Chemosynthetic ecosystems are habitats whose food webs rely on chemosynthesis, a process by which bacteria fix carbon using energy from chemicals, rather than sunlight-driven photosynthesis for primary production, and they are found all over the world on the ocean floor. Although these deep-sea habitats are remote, they are increasingly being impacted by human activities such as oil and gas exploration and the imminent threat of deep-sea mining. My dissertation examines deep-sea chemosynthetic ecosystems at several ecological scales to answer basic biology questions and lay a foundation for future researchers studying these habitats. There are two major varieties of chemosynthetic ecosystems, hydrothermal vents and cold seeps, and my dissertation studies both. My first chapter begins at cold seeps and at the population level by modeling the population dynamics and lifespan of a single species of tubeworm, Escarpia laminata, found in the Gulf of Mexico. I found that this tubeworm, a foundation species that forms biogenic habitat for other seep animals, can reach ages over 300 years old, making it one of the longest-lived animals known to science. According to longevity theory, its extreme lifespan is made possible by the stable seep environment and lack of extrinsic mortality threats such as predation. My second chapter expands the scope of my research from this single species to the entire cold seep community and surrounding deep-sea animals common to the Gulf of Mexico. The chemicals released at cold seeps are necessary for chemosynthesis but toxic to non-adapted species such as cold-water corals. Community studies in this area have previously shown that seeps shape community assembly through niche processes. Using fine-scale water chemistry samples and photographic mapping of the seafloor, I found that depressed dissolved oxygen levels and the presence of hydrogen sulfide from seepage affect foundation taxa distributions, but the concentrations of hydrocarbons released from these seeps did not predict the distributions of corals or seep species. In my third chapter I examine seep community assembly drivers in the Costa Rica Margin and compare the macrofaunal composition at the family level to both hydrothermal vents and methane seeps around the world. The Costa Rica seep communities have not previously been described, and I found that depth was the primary driver behind community composition in this region. Although this margin is also home to a hybrid “hydrothermal seep” feature, this localized habitat did not have any discernible influence on the community samples analyzed. When vent and seep communities worldwide were compared at the family-level, geographic region was the greatest determinant of community similarity, accounting for more variation than depth and habitat type. Hydrothermal vent and methane seeps are two chemosynthetic ecosystems are created through completely different geological processes, leading to extremely different habitat conditions and distinct sets of related species. However, at the broadest spatial scale and family-level taxonomic resolution, neutral processes and dispersal limitation are the primary drivers behind community structure, moreso than whether the habitat is a seep or a vent. At more local spatial scales, the abiotic environment of seeps still has a significant influence on the ecology of deep-sea organisms. The millennial scale persistence of seeps in the Gulf of Mexico shapes the life history of vestimentiferan tubeworms, and the sulfide and oxygen concentrations at those seeps determine seep and non-seep species’ distributions across the deep seafloor. / Biology

Over the past several decades, the use of groundwater modelling has been increasing in order to better evaluate the complexities inherent in hydrogeological calculations. Information required for groundwater modelling is for example elevation of soil and bedrock layers, which often is collected by drilling. This is both time consuming and expensive, making it impossible to collect an unlimited number of data points. It is not uncommon that smaller hydrogeological investigations are based on only three or four sample points. To approximate values of unknown points in the study area, the known values of the measured data is interpolated. The interpolation can be done with different methods, and the estimations of the elevation of geological layers at the unknown points might vary with different methods. How the uncertainty of the interpolations then affects the modelling results is generally unknown when simulating groundwater flow. The aim of the thesis work is to investigate how hydrogeological results from groundwater models are affected by choice of interpolation method and by sample size of which the interpolation is based on. The hydrogeological models were simulated within the framework of a Swedish railway project where an unusually large number of probing data was available. The study focuses on two-dimensional, steady-state groundwater flow modelled in the software SEEP/W. Consequently, the objective of the modelling work was to simulate groundwater flow where the difference between the models was how the geometry of the geological layers was defined. The definition of the geometry was done with interpolations of the probing data with different interpolation methods and with interpolation based on different sample sizes. Twelve different interpolation methods in the software Surfer was used