Spatial Differences in East Scotia Ridge Hydrothermal Vent Food Webs: Influences of Chemistry, Microbiology and Predation on Trophodynamics

Abstract

The hydrothermal vents on the East Scotia Ridge are the first to be explored in the Antarctic and are dominated by large peltospiroid gastropods, stalked barnacles (Vulcanolepas sp.) and anomuran crabs (Kiwa sp.) but their food webs are unknown. Vent fluid and macroconsumer samples were collected at three vent sites (E2, E9N and E9S) at distances of tens of metres to hundreds of kilometres apart with contrasting vent fluid chemistries to describe trophic interactions and identify potential carbon fixation pathways using stable isotopes. δ¹³C of dissolved inorganic carbon from vent fluids ranged from −4.6‰ to 0.8‰ at E2 and from −4.4‰ to 1.5‰ at E9. The lowest macroconsumer δ¹³C was observed in peltospiroid gastropods (−30.0‰ to −31.1‰) and indicated carbon fixation via the Calvin-Benson-Bassham (CBB) cycle by endosymbiotic gamma-Proteobacteria. Highest δ¹³C occurred in Kiwa sp. (−19.0‰ to −10.5‰), similar to that of the epibionts sampled from their ventral setae. Kiwa sp. δ¹³C differed among sites, which were attributed to spatial differences in the epibiont community and the relative contribution of carbon fixed via the reductive tricarboxylic acid (rTCA) and CBB cycles assimilated by Kiwa sp. Site differences in carbon fixation pathways were traced into higher trophic levels e.g. a stichasterid asteroid that predates on Kiwa sp. Sponges and anemones at the periphery of E2 assimilated a proportion of epipelagic photosynthetic primary production but this was not observed at E9N. Differences in the δ¹³C and δ³⁴S values of vent macroconsumers between E2 and E9 sites suggest the relative contributions of photosynthetic and chemoautotrophic carbon fixation (rTCA v CBB) entering the hydrothermal vent food webs vary between the sites.

Introduction

Deep-sea hydrothermal vents are chemically reducing habitats occurring on mid-ocean and back-arc spreading centres, seamounts, volcanic hotspots and off-axis ridge settings [1], [2], [3]. They are distinct from the surrounding deep sea with respect to environmental conditions, the energy sources sustaining life and their biological communities [4], [5]. High densities of organisms are found to thrive at the interface where hot, mineral-rich fluids discharge from the seafloor and mix with colder, oxygenated seawater. The hot fluids emitted from the seafloor may differ in pH and are enriched in reduced gases (e.g. H₂S, CH₄, H₂) and metals (e.g. Fe²⁺, Cu, Mn) relative to seawater [6]. Microorganisms oxidise the reduced species in vent fluids and utilise the energy released to fix CO₂ or other single carbon compounds (e.g. CO, CH₄) into cellular material [7]. This results in microbial chemosynthesis replacing photosynthetic primary production at the base of the food chain [7].

Sulfide oxidation appears to be the principal energy acquisition pathway, which microorganisms use to drive carbon fixation [3], [7], [8]. The most important carbon fixation pathways at the base of the metazoan hydrothermal vent food webs are the Calvin-Benson-Bassham (CBB) and reductive tricarboxylic acid (rTCA) cycles [9], [10], [11]. Methane oxidation (methanotrophy) is a further carbon fixation process at hydrothermal vents with CH₄ of thermogenic, biogenic or magmatic origin available depending on the host substrate [3], [12]. Epipelagic photosynthetic primary production may also provide some nutrition to vent macroconsumers, although the relative contribution to vent fauna is thought to be negligible [12], [13]. Macroconsumers utilise the vent organic carbon through endo- and episymbiotic relationships, consumption of free-living microorganisms either from various surfaces or the water column and indirectly through predation and scavenging [14], [15], [16].

The relative contributions of different carbon sources and complexity of hydrothermal vent food webs vary globally depending on the species present, the geological host substrate and the vent fluid chemistry [17], [18], [19]. The first Antarctic hydrothermal vent communities were discovered recently on the East Scotia Ridge (ESR), a back-arc spreading centre in the Atlantic sector of the Southern Ocean [20], [21]. The two basalt-hosted vent fields occur on the ridge segments E2 and E9, which lack the characteristic alvinocarid shrimps, bathymodiolid mussels and siboglinid worms found at Atlantic, Indian and Pacific hydrothermal vents, respectively [21]. Instead, biomass at the ESR vents is dominated by anomuran crabs (Kiwa sp.), stalked barnacles (Vulcanolepas sp.) and large peltospiroid gastropods [22], indicating a new biogeographic province [21]. Furthermore, there are differences in the end-member vent fluid chemistry between the E2 and E9 vent fields as well as within field between northern (E9N) and southern (E9S) areas of E9 [21].

