KG Jebsen Centre – Annual report 2017 by Bodoni

ANNUAL REPORT 2017

K.G. JEBSEN CENTRE FOR

DEEP SEA RESEARCH

TABLE OF CONTENTS p03 Directors Comment p04 Research Highlights p04 International Continental Drilling Program At Surtsey p06 The KGJ-CDeepSea-2017 expedition p09 Infrastructure p09 The Norwegian Marine Robotics Facility p10 Research Themes p10 Wp1 - Crustal Accretion At Ultraslow Spreading Ridges p12 Wp2 - Diversity And Functioning Of Hydrothermal Systems p13 Wp3 - Deep Sea Mineral Resources p14 Wp4 - Hydrothermal Reactions: Experimental Analogs For The Deep Sea p15 Wp5 - Geochemical Energy Landscapes And Life p16 Wp6 - Biodiscovery And Bioprospecting p17 Wp7 - Deep Sea Ecosystems And Environment p18 Workshop And Conferences p18 Iodp Pre-Proposal For Drill Holes At The Southern Knipovich Ridge p19 K.G. Jebsen Leading An Interridge Working Group p19 Bringing Together Deep Ocean Geobiologists p20 Outreach p20 Direct Streaming As Ã&#x2020;gir Dives Down To Unexplored Ground p21 Centre Involvement In Public Outreach At The New University Museum Exhibition p21 The Jebsen Seminar p22 Master Students p23 Phd Students p24 Staff p25 Publications

DIRECTOR’S COMMENT We are one year into the Centre period and its time for the first annual report. For us, 2017 has been a long, exciting and extraordinary eventful year. The human perception of time is a relative measure, and it seems unreal that is is only nine months since the opening of the Centre since the Minister of Climate and Environment together with the Board of the Kristian Gerhard Jebsen Foundation visited our stands at the Ocean Laboratory. At the Ocean Laboratory we have had the honor of being visited by King Harald and the Icelandic president. During the year several ministers and top politicians have also passed through the laboratory to learn about ocean research and marine technology. This reflects that ocean resources and ocean environments presently are high on the agendas. This eventful year has been full of contrasts. From the official opening of the Centre in late May, we went straight in our small, open boats to start a week-long journey with students along the west coast. The travel through the rock sequences of western Norway is a travel both in space and time. It brought us to old copper mines that hundred years ago were a key to the industrial development of Norway. Today we know that these mineral deposits developed 500 million years ago in the deep sea, where they formed at hydrothermal vent fields similar to those that we study today at the K.G. Jebsen Centre. Interestingly, the development of this new industry was pioneered by Det Bergenske Grubeselskap and its owner konsul Peter Jebsen – the grand father of Kristian Gerhard Jebsen.

A pioneering spirit also drives us as we are exploring new areas, and as we are advancing the limits of research in the deep sea. The funding from the Kristian .Gerhard Jebsen Foundation has enabled us to push further in this long-term effort. The backbone of our research program is a series of scientific ocean going cruises that we have named the KGJ-CDeepSea expeditions. In this report you can read about the field campaigns that we carried out in 2017. In research, human resources is of key importance. In 2017 we have had focus on recruiting researchers and students with a strong drive and interest for science. Building and developing marine infrastructure and laboratories, and starting new experiments have also been key tasks. In the annual report you can also read about new research initiatives, and how the research plan of the seven work packages have been implemented. We also report on novel and more traditional outreach activities. One of the long-term objectives of the Centre is to advance the research and exploration northwards into the Polar Ocean. During 2017 we have come closer to this goal. Ægir 6000, our deep sea ROV-system, has now been tested onboard the new Norwegian icebreaker “Kronprins Haakon”. Through collaborations with national and international institutions, including University of Tromsø, The Polar Institute, Institute of Marine Research and the Alfred Wegner Institute, we are now planning our first deep sea polar expedition where Kronprins Haakon and Polarstern will operate in tandem to break new barriers in the Arctic. Rolf Birger Pedersen Centre Director

RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS The K.G. Jebsen Centre for Deep Sea Research depends heavily on field campaigns that often involves complex operations with a high risk. To secure a good start for researchers and students that have joined the Centre, the most important goal of the first year was to secure samples, and deploy long term instruments and experiments that are needed for the planned research. Two large field campaigns were successfully carried out, one on Iceland where we where a central partner in an international effort to drill into the volcano on Surtsey, and one deep sea expedition to the Arctic Mid-Ocean Ridges.

Drillsite C at Surtsey

INTERNATIONAL CONTINENTAL DRILLING PROGRAM AT SURTSEY In 1963 an explosive underwater volcanic eruption started off the southern coast of Iceland. The eruption continued for five years, after which time a new island rose more than 150 meters above the surface of the sea. The Island was named Surtsey and was immediately declared a nature reserve, and in recognition of its great scientific value UNESCO gave it status as a World Heritage Site in 2008. Since the eruption ceased, this iconic island has provided scientist with a natural laboratory for studying various geological and biological phenomenons. It is especially well suited for investigating how, when and by whom new land is colonized and how the inhabitants of the ecosystem change over time â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a process known as ecological succession.

The summer of 2017 a large-scale drilling operation on Surtsey was initiated as part of the SUSTAIN project. The SUSTAIN drilling project proposal was accepted in 2015 and it is part of the International Continental Scientific Drilling Program (ICDP). Our researcher Steffen Leth JĂ¸rgensen is one of the principle investigators, and along with an international team of researchers he will exploit the opportunity to investigate the deep biosphere in Surtsey. A part of the objective is to investigate the activity level of the deep biosphere and its potential environmental consequences. Further, it aims at increasing our limited understanding of the deep biosphere in general and more specific with respect to

microbial succession in young and pristine environments. One of the main objectives of the drilling operation was to install an in situ microbial observatory, and on September 5th this was accomplished and the observatory was deployed to a depth almost 200 meters below the surface. This observatory consists of numerous sensors and microbial incubators placed at different depths, providing and allowing scientist to get an insight into the deep biosphere and monitor it over time. Microbial cells thrive in this subsurface world, but apart from the existence, little is known about life in the deep. One of the most central questions that need to be addressed is whether the cells are active. If active, we do not know how they affect our surface world.

In addition, questions like abundance, origin and nature of microbial colonization in the deep biosphere needs to be addressed. The SUSTAIN project will help to shed light on some of the key questions and help to increase our current knowledge, and there is now an observatory which researchers can return to year after year. This opens up the possibility to monitor the environment over time and hence researchers can start to understand the dynamics of the system. It is crucial test if the community is active, and if so how active and with what consequences for the environment. Interdisciplinary research on the native sample material started in 2017, the observatory have been logging data, and the installed incubators are hopefully colonized. By drilling into an

extremely young and pristine environment there is a possibility to investigate ecological succession with respect to microbial life in the deep biosphere – how do microbes colonize and evolve in newly formed land. The SUSTAIN project has set sail, and is successfully providing the scientist with a great platform for future investigations. ▪

Steffen Leth Jørgensen investigating a drill core from Surtsey

500 m

Terrain model of the axial volcanic ridge mapped by the AUV. The three dimensional map reveals how the volcanic ridge has formed as a result of numerous volcanic eruptions.