to interpolate the total of 357 data points. The interpolations that were estimated to be reliable were then used in the groundwater modelling. Groundwater models were also simulated based on a reduced amount of data in order to investigate the importance of sample size. The total amount of data points was reduced to 50%, 25%, 5% and 1% of the initial sample size before it was interpolated and then used to define the geometry in the groundwater models. The study showed that although the choice of interpolation method and sample size affected the results of the modelled groundwater flow rate, none of the deviations between the model results were larger than what would be considered as acceptable in a hydrogeological context. The models based on at least 90 data points showed good precision while the precision of modelled groundwater flow decreased when sample size decreased. Thus, when interpolating data for groundwater modelling, the sample size should be determined by the required precision of the study. For the modelling of the 1% data, only one of the six models was possible to simulate. This since at least three data points are required for each geological layer in order to perform interpolations, and this was only obtained in one of six randomly selected data sets. The study indicates that around 10-20 sample points is a minimum for a study area with similar conditions as the reference project in order to have a high probability of obtaining enough data of all geological layers of interest. Finally, the study indicates that there are other parameters in groundwater modelling, for example hydraulic conductivity and boundary conditions, that might have an equal of higher impact on the model results. These parameters should therefore also be determined with a high precision in order to gain accurate modelling results. / Under de senaste årtiondena har användandet av grundvattenmodeller ökat för att bättre kunna hantera komplexitet inom hydrogeologiska beräkningar. För att kunna skapa en grundvattenmodell krävs exempelvis data över hur lager av jord och berg är beläget. Dessa geologiska data samlas vanligen i borrpunkter, vilket är både tidskrävande och dyrt. Detta gör det omöjligt att erhålla ett obegränsat antal mätpunkter och det är vanligt att mindre hydrogeologiska undersökningar endast utgår ifrån tre till fyra mätpunkter. Utifrån det begränsade antalet mätpunkter interpoleras kända nivåer av jord- och berglager för att approximera nivåer i okända punkter. Interpolering görs med hjälp av olika matematiska metoder och resultatet av dessa kan variera mellan olika metoder. Hur osäkerheter i interpolering sedan påverkar resultat från grundvattenmodellering är vanligtvis okänt. Syftet med examensarbetet är att undersöka hur hydrogeologiska resultat från grundvattenmodeller påverkas av val av interpolerings metod samt av antal mätpunkter som interpoleringen är baserad på. Grundvattenmodellerna skapades inom ramen av ett svenskt järnvägsprojekt där ovanligt stora mängder sonderingsdata fanns tillgängligt. Undersökningen fokuserar på steady-state grundvattenflöden i två dimensioner, modellerat i programmet SEEP/W. Undersökningen utgick därmed från sonderingsdata i referensprojektet för att skapa ett antal grundvattenmodeller, där skillnaden mellan dessa var hur nivån av de geologiska lagren definierades. Detta gjordes med hjälp av olika interpoleringsmetoder och med interpolering baserad på olika mängder data punkter. Tolv olika interpoleringsmetoder i programmet Surfer användes för att interpolera de totalt 357 data punkterna. De interpoleringar som kunde antas vara rimliga användes sedan för att definiera geometrin i olika grundvattenmodeller. Grundvattenmodeller skapades även utifrån en reducerad mängd data för att undersöka betydelsen av antal mätpunkter vid interpolering. Antal mätpunkter reducerades till 50%, 25%, 5% och 1% och interpolering av dessa användes sedan för att definiera geometrin i olika grundvattenmodeller. Studien visade att även om modeller baserade på olika interpoleringsmetoder och interpolering av olika antal mätpunkter genererade något olika resultat med avseende på modellerat grundvattenflöde, så var inget av resultaten mer avvikande än vad som i ett hydrogeologiskt sammanhang skulle klassas som acceptabelt. Vidare visade resultaten att modeller baserade på 90 data punkter eller mer hade en bra precision av modellerat grundvattenflöde samt att minskat antal mätpunkter ledde till minskad precision. Antal mätpunkter i en undersökning bör därmed väljas utifrån hur bra precision som bör uppnås. Dock kan ett lägre antal mätpunkter försvaras om erhållen precision vägs mot hur resurskrävande insamling av data är. Modelleringen av 1% data visade att endast en av de sex modellerna gick att skapa. Detta var på grund av att minst tre datapunkter för varje geologiskt lager krävdes för att interpolera data och detta uppnåddes alltså bara i en av de slumpade data seten. För att ha en hög sannolikhet att erhålla tillräckligt med data för varje jord- eller berglager av intresse indikerar denna studien på att 10 till 20 mätpunkter är tillräckligt i en undersökning med liknande förutsättningar som i referensprojektet. Slutligen så indikerar studien på att det finns andra parametrar, exempelvis hydraulisk konduktivitet och randvillkor, som kan ha liknande eller större inverkan på modellerat grundvattenflöde och för att få noggranna resultat bör även dessa parametrar bestämmas med hög precision.