Stable isotopes of carbon (¹³C/¹²C expressed as δ¹³C), nitrogen (¹⁵N/¹⁴N expressed as δ¹⁵N) and sulfur (³⁴S/³²S expressed as δ³⁴S) have been used to examine hydrothermal vent community trophodynamics [23], [24]. δ¹³C can be used to characterise the various carbon sources utilised by vent macroconsumers [25]. This is done by comparing the expected carbon fractionation between dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) and the macroconsumer’s tissue. Enzymatic reactions catalysed by the ribulose-1,5-biphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase form I (RuBisCO form I) of the CBB cycle (22‰ to 30‰: [26], [27], [28]) exhibit greater fractionation than those of the rTCA cycle (2‰ to 14‰: [29], [30], [31]). Once organic material is incorporated into the macroconsumer food web, carbon trophic discrimination (Δ¹³C) is small, ranging from 0 to 1.5‰ between the food source and consumer [32]. δ³⁴S also identifies energy sources (sulfur trophic discrimination, −1‰ to 2‰: [32]). The large difference in δ³⁴S between seawater sulphate and sulfides at hydrothermal vents [33] results in organic matter of photosynthetic (∼16‰ to 19‰) and chemosynthetic (−9‰ to 10‰) origin having distinctive δ³⁴S values [34], [35]. The greater trophic discrimination (2‰ to 5‰) in δ¹⁵N between consumer and food source provides information on the trophic position of an organism relative to a primary consumer [32]. Therefore, the isotopic value of a vent macroconsumer is the product of the following factors: (1) the inorganic substrate and its isotopic value used by the chemoautotroph; (2) the isotopic discrimination processes occurring during metabolic reactions involving inorganic substrates to create organic compounds (e.g. CBB or rTCA cycles) by the chemoautotroph; (3) food source-macroconsumer trophic interactions (e.g. endosymbiont-host, predator-prey) that occur as a function of (1) and (2); and (4) the physiology associated with the macroconsumer’s isotopic trophic discrimination.

The goal of the present research was to investigate intra- and inter-site patterns in the trophic assemblages of macroconsumers occurring at hydrothermal vents on the ESR using δ¹³C, δ³⁴S and δ¹⁵N. Specifically, the aims were to: (1) compare δ¹³C_DIC among vent sites and thus establish difference in the isotopic inorganic substrates used by chemoautotrophs; (2) compare δ¹³C, δ¹⁵N and δ³⁴S between vent and benthic non-vent fauna to assess any photosynthetic inputs into the hydrothermal vent food web; (3) investigate differences in trophic structures among the three sites; and (4) assess which species are driving any differences in trophic structure. The investigation provides a unique opportunity to examine differences in trophic structure at the scale of tens of metres to 100s of kilometres in a newly discovered hydrothermal vent biogeographical province.

Materials and Methods

Ethics Statement

Permits for the fieldwork were granted by the United Kingdom Foreign and Commonwealth Office. This study met the ethical requirements of the affiliated research institutions for research utilising animal tissues. No animal husbandry or laboratory controlled experiments were part of the research that required permits from the UK Home Office. The fish were collected at a water depth of 2500 m, which meant that they were dead when they arrived on deck as a result of changes in pressure. This was the case with the majority of the animals dissected within this study. The research also adhered to the Inter Ridge code of conduct for sampling hydrothermal vents (http://www.interridge.org/IRStatement).

Study Sites

The E2 and E9 vent fields are situated approximately 440 km apart at 56° 05.35′S, 30° 19.20′W and 60° 02.50′ S, 29° 58.93′ W, respectively (Fig. 1). E2 is at a depth of ∼2600 m and seafloor topography is complex with a series of terraced features and lobed pillow basalts filling a major north-south steep-sided fissure [21]. The main high-temperature and diffusive venting occurred at an intersection between this fissure and an east-west running fault or scarp [21]. E9 was located at ∼2400 m depth and its topography was relatively flat with sheet lava, a series of lava drain back features and collapsed pillow basalts. A series of north-south fissures were found with venting mainly occurring on the most western [21], [22]. The end-member fluid chemistry exiting chimneys differed between the northern and southern sections of E9 [21], therefore E9N and E9S are here considered to be separate sites. Ambient seabed water temperatures were 0.0°C at E2 and between −0.1°C and −1.3°C at E9 [21].

Figure 1. Bathymetric map illustrating positions of the E2 and E9 vent sites (black circles).

The vent sites are located at the northern and southern ends of the East Scotia Ridge (ESR), located in the Atlantic sector of the Southern Ocean. The map shows the position of the ESR in relation to South America and the Antarctic Peninsula.

Sample Collection and Ship-board Processing

Samples were collected onboard the R.R.S James Cook during the 2010 austral summer (7 January to 21 February) using the remotely operated vehicle (ROV) Isis. High temperature and diffuse flow fluids were collected for DIC using titanium samplers, equipped with an inductively coupled link high temperature sensor. The nozzle of the titanium sampler was inserted into the chimney orifice for high temperature fluid samples and once the temperature reading became stable the fluid was collected. For diffuse flow samples, a circular titanium housing was placed over the area of diffuse venting to minimise the entrainment of seawater. Once the diffuse flow was visible exiting the top of the housing, the titanium sampler was inserted into the opening and the diffuse flow sample was collected once the temperature reading was stable. On board, an aliquot for stable isotope analysis of DIC was sampled to exclude air and poisoned with mercury chloride.

Vent macroconsumers were collected by suction sampler or scoop with species separated into a series of acrylic chambers or perspex boxes to avoid predation or contamination. Six species were collected at all three sites. No female Kiwa sp. were collected from E9N or E9S. Fish and pycnogonids were collected using large collapsible and small metal baited traps deployed from the ROV. Non-vent macroconsumers were collected from metres to tens of metres away from active venting where there were no obvious signs of hydrothermal influence, i.e. no bacterial mat, and where temperature was consistent with local Antarctic bottom water. Non-vent samples were collected on separate dives from those for vent fauna to avoid contamination. Only one non-vent species was collected from E2 and sampling was limited to the areas adjacent to E9N because of ROV operational time constraints. Potential food sources were collected by scraping material from rocks collected by ROV manipulators and epibionts from the ventral setae of the decapod Kiwa sp. Particulate suspended material was collected from the acrylic chambers, which was sampled incidentally during faunal collection. Samples were sorted on board to the lowest possible taxonomic resolution. The majority of the vent species are undescribed to date.