THE KGJ-CDEEPSEA-2017 EXPEDITION - EXPLORING AND EXPERIMENTING IN THE DEEP SEA On the 22nd of June 2017, the research vessel G.O. Sars left Tromsø for the first annual seagoing expedition planned for K.G. Jebsen Centre for Deep Sea Research. Onboard were a blend of experienced scientist and technical personnel that have spent years at sea, and excited newcomers that soon will face the open sea for the first time. As always, when we passed the fjords and entered the rolling ocean, the enthusiasm vanished. Thirty hours later, G.O. Sars stops in the middle of the Norwegian-Greenland Sea. Apart from a few sea gullies that follow the ship, there is nothing to see at the surface. However, 2400 meters below us is a large volcano with a steaming hot hydrothermal vent field. The ROV is launched and the clear video transmission give us an illusion of 6

being in the ocean, descending into the deep sea. As we reach the seafloor we are entering a strange underwater volcanic world that we named Loki’s Castle, when we discovered the area in 2008. Our deep-sea expedition has started – and the enthusiasm returns. Onboard there is also a sense of excitement as this expedition also marks a new phase in our deep sea research. Whereas previous expeditions to a large extent have been explorative and focused on sampling, we now set out to establish a deep-sea observatory aimed at studying the complex interplay between the volcanic seabed and the ocean. During the first week of the expedition a range of instruments were deployed at 2400 m depth at the Loki’s Castle. Temperature sensors were placed in the large, up fifteen

meter tall chimneys that discharge 320C hydrothermal fluids. Seismometers, capable of recording large and small earthquakes, were deployed in a network around the vent field. Hydrophones that record the sound of the deep ocean were also deployed, as well as current meters that measure a surprisingly strong and changing bottom currents were placed on the seafloor. Finally, to trap microorganisms that live under these extreme conditions, titanium tubes, filled with substrates for microbial growth, were pushed into the hot seafloor using the robotics arms of the ROV. As part of the KGJ-CDeepSea-2018 expedition, we will revisit Loki’s Castle to retrieve the data that has been collected and the microorganisms that have been growing over

Top panel: High-temperature exit-fluid temperature record at Loki’s Castle. Time axis is shown in days. Bottom four panels: Hydrophone, X, Y and Z components records from ocean bottom seismometer deployed around Loki’s Castle.The signal recorded is from a smaller event around Loki’s Castle the 22.06.201. Time axis is shown in hours.

an entire year. Have the instruments worked as planned? We already know that something severe struck the area on the 27th of August. At 05:59 this day the regional seismic network recorded a 4.5 magnitude earthquake close to Loki’s Castle. New questions arise: Was the earthquake related to a volcanic eruption or injection of hot magma into the seafloor? Was the vent field affected, and have the instruments therefore recorded disturbances in the fluid flow that will help us reveal some of the secrets about seafloorocean interactions? On the July 1st we left Loki’s Castle and headed northward along the Knipovich Ridge to 77°N. Here, approximately 200 km west of Longyearbyen, we mapped a volcanic centre at 3500 m depth in 2004. The hull-mounted echo sounders of G.O. Sars then represented the state-of-the-art in seafloor mapping technology. This time, we aimed at mapping the axial volcanic ridge in 100 times higher resolution using an autonomously underwater vehicle (AUV). At this resolution the volcanic evolution can be traced, and deep-sea mineral resources can be located. When the AUVmissions were completed the data reviled the architecture of an amazing underwater volcano (see illustration). Based on this map an extensive sampling program was launched using Ægir-6000. Hundreds of kilo of volcanic rocks, sediments and biota living on the volcano were brought up from the seafloor by the ROV. This material is currently being analyzed in our laboratories, and the data will help us understand the rate at which such large volcanic centers develops, and how deep-sea life colonizes the newly formed seafloor. From 77°N the expedition gradually moved southwards towards Jan Mayen – and

then to Bergen. On the way to Jan Mayen, we stopped at a series of pre-planned sites to collect samples and data for all the work packages. On July 24th, we finally entered Bergen harbor after a three days crossing from Jan Mayen in rough weather. Still, one last dive remained. With television and other news media onboard, we visited Nautilus that rests on its side at 400 m depth in Byfjorden. This American submarine was the platform for an American-Norwegian polar expedition that in 1931 aimed at exploring the Arctic under the ice. The extremely risky expedition failed

technically, and the submarine ended its journey in Byfjorden. Since then we have gradually learned to master the challenges of the sub-sea environment. However, the ocean is still a rough place to be both for equipment and people. As the students and young researchers left G.O. Sars and finally put their feet on solid ground, some probably whispered – never again. For others, the expedition may have been the start of a life-long addiction to the ocean. ▪

Launching the AUV

INFRASTRUCTURE THE NORWEGIAN MARINE ROBOTICS FACILITY Access to robotics technology and advanced instrumentation is vital for deep sea research. The Norwegian Marine Robotics Facility (NORMAR) is the national facility for remotely operated vehicles (ROV). The facility is owned by University of Bergen and operated by K.G. Jebsen Centre for Deep Sea Research in collaboration with Institute of Marine Research. Our large deep sea ROV-system, named Ægir-6000, is a key asset for the research program of the Centre. In 2017 the facility served the Centre and a range of other national and international research projects and institutions. The KGJCDeepSea expedition to the Arctic MidOcean ridge was the most spectacular and challenging operation in 2017. Four weeks with 24-7 operations that involved deployment and recovery of a large range of instruments and experiments, as well as seafloor sampling down to 3500 meters, was demanding for personnel and equipment. A team of six ROV pilots that was lead by Stig Vågenes, our ROV-manager, carried out these complex operations with no significant down time. During the expedition, live streaming of video from the deep-sea to shore was successfully tested with the support of Telenor. Real time streaming of high resolution video opens for more effective and flexible use of personnel. With this in place, members of the team can stay on-shore - and still take part in the expedition. It also provides a new opportunity for the public to take part in deep sea exploration, and the potential of this was tested in collaboration with TV2 (see outreach). In 2017, Ægir-6000 and the ROV-team also served a range of other institutions and projects. At Easter time, it operated off the coast of Lofoten-Vesterålen to prepare for the deployment of a cabled-based seafloor observatory in 2018. In July it was the key instrument for the EU project SponGES, where it investigated and sampled sponge grounds along the Norwegian coast and in North Atlantic deep sea areas. In August, it assisted researcher from CAGE, a Centre of Excellence at University of Tromsø, to map underwater canyons at the continental slope off northern Norway. The 2017 operational schedule ended in December just south of Bergen. In Bjørnefjorden the ROV-team assisted the HORDFAST-project in locating suitable seafloor areas for anchoring the 4500 m long

bridge that is planned to link the Bergen peninsula with the Sunnhordland area. The most dramatic endeavor this year ended within a Hercules military plane at Flesland airport a stormy night in October. The NORMAR ROV team had then been called upon by the Rescue Coordination Centre to assist in a search and rescue operation for a Russian helicopter missing at Svalbard. Ægir-6000 and the ROV team was in the Hercules ready for take off when the mission suddenly was canceled. Logistical problems related to transporting the more bulky parts of the launch- and recovery system by air stopped the strive to enhance the rescue capacity with a capable ROV-system. The Rescue Coordination Centre has since encouraged us to make the ROV-system available as a resource for future rescue operations. In 2017 two new Norwegian research vessels were prepared and tested as platforms for ROV-use and deep-sea research. In February, Ægir was tested onboard Dr. Fridjof Nansen, a NORAD-owned research vessel that mainly operates in African and Asian waters. At the end of 2017, a year along process preparing the icebreaker F/F Kronprins Haakon for ROV-use was successfully ended . The first ordinary ROV-expedition will be carried out in the Barents Sea in late October 2018, the vessel will then leave to Antarctica with Ægir onboard. The first KGJ-CDeepSea under-ice expeditions to the Gakkel Ridge is planned for to take place in 2020/2021. ▪

WP1

RESEARCH THEMES Our research themes are divided into seven work packages. The work packages are tightly interconnected. They are multidisiplinary and designed to translate knowledge from basic to applied research. The year 2017 have been an exciting year, and there has been a lot of progress within the different work packages. The themes of the seven work packages are: WP1 CRUSTAL ACCRETION AT ULTRASLOW SPREADING RIDGES WP2 DIVERSITY AND FUNCTIONING OF HYDROTHERMAL SYSTEMS WP3 DEEP SEA MINERAL RESOURCES WP4 H YDROTHERMAL REACTIONS: EXPERIMENTAL ANALOGS FOR THE DEEP SEA

CRUSTAL ACCRETION AT ULTRASLOW SPREADING RIDGES This research theme deals with processes forming the oceanic crust along ultra slow spreading ridges such as the Arctic Mid-Ocean Ridges (AMOR). A central objective is to advance our understanding of the volcanic activity and its interplay with tectonic processes. It involves deep-sea exploration using modern underwater vehicles and sampling of the various geological components found in these environments. Results from this work package also build a foundation for the Center’s hydrothermal and geobiological research theme by providing knowledge about the geodynamics of seafloor accretion.

VARIATION IN MAGMATIC BUDGET ALONG THE AMOR Ultra slow ridges morphologies are more diverse than their faster counterparts. One of the most important controlling parameter is likely to be the large variation of their magmatic budget. This is well illustrated along the AMOR, in the Norway-Greenland Sea, where robust volcanic activity is found in the southern section and magma supply significantly decreases toward the north. In the south,

WP5 GEOCHEMICAL ENERGY LANDSCAPES AND LIFE WP6 BIODISCOVERY AND BIOPROSPECTING WP7 DEEP SEA ECOSYSTEMS AND ENVIRONMENT

Samples are being prepared for analyzes

Sampling of pillow lava with the ROV at 2700 m depth.

