Fundamentals of Microbiology

4.5.3 Hydrothermal bacteria

Hydrothermal vents are thermal springs on ocean floor where hot basalt and magma lie very near the floor causing cracks through which seawater mixes with hot mineral and emitted, forming a hot nutrient rich habitat for organisms to thrive. Sulphur – oxidizing chemolithotrophs such as Thiobacillus, Thiothrix and Beggiatoa are present in and around such vents. Other populations also include nitrifying bacteria, hydrogen, iron and manganese oxidizing bacteria. Most of these bacteria live in association with other invertebrate communities of the thermal vents. At great depths, hydrothermal fluid is emitted at temperatures of 270-380^oC and hyperthermophilic bacteria such as Methanopyrus exist in walls of such vents also. Such vents are called black smokers.