Faunal samples were frozen at −80°C whole or after dissection, depending on their size, for stable isotope analysis. Muscle was removed from the chelipeds of Kiwa sp., foot dissected from Peltospiroidea sp., tube feet removed from the asteroids Stichasteridae sp. and Freyella cf fragilissima and tentacles removed from the anemones. Legs were removed from the pycnogonids Colossendeis cf. concedis and C. cf. elephantis, while Sericosura spp. was sampled whole. The gastropods Provannidae sp. 1 and 2, Lepetodrilus sp., and juvenile Peltospiroidea sp. (<7 mm shell length), and the stalked barnacle Vulcanolepas sp. were removed from their shells and sampled whole. White muscle tissue was dissected from the anterior dorso-lateral region of the zoarcid fish.

Sample Processing Onshore

Each end-member and diffuse flow DIC sample was prepared for isotopic analysis by removing a 1 mL water sample and transferring it into a separate vial. The headspace was flushed with helium, phosphoric acid was injected into the vial and then the contents were vortex mixed. The samples were then left to react for 24 hours to ensure complete conversion of all DIC to CO₂ for isotopic analysis. The CO₂ was then analysed by continuous-flow isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS) using a Europa Scientific 20–20 IRMS by Iso-Analytical (Crewe, United Kingdom). Samples were run in duplicate and the mean is reported. An internal reference gas (IA-R060, δ¹³C = −36.08‰ ± SD 0.13) was used to determine the δ¹³C_DIC values and is traceable to the International Atomic Energy Agency standard, NBS-19. Concentrations of CH₄ in the water samples were insufficient for isotope analysis.

Faunal tissue samples were freeze dried and ground to a homogenous powder using a pestle and mortar. Aliquots of fauna, particulate suspended material and material scraped from rocks were tested for carbonates prior to analysis with 0.1 N HCl. If the sample effervesced, this indicated carbonates were present and it was subsequently acidified by further addition of HCl until the effervescence ceased. Samples were re-dried at 50°C for 48 hours. If the sample did not effervesce, no acidification was carried out. Aliquots for δ¹³C analysis were not lipid extracted. Any confounding lipid effects due to metabolic processes would not affect the interpretation of the ultimate carbon sources of the vent fauna described by δ¹³C because of the large differences in the δ¹³C values of trophic end-members.

Approximately 0.7 mg of powder was weighed into a tin capsule for carbon and nitrogen IRMS. For sulfur, 2 mg of sample and 4 mg of the catalyst vanadium pentoxide were weighed into each tin capsule. Dual stable carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios were measured by continuous-flow IRMS using a Costech Elemental Analyser interfaced with Thermo Finnigan Delta Plus XP (Natural Environment Research Council, Life Sciences Mass Spectrometry Facility, SUERC, East Kilbride, United Kingdom). Two laboratory standards were analysed for every ten samples in each analytical sequence. These alternated between paired alanine standards, differing in δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N, and an internal laboratory gelatin standard. Sulfur was analysed by Iso-Analytical using a SERCON Elemental Analyser coupled to a Europa Scientific 20–20 IRMS. Laboratory standards of barium sulphate (two sets of differing δ³⁴S) and silver sulfide were used for calibration and drift correction. An internal standard of whale baleen was used for quality control (n = 28, 16.34‰ ± SD 0.21). Stable isotope ratios were expressed in delta (δ) notation as parts per thousand/permil (‰). All internal standards are traceable to the following international standards: v-PDB (Pee Dee Belemnite), AIR (atmospheric nitrogen) and NBS-127 (barium sulphate), IAEA-S-1 (silver sulfide) and IAEA-SO-5 (barium sulphate). An external reference material of freeze dried and ground deep-sea fish white muscle (Antimora rostrata) was also analysed (δ¹³C, n = 24, −18.94‰ ± SD 0.09; δ¹⁵N, n = 24, 13.11‰ ± SD 0.38; δ³⁴S, n = 30, 18.20‰, ± SD 0.59).

Data Analysis

Data were assessed for normality using a Shapiro-Wilk test before statistical tests examining spatial patterns in trophic structure and species stable isotope values. Homogeneity, or otherwise, of variances is ecologically informative, for example in identifying distinct energy sources at the base of the food web [36]. Inter-site differences in trophic structure were examined using a Fligner-Killeen test for homogeneity of variance to assess differences in the spread of the mean stable isotope values of each species. Inter-site differences in species were analysed using a one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s honest significant difference (HSD) when variance was homogeneous among sites. Welch’s ANOVA followed by t-tests were used when there was heterogeneity of variance among sites because it uses adjusted degrees of freedom to protect against Type I errors when variances are unequal [37]. A Bonferroni correction (p = 0.05/n) was used for multiple comparisons. When data were not normally distributed, a two sample Wilcoxon test was used. All statistics were preformed in R version 12.13.1 [38].

Results

Dissolved Inorganic Carbon Stable Isotope Values

Mean (± SD) δ¹³C_DIC of high temperature and diffuse flow fluids are summarised in Table 1. δ¹³C_DIC of high temperature samples collected at two E2 locations were −4.7‰ (±0.0) (max temperature 351.0°C) and −2.5‰ (±0.1) (max temperature 323.0°C). At E9N, δ¹³C_DIC from separate orifices of the same chimney structure were −4.6‰ (±0.0) (max temperature 380.2°C) and −4.5‰ (±0.0) (max temperature 357.0°C). No high temperature fluids were collected from E9S for δ¹³C_DIC analysis because the pressure was too high within the titanium samples to safely and accurately collect a representative sample. Diffuse flow samples from amongst Kiwa sp. and anemones, at E2, had δ¹³C_DIC values of 0.8‰ (±0.1) (max temperature 19.9°C) and 0.2‰ (±0.2) (max temperature 3.5°C), respectively. A single diffuse flow sample collected from amongst an aggregation of Kiwa sp. at E9N had a δ¹³C_DIC value of 1.5‰ (±0.1) (max temperature 12.6°C). At E9S, diffuse flow samples from amongst Kiwa sp. had a δ¹³C_DIC value of 0.9‰ (±0.1) (max temperature 19.9°C), while a sample taken from a mixed aggregation of Kiwa sp. and peltospiroid gastropods had δ¹³C_DIC value of 0.1‰ (±0.1) (max temperature 5.0°C).