Kolbeinsey Ridge is a good example of magma-rich ridge where enhanced mantle melting conditions produce a thick volcanic oceanic crust. At the latitude of Knipovich Ridge, on axis colder thermal regime and

waning volcanism is producing a relatively thin basaltic crust, giving place to dominant tectonic extension. Exploring how the architecture of the oceanic lithosphere is changing with the melt budget is one of the main objectives of this work package. The first steps to address this question were done this year.

CONTINUATION OF CGB RESEARCH In 2017, the K.G. Jebsen Centre for Deep Sea Research continued the exploration of the AMOR. During the summer expedition, intensive efforts were made along an Axial Volcanic Ridge (AVR) located at 77°30’N, at the northern end of the Knipovich ridge. This elongated structure of 20 km long and 5 km wide is an archetypal AVR, regularly observed at slow spreading settings with low magma budget. One of our principal objectives was to investigate a chemical anomaly measured in the water column at this location during a previous cruise. This kind of chemical plume, typically marking the existence of hydrothermal activity on the seafloor, makes the area an interesting target for all Centre’s related research. Although we did not succeed in locating the new hydrothermal vent this year, it gave us the opportunity to gather a lot of data on this AVR.

USING NEWLY DEVELOPED TECHNOLOGY HUGIN AUV was a crucial tool for this work, producing an impressive high-resolution map despite a very challenging rough terrain. On these maps, it is possible to recognize over a hundred individual, small volcanic cones of various size probably representing different eruption centers. Some of these volcanoes show coherent alignments and are defining some larger scale structures, which are likely related to magma injecting in faults. This new bathymetry mapping was completed by direct observation of the seafloor, as well as a methodical sampling of the different volcanic structures, using Ægir 6000. Most of the samples recovered were typical mid-oceanic ridge basalts, with some of them showing large plagioclase crystals. Petrological descriptions suggest that at least two different types of lava were erupted along this AVR. In an attempt to get some temporal constrains on the eruptions, we also collected two push-cores in sedimented volcano tops. All these samples will be analyzed in the frame of a PhD project which started up in Januray 2018. ▪

WP2

DIVERSITY AND FUNCTIONING OF HYDROTHERMAL SYSTEMS WP2 addresses the diversity and functioning of deep sea hydrothermal activity, with hydrothermal activity along AMOR as our primary target. During year one, our aim was to use physical forcing processes (e.g. ocean tides, micro-earthquakes) to constrain subsurface permeability structure beneath Loki’s Castle hydrothermal site to ultimately inform estimates of heat, mass and chemical fluxes. CIRCULATION OF HYDROTHERMAL FLUIDS Circulation of hydrothermal fluids through the oceanic crust at mid-ocean ridge (MOR) axes accounts for up to 10% of Earth’s internal heat loss. It controls the thermo-mechanical state and degree of hydration of newly formed oceanic lithosphere (WP1), plays a major role in solute transfer between the subsurface and the overlying ocean (WP4), and supports complex chemosynthetic ecosystems (WP5) that are likely analogues for possible life in other parts of our solar system. The impact of hydrothermal circulation on each of the above processes or systems is directly linked to the magnitude and variability of volume, heat, and chemical

fluxes exiting on the seafloor. These processes are notoriously difficult to quantify due to the incredible variety of persistent and complex fluid venting styles. Indeed, hydrothermal fluxes are inherently variable in time, as both geological processes (e.g., earthquakes, eruptions, magma chamber replenishment and serpentinization) and oceanographic forcings (e.g., tidally forced currents and seafloor pressure) constantly perturb both the circulation and composition of crustal fluids and directly impacts vent ecosystems, shifting microbial energy landscapes (WP5). The response of hydrothermal circulation to geological and oceanographic perturbations is what holds the most promise for constraining critical system parameters such as the

Bathymetry map displaying locations of deployed sensors and fluid sampling during summer cruise 2017. Blue triangles show low-temperature probes. Red triangle show both fluid sampling location and high-temperature probes. Turquoise square show the location of a pressure gauge, and turquoise triangle the position of the current meters.

permeability structure or the heat available to drive convection.

DEPLOYMENT OF INSTRUMENTS ALONG LOKI’S CASTLE To achieve our research goals for year one, we successfully deployed our instruments network consisting of seven long-term hightemperature probes, four long-term lowtemperature probes, three current meters, one pressure gauge and six ocean bottom seismometers (OBS) (Fig X-Y) during our summer research cruise, as part of the LoCH NESs project. All of these sensor will be recovered in 2018. In addition, a total of twelve successful IGT samples were taken with maximum measured temperatures that ranged from 14–315°C. There were no failed deployments or leaked samplers. The measured range of pH values for both high temperature samples and low temperature fluids indicates good qualities with minimal accidental seawater entrainment during collection. We also carried out our first systematic imagery surveys of the area by performing consistent mapping with both high-resolution bathymetry and photomosaic imagery. By doing so we were able to give a geological context (WP1) to physical- and chemical fluid measurements and fluid sampling, and to link our instrument network experiment with ecology and microbiology observations (WP5). Finally, we shot videos of venting fluid flow which will be processed and analyzed to estimate the rate and mass flux of venting. Those estimates could be coupled to both the geochemical measurements and temperature of hydrothermal fluids to estimate chemical fluxes of key species related to ore formation (e.g. Cu, Zn) as well as important carbon cycle components (e.g. carbon dioxide and methane), work connected to WP3. ▪

WP3

DEEP SEA MINERAL RESOURCES The deep oceans have been an arena for pioneering exploration and groundbreaking science. Today the deep sea is also becoming a frontier for resource exploration with many nations claiming large seafloor areas for mineral exploitation. Norway are among the few nations that have parts of the 65.000 km long global ridge system within their national waters. It is therefore of particular interest for us to develop effective and robust technology to locate and quantify these potential resources.

Developing and testing robust and effective methods to explore for deep sea mineral resources is one of the objective of the Centre, and this has been a central theme for WP3 in 2017. The use of autonomous and remotely operated vehicles (AUV and ROV) and high-resolution mapping technology has changed our ability to unravel the seafloor geology. This also relates to how we now can distinguish seafloor mineral deposits from other seafloor features. In collaboration with the Norwegian Defense Research Establishment (FFI) we have evaluated the shortcomings with the current technology and the procedures we now are using, and we have made a detailed plan for how to proceed. One conclusion is that the degree of autonomy of AUVs is still suboptimal, which make them unnecessarily dependent on a nearby surface vessel. This limits the effectiveness of AUVs in a range of applications, and it hampers effective use of AUVs and ROVs in mineral exploration. This becomes particularly challenging in the rough, underwater volcanic terrains that are hosting many of the deposits. Our joint scientific and technological aims are therefore to raise the level of autonomy of AUVs, and we have been working on improving this by developing and testing robust terrain navigation and terrain awareness. In more common language this means that the machine can recognize specific features in the seafloor to know its position – just like we do when we navigate our way through a city recognizing familiar buildings. We will also develop automatic target detection based on inputs from multiple sensors and combine this with automatic mission planning to carry out in-mission studies of targeted sub-areas. Again, just like we do, when we smell a nearby bakery store and we decide to cross the road to explore this in more detail. During the 2017 cruise we also experimented with ship-independent use of the AUV to free up the research vessel to other tasks. So while the AUV operated by itself in autonomous mode to map the seafloor and collect geophysical data in one area, we took the ship to another nearby area to us the ROV to collect sample mineral deposits that had already been located. Mapping the seafloor in high resolution is of key importance for quantifying mineral resources. During the 2017 cruise we started a program to map active vent fields and mineral deposits in cm-scale resolution by mounting a multi-beam echo sounder on the ROV. These detailed maps are also of fundamental value for the rest of science program, as well as for the future management of these unique deep sea geotopes and their ecosystems. ▪

Sulfide ore composed of iron, copper and zinc sulfides in the old mine at Litlabø, Stord. The mineral deposit was formed by hydrothermal activity in the deep sea around 500 million years ago. Top photo is a SEM-image of a sulfide mineral from metalliferous sediment at Loki’s Castle hydrothermal vent field.

