Tag: Biodiversity in hot springs

Reports

Biodiversity in the hot springs at Krafla and Námafjall

Published:

01/02/2008

Authors:

Sólveig K. Pétursdóttir, Snædís Björnsdóttir, Sólveig Ólafsdóttir, Guðmundur Óli Hreggviðsson

Supported by:

National Energy Authority

Contact

Guðmundur Óli Hreggviðsson

Strategic Scientist

gudmundo@matis.is

Biodiversity in the hot springs at Krafla and Námafjall

This study of ecosystems in hot springs in the thermal areas at Krafla and Námafjall is the fourth phase of the project on ecosystems in thermal areas in Iceland, which is part of the Framework Plan for the utilization of hydropower and geothermal energy in high-temperature areas. Results from similar studies in the Hengill area (2005), Torfajökull area (2006) and Krísuvík (2007) have already been submitted. A total of about 20 samples of liquid, soil or biomass were taken and the species composition was analyzed in 13 of them by partial differentiation of 16S rRNA. The predominant species in the Krafla samples were primitive and chemically active of the divisions Aquificae and β-Proteobacteria. Samples from Jarðbaðshólar were more diverse and were divided into the divisions Actinobacteria, Acidobacteria, Firmicutes, photosynthetic Cyanobacteria and Deinococcus-Thermus. Given the diversity of samples and sampling sites, it was not surprising that species composition varied. Most of the species found are also found in other hot springs in the world. New bacterial species were found in several samples, including the primitive Hydrogenobacter species in a sample from wastewater from a separation station at Krafla. In addition, two new species of β-proteobacteria were found. Three new species of γProteobacteria were found, one in Grjótagjá, another in a soil sample by the steam eye in Jarðbaðshólar and the third in a drainage stream in Krafla. A new species of the Meiothermus genus was found in Jarðbaðshólar and finally one distant (92%) Thermus species. One closely related species (≥98%) species Thermus aquaticus was found in a sample of the Krafla area, but this species has been considered endemic in the United States. Biodiversity in the samples was estimated to be in the range of 1.0 - 5.8 on a scale of 1-10, but it is common for the value to be in the range of 1-2 in samples from peripheral ecosystems where the environmental impact is high. The value was very low in several samples in the study, or 1.04 in a soil sample from Suðurhlíðar Krafla, 1.2 in a liquid sample from a drainage stream in Krafla, 1.0 in a clay spring at Víti and 1.1 in a liquid sample from the Blue Lagoon in Bjarnarflag. Biodiversity was considerably higher in samples from Grjótagjá (3,4) and Jarðbaðshólar (4,8-5,2), which is not surprising as environmental conditions were more favorable for more species. Hot water samples were scanned for 72 elements (ICP_MS). It is hoped that in the future it will be possible to link elemental measurements with results from species composition in samples.

This project on microbial diversity in hot springs in the Krafla and Namafjall geothermal areas is within the Framework of Utilization of Geothermal power of high temperature geothermal areas in Iceland. Other areas studied so far are the Hengill area (2005), Torfajökull area (2006) and Krísuvik area (2007). Twenty samples were taken from liquid, soil or biomass. Partial sequencing of 16S rRNA genes from the samples was used to estimate species composition in the samples. Species composition was estimated in 13 samples. Dominating species within the Krafla samples were chemolithoautotrophic species of Aquificae and β-Proteobacteria phyla. In Jarðbaðshólar samples, the species were more diverse and belonged to the Actinobacteria, Acidobacteria, Firmicutes, Cyanobacteria and Deinococcus-Thermus phyla. This was not surprising as sample types and sample sites were diverse in character. Most species found in this study were known from other geothermal areas in the world. Novel species were found in several samples: A chemolithoautotrophic Hydrogenobacter species was found in an effluent from the powerplant in Krafla. Two new species of β-Proteobacteria were also found in the samples. Three novel species of γ-Proteobacteria were found, one in Grjótagjá, one in Jarðbaðshólar and one in the Krafla effluent. A novel species of the genus of Meiothermus was found in Jarðbaðshólar. Finally one species, a distant (92%) relative of Thermus spp. A close (≥ 98%) relative of Thermus aquaticus was found in one sample from the Krafla area, but this species has hitherto been confined to the USA. A biodiversity index of the samples was calculated between 1.0-5.8, but a value of 1-2 is common in samples from extreme ecosystems were environmental pressure is high. This value was quite low in several samples ie 1,04 in a soil sample from the southern hills of Krafla, 1,2 in a liquid sample from the Krafla effluent, 1,0 in a geothermal mudsample from Víti and 1,1 from a liquid sample from the Blue Lagoon in Bjarnarflag. Calculated biodiversity index in samples from Grjótagja and Jarðbaðshólar was considerably higher which is not surprising as environmental conditions were favorable to a higher number of species. Water samples from hot springs were scanned semi quantitatively for 72 elements and analyzed with ICP-MS. In the future we hope to be able to connect data from element analysis to results of species composition.