Table 1. δ¹³C values of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) sampled from high temperature and diffuse flow venting from the E2 and E9 ridge segments of the East Scotia Ridge, Southern Ocean.

Site	Temperature (°C)	δ13C DIC
E2	351.0	−4.7 (0.0)
	323.0	−2.5 (0.1)
	19.9	0.8 (0.1)
	3.5	0.2 (0.2)
E9N	380.2	−4.7 (0.0)
	357.0	−4.7 (0.0)
	12.6	1.5 (0.1)
E9S	19.9	0.9 (0.1)
	5.0	0.1 (0.1)

Standard deviations are in parentheses.

Comparison between Vent and Benthic Non-vent Macro-consumers at E9N

At E9N, mean δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N values of vent fauna overlapped with non-vent benthic fauna (Welch’s t-test, δ¹³C DF = 10.59, t = 0.66, p = 0.52; Welch’s t-test, δ¹⁵N DF = 10.42, t = −0.30, p = 0.76; Fig. 2, Tables 2 & 3) while mean δ³⁴S values differed between non-vent benthic fauna and vent fauna (Welch’s t-test, DF = 12.56, t = −9.08, p<0.01) (Fig. 3, Tables 2 & 3).

Figure 2. δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N values of macroconsumers collected from the East Scotia Ridge, Southern Ocean.

The values represent means (± standard deviations) for hydrothermal vent and non-vent macroconsumers from the three sample sites: (a) E2, (b) E9N and (c) E9S. Dashed vertical lines represent potential ranges of δ¹³C values indicative of carbon sources sustaining macroconsumers at the ESR: triple dashed line represents the Calvin-Benson-Bassham (CBB) cycle utilising form I RuBisCO, double dashed line represents the reductive tricarboxylic acid (rTCA) cycle, mixed carbon sources occur between the triple and double dashed line and the continuous dashed line represents the approximate δ¹³C values of the dissolved inorganic carbon from the diffuse flow areas.

Table 2. Mean δ¹³C, δ¹⁵N and δ³⁴S values (‰) of non-vent deep-sea fauna collected from the E2 and E9 ridge segments of the East Scotia Ridge, Southern Ocean. Standard deviations are in parentheses.

Taxonomic group	Species	Site	N	δ13C	δ 34S	δ 15N
Crustacea
Decapoda	Nematocarcinus lanceopes	E9	5	−24.2 (0.7)	18.9 (0.5)	8.1 (0.4)
	Euphausia superba	E9	3	−27.4 (0.8)	19.0 (0.1)	2.7 (0.7)
Echinodermata
Asteroidea	Freyella cf fragilissima	E2	3	−22.4 (0.3)	18.0 (0.8)	10.2 (0.6)
	Freyella cf fragilissima	E9	2	−21.8 (0.5)	17.5 (0.2)	10.8 (0.2)
Holothuroidea	Holothuroidea sp.	E9	3	−24.9 (0.0)	18.3 (0.6)	8.0 (0.4)
Ophiuroidea	Ophiuroidea sp.	E9	3	−23.7 (0.8)	17.6 (0.9)	9.0 (0.8)
Vertebrata
Osteichthys	Zoarcidae sp.	E9	4	−26.5 (1.7)	15.7 (0.4)	12.0 (1.8)

Table 3. Mean δ¹³C, δ¹⁵N and δ³⁴S values (‰)of hydrothermal vent fauna collected from the E2 and E9 ridge segments of the East Scotia Ridge, Southern Ocean.