WP4

HYDROTHERMAL REACTIONS: EXPERIMENTAL ANALOGS FOR THE DEEP SEA As part of the Center for Deep Sea Research, our experimental facility will fill two areas of key knowledge gaps: (1) the formation and stability of simple organic molecules (critical to fueling the hydrothermal biosphere) and (2) the behavior of metal stable isotopes (critical to illuminating ore-forming processes). A quantitative understanding of hydrothermal geochemical processes in a controlled and rigorous experimental framework is essential for models of hydrothermal fluid and ore formation, the impacts of the ‘deep hot biosphere’ on fluid compositions, as well as predicting the likely chemistries of hot spring systems on the early Earth and elsewhere in the Solar System (e.g. on icy moons such as Enceladus). Both objectives in WP4 aim to fundamentally enhance our understanding of ore deposits and carbon cycling in hydrothermal oceanic crust, with important economic, geobiological and astrobiological implications.

THE COMPLEXITY OF HYDROTHERMAL FLUIDS The chemistry of hydrothermal fluids sampled at the seafloor reflects a complex history of numerous geochemical reactions in the deep hot subsurface regions of the crust (the ‘root’ or ‘reaction’ zones). Fluids venting as

Phhoto of sampling with a gas-tight fluid sampler

‘black smokers’ at the seafloor can be further affected by phase separation processes (boiling), mixing with crustal seawater beneath the seafloor, and potential interactions with organic matter. While WP2 will use high quality, diverse fluid samples from various hot spring systems to assess their geochemical diversity and reveal the broader functioning of these systems, sampling the natural environment illuminates only part of the history contained in hydrothermal fluid chemistries. Hot spring fluids venting at the seafloor have integrated so many processes - over diverse temperature and pressure scales, that it can be difficult to fully tease apart and quantify the effects of individual geochemical reactions (i.e. the ‘how’ and ‘why’ of specific chemical processes taking place prior to venting) based on their compositions alone. Laboratory-based hydrothermal experiments, however, have proven to be a powerful tool to develop and test fundamental hypotheses on specific geochemical processes occurring deeper in the system.

NEW LABORATORY FACILITIES Through WP4, we will add unique experimental hydrothermal capabilities to the K.G. Jebsen Centre for Deep Sea Research. During

2018, three flexible gold-titanium cells (modelled after Dickson’s original design for hydrothermal lab-experiments) will be constructed and become fully operational. This type of apparatus is capable of heating solutions and minerals to temperatures of 350°C, and critically, at pressures of up to 350 bar – replicating hydrothermal conditions as closely as possible. By utilizing Dickson’s original concept of a flexible, inert reaction cell surrounded by water as a pressurizing medium, we can recreate our own small-scale (<0.1 litre) hydrothermal systems. This will enable us to control and adapt them as needed to include fluids, minerals, and organic material of interest, under very realistic physico-chemical conditions. In 2017 a suite of gas-chromatography mass spectrometry infrastructure for organic geochemical analyses was installed within the Department of Earth Science, Biogeochemistry Laboratory. These new instruments are ideally suited to addressing the organic geochemistry objectives of WP4. With this infrastructure, a broad suite of novel organic analyses will now be possible (e.g. hydrocarbons, alcohols, sulfur and nitrogen organic compounds), fueling synergies with WP2, WP5 and WP6.

WP5

GEOCHEMICAL ENERGY LANDSCAPES AND LIFE NEWLY ESTABLISHED METHOD Important groundwork has also been laid in 2017 for the inorganic geochemistry objectives of WP4. Methods were successfully established for copper (Cu) and iron (Fe) stable isotope analysis using the Nu Instruments Plasma II multicollector inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometer (MC-ICP-MS) at the Department of Earth Science, and sample preparation routines have been tested for sulfide ore samples. In addition, three paired samples of hydrothermal fluids and active chimneys were collected in 2017 at the Lokiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Castle vent field that will be analyzed for their metal stable isotopic compositions. With this sampling strategy, we can determine changes in stable isotope ratios during the precipitation of ore minerals and use this to validate results from the experiments planned in WP4. â&#x2013;Ş

All living organisms require a source of energy. In this theme, we seek to quantify connections between energy flux and microbial activity in the deep sea. In order to reach our goals it is essential to further develop methods to analyse chemical energy landscapes, to explore the distribution of organisms in light of these energy landscapes, and to express our hypotheses as mathematical models that can be tested. Moreover, we need to develop tools that allow us to effectively analyse large datasets comprising DNA-sequence information and chemical data, which have been gathered from deep-sea environments (e.g. sediments and hydrothermal systems) on annual cruises with the research vessel G.O. Sars. MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTS

Sketch of an inert reaction cell for recreation of small controlled hydrothermal systems

Large efforts have been put into establishing a database containing already collected chemical data and DNA sequence data. A beta version is already established, and we will further develop the interface for data exploration. We will make use of advanced statistical methods to analyse the distribution of taxonomic and functional groups of organisms across a range of environmental settings with varying energy availability. The database is a significant contribution towards a more effective data exploration and will be an important tool for the centre in the coming years. Our group has also investigated microbial communities in active hydrothermal chimneys and in hydrothermal plumes, and confirmed the importance of energy density for explaining microbial community structure in hydrothermal systems. The work is a major contribution to our understanding of the connection between the activity in hydrothermal systems and the surrounding open water masses in the Nordic Seas. We have shown that iron-oxidizing bacteria seem to dominate in environmental settings with high relative densities of potential energy from iron oxidation. Combined with recent findings from WP4, these results provide evidence for a connection between sub-seafloor fluid flow patterns, energy landscapes and microbial community structure. During 2017, we have also developed a mathematical population dynamic model that is entirely based on parameters determining energy acquisition rates of microorganisms. The model has been analysed and we are currently in the process of describing its properties. In its current form, the model considers only two organisms which are competing for one or two common substrates. However, one of the major goals is to extend this model and use it to simulate population dynamics in large food webs. In addition, an optimized reaction transport model that allows us to extract estimated microbial reaction rates from geochemical data obtained from sedimentary systems have been implemented. This model is a critical step towards understanding microbial systems from an energy perspective, and we are currently using it to study minimum energy requirements in different deep-sea environments. â&#x2013;Ş

WP6

BIODISCOVERY AND BIOPROSPECTING

BIODISCOVERY Biodiscovery requires an inter-and multidisciplinary approach that spans ecology, evolution, biogeochemistry, bioinformatics and the use of advanced deep-sea technology. As a consequence, we have started to refine the use of deep-sea in situ cultivation chambers to include long-term monitoring of environmental factors such as temperature and geochemical parameters. During the 2017 summer research cruise, one year temperature profiles from a hydrothermal sediment was collected. Data from these experiments will guide our understanding of the heat flux and mixing in hydrothermal sediments. The profiles also support the downstream analysis of the microbial populations enriched in the chambers. Furthermore, technology development also include a new laboratory benchtop bioreactor expected to be operational in March 2018. This instrument will be used for enzyme production and targeted cultivation of microorganisms. By using in situ incubators, we have gained access to microbial lineages that so far never have been cultivated in the laboratory. These lineages are called microbial dark matter (MDM).Our in-house metagenomics pipeline provides a new and fundamental insight into the metabolism and phylogeny of MDM microbes in deep-sea hydrothermal vents. In association with WP2 and WP5 we are screening a range of deep-sea ecosystems with varying microbial and geochemical signatures in the search for novel microorganisms.

BIOPROSPECTING The deep-sea hydrothermal vents located at the Arctic Mid-Ocean Ridge (AMOR) are unique habitats when it comes to searching for enzymes that operates at high temperatures. Today there is a constant need for new enzymes to develop more sustainable and 16

economically competitive production processes, but also to meet the requirements of new biotechnological arenas. We are involved in Biotech projects that search for and utilize enzymes from the AMOR hydrothermal vent fields in collaboration with industrial partners; NorZymeD (NRC, Biotek2021), InMare (Horizon 2020, EU), VirusX (Horizon 2020, EU). A new enzyme database, the “VentZyme” database, is under development. ▪

Hot hydrothermal sediments at the Jan Mayen Vent field: In situ cultivation of microorganisms using titanium chambers filled with complex organic materials.

Networks of cells in novel microbial mats from an active Barite chimney (A-B), and a hydrothermal chimney at Loki’s Castle vent field (C-D). A Novel active Barite chimney. B D API photomicrograph showing networks of single rod-shaped cells connected with thin threads of extracellular substances.

