@article {Meyer2013,
	title = {{Microbiological characterization of post-eruption {\textquotedblleft}snowblower{\textquotedblright} vents at Axial Seamount, Juan de Fuca Ridge}},
	journal = {Frontiers in Microbiology},
	volume = {4},
	year = {2013},
	pages = {153},
	abstract = {Microbial processes within the subseafloor can be examined during the ephemeral and uncommonly observed phenomena known as snowblower venting. Snowblowers are characterized by the large quantity of white floc that is expelled from the seafloor following mid-ocean ridge eruptions. During these eruptions, rapidly cooling lava entrains seawater and hydrothermal fluids enriched in geochemical reactants, creating a natural bioreactor that supports a subseafloor microbial {\textquotedblleft}bloom.{\textquotedblright} Previous studies hypothesized that the eruption-associated floc was made by sulfide-oxidizing bacteria; however, the microbes involved were never identified. Here we present the first molecular analysis combined with microscopy of microbial communities in snowblower vents from samples collected shortly after the 2011 eruption at Axial Seamount, an active volcano on the Juan de Fuca Ridge. We obtained fluid samples and white flocculent material from active snowblower vents as well as orange flocculent material found on top of newly formed lava flows. Both flocculent types revealed diverse cell types and particulates when examined by phase contrast and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Distinct archaeal and bacterial communities were detected in each sample type through Illumina tag sequencing of 16S rRNA genes and through sequencing of the sulfide oxidation gene, soxB. In fluids and white floc, the dominant bacteria were sulfur-oxidizing Epsilonproteobacteria and the dominant archaea were thermophilic Methanococcales. In contrast, the dominant organisms in the orange floc were Gammaproteobacteria and Thaumarchaeota Marine Group I. In all samples, bacteria greatly outnumbered archaea. The presence of anaerobic methanogens and microaerobic Epsilonproteobacteria in snowblower communities provides evidence that these blooms are seeded by subseafloor microbes, rather than from microbes in bottom seawater. These eruptive events thus provide a unique opportunity to observe subseafloor microbial communities.},
	keywords = {ROV Jason (Remotely Operated Vehicle)},
	doi = {10.3389/fmicb.2013.00153},
	author = {Meyer, J L and Akerman, N H and Proskurowski, G and Huber, J A}
}
@article {Lang2012,
	title = {{Microbial utilization of abiogenic carbon and hydrogen in a serpentinite-hosted system}},
	journal = {Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta},
	volume = {92},
	year = {2012},
	pages = {82{\textendash}99},
	abstract = {Mantle rocks exposed on the seafloor constitute a highly reactive chemical and thermal system, in which interaction with seawater to produce serpentinite has major consequences for lithospheric cooling, global geochemical cycles, and microbial activity. Serpentinite-hosted hydrothermal activity is exemplified by the Lost City Hydrothermal Field (30{\textdegree}N, Mid-Atlantic Ridge) where fluid{\textendash}rock reactions in the underlying ultramafic rocks result in high concentrations of abiotic hydrogen, methane, C2+ alkanes, and formate. Such systems have been proposed as possible analogs to the Early Earth environments that gave rise to the first biochemical pathways. Thus, characterizing the local microbial communities and their potential link with abiogenic compounds is of particular significance. Here we demonstrate that in active carbonate chimneys where microbial sulfate reduction is important, up to 50{\%} of the microbial biomass is synthesized from mantle carbon. Conversely, mantle carbon contributes only \~{}10{\%} of the biomass in areas with minimal sulfate reduction. We attribute this difference to greater incorporation of formate or methane by the dominant microbial species, the Lost City Methanosarcinales, in locations where sulfate reducers are able to facilitate this assimilation. The ability of autotrophic communities at Lost City to capitalize on the steady stream of chemical products resulting from serpentinization reactions and to utilize abiogenic mantle carbon lend credence to the hypothesis that early biosynthetic pathways could have developed in similar environments.},
	keywords = {HOV Alvin (Human Occupied Vehicle)},
	doi = {10.1016/j.gca.2012.06.006},
	url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.gca.2012.06.006},
	author = {Lang, S Q and Fruh-Green, G L and Bernasconi, S M and Lilley, M D and Proskurowski, G and Mehay, S and Butterfield, D A}
}
