Similar chemistry, different isotopes

(J. Havig, in prep.)

Thank YouThank You

• Jeff HavigJeff Havig

• Dr. Ariel AnbarDr. Ariel Anbar

• Stephen RomanielloStephen Romaniello

• Dr. Achim HerrmannDr. Achim Herrmann

• Natasha ZolotovaNatasha Zolotova

• Dr. Everett ShockDr. Everett Shock