C S EM images of the long microbial filaments with smaller rods attached to the filament surface. D T EM image of ultrathin sections of the microbial biofilm revealing Filamentous Epsilonproteobacteria with individual cells separated by common septa.

WP7

DEEP SEA ECOSYSTEMS AND ENVIRONMENT A high variety of unique and by far unexplored extreme deep-sea ecosystems and nature types can be found along the Arctic mid-ocean ridge and the continental slopes. Our team aims to explore the organisms and deep-water ecosystems found along mid-ocean ridges and slopes in the northernmost Atlantic, with a main focus on hydrothermal systems and other poorly known ecosystems and nature types inhabiting hard substrates in these areas, e.g. sponge grounds and sponge- and soft coral gardens. The biodiversity, ecological importance and biotechnological potential in these ecosystems is emerging to be even higher than other deep-sea ecosystems, but have so far received relatively little scientific or conservation attention. A PRODUCTIVE 2017 Our focus in 2017 has been on the fauna associated with hydrothermal vents along the AMOR, as well as sponge-dominated, hardbottom, deep-sea ecosystems along the ridge. The macrofauna at hydrothermal vents in the area represent unprecedented and very specialized communities. We see that the trophic structure of the vent communities is based on chemolithotrophic bacteria, using mainly reduced sulphur compounds as energy source. These communities are also characterized by high biomass and low biodiversity compared to the surrounding areas and a high level of endemism. We have shown that chemosynthetic habitats in the Norwegian and Greenland seas host an endemic and highly specialized fauna, particularly at the deep parts of the Knipovich Ridge and the Lokiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Castle vent field. A shared group of keystone species, which are directly or indirectly dependent on chemosynthetically derived energy, have been identified at hot vents along AMOR,

cold seeps along the Norwegian margin, and in wood-falls in the abyssal Norwegian Sea. Polychaetes represent the faunal group with the highest number of new taxa discovered, and so far about a dozen new species of polychaetes have been, or are being formally described from the Loki Castle alone. Molecular tools have been extensively used to provide more information about the evolutionary history of this special fauna, and to explore the possible connections between the northernmost Atlantic, Pacific, Antarctic and Indian Ocean chemosynthetic faunas through time. The high degree of local adaptation and endemism of the vent fauna in the region have called for establishing a new biogeographic province for vent fauna, which includes the deep Nordic Seas and potentially the Polar Basin. Ampharetid polychaetes have served as an example to study the evolutionary links between chemosynthesis-based ecosystems (CBEs) at local and global scales. Chemosynthetic microorganisms make up the base of the food web in these vent systems. Stable isotopes have been

Sponge grounds are vulnerable ecosystems that are dominating hard bottom areas along the AMOR. In areas with negative bottom temperature these grounds are dominated by glass sponges (Hexactinellida), as here from 650 m depth on Knipovich Ridge.

used to study structure, function and trophic interactions in the macrofaunal community in the Lokiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Castle and Jan Mayen vent fields. The aim of these analyses was to interpret the importance of chemosynthetic energy versus the input of particulate organic matter (POM) from the surface waters. Initial analyses indicate that the macrofaunal community is adapted to a life in a chemosynthetic habitat. However, unlike many other vent fields, the majority of the species at AMOR vents do not host endo- or ectosymbionts, but rely instead on grazing thiotrophic bacteria. Owing to the data attained from the former Centre for Geobiology as well as data from the other research themes, our current knowledge about the diversity, distribution, function, and services provided by these ecosystems is profound. This base of knowledge will enable us to put in place environmental monitoring programs for the AMOR vents and mineral deposits, and to provide knowledgebased advice in future management plans for the Norwegian Sea system to cover these specialized and vulnerable ecosystems. â&#x2013;Ş

Amphipods of the order Lysianassoidea are important scavengers in the Loki Castle Vent Field.

WORKSHOP AND CONFERENCES IODP PRE-PROPOSAL FOR DRILL HOLES AT THE SOUTHERN KNIPOVICH RIDGE In early September, we hosted a MagellanPlus Workshop on “Carbon Cycling at the Ultraslow Arctic Spreading Ridge System” which aimed to initiate and frame a large-scale proposal for drilling deep into the ocean floor in the Norwegian/Greenland Sea. The goal was to discuss a plan and draft up an International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP) proposal for JR-style drilling of a series of

holes on and off axis of the Southern Knipovich Ridge (SKR) to assess the cycling of carbon and consequences for life in sediments and shallow basement. The aim of the workshop was to frame and sharpen scientific objectives, select drill sites and expose potential risks related to deep drilling of the North Atlantic Spreading Ridge System and thereby laying the cornerstones for an IODP

drill proposal. After two and a half days of exciting presentations followed by extensive discussions, the workshop resulted in a roadmap guiding the processes to a pre-proposal lead by the Centre for IODP scheduled in the spring 2018. This will end in a final IODP proposal aimed at deep drilling in the North Atlantic Spreading Ridge System. ▪

Small sulfide chimneys venting 270 degree fluids and bubbles of CO2 gas. Perle & Bruse vent field, Jan Mayen area.

K.G. JEBSEN LEADING AN INTERRIDGE WORKING GROUP InterRidge is an international organization that pools the resources of its member countries to drive oceanic ridge research forward in a way that is cost-effective, cooperative and proven to be successful. It is concerned with promoting all aspects of mid-ocean ridge research (their study, use and protection) which can only be achieved by international cooperation. Thibaut Barreyre at the K.G. Jebsen Center for Deep Sea Research has been appointed to lead a new InterRidge working group focusing on Integrating Multid isciplinary Observations in Vent Environments (IMOVE). This new international working group will contribute to the deep-sea research community by fostering and coordinating the integration of hydrothermal data from vent fields where observatory-style data have been acquired. A large set of temporal and spatially-variable multidisciplinary data have been collected from deep-sea vent fields at considerable cost to the international community, but to this point the datasets have mostly been analyzed in a piecemeal fashion. Systematic efforts to integrate data from different disciplines and synthesize these products into quantitative, cross-disciplinary models relevant to hydrothermal processes on the global Mid Ocean Ridge (MOR) system have the potential to produce transformative scientific results, and are clearly needed at this point in time. The IMOVE working group will provide an international framework for this effort, and will effectively leverage all of the previous funding allocated (logistical and scientific) to gather and study this data by individual countries and organizations. ▪

BRINGING TOGETHER DEEP OCEAN GEOBIOLOGISTS In August this year, seven K.G. Jebsen Centre for Deep Sea Research scientists headed to Paris to attend the Goldschmidt conference, which is the largest convention for geochemistry and attracts more than 4000 scientists every year. In recent years, the meeting has become strongly interdisciplinary with topics including everything from mineralogy and environmental geochemistry to geoarcheology and astrobiology. Associate professors Desiree Roerdink and Eoghan Reeves from the K.G. Jebsen Centre jumped into this trend and proposed a session on the geobiology of the deep sea at the 2017 Goldschmidt conference. They eventually teamed up with colleagues from Japan, China, the US and France and led a session called Geobiology of the Deep Ocean and Subsurface: Contributions of the Deep Biosphere to Earth Systems (15h). The focus was to give the stage to geochemists, micro-

biologists and geologists that are working on deep-sea environments (such as seafloor sediments and hydrothermal vents) to discuss new data collected from these places and try to understand how microbes and chemical reactions in these systems affect our planet. Thirty-three scientists presented their work in this session, nineteen of which showed their results on posters and fourteen by giving presentations. Five of the presenters were from University of Bergen. Among them was Steffen Leth Jørgensen, Rui Zhao and Karen Cecilie Johannessen, which gave excellent presentations on their work on the sediments of the Arctic Mid-Ocean Ridge system and iron-rich deposits from the Jan Mayen hydrothermal vent field. The session was a great opportunity to show to an international audience what exciting work the K.G. Jebsen Centre are doing in the Arctic deep sea. ▪

OUTREACH

Image of the tower of Nautilus submarine that rests on the bottom of Byfjorden. The submarine was used for the Arctic expedition in 1931.