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Reports

Biodiversity in hot springs in Krísuvík and Gunnuhver in Reykjanes: Research carried out due to the Framework Plan for the utilization of geothermal energy in high-temperature areas

Published:

01/08/2007

Authors:

Sólveig K. Pétursdóttir, Sólveig Ólafsdóttir, Steinunn Magnúsdóttir, Guðmundur Óli Hreggviðsson

Contact

Steinunn Ásbjörg Magnúsdóttir

Project Manager

steinunn.magnusdottir@matis.is

Biodiversity in hot springs in Krísuvík and Gunnuhver in Reykjanes: Research carried out due to the Framework Plan for the utilization of geothermal energy in high-temperature areas

This study of the ecosystem in the hot springs in the Krísuvík area is the third biota assessment carried out within the Framework Program, but the first two dealt with the ecosystem in the hot springs in the Hengill area and in the Torfajökull area.

Emphasis was placed on the thermal area in Seltún, where sampling was joint with the geochemists of the Institute of Earth Sciences, which was the first step in an interdisciplinary approach to the subject, which is hoped for, but is still in its early stages. Other areas that were tried to explore were hot springs by Austurengjahver and the area by Gunnuhver in Reykjanes. The temperature in the hot springs in Seltún was in the range of 53-93 ° C and furthermore one soil sample was reported which was taken at a lower temperature or 34 ° C. The acidity of the hot springs in Seltún was in the range of pH 2.5-6. The temperature in the hot springs at Austurengjahver was between 50-75 ° C and the pH pH 2.4 - 4.3. The temperature in the hot springs at Gunnuhver was measured in the range of 70-90 ° C and the pH pH 3.8 - 4.2. A total of thirteen samples were taken in the above areas and DNA was successfully isolated from seven of them. DNA could not be extracted from the samples at Austurengjahver. Nucleic acid amplification of the 16S rRNA, a species-differentiating gene of the nuclear nucleus, was performed on six samples. Amplification was obtained from all these samples with specific real bacterial indicators, but three with ancient bacterial indicators.

A total of 304 sequences of real bacterial species were obtained in the area known as Seltún. These species are spread over 26 species which in turn are spread over 10 camps. The primitive species of the Aquificeae array house over 80% sequences and are therefore predominant in these samples and are primary producers in the ecosystems of the hot springs. Five species within this array were found in the samples from Seltún. Other species are mainly classified into different groups Proteobacteria (13%) but they are a very diverse group. Other species found are sparsely populated and less important here. A total of 81 sequences of ancient bacterial species were obtained from the Seltún area. Most of them or space 90% are classified as Thermoplasmatales within the Euryarchaeota class, but this is a heat and acid species. Other ancient bacteria in the samples in Seltún belong to the Chrenarchaeota group, mostly to the genus Desulfurococcales.

A total of 56 actual bacterial differentiations were obtained from the hot springs at Gunnuhver. The vast majority of them (about 70%) belong to the primitive class Aquificeae, but about 30% to different groups of Proteobacteria. The ancient bacteria in Gunnuhver are homogeneous as they are all of the genus Sulfolobales which is a very heat and acid group. 1 Overall, it can be said that the area around Seltún shows a typical pattern of a peripheral ecosystem where one species is predominant and other species are spread over various factions. The calculated biodiversity in the samples was relatively low or in the range of 1.0-2.0. For comparison, the same coefficient calculated for samples from the Torfajökull area and at Ölkelduháls was in the range of 1.1-4.7. The environmental conditions of temperature and acidity in Seltún and Gunnuhver are not on the edge, but it is likely that substances and compounds in the hot springs and clay can affect the diversity of the ecosystem, ie. which species get thrive and which do not.

Rare species that had only distant relatives in Genbank were found in the Seltún samples, among others. In most cases, however, there are only 1-2 representatives of the species in question. Most of these distantly related species were classified as Proteobacteria and Acidobacteria.

Matís - Prokaria will probably continue to work on sampling and species analysis in the Krísuvík area. The intention is to include these results in a final summary of the ecosystem in hot springs in Iceland in the last year of the Framework Program.

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