Taxonomic group	E2				E9N				E9S
	N	δ13C	δ34S	δ15N	N	δ13C	δ34S	δ15N	N	δ13C	δ34S	δ15N
Cirripedia
Vulcanolepas sp.	22	−21.1 (0.6)	8.2 (1.0)	6.3 (0.7)	23	−26.9 (0.8)	11.0 (0.8)	9.0 (0.4)	23	−22.1 (0.8)	5.4 (1.1)	6.4 (0.6)
Decapoda
Kiwa sp. female	20	−19.4 (1.5)	3.9 (1.3)	8.2 (0.5)	0	–	–	–	0	–	–	–
Kiwa sp. Male	18	−19.0 (2.0)	3.0 (1.2)	7.5 (0.5)	22	−10.6 (0.9)	4.0 (0.7)	8.9 (0.5)	30	−10.7 (0.6)	2.4 (0.9)	9.1 (0.6)
Pycnogonida
Sericosura spp.	6	−24.7 (0.9)	11.9 (0.4)	8.5 (1.3)	9	−30.9 (0.5)	6.8 (0.8)	7.7 (0.5)	2	−27.2 (0.3)	14.9 (0.3)	9.1 (0.1)
Colossendeis cf concedis	0	–	–	–	6	−23.3 (2.5)	10.9 (1.4)	12.1 (0.5)	0	–	–	–
Colossendeis cf elephantis	1	−23.8	14.9	11.0	3	−20.8 (2.2)	8.5 (1.6)	11.8 (0.8)	0	–	–	–
Anthozoa
cf Actinostola sp. 1	0	–	–	–	4	−14.7 (3.5)	10.3 (0.4)	9.9 (0.3)	0	–	–	–
Pacmanactis sp.	5	−23.8 (0.2)	14.9 (0.7)	7.1 (0.7)	0	–	–	–	0	–	–	–
cf Marianactis sp.	5	−23.7 (0.3)	14.0 (2.4)	7.2 (1.8)	0	–	–	–	0	–	–	–
Asteroidea
Stichasteridae sp.	1	−20.2	11.3	12.3	5	−12.2 (0.6)	10.0 (0.9)	12.4 (0.4)	5	−14.7 (1.6)	11.8 (2.6)	13.4 (0.6)
Gastropoda
Peltospiroidea sp.	19	−30.1 (0.6)	6.0 (0.6)	5.4 (0.4)	22	−31.2 (0.4)	3.7 (0.5)	5.8 (0.6)	15	−30.1 (0.5)	4.7 (1.1)	5.9 (0.7)
Peltospiroidea sp (<7 mm)	4	−23.9 (0.7)	7.4 (2.0)	6.8 (0.5)	5	−29.6 (2.7)	4.2 (0.2)	6.4 (1.3)	0	–	–	–
Provannidae sp. 1	1	−26.5	8.0	4.2	0	–	–	–	0	–	–	–
P–rovannidae sp. 2	0	–	–	–	0	–	–	–	4	−21.8 (1.4)	5.9 (0.8)	4.0 (0.5)
Lepetodrilus sp.	5	−24.9 (0.8)	6.4 (0.5)	6.8 (0.3)	4	−25.2 (0.7)	3.4 (0.3)	8.5 (0.4)	4	−22.4 (0.8)	3.6 (0.3)	7.0 (0.3)
Cladorhizidae
Cladorhiza sp.	5	−26.1 (0.4)	14.7 (1.4)	8.7 (0.4)	0	–	–	–	0	–	–	–
Potential food sources
Particulate suspended material	3	−23.2 (5.4)	10.0 (1.1)	−0.1 (4.9)	0	–	–	–	0	–	–	–
Rock scrapings	0	–	–	–	1	−23.2	0.8	2.4	1	−31.1	–	1.9
K–iwa n. sp episymbiont	5	−18.9 (5.3)	7.5 (0.3)	3.3 (1.5)	0	–	–	–	5	−9.9 (0.3)	6.6 (0.2)	5.2 (0.8)

Standard deviations are in parentheses and - indicates no data.

Figure 3. δ¹³C and δ³⁴S values of macroconsumers collected from the East Scotia Ridge, Southern Ocean.

The values represent means (± standard deviations) for hydrothermal vent and non-vent macroconsumers from the three sample sites: (a) E2, (b) E9N and (c) E9S. δ³⁴S values between the triple and double dashed lines represent potential areas of isotopic mixing between chemosynthetic and photosynthetic food sources.

Intra- and Inter-site Differences in Community Trophodynamics

Eleven, ten and seven species were collected at E2, E9N and E9S respectively for stable isotope analysis (Table 3). The ranges of mean δ¹³C values of the vent fauna differed amongst the three sites (Fligner-Killeen test, DF = 2, χ² = 6.46, p<0.05). E2 had the narrowest δ¹³C range (−29.9‰ to −19.0‰), whereas at E9N and E9S δ¹³C ranged from −31.4‰ to −9.9‰ and −30.0‰ to −10.5‰, respectively (Fig. 2). Across the three sites Peltospiroidea sp. had the lowest values while Kiwa sp. had the highest δ¹³C values (Fig. 2, Table 3), and Lepetodrilus sp., Vulcanolepas sp., Pacmanactis sp. and Colossendeis spp. all had intermediate δ¹³C values (Fig. 2, Table 3). However, there was no overall difference in mean δ¹³C values among sites for the combined data across species (Welch’s ANOVA, DF = 2.00, F = 0.59, p = 0.56). The range and mean δ³⁴S values (Fig. 3, Table 3) did not differ among sites (Fligner-Killeen test, DF = 2, χ² = 0.84, p = 0.65; ANOVA, DF = 2, 26, F = 1.94, p = 0.16), however Kiwa sp. had the lowest δ³⁴S at E2 and E9S while Lepetodrilus sp. had the lowest δ³⁴S values at E9N (Fig. 3, Table 3). The highest vent fauna δ³⁴S values were in Pacmanactis sp. (E2), Vulcanolepas sp. (E9N) and Sericosura spp. (E9S) (Fig. 3, Table 3). Neither the range nor the mean δ¹⁵N values differed among sites (Fligner-Killeen test, DF = 2, χ² = 0.40, p = 0.83; ANOVA, DF = 2, 26, F = 1.19, p = 0.31). The provannid gastropods at E2 and E9S had the lowest δ¹⁵N values while Peltospiroidea sp. had the lowest values at E9N (Fig. 2, Table 3). The stichasterid sp. consistently had the highest δ¹⁵N values relative to the other vent fauna at each site (Fig. 2, Table 3).