When building tunnels in rock, an inflow of groundwater is likely induced. Depending on the hydraulic properties of the rock and the surrounding soils, the inflow may cause a decline in the groundwater level above the tunnel line with possible consequences for nearby well facilities or groundwater dependent environments. Discharge of the inflowing groundwater represents an operation of water (vattenverksamhet in Swedish) according to the Swedish environmental law, meaning that permission must be applied for at the Environmental Court. In the application, the operator presents an area of influence for groundwater, which defines the area where the groundwater levels could change due to the planned operation. In this work, the area of influence has been defined as the area where the groundwater level is lowered by more than five centimeters. As part of the project Tvärförbindelse Södertörn in southern Stockholm, the Swedish Transport Administration is planning for the construction of a tunnel in rock adjacent to Glömstadalen in Huddinge municipality. The aim of this master thesis was to investigate the extension of the area of influence of the tunnel through two-dimensional groundwater modelling. A site-specific model was created in the program SEEP/W by establishing a cross-section orthogonal to the tunnel and through examination of the hydrogeological conditions in the area. Steady-state modelling of both unsaturated and saturated flow was then carried out including and excluding the tunnel. Through this, the change in groundwater levels due to the tunnel could be reviewed. Since the development of the model required simplifications and assumptions of the site-specific conditions, a simple sensitivity analysis was also performed where a few model parameters were altered to examine how the area of influence changed. The modelling results showed that the tunnel, when sealed suitably, at most changed the groundwater levels 680 meters north and 840 meters south along the studied cross-section. The smallest effect on the groundwater levels was observed 400 meters north and 560 meters south of the tunnel. Differences in the extension of the area of influence were noticed depending on how the outflow of groundwater in Glömstadalen was represented, and which sealing properties around the tunnel were used. Furthermore, the modelling showed that the hydraulic conductivity of the rock is of major importance for the location of the groundwater table, and therefore it is considered relevant to perform hydraulic tests in the rock to increase the reliability of the model.

