I presented our work from cruise SO301 on microbial interactions with iron and early insights into the far-field effects of hydrothermal plumes on bathypelagic microbial communities.
Grateful for the feedback, discussions & to reconnect with colleagues from around the world!

This expedition highlights the power of collaboration across disciplines in advancing our understanding of life in the deep ocean—and brings us one step closer to decoding the complex interactions that define these extreme environments.

One of the most exciting aspects of the expedition was the opportunity to perform onboard sequencing using the new MinION Mk1D #nanopore device. This allowed us to examine the microbial diversity and community composition of hydrothermal plumes and other hydrothermal niches in near real-time.

Over the course of the cruise, we deployed CTDs to probe the structure of the water column and capture chemical gradients associated with hydrothermal plumes. Using ROVs, we explored the seafloor, collecting fauna, rocks, fluids, sediments, and water samples directly from vent fields.

This research #cruise brought together a truly interdisciplinary team of biologists, #microbiologists, geochemists, and geologists, working in unison to uncover the physical, chemical, and biological signatures of these #deep-sea ecosystems.