A multi-institutional team of researchers on the ground collected soil samples from the island, then delivered them to CU Boulders campus. Dragone and Fierer could then draw out and sequence DNA samples from the samples.
” We didnt see what we were expecting,” stated Dragone. “We thought we d see organisms you find when a glacier retreats, or cyanobacteria, more normal early colonizer types– but instead we found an unique group of germs that metabolize sulfur and atmospheric gases.”
And that wasnt the only unforeseen twist in this work: On January 15, 2022, seven years after it formed, the volcano emerged again, eliminating the whole landmass in the largest volcanic surge of the 21st century. The eruption completely wiped out the island and removed the choice for the team to continue monitoring their site.
” We were all expecting the island to remain,” stated Dragone. “In reality, the week before the island exploded we were beginning to plan a return journey.”
However, the very same fickle nature of the Hunga Tonga Hunga Haapai (HTHH) that made it blow up also discusses why the group discovered such a distinct set of microorganisms on the island. Hunga Tonga was volcanically formed, like Hawaii.
” One of the reasons that we believe we see these special microbes is since of the residential or commercial properties connected with volcanic eruptions: great deals of sulfur and hydrogen sulfide gas, which are likely fueling the distinct taxa we found,” Dragone said. “The microorganisms were most similar to those found in hydrothermal vents, warm springs like Yellowstone, and other volcanic systems. Our best guess is the microbes came from those kinds of sources.”
The expedition to HTHH needed close cooperation with members of the government of the Kingdom of Tonga, who were ready to work with scientists to collect samples from land usually not checked out by international guests. Coordination took years of work by partners at the Sea Education Association and NASA: a Tongan observer needs to supervise any sample and approve collection that occurs within the Kingdom.
” This work brought in numerous individuals from around the globe, and we learned a lot. We are of course disappointed that the island is gone, however now we have a lot of predictions about what happens when islands form,” stated Dragone. “So if something formed once again, we would enjoy to go there and collect more data. We would have a strategy of how to study it.”
Reference: “The Early Microbial Colonizers of a Short-Lived Volcanic Island in the Kingdom of Tonga” by Nicholas B. Dragone, Kerry Whittaker, Olivia M. Lord, Emily A. Burke, Helen Dufel, Emily Hite, Farley Miller, Gabrielle Page, Dan Slayback and Noah Fierer, 11 January 2023, mBio.DOI: 10.1128/ mbio.03313-22.
Suddenly, the researchers discovered a special microbial population that can metabolize sulfur and atmospheric gases, looking like the microbes spotted in deep-sea hydrothermal vents or geothermal hot springs.
A group led by CU Boulder has actually discovered a distinct microbial neighborhood living on the former island Hunga Tonga Hunga Haapai.
In 2015, an underwater volcano in the South Pacific emerged, providing increase to the brief Hunga Tonga Hunga Haapai island. The University of Colorado Boulder and the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES) spearheaded a research study group that seized the uncommon opportunity to examine the initial microbial occupants of a recently formed landmass. Remarkably, they spotted a distinct microbial population that can metabolize sulfur and atmospheric gases, similar to organisms present in deep-sea hydrothermal vents or geothermal hot springs.
” These types of volcanic eruptions occur all over the world, but they dont normally produce islands. We had an incredibly special chance,” stated Nick Dragone, CIRES Ph.D. student and lead author of the research study just recently published in mBio. “No one had ever thoroughly studied the microorganisms on this kind of island system at such an early phase before.”
” Studying the microorganisms that first colonize islands supplies a glimpse into the earliest stage of community development– prior to even plants and animals get here,” said Noah Fierer, CIRES fellow, teacher of ecology and evolutionary biology at CU Boulder and corresponding author on the study.
In 2015, an underwater volcano in the South Pacific erupted, providing rise to the brief Hunga Tonga Hunga Haapai island.” These types of volcanic eruptions occur all over the world, however they dont generally produce islands. “No one had ever adequately studied the bacteria on this type of island system at such an early phase before.”
” One of the reasons why we think we see these distinct microbes is due to the fact that of the properties associated with volcanic eruptions: lots of sulfur and hydrogen sulfide gas, which are most likely fueling the unique taxa we discovered,” Dragone stated. We are of course dissatisfied that the island is gone, but now we have a lot of forecasts about what happens when islands form,” said Dragone.