A molecular phylogenetic approach was used to characterize the composition of microbial communities from two gas hydrate sedimentary systems in the Gulf of Mexico. Nucleic acids were extracted from three distinct locales on surface breaching gas hydrate mounds, i.e., sediment overlaying gas hydrate, sediment/hydrate interface and sediment-free hydrate, and from three sediment depths, i.e., 0-2, 6-8 and 10-12 cm, in Beggiatoa sp. mat-associated sediments located several meters from exposed gas hydrate. Samples were collected from a research submersible (water depth 550-575 m) during two research cruises aboard the R/V Seward Johnson I and II funded by the NSF Life in Extreme Environments program. The 16S rRNA gene and 16S rRNA were amplified using PCR and reverse transcription-PCR, respectively, from DNA and RNA extracted from the total microbial community. The primers targeted microorganisms at the domain-specific, i.e., Bacteria and Archaea, and group-specific, i.e., sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) and putative anaerobic methane-oxidizing (ANME) archaea, level. Sequence analysis of the Bacteria clones revealed that the microbial communities were primarily dominated by Deltaproteobacteria. Other Proteobacteria classes, including Epsilon- and Gammaproteobacteria, represented a large fraction of the total microbial community isolated from the sediment overlying hydrate sample and the metabolically active fraction of the 0-2 cm sediment depth sampled from the Beggiatoa sp. mat-associated sediments. Sequence analysis indicated the majority of the archaeal clones were most closely related to Methanosarcinales, Methanomicrobiales and distinct lineages within the ANME groups. Several novel lineages were identified including a fourth ANME-2 clade, i.e., ANME-2D, and three clades with no closely related previously sequenced 16S rRNA gene clones or isolates, i.e., Unclassified Bacteria groups 1 and 2 and Unclassified Euryarchaeota. These studies represent the first 16S rRNA gene and 16S rRNA phylogenetic-based description of microbial communities extant in sediment-free gas hydrate and in methane-rich hydrate-associated and Beggiatoa sp.-associated sediments from a hydrocarbon seep region in the Gulf of Mexico.

Kiel, Universiẗat, Diss., 2000.

Embankment dams encounter several problems in terms of dam safety. One of those problems is called internal erosion. This phenomenon is induced by the movement of fine particles within the dam due to seepage forces. If the dam is not able to self-heal, the eroded zones will increase which will eventually cause the dam to fail. Thus standards have been created by Svensk Energi and summarized in the Swedish dam safety guideline RIDAS 2012. These standards are used as a basic in the risk analysis of existing dams and provide guidelines for proper design of future dams.A dam in Sweden has presented recurring incidents related to internal erosion within the core. The impact of this internal erosion is analysed in this thesis with the use of Finite Element Method/Analysis (FEM/A). FEA models simulate the in situ stresses in the dam and calculate the strength. It also enables the analysis of changing hydraulic conductivity and its effect on the overall effective strength due to changing pore pressure and seepage forces. The analysis using numerical methods was performed in the program PLAXIS2D and SEEP/W while limit equilibrium analysis was done in SLOPE/W.The calculation in PLAXIS2D was performed by using the Mohr-Coulomb constitutive model. The in situ stresses are initially calculated using gravity loading since this is the preferred method on an uneven terrain instead of a K0-calculation. Then, through a set of phases in the program, zones where erosion is assumed to have occurred are changed. These zones have a higher permeability and will thus affect the pore pressures in the dam following Darcy’s law with permeability through a set medium.The increased permeability is set to follow an increased void ratio due to loss of fine material in the core. How this increase of void ratio affects the permeability is investigated through using Ren et al’s (2016) proposed equation for calculating permeability with a set void ratio. Their equation, apart from the usually used Kozeny-Carman equation, considers both effective and ineffective void ratio where the ineffective void ratios refers to the volume of pores that is immobile when flow is considered.The increased flow in the eroded zones of the core did not seem to impact the strength of the dam in much regard. The phreatic surface and thus the pore pressure did not change enough to influence the overall effective strength of the dam. It raises the question if the stability of an earth-rock fill dam will be affected due to increased pore pressure at all due to its draining properties and if it would rather fail due to increased seepage forces.

