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The 1977 discovery of deep-sea hydrothermal vent ecosystems that obtain energy through chemosynthesis rather than photosynthesis greatly expanded the perception of life on Earth. However, an understanding of their underlying microbiology and biogeochemistry still remains elusive.
A newly funded project, one of several major awards announced by the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Dimensions in Biodiversity research program, stands to change that through a multi-disciplinary, international collaborative research effort led by Associate Scientist Stefan Sievert of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.
“This is a great opportunity to advance our understanding of deep-sea hydrothermal vent microbial communities and their global impact,” said Sievert. The project includes collaborations among researchers from four US institutions, including chemist Jeff Seewald and biologist Craig Taylorfrom WHOI, as well as researchers from France, Germany, and China. Read More
