Changes in microbial communities at deep-sea hydrothermal vents during active and inactive periods

Abstract

Deep-sea hydrothermal vents, as a highly specific deep-sea environment, are of great importance for studying microorganisms in extreme environments. Hydrothermal vents have significantly different physicochemical factors during active and inactive periods, which in turn influence the structure of the microbial communities that inhabit them. Here, we describe the characteristics of the main physicochemical factors at hydrothermal vents during the active and inactive phases and summarise the community composition and characteristics of bacteria, fungi and viruses inhabiting the vents during the different periods, explaining the evolution and changes in the structure of the inhabiting microbial communities during these physical and chemical changes, revealing the mechanisms and significance of microbial adaptation to hydrothermal environments in extreme environments, which is important for studying the early life activities on Earth. It is important to study the early life activities of the Earth and explore the potential industrial enzyme resources.