Marine Hydrocarbon Seeps

This book provides an up-to-date overview of the microbiology, biogeochemistry, and ecology of marine hydrocarbon seeps, a globally occurring habitat for specialized microorganisms and invertebrates that depend on natural hydrocarbon seepage as a food and energy source. Prominent examples include the briny hydrocarbon seeps and mud volcanoes on the continental slope of the Gulf of Mexico and in the Mediterranean, the hydrothermally heated hydrocarbon seeps at Guaymas Basin (Mexico), and the oil and gas seeps off the coast of California and in the Gulf of Mexico. Featuring topical chapters by leading researchers in the area, the book describes geological settings, chemical characteristics of hydrocarbon seepage, hydrocarbon-dependent microbial populations, and ecosystem structure and trophic networks at hydrocarbon seeps. Further, it also discusses applied aspects such as bioremediation potential (oil-degrading microorganisms).

Contenu

Introduction.- Continental margin seepage and salt tectonics.- Biogeochemical PROCESSES.- Biogeochemistry of C,N,S at Gulf of Mexico hydrocarbon seeps.- Chemical fluxes at mud volcanoes (Haakon Mosby Mud Volcano).- Gas seepage into the water column.- Microbiology Overview.- The Census of Marine Microbial Life at cold seeps.- Microbial diversity patterns at cold seeps.- Lipid Biomarkers track cold seep biodiversity and trophic structure.- Methane.- Methane seepage and Methanotrophy in the Gulf of Mexico water column.- Methane hydrate stability and dissolution at Gulf of Mexico cold seeps.- Microbial Ecology of Mediterranean Mud Volcanoes (incl. ANME archaea).- In-situ gas measurements in the Gulf of Mexico.- Extinct Seeps: the microbiology of Pockmarks.- Petroleum Hydrocarbons.- Microbial alkane degradation at cold seeps.- Hot Hydrocarbon seeps: Guaymas Basin.- Some eukaryotes eat oil, too: the fungal connection.- Sulfur.- In-situ surveys of Gulf of Mexico microbial mats.-Thiomargarita: Large sulfur-oxidizing bacteria at cold seeps.- Geochemical controls on sulfur-oxidizing Microbial mats.