Spatial Differences in Macroconsumer Trophodynamics

Vulcanolepas sp. exhibited spatial differences in δ¹³C, δ¹⁵N and δ³⁴S but there was no consistent pattern in isotopic differences among sites (Table 4). Male and female Kiwa sp. at E2 did not differ in δ¹³C but males were lower in δ¹⁵N and δ³⁴S than females (Table 5). Male Kiwa sp. showed spatial differences in each stable isotope (Table 4). δ¹³C of the males showed a greater range (Fligner-Killeen test, DF = 2, χ² = 10.91, p<0.01) and lower values at E2 than E9N and E9S (Table 3 & 4). The epibionts attached to the ventral surface of male Kiwa sp. also exhibited a greater spread of δ¹³C values at E2 than E9S (F-test, DF = 4, 3, F = 244.46, p<0.01) as well as lower δ¹³C but higher δ¹⁵N values at E2 than E9S (Table 3 & 5). Sericosura spp. δ¹³C and δ³⁴S values varied amongst sites but δ¹⁵N values scarcely did (Table 4). δ¹³C and δ³⁴S values were lowest at E9N but highest at E2 for δ¹³C and E9S for δ³⁴S (Table 3). Peltospiroidea sp. showed spatial differences in δ¹³C and δ³⁴S but not in δ¹⁵N (Table 4). δ³⁴S values differed among all sites but E9N δ¹³C values were lower than those at E9S and E2 (Table 4). Stichasteridae sp. revealed differences between all sites for δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N but for δ³⁴S only between E2 and E9N (Table 5).

Table 4. Results of ANOVA and post-hoc Tukey honest significant differences tests for the differences in stable isotope values of vent fauna among the three sites on the East Scotia Ridge.

Species	δ13C				δ 34S				δ15N
	DF	F	p	Post-hoc	DF	F	p	Post-hoc	F	DF	p	Post-hoc
Vulcanolepas sp.	2, 63	403.18	<0.01	E9N<E9S<E2	2, 63	176.16	<0.01	E9S<E2 = E9S	2, 63	138.26	<0.01	E2 = E9S<E9N
Kiwa sp. male	2, 31.36	147.29	<0.01	E2< E9S = E9N*	2, 66	19.52	<0.01	E2 = E9S<E9N	2, 66	52.64	<0.01	E2< E9N = E9S
Sericosura spp.	2, 15	215.00	<0.01	E9N<E9S<E2	2, 15	100.61	<0.01	E9N<E2< E9S	2, 15	3.39	0.06	NA
Peltospiroidea sp.	2, 52	29.50	<0.01	E9N<E9S = E2	2, 52	49.26	<0.01	E9N<E9S<E2	2, 52	2.90	0.06	NA
Lepetodrilus sp.	2, 10	17.41	<0.01	E2 = E9N<E9S	2, 10	31.99	<0.01	E9N = E9S<E2	2, 10	32.10	<0.01	E2 = E9S<E9N

^*Welch’s ANOVA with post hoc analysis by t-test with Bonferroni correction (p = 0.05/3 = 0.017).

Table 5. Results of t-tests for between-sites differences in stable isotope values of vent fauna at the East Scotia Ridge.

Species	Comparison	δ13C			δ 34S			δ 15N
		DF	t	p	DF	t	p	DF	t	p
Kiwa sp.	E2 female v male	36	−0.50	0.62	36	2.23	<0.05	36	5.13	<0.01
Kiwa sp. Epibionts	E2 v E9S	4.05	−3.81	<0.05*	6.93	4.57	<0.01*	2	na	<0.05Ψ
Stichasteridae sp.	E2 v E9N	4	28.92	<0.01	4	−3.29	<0.05	4	5.14	<0.01
	E2 v E9S	4	7.28	<0.01	4	0.385	0.59	4	5.94	<0.01
	E9N v E9S	8	3.64	<0.01	8	−1.76	0.11	8	−3.49	<0.05
Colossendeis cf elphantis	E2 v E9N	2	2.45	0.13	2	−6.93	<0.05	2	1.71	0.23

^*Welch’s t-test,

^ΨWilcoxon test.

Discussion

This study described the trophic structure of a new vent biogeographical province recently discovered on the ESR in the Southern Ocean [21]. In addressing this aim, the study shared the challenges of preceding work in characterising energy sources, separating isotopic overlap and mixing of energy sources, and following energy sources into subsequent predator-prey relationships. However, the tri-isotope approach and integration of both vent chemistry and microbiology, here, provided a more holistic understanding of vent trophic ecology at within- and among-vent field scales.

Intra-site Trophic Interactions and Energy Sources

Scarcity of Δ¹³C estimates between inorganic carbon and cellular biomass for primary producers at hydrothermal vents [27], [30] makes interpretation of the origin of organic carbon fixed within the hydrothermal vent system and assimilated by macroconsumers tentative for species not within a symbiotic or known predator-prey relationship. Diffuse flow δ¹³C_DIC of approximately 1‰ at the ESR vent fields suggests ESR vent macroconsumers with δ¹³C values <−22‰ are assimilating carbon fixed via the CBB cycle because the net fractionation associated with fixing inorganic into organic carbon for RuBisCO form I ranges from −22‰ to −30‰ [26], [27]. Peltospiroidea sp. housed an endosymbiotic gamma-Proteobacteria (K. Zwirglmaier unpublished data) and is within the δ¹³C range expected for carbon fixed via RuBisCO form I at all three locations. Molluscs containing a single strain of endosymbiotic gamma-Proteobacteria living in other biogeographical vent provinces include some species of bathymodiolid mussels, vesicomyid clams and Ifremeria gastropods, all of which have δ¹³C values between −37‰ and −27‰ [39], [40]. Other species of ESR vent macroconsumers, which had δ¹³C values <−22‰ included Vulcanolepas sp. (E2 and E9S), Sericusora spp., E2 anemones and Lepetodrilus sp. These species consume free-living bacteria [14], [23] so organic carbon fixed via other carbon fixation pathways cannot be ruled out as part of their assimilated diet.