京都大学 / 0048 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(理学) / 甲第20926号 / 理博第4378号 / 新制||理||1629(附属図書館) / 京都大学大学院理学研究科地球惑星科学専攻 / (主査)教授 生形 貴男, 教授 酒井 治孝, 教授 田上 高広 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Science / Kyoto University / DFAM

Sedimentos de mar profundo são ambientes estáveis e homogêneos, apesar disso, eles apresentam uma grande variedade de habitats disponíveis, possibilitando uma alta diversidade microbiana. A distribuição espacial dos micro-organismos é influenciada por fatores locais e regionais. Os fatores locais são associados à estrutura do ambiente e os fatores regionais, a limitação na dispersão dos micro-organismos que compõem as comunidades e eventos históricos que eventualmente podem modificar o ambiente. Eventos como a liberação de hidrocarbonetos das camadas mais profundas do sedimento para superfície podem alterar os padrões de distribuição espacial das comunidades microbianas, devido o aumento na disponibilidade de carbono e consequentemente selecionando as espécies capazes de degradá-los. Esses eventos são denominados de exsudações de asfalto e foram encontradas na região de estudo. Considerando a falta de conhecimento e a importância dos micro-organismos em sedimentos de mar profundo do oceano Atlântico Sul, o objetivo desse estudo foi compreender os padrões de diversidade microbiana nessas regiões e também investigar como o óleo proveniente da exsudação de asfalto influência as comunidades de micro-organismos no seu entorno. Esse estudo foi realizado na região do Platô de São Paulo que foi dividido em duas regiões, norte e sul. A diversidade microbiana foi estudada em 14 amostras de sedimento de mar profundo, nove amostras na região norte e cinco na sul. A exsudação de asfalto foi encontrada na região norte, influenciando diretamente três das nove amostras. As comunidades foram estudadas através dos métodos de eletroforese em gel de gradiente desnaturante (DGGE), PCR quantitativa (qPCR) e sequenciamento de última geração (Ion Torrent). A distribuição espacial das comunidades foi analisada em diferentes escalas espaciais: verticalmente, variando com a profundidade do sedimento (≤ 4 cm), localmente, em cada uma das regiões amostradas (1-34 Km) e regionalmente, comparando as regiões norte e sul (> 250 Km). O perfil da comunidade obtido com a técnica de DGGE mostrou que as comunidades microbianas foram menos similares entre as regiões e apresentaram relação com a distância geográfica para arqueia e bactéria. Os valores de similaridade foi maior localmente do que regionalmente. A similaridade obtida nas camadas de profundidade analisadas foi alta e não houve relação com a distância geográfica. O número de células entre as camadas de profundidades foi diferente, com tendência de diminuição com o aumento da profundidade. As classes bacterianas mais abundantes foram Alphaproteobacteria (30%), Acidimicrobiia (18%), Gammaproteobacteria (16%), Deltaproteobacteria e Gemmatimonadetes (3%). A composição das comunidades influenciadas pela exsudação de asfalto não teve relação com a presença do óleo ou com as camadas de profundidade. A distância geográfica e a exsudação de asfalto foram importantes fatores para determinação da distribuição geográfica das comunidades microbianas em sedimento marinhos profundos do Platô de São Paulo. Apesar da ausência de relação entre o óleo proveniente da exsudação de asfalto e a composição das comunidades, a alta abundância de Alphaproteobacteria e a importância da distância dentro da região norte são indicativos do aumento da heterogeneidade causado pela exsudação de asfalto. Mais estudos procurando compreender a composição geoquímica dos sedimentos e do óleo são necessários para explicar como esses fatores influenciam a estruturação das comunidades microbianas estudadas. / Deep-sea sediments are stable and homogeneous environments, however, they have a high variety of available habitats, allowing a high microbial diversity to occur. Microbial spatial distribution is determined by local and regional factors. Local factors are associated to environment structure and regional factors, to microbial dispersal limitation and historical events that may cause environmental changes. Historical events such as hydrocarbon emanation from sub-seafloor to seafloor may change the patterns of microbial spatial distribution, due to an increase of carbon, thus, selecting species capable to degrade them. These events are denominated as asphalt seep and they were found on the studied region. Considering the lack of knowledge and the importance of microorganisms on deep-sea sediments from South Atlantic ocean, this study aims to understand the patterns of microbial spatial distribution and how the oil from asphalt seep influence the microbial communities. This study was realized in São Paulo Plateau region. The plateau was divided