DIRECT STREAMING OF VIDEO TO THE PUBLIC FROM THE DEEP SEA A new way of reaching the public was implemented during the 2017 research expedition. The underwater video signals transmitted from our ROV was then live-streamed to shore via a satellite link. The video-streaming was made possible by the support of Telenor, and it was made available to the public through Facebook. Although this was an experiment, and we lacked the capacity to fully follow up the communication with the public, the stream became popular. In total over 50.000 viewers followed the Internet transmissions. In the upcoming expeditions, we will continue to stream live video, both for communicating with the public, but also to make it possible for scientist and students that stay on-shore to take part in the expeditions. For the up-coming expedition we will recruit students that have an interest and talent for science communication to help us explain and answer questions asked by the followers. In addition to distributing live images and information through Facebook and other Internet platform, we will also stream video to public exhibitions â&#x20AC;&#x201C; like our own University Museum. The live streaming of video from the deep sea during the 2017 cruise also caught interest 20

by the national media. On national news, the viewers could see spectacular direct video from 3000 m depth west of Svalbard. This at the same time as the Centre and expedition leader was interviewed through Skype, and Ida Steen, the deputy Centre leader, was present in the TV-studio in Bergen explaining the viewers about marine bio-prospecting. Interviews both before and after the expedition also became a channel to communicate with the public about the deep sea and the exciting ocean research that are carried out at our new Centre. â&#x2013;Ş

THE JEBSEN SEMINAR As part of the K.G. Jebsen Centre for Deep Sea Research, we have had six invited speakers presenting work within their field. Paul Mason Utrecht University, Netherland Date: 20th April Title: “Tracing early life, atmospheres and possible extraterrestrial life using multiple sulfur isotopes”

Design of the planned museum exhibition.

CENTRE INVOLVEMENT IN PUBLIC OUTREACH AT THE NEW UNIVERSITY MUSEUM EXHIBITION Marine research has a long history in Norway and is well anchored in the University of Bergen’s new strategy document “Ocean, Life, Society”. Through the ‘Ocean Strategy’, the government emphasizes the scientific and economic significance of exploring the oceans in order to utilize its natural resources. When the University Museum was awarded 600 MNOK to renovate and upgrade their historical building in Muséplassen 3, an exhibition featuring the pioneering deep sea research at UiB was called for. The deep sea exhibition will be located in the first floor and will be the only exhibition that is freely available for the public. The exhibition covers topics that are anchored in the seven work packages of the Centre, ranging from geodynamic processes at spreading ridges to life in extreme environments. Through workshops and discussions, researchers from the Centre have contributed with insights from their respective research fields. At the heart of the exhibition, a black smoker from the Mid-Atlantic Ridge will symbolize the fruitful collaboration between geologists and biologists and build upon the 10-year long success of the Centre for Geobiology.

An important part of the exhibition will be to illustrate the technological evolution, which has made it possible to enter and explore the deepest parts of our oceans. The history goes all the way back to Michael Sars’ discovery of life at 800 meters depth in the early 1800s. With the advent of new technology comes the ability to visualize the depths of the ocean in unprecedented detail. The deep sea exhibition will feature some of the unique and high-quality images and video material that have been collected over the years. A collection of rock and mineral samples will be on display to highlight the natural resources present in the deep sea. Less than two years are remaining until the renovation of the University Museum is completed. The exhibition, a keystone in the work of public outreach at the Centre, will reach more than 60 000 visitors every year. As the pieces are starting to fall into place, researchers from the Centre will continue to play a key role in maintaining a presentation of the deep sea that will enlighten, inspire and encourage visitors of all ages. ▪

Dr. Gunter Wegener Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology & MARUM Center for Marine Environmental Sciences, Germany Date: 11th May Title: “Life based on Hades’ heat: How vent and water column microorganisms thrive on geomolecules”

Cindy Van Dover Duke University, USA Date: 29th May Title: “The role of science in environmental management of seabed mining”

Prof. Charles Langmuir Harvard University, USA Date: 12th June Title: “Globally synchronous activity at ocean ridges?”

Pierre Galand Paris-Sorbonne and Pierre-et-Marie Curie (UPMC), France Date: 28th September Title: “Are marine microbes functionally redundant?”

Sophie Abby University of Vienna, Austria Date: 16th November Title: “Genome assembly of hot ammoniaoxidizing archaea: a glimpse into the evolutionary success of Thaumarchaeota” 21

MASTER STUDENTS The K.G. Jebsen Center have several new master students in 2017. As a student affiliated with the K.G. Jebsen Centre you will finish with a Master in Biology – Geobiology or a Master in Earth Science – Geochemistry and Geobiology. The degrees as strongly interdisciplinary, and it is important for the Centre to include the students in a good research environment at an early stage in their degree.

CURRENT: Hannah Babel (BIO) Metabolic functions of hyperthermophilic sulfate reducing archaea of the genus Archaeoglobus in deep-sea hydrothermal vent systems

Solveig Lie Onstad (GEO) Magma plumbing system and MORB petrogenesis along the ultraslow spreading South West Indian Ridge

Martin Steinseide (GEO) Altered rocks along cracks and fissures in the coastal zone – hydrothermal alteration or Jurassic deep-weathering

Thomas Øfstegaard Viflot (GEO) Geochemistry and geobiology of low-temperature fluid formation in Arctic Mid-Ocean Ridge hydrothermal systems

Ida Marie Leirvåg (BIO) Phylogenetic characterization and expression of specific viral genes of interest.

Christine Østensvik (BIO) A faunistic survey of the amphipod fauna of Hjeltefjorden, West-Norway.

Maria Salem (GEO) Phanerozoic Earth System Evolution: Paleozoic vs. post-Paleozoic Interactions

Master student attending the “Regional geologic excursion to Western Norway”. During the field course we look at the result of old oceanic processes.

PHD STUDENTS COMPLETED IN 2017 Vilde Bakke (GEO) Volcanic rocks at the Møre Marginal High: geochemistry, petrogenesis and emplacement mechanisms

Cassandra Berntsen (BIO) Benthic ecology and trophic interactions at Loki Castle vent field.

Hilde Dybevik (BIO) Revision of the family Heteropiidae (Porifera, Calcarea) in the northernmost North Atlantic Ocean.

Signe Haukelidsæter (GEO) Textural and geochemical characteristics of iron deposits at the Jan Mayen vent field: implications for formation mechanisms

CURRENT: Adriana Alvizu (BIO) Taxonomy and phylogeny of deep-water sponges calcareous sponges in the Norwegian-GreenlandIceland Seas

Hasan Arsin (BIO) Industrail application of proteases deriving from extreme environments

Francisca Carvalho (BIO)

Laura Vittoria De Luca Peña (GEO) Energy landscapes and microbial interactions in hydrothermal systems

Jan Van der Roost (BIO) Iron oxidizers in the Jan Mayen hydrothermal fields

Anders Schouw (BIO)

Rock sponges from the deep North Atlantic: diversity, distribution and evolution

Biogenic conversion of higher hydrocarbons to methane – New isolates, functional insight and models.

Alden Denny

Anne Stensland (GEO)

Bringing the seafloor to light: The application of advance deep-sea remote sensing to marine geology

Input and fate of hydrothermal gases and trace elements in deep-sea plumes in the NorwegianGreenland Sea.

Mari Heggernes Eilertsen (BIO)

Rui Zhao (BIO)

Evolutionary history, connectivity and habitat-use of annelids from deep-sea chemosynthesis-based ecosystems, with an emphasis on the Arctic Mid-Ocean Ridge and the Nordic Seas

Microbial Nitrogen Cycle in the deep biosphere

COMPLETED:

Unraveling distinctive sulfide mineralization and hydrothermal alteration on shallow seafloor hydrothermal systems

Kristin Flesland (GEO)

Sven Le Moine Bauer (BIO)

Tarje Lyngtveit (GEO)

Eirik Gjerløw (GEO)

Nicholas Hawkes (BIO) Epibenthic megafauna associated with sponge grouns formed by the unique glass sponge Vazella pourtalesii in Emerald Basin, Nova Scotia, Canada.

Ole Johan Hornenes (GEO)

Geochemical and microtextural characteristics reflect the formation mechanics of laminated iron deposits at the Perle & Bruse and Troll Wall vent fields

Håvard Stubseid (GEO) Geological evolution and stratigraphic relationships of the ophiolitic terrane in the outer Hardangerfjord area: evidence from geochronology and geochemistry

Andreas Sæbø (GEO) Izu-Bonin rear-arc magmatism: geochemical investigation of volcanoclastic material

Randi Storeide (GEO) Geochemistry of lava samples collected near the oceanic detachments at 13°N along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge

Tone Ulvatn (BIO) A reverse taxonomic approach to assess the community composition of sponge grounds in the Nordic Seas.

Andreas Lambach Viken (GEO) Accretionary history of Lower Ordovician island arc complexes on Bømlo: evidence from detrital zircon dating and geochemical data

Henrike Wilborn (GEO) Formation processes and environment for jasper and chert deposits on the West coast of Norway: a textural and geochemical study

Hydrothermal and volcanic history at Ultra-slow spreading ridges recorded in sediment cores

Impact of environmental parameters and dispersal in microbial communities in hydrothermal areas of the Nordic Seas.

Holocene volcanic activity and hazards of Jan Mayen, North-Atlantic

Kristian Agasøster Haga (GEO) Causal Interactions in the Earth system

Håvard Hallås Stubseid (GEO) Melt budget and geochemical variations across the arctic mid oceanic ridges

Karen Cecilie Johannessen (GEO) Geochemical and textural biosignatures of iron oxidizing bacteria in modern hydrothermal deposits and Proterozoic jasperlites

Karin Landschulze (GEO) Investigations of possible CO2 migration pathways and mechanisms with respect to storage safety and monitoring

Tor Einar Møller (GEO) Quantifying associations between microbial and geochemical processes in the deep biosphere

Ana Patova (BIO) Population genomics of the deep-water glass sponges Vazella portalesi and Pheronema carpenteri

Leif-Erik Pedersen (GEO) Biosignatures in the oceanic crust

STAFF ASSOCIATED WITH K.G. JEBSEN CENTRE FOR DEEP SEA RESEARCH The Centre is composed of a wide range of nationalities, and together we are bringing our research forward by combining our various disciplines to obtain new insight into to the unknowns of the deep sea. ADMINISTRATION Olsen, Linn Merethe Brekke Higher Executive Officer Sagosen, Kjersti Higher Executive Officer

PROFESSORS AND ASSOCIATE PROFESSORS

Roerdink, Desiree Co-leader, work package 4 Steen, Ida Helene Deputy Director Thorseth, Ingunn H. Head of Department, Department of Earth Science

Jørgensen, Steffen Leth Stokke, Runar Leader, work package 6

TECHNICIANS Almelid, Hildegunn Dundas, Siv Hjort

Haflidason, Haflidi

RESEARCHERS AND POST-DOCS

Hamelin, Cédric Leader, work package 1

Abraham-James, Filipa Marques Leader, work package 3

Heggstad, Irene

Mjelde, Rolf

Barreyre, Thibaut. Leader, work package 2

Mørkved, Pål Tore

Pedersen, Rolf Birger Centre Director

Brendryen, Jo

Ronen, Yuval

Castro, David Diego

Tumyr, Ole

Dahle, Håkon Leader, work package 5

Vågenes, Stig

Rapp, Hans Tore Leader, work package 7 Reeves, Eoghan P. Co-leader, work package 4

Hannisdal, Bjarte

Fedøy, Anita-Elin

PUBLICATIONS PUBLISHED IN 2017 Arsin, H. Stokke, R. Steen, I.H. Bjerga, G. and Puntervoll, P. 2017. Discovery of proteases for bioconversion of marine biomass. BIOCAT RS meeting

Larsen, Ø. Arsin, H. Stokke, R. Puntervoll, P. Smalås, A.O. Steen, I.H. and Bjerga, G. Discovery of proteases for bioconversion of marine biomass. 2017. BIOPROSP. Tromsø

Busby, C.J. Tamura, Y. Blum, P. Guèrin, G. et al., incl. Hamelin C. 2017. The missing half of the subduction factory: shipboard results from the Izu rear arc, IODP Expedition 350. International Geology Review, 59 (13), pp. 1677-1708

Leth Jørgensen, S. Zhao, R. Roerdink, D.L. Økland, I. Baumberger, T. Pedersen, R.B. and Thorseth, I.H. 2017. Microbial and geochemical variation in sediments along the arctic mid-ocean spreading ridge system. Goldschmidt Abstracts, 2281

Dunhill, A.M. Hannisdal, B. Brocklehurst, N. and Benton, M.J. 2017. On formation-based sampling proxies and why they should not be used to correct the fossil record. Palaeontology, 61 (1), pp. 119-132. doi:10.1111/ pala.12331.

Madureira, P. Rosa, C. Marques, A.F. et al., incl. Hamelin C. 2017. The 1998–2001 submarine lava balloon eruption at the Serreta ridge (Azores archipelago): Constraints from volcanic facies architecture, isotope geochemistry and magnetic data. Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, 329, pp. 13-29

Eilertsen, M.H. Kongsrud, J.A. Alvestad, T. Stiller, J. Rouse, G.W. and Rapp, H.T. 2017. Do ampharetids take sedimented steps between vents and seeps? Phylogeny and habitat-use of Ampharetidae (Polychaeta. Terebelliformia) in chemosynthesis-based ecosystems. BMC Evolutionary Biology. 17 (1), 222. doi.org/10.1186/s12862-017-1065-1 Einarsdottir, E. Magnusdottir, M. Astarita, G. Köck, M. Ögmundsdottir, H.M. Thorsteinsdottir, M. Rapp, H.T. Omarsdottir, S. and Paglia, G. 2017. Metabolic profiling as screening tool for cytotoxic compounds: Identification of 3-alkyl pyridine alkaloids from sponges collected at a shallow-water hydrothermal vent site north of Iceland. Marine Drugs, 15 (52), pp. 1-14. doi:10.3390/md15020052 Escartín, J. Mevel, C. Petersen, S. et al., incl. Hamelin C. 2017. Tectonic structure, evolution, and the nature of oceanic core complexes and their detachment fault zones (13 20’ N and 13 30’ N, Mid Atlantic Ridge). Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems, 18 (4), pp. 1451-1482 George, K.H. Boetius, A. Baeger, J. Barz, J. Dannheim, J. Kieneke, A. Molari, M. Nordhausen, A. Purser, A. Schmidtmann, L. Schramm, F. Slaby, B. Vonnahme, T. Wegener, G. Hentschel, U. Rapp, H.T. and Wollenburg, J. 2017. Benthos of Karasik Seamount. Berichte zur Polar- und Meeresforschung, 706, pp. 92-120. Hannisdal, B. Haaga, K.A. Reitan, T. Diego, D. and Liow, L.H. 2017. Common species link global ecosystems to climate change: dynamical evidence in the planktonic fossil record. Proceedings of the Royal Society B, 284 (1858). doi:10.1098/rspb.2017.0722.

Maldonado, M. Aguilar, R. Bannister, R.J. Bell, J. Conway, K.W. Dayton, PK. Diaz, C. Gutt, J. Kelly, M. Kenchington, E.L.R. Leys, SP. Pomponi, S.A. Rapp, H.T. Rüzler, K. Tendal, O.S. Vacelet, J. and Young, C.M. 2017. Sponge grounds as key marine habitats: a synthetic review of types, structure, functional roles and conservation concerns. In Rossi S., Bramanti L., Gori A., Orejas C., Marine Animal Forests – The Ecology of Benthic Biodiversity Hotspots. MeteorSpringer. DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-17001-5_24-1. ISBN 978-3-319-21011-7. 1366 pp. pp 145-183 Mason, P. Roerdink, D.L. Galic, A. and Whitehouse, M. Pyrite geochemistry as recorder of early biosphere processes. Goldschmidt Abstracts, 2616 Pechlivanidou, S. Cowie, P.A. Hannisdal, B. Whittaker, A.C. Gawthorpe, R.L., Pennos, C. and Riiser, O.S. 2017. Source-to-sink analysis in an active extensional setting: Holocene erosion and deposition in the Sperchios rift, central Greece. Basin Research, 29. doi:10.1111/bre.12263. Pedersen, L-E.R. Staudigel, H. McLoughlin, N. Whitehouse, M.J. and Strauss, H. 2017. A multiple sulfur isotope study through the volcanic section of the Troodos ophiolite. Https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/ pii/S0009254117304497 Plotkin, A. Gerasimova, E. and Rapp, H.T. 2017. Polymastiidae (Porifera: Demospongiae) of the Nordic and Siberian Seas. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the UK. doi.org/10.1017/S0025315417000285

Hestetun, J.T. Rapp, H.T. and Xavier J. 2017. Carnivorous sponges (Porifera. Cladorhizidae) from the Southwestern Indian Ocean Ridge seamounts. Deep-Sea Research Part II, 137, pp. 190-206. H.T.tp://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j. dsr2.2016.03.004

Plotkin, A. Gerasimova, E. Morrow, C.P. and Rapp, H.T. 2017. Polymastiidae (Demospongiae: Hadromerida) with ornamented exotyles: a review of morphological affinities and description of a new genus and three new species. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the UK, 97(6), pp. 1351-1406. doi.org/10.1017/S0025315416000655

Hestetun, J.T. Tompkins-MacDonald, G. and Rapp, H.T. 2017. A review of carnivorous sponges from the boreal North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 181 (1), pp. 1–69. doi.org/10.1093/ zoolinnean/zlw022

Plotkin, A. Voigt, O. Willassen, E. and Rapp, H.T. 2017. Molecular phylogenies challenge the classification of Polymastiidae (Porifera. Demospongiae) based on morphology. Organisms, Diversity and Evolution, 17, pp. 45-66. DOI 10.1007/s13127-016-0301-7

Jensen, S. Fortunato, S.V. Hoffmann, F. Hoem, S. Rapp, H.T. Øvreås, L. Woebken, D. and Torsvik, V.L. 2017. The relative abundance and transcriptional activity of marine sponge-associated microorganisms emphasizing groups involved in sulfur cycle. Microbial Ecology 73 (3), pp 668-676. doi:10.1007/s00248-016-0836-3

Possner, S.T. Schroeder, F.C. Rapp, H.T. Sinnwell, V. Franke, S. and Francke, W. 2017. 3.7-Isoquinoline Quinones from the ascidian tunicate Ascidia virginea. Zeitschrift für Naturforschung C. 72(07-08).

Johannessen, K.C. Roost, J.V. Dahle, H. Dundas, S.H. Pedersen, R.B. and Thorseth, I.H. 2017. Environmental controls on biomineralization and Fe-mound formation in a low-temperature hydrothermal system at the Jan Mayen Vent Fields. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 202, pp. 101-123 Kongsrud, J.A. Eilertsen, M.H. Alvestad, T. and Rapp H.T. 2017. Two new species of Ampharetidae (Polychaeta) from the Loki Castle vent field. DeepSea Research Part II, 137, pp. 232-245. doi.org/10.1016/j.dsr2.2016.08.015

Ramírez, G. Zhao, R. D’Hondt, S. and Jørgensen, S. 2017. Marine Benthic Necromass: Discriminative Detection of Detrital DNA in Mid-Arctic Ridge Sediments. Goldschmidt Abstracts, 3204 Reeves, E.P. Ono, S. Sylva, S. Seewald, J.S. Green, W.H. Reddy, C. and Nelson, R. 2017. Organosulfur radical acceleration and D/H isotope exchange effects during petroleum decomposition. Goldschmidt Abstracts, 3298

PUBLICATIONS Roerdink, D.L. Landro, J-K. Jørgensen, S.L. Zhao, R. Baumberger, T. Økland, I. and Thorseth, I.H. 2017. Subsurface sulfur cycling in Loki’s Castle hydrothermal barite field: insights from sulfate reduction rates. Goldschmidt Abstracts, 3381

SUBMITTED

Roost, J.V. Thorseth, I.H. and Dahle, H. 2017. Microbial analysis of Zetaproteobacteria and co-colonizers of iron mats in the Troll Wall Vent Field. Arctic Mid-Ocean Ridge. PloS one 12 (9).

Barreyre, T. Davaille, A. and Mittelstaedt, E. Characterizing the generation of thermals above a linear heat source to estimate associated heat flux: application to hydrothermal crack systems. G-Cubed.

Storeide, S. Hamelin, C. Bezos, A. and Escartin, J. 2017. Structural geochemistry of a detachment fault and associated volcanism. Goldschmidt Abstracts, 3795

Dahle, H. Le Moine Bauer, S. Baumberger, T. Stokke, R. Pedersen, R.B. Thorseth I.H. and Steen I.H. Differences in energy landscapes in cross sections of hydrothermal chimneys reflect differences in what microbial communities they host. Frontiers in Microbiology

Tandberg, A.H.S. Olsen, B.R. and Rapp, H.T. 2017. Amphipods from the arctic hydrothermal vent field «Loki’s Castle». Norwegian Sea. Biodiversity Journal, 8 (2), pp. 553-554. Wissuwa, J. Le Moine Bauer, S. Steen, I.H. and Stokke, R. 2017. Complete genome sequence of Lutibacter profundi LP1T isolated from an Arctic deepsea hydrothermal vent system. Stand Genomic Sci. 2017 Jan 7.12:5. Zhao, R. Roerdink, D.L. Thorseth, I. and Jørgensen, S. Geochemical transition zones are hotspots of nitrogen cycling in Arctic marine sediments. Goldschmidt Abstracts, 4505

IN PRESS Barreyre, T. Olive, J-A. Crone, T.J. and Sohn, R. Depth-dependent permeability and heat output at basalt-hosted hydrothermal systems across mid-ocean ridge spreading rates. G-Cubed Johansen, P-O. Isaksen, T.E. Haave, M. Dahlgren, T.G. Bye-Ingebrigtsen, E. Kvalø, S.E. Greenacre, M. Durand, D. and Rapp H.T. Temporal changes in benthic macrofauna on the west coast of Norway resulting from human activities. Marine Pollution Bulletin.

Alvizu, A. Eilertsen, M.H. Xavier, J.R. and Rapp, H.T. Increased taxon sampling does not resolve the phylogeny and classification of calcaronean sponges (Porifera. Calcarea). Organisms Diversity and Evolution

Dudik, O. Martins, E. Diogo, G.S. Leonor, I. Xavier, J.R. Rapp, H.T. Pires, R.A. Silva T.H. and Reis, R.L. Sponge-derived silica for tissue regeneration. Materials Today Eilertsen, M.H. Georgieva, M.N. Kongsrud, J.A. Wiklund, H. Glover, A.G. and Rapp, H.T. Widespread worms: Sclerolinum contortum and Nicomachean lokii (Annelida: Siboglinidae. Maldanidae) are both distributed from the Arctic to the Antarctic. Scientific Reports Ghiglione, C. Alvaro, M.C. Ceccetto, M. Canese, S. Downey, R. Guzzi, A. Mazzioli, C. Piazza, P. Rapp, H.T. Sará, A. and Schiaparelli, S. Distributional records of Antarctic Porifera from samples stored at the Italian National Antarctic Museum (MNA). with an update of the checklist for the Terra Nova Bay area (Ross Sea). Zookeys Le Moine Bauer, S. Stensland, A. Daae, F.L. Sandaa, R.A. Thorseth, I.H. Steen, I.H. and Dahle, H. Water masses and depth are the major factors structuring prokaryotic and viral communities around hydrothermal systems of the Nordic Seas. Frontiers in Microbiology Ramirez, G. Jørgensen, S. Zhao, R. and D´Hondt, S. 2017. Minimal influence of detrital DNA on subseafloor sedimentary ecological surveys. Environmental Microbiology Roberts, E.M. Mienis, F. Rapp, H.T. Hanz, U. and Davies, A.J. Oceanographic setting and short-timescale environmental variability at an Arctic seamount sponge ground. Deep-Sea Research I Tandberg, A.H.S. Vader, W. Olsen, B.R. and Rapp, H.T. Monoculodes bousfieldi n.sp. from the Arctic hydrothermal vent Loki’s Castle. Marine Biodiversity Van der Bilt, W. Rea, B. Roerdink, D.L. Bakke, J. Spagnolo, M. and Jørgensen, S. Greenland lake sediments highlight geomorphological sensitivity to Holocene climate transitions. Global and Planetary Change Wilckens, F.K. Reeves, E.P. Bach, W. Meixner, A. Seewald, J.S. Koschinsky, A. and Kasemann, S.A. The influence of magmatic fluids and phase separation on B systematics in submarine hydrothermal vent fluids from back-arc basins. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta.

PHOTO AND ILLUSTRATION CREDITS Barreyre, Thibaut Hamelin, Cédric Jørgensen, Steffen L. Kaza, Gael Olsen, Linn Merethe B. Onstad, Solveig L. Pedersen. Rolf Birger Rapp, Hans Tore Stubseid, Håvard Surtsey 50 years Tandberg, Anne Helene S University Museum of Bergen

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