Vent macroconsumers inhabiting the hottest areas of the hydrothermal vent tolerable to metazoan life, including rimicarid shrimps, polychaetes Alvinella spp. and Riftia pachyptila and some alvinoconchid gastropods, tend to assimilate rTCA-fixed carbon from their diet [11], [41], [42] and have δ¹³C values >−16‰ [14], [25], [43], [44]. As δ¹³C_DIC is approximately 1‰ at the ESR sites, vent macroconsumers utilising carbon fixed via the rTCA cycle would have had δ¹³C values >−13‰; assuming a −2‰ to −14‰ net fractionation between the inorganic substrate and organic product catalysed by the enzymes involved in the rTCA cycle [29], [30]. Kiwa sp. living at E9N and E9S, along with its epibionts, had δ¹³C values that were >−12‰ and are found in areas close to discharging vent fluids [22]. This potentially indicates the epibionts living on Kiwa sp. ventral setae were fixing carbon via the rTCA cycle. Kiwa sp. was also ¹⁵N-enriched by between 3.8‰ and 4.2‰ relative to its epibionts, suggesting the epibionts were an important food source. A similar episymbiotic relationship between the ESR kiwid is therefore hypothesised to that of Kiwa puravida, for which lipid, stable isotope and behavioural analyses indicate the harvesting of epibiont bacteria [45]. Stichasteridae sp. (∼−13‰) and cf Actinostola sp. (∼−14‰) also appeared to be assimilating carbon indicative of the rTCA cycle at E9N and E9S.

Several vent macroconsumers fell within the range of δ¹³C values indicative of mixed carbon sources. Those within the δ¹³C −22‰ to −15‰ range may consume free-living bacteria or are predators or scavengers that utilise a number of trophic pathways. At the ESR hydrothermal vents, Lepetodrilus sp., Provannidae sp. 2, Vulcanolepas sp., Kiwa sp., Stichasteridae sp. and Colossendeis cf. elephantis fell into this range at one or more sites. Related species of Lepetodrilus sp., Provannidae sp. 2 and Vulcanolepas sp. are all thought to consume free-living bacteria at other vents sites [14], [23]. Such feeding can result in consuming heterogeneous bacterial communities, which have multiple pathways for carbon fixation and elemental cycling [9], [46], [47]. The biological cycling of carbon is very complex at hydrothermal vents because of the multiple single carbon substrates for carbon fixation (e.g. CO₂, CH₄, CO), spatial variability in the δ¹³C value of the substrate and various microbial primary producers associated with different carbon fixation pathways [7], [11], [48]. Furthermore, the incorporation of photosynthetic derived carbon as particulate or dissolved organic matter is possible and may provide some nutrition to vent macroconsumers [12], [13]. Therefore, complex isotopic mixes of food sources are available to these species.

The majority of ESR vent macroconsumers had δ³⁴S values less than or equal to the 10‰ threshold, indicating chemosynthetic food sources [49]. Species exceeding the 10‰ value occurred mainly at E2 in the anemones Pacamanactis sp. and cf Marianactis sp, the sponge Cladorhiza sp., the pycnogonids C. elephantis and the stichasterid seastar along with Sericosura spp. and stichasterid seastar at E9S. All had δ³⁴S values between 10‰ and 16‰. Mixing of epipelagic photosynthetic and hydrothermal vent chemosynthetic production sources at these sites cannot be ruled out.

Determining intra-site differences in food sources and trophic interactions using δ³⁴S is challenging for macroconsumers with δ³⁴S values <10‰ because the δ³⁴S values of inorganic substrates and the net fractionation effect between inorganic substrates and products for primary producers and consumers are uncertain. At E9, δ³⁴S appeared to increase from macroconsumers living closest to vent openings and within diffuse flow areas (i.e. Kiwa sp., Peltospiroidea sp. and Lepetodrilus sp.) to those in the periphery (i.e. anemones, stichasterid seastars and Colossendeis spp.). It is unclear why an increase in δ³⁴S occurred from the centre of the vent to the periphery: it may be the result of changes in sulfide speciation [50] or other sulfur sources with increasing distance from the vent opening [33], differences in levels of sulfide exposure [50], incorporation of epipelagic photosynthetic primary production or a combination of the above.

Stichasterid seastars, cf Actinostola sp. and Colossendeis spp. consistently had the highest δ¹⁵N values of all the ESR vent macroconsumers, which suggested they occupied the highest trophic positions of those predators sampled. Behavioural observations [22] and δ¹³C values indicated that Kiwa sp. is consumed by stichasterid seastar and cf Actinostola sp. 1 but only the stichasterid seastar had δ¹⁵N values indicative of a higher trophic position than Kiwa sp. In the case of Colossendeis spp., feeding on anemones occurs at the ESR vent sites [22] and at E2 all three stable isotopes indicated a strong predator-prey link. At E9N there was a large difference in δ¹³C and δ³⁴S between cf Actinostola sp. 1 and the two species of Colossendeis as well as lower δ¹⁵N in these pycnogonids compared to cf Actinostola sp. 1. This suggests that at E9N the feeding incidents between cf Actinostola sp. 1 and Colossendeis spp. are either rare or stable isotope values of Colossendeis spp. are strongly affected by isotopic mixing of different energy sources (δ¹³C and δ³⁴S) and feeding over multiple trophic positions (δ¹⁵N).

It is evident from the ESR hydrothermal vent food webs that predators may have similar or lower δ¹⁵N values than their prey. Calculating trophic position assuming taxon specific nitrogen trophic discrimination factors [23] or applying the more universal value of 3.4‰ [12] was not undertaken within this study because they may have provided erroneous results. Establishing a suitable δ¹⁵N baseline is problematic because: the macroconsumer with the lowest δ¹⁵N differed among locations, is confounded by the use of different tissues (e.g. whole animals, muscle) to construct the food webs [32] and the observed high δ¹⁵N variability in potential food sources. Compound-specific amino acid stable isotope analysis may provide higher resolution information on the organic nitrogen compounds assimilated by vent macroconsumers because the isotopic values of different amino acids record trophic and basal source information [51], [52]. Thus it may circumvent some of the limitations of bulk δ¹⁵N analysis and provide a better understanding of nitrogen cycling at hydrothermal vents.