in two regions, north and south. Microbial diversity was studied from 14 deep-sea sediment samples, nine samples from north region and five from south region. The asphalt seep was found in north region from São Paulo Plateau, directly affecting three of the nine samples. The communities were studied through denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE), quantitative PCR (qPCR) and next generation sequencing (Ion Torrent). The spatial distribution of the communities was analyzed at different spatial scales: sediment depth (≤ 4 cm), local (1-34 Km) and regional (> 250 Km). Microbial communities were less similar between regions and showing relation with geographic distance to achaea and bacteria. Similarity values within regions were higher then between them, but the geographic distance was also important to both domains, despite samples being closer. Similarity values between sediment depths were high and have no relation with geographic distance. The cell number between sediment depths was different, with tendency to decrease with depth increase. The most abundant classes were Alphaproteobacteria (30%), Acidimicrobiia (18%), Gammaproteobacteria (16%), Deltaproteobacteria e Gemmatimonadetes (3%). The communities composition influenced by asphalt seep have no relation with oil presence and sediment depths. Geographic distance and asphalt seep were important factors to determine the spatial distribution of microbial communities in deep-sea sediments from São Paulo Plateau. Despite the absence of relation between oil from asphalt seep and communities composition, the high abundance of Alphaproteobacteria and the importance of distance within north region are indicative of heterogeneity increase caused by asphalt seep. More studies aiming to understand the geochemical composition from sediments and oil are necessary to explain how these factors influence the communities structure.

Sedimentos de mar profundo são ambientes estáveis e homogêneos, apesar disso, eles apresentam uma grande variedade de habitats disponíveis, possibilitando uma alta diversidade microbiana. A distribuição espacial dos micro-organismos é influenciada por fatores locais e regionais. Os fatores locais são associados à estrutura do ambiente e os fatores regionais, a limitação na dispersão dos micro-organismos que compõem as comunidades e eventos históricos que eventualmente podem modificar o ambiente. Eventos como a liberação de hidrocarbonetos das camadas mais profundas do sedimento para superfície podem alterar os padrões de distribuição espacial das comunidades microbianas, devido o aumento na disponibilidade de carbono e consequentemente selecionando as espécies capazes de degradá-los. Esses eventos são denominados de exsudações de asfalto e foram encontradas na região de estudo. Considerando a falta de conhecimento e a importância dos micro-organismos em sedimentos de mar profundo do oceano Atlântico Sul, o objetivo desse estudo foi compreender os padrões de diversidade microbiana nessas regiões e também investigar como o óleo proveniente da exsudação de asfalto influência as comunidades de micro-organismos no seu entorno. Esse estudo foi realizado na região do Platô de São Paulo que foi dividido em duas regiões, norte e sul. A diversidade microbiana foi estudada em 14 amostras de sedimento de mar profundo, nove amostras na região norte e cinco na sul. A exsudação de asfalto foi encontrada na região norte, influenciando diretamente três das nove amostras. As comunidades foram estudadas através dos métodos de eletroforese em gel de gradiente desnaturante (DGGE), PCR quantitativa (qPCR) e sequenciamento de última geração (Ion Torrent). A distribuição espacial das comunidades foi analisada em diferentes escalas espaciais: verticalmente, variando com a profundidade do sedimento (≤ 4 cm), localmente, em cada uma das regiões amostradas (1-34 Km) e regionalmente, comparando as regiões norte e sul (> 250 Km). O perfil da comunidade obtido com a técnica de DGGE mostrou que as comunidades microbianas foram menos similares entre as regiões e apresentaram relação com a distância geográfica para arqueia e bactéria. Os valores de similaridade foi maior localmente do que regionalmente. A similaridade obtida nas camadas de profundidade analisadas foi alta e não houve relação com a distância geográfica. O número de células entre as camadas de profundidades foi diferente, com tendência de diminuição com o aumento da profundidade. As classes bacterianas mais abundantes foram Alphaproteobacteria (30%), Acidimicrobiia (18%), Gammaproteobacteria (16%), Deltaproteobacteria e Gemmatimonadetes (3%). A composição das comunidades influenciadas pela exsudação de asfalto não teve relação com a presença do óleo ou com as camadas de profundidade. A distância geográfica e a exsudação de asfalto foram importantes fatores para determinação da distribuição geográfica das comunidades microbianas em sedimento marinhos profundos do Platô de São Paulo. Apesar da ausência de relação entre o óleo proveniente da exsudação de asfalto e a composição das comunidades, a alta abundância de Alphaproteobacteria e a importância da distância dentro da região norte são indicativos do aumento da heterogeneidade causado pela exsudação de asfalto. Mais estudos procurando compreender a composição geoquímica dos sedimentos e do óleo são necessários para explicar como esses fatores influenciam a estruturação das comunidades microbianas estudadas. / Deep-sea sediments are stable and homogeneous environments, however, they have a high variety of available habitats, allowing a high microbial diversity to occur. Microbial spatial distribution is determined by local and regional factors. Local factors are associated to environment structure and regional factors, to microbial dispersal limitation and historical events that may cause environmental changes. Historical events such as hydrocarbon emanation from sub-seafloor to seafloor may change the patterns of microbial spatial distribution, due to an increase of carbon, thus, selecting species capable to degrade them. These events are denominated as asphalt seep and they were found on the studied region. Considering the lack of knowledge and the importance of microorganisms on deep-sea sediments from South Atlantic ocean, this study aims to understand the patterns of microbial spatial distribution and how the oil from asphalt seep influence the microbial communities. This study was realized in São Paulo Plateau region. The plateau was divided in two regions, north and south. Microbial diversity was studied from 14 deep-sea sediment samples, nine samples from north region and five from south region. The asphalt seep was found in north region from São Paulo Plateau, directly affecting three of the nine samples. The communities were studied through denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE), quantitative PCR (qPCR) and next generation sequencing (Ion Torrent). The spatial distribution of the communities was analyzed at different spatial scales: sediment depth (≤ 4 cm), local (1-34 Km) and regional (> 250 Km). Microbial communities were less similar between regions and showing relation with geographic distance to achaea and bacteria. Similarity values within regions were higher then between them, but the geographic distance was also important to both domains, despite samples being closer. Similarity values between sediment depths were high and have no relation with geographic distance. The cell number between sediment depths was different, with tendency to decrease with depth increase. The most abundant classes were Alphaproteobacteria (30%), Acidimicrobiia (18%), Gammaproteobacteria (16%), Deltaproteobacteria e Gemmatimonadetes (3%). The communities composition influenced by asphalt seep have no relation with oil presence and sediment depths. Geographic distance and asphalt seep were important factors to determine the spatial distribution of microbial communities in deep-sea sediments from São Paulo Plateau. Despite the absence of relation between oil from asphalt seep and communities composition, the high abundance of Alphaproteobacteria and the importance of distance within north region are indicative of heterogeneity increase caused by asphalt seep. More studies aiming to understand the geochemical composition from sediments and oil are necessary to explain how these factors influence the communities structure.

Cold seep-carbonates are the microbially mediated by-products of the anaerobic oxidation of methane (AOM) at seafloor cold seeps, and are widespread about modern continental margins and in the geologic record. Some modern and Miocene examples of cold seep-carbonates from the East Coast Basin, North Island, New Zealand have been analysed in this study, to characterise and determine their carbonate fabrics, elemental and mineralogical composition, and stable δ18O and δ13C isotope signatures, so as to provide insights into the diagenetic changes associated with the lithification and burial of seep-carbonates. The ancient samples were collected from the onshore middle Miocene Tauwhareparae (TWP) seep deposit, while the modern samples were obtained from the National Institute of Water and Atmosphere (NIWA) Cruise TAN0616 (November 2006) from Ritchie Ridge, offshore Hikurangi Margin. A paragenetic sequence of diagenetic events involving early aragonitic phases, followed by late calcitic phases is defined for the seep-carbonates. This sequence likely has relevance for understanding the fluid-cement histories of seep-carbonates more widely. Two main carbonate mineralogies occur in each of the sample groups - modern samples are aragonitic or dolomitic, while the ancient