Spatial Patterns in Macroconsumer Trophodynamics

Large spatial differences in δ¹³C values for Kiwa sp., Stichasteridae sp. and Sericosura spp. were attributed primarily to differences in carbon fixation pathways at the base of the food web, which is in turn transferred to higher trophic positions. δ¹³C values of Kiwa sp. differed by ∼9‰ between E2 and E9S as did that of associated Kiwa sp. epibionts. Also, epsilon-Proteobacteria dominated the epibiont community at E9 with gamma-Proteobacteria largely absent, compared to a mix of gamma- and epsilon-Proteobacteria at E2 (K. Zwirglmaier unpublished data). All epsilon-Proteobacteria to date use the rTCA cycle to fix carbon while gamma-Proteobacteria predominantly use the CBB cycle [11]. Riftia pachyptila has similar differences in δ¹³C among vent sites, but this is attributed to its endosymbionts shifting between rTCA and CBB cycles [53] rather than changes in the microbial community it consumes. Alvinoconchid gastropods have δ¹³C values that differ by >20‰ among vent fields, which relates to whether epsilon- or gamma-Proteobacteria are the endosymbionts [54]. It is unclear why Kiwa sp. epibiont diversity is different between E2 and E9. At other hydrothermal vent locations differences in vent fluid chemical composition influences microbial communities [46], [55] and it may be similar at the ESR vent fields. The difference in carbon fixation appeared to be transferred through Kiwa sp. to the predatory stichasterid seastar. Such a predator-prey interaction may also explain the large difference in δ¹³C values between E2 and E9N in Sericosura spp. At E2 Sericosura spp. were collected from amongst anemones that had δ¹³C values indicative of a mixed carbon source but at E9 they were collected from amongst peltospiroid gastropods dependent on CBB fixed carbon, although Sericosura spp. were not observed directly feeding on either anemones or Peltospiroidea sp.

Relatively small differences in stable isotope values were observed among sites in Peltospiroidea sp., Lepetodrilus sp. and Vulcanolepas sp. To date, Peltospiroidea sp. contains a single strain of gamma-Proteobacteria endosymbiont (K. Zwirglmaier unpublished data), which means spatial differences in δ¹³C and δ³⁴S are unlikely to be the result of differences in the type of endosymbiont [55]. The differences were potentially a result of site-specific variations in the δ¹³C_DIC and inorganic δ³⁴S values used by the endosymbionts during chemoautotrophy or physiological temperature-related effects on isotopic discrimination. Small differences among sites for the grazer Lepetodrilus sp. and suspension feeder Vulcanolepas sp. are harder to explain because of the various factors that are likely to influence their food source. δ¹³C values indicated these organisms consume a mixed diet of free-living microbes and particulate material. However, differences in δ¹³C values within sites may be related to the organism’s distribution within the vent field [56] and in turn the composition of the microbial community [46], the stable isotope values of the inorganic substrate used during chemoautotrophy [57] and temperature effects on trophic discrimination. Lepetodrilus sp. and Vulcanolepas sp. were collected from single points within each vent site and, therefore, it is not clear whether the difference in stable isotope values among sites is greater or less than that within sites.

Because of the snap-shot nature of this study, it is difficult to identify factors that caused the spatial differences in the Kiwa sp. epibiont communities that resulted in a greater range of δ¹³C values at the E9 sites compared to E2. Higher concentrations of dissolved sulfides in vent fluids may favour the rTCA pathway resulting in increasing numbers of organisms with δ¹³C values greater than −16‰ [12]. On the ESR, E9 has higher hydrogen sulfide and lower chloride concentrations than E2 meaning that there are greater concentrations of available gases for microbial primary production due to phase separation [6], [21]. Higher concentrations of reduced compounds and gases may be one of the drivers of the differences in trophic structure at the ESR vents. However, hydrothermal vent communities also undergo changes in community composition with age [58] and fluctuating hydrothermal activity [59], which will have an effect on trophic structure. As data presented here were obtained concurrently with the discovery of the new biogeographical province it is not possible to determine whether the communities at E2 and E9 represent different successional stages, are a product of varying chemistry or a mix of such processes.

Conclusion

Trophic structure differed substantially between the E2 and E9 vents fields, and only slightly between E9N and E9S. δ¹³C_DIC of the end-member fluid and diffuse flow samples were similar among the sites but large differences in the δ¹³C values of some vent macroconsumers indicated spatial variations in the way microbes were fixing carbon at the base of the food chain. δ¹³C values >−13‰ at the E9N and E9S suggest that the relative contribution to the macroconsumer food web of carbon fixed via the rTCA cycle is likely to be greater than at E2. The greater range of δ³⁴S values at E2 and E9S indicated a potentially greater influence of epipelagic photosynthetic primary production than at E9N. The greater contribution of rTCA fixed carbon at the E9 vent field may ultimately be related to differences in vent fluid, but more work is required to link vent fluid chemistry with microbial primary production and the related trophic structure at hydrothermal vents.

Funding Statement

The research was funded by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) through ChEsSO consortium grant NE/DO1249X/1 and studentships NE/F010664/1 (WDKR) and NE/H524922 (JAH). Sample analysis was funded via NERC Life Sciences Mass Spectrometry Facilities grant LSMSFBRIS043_04/10_R_09/10. The funders had no role in the study design, data collection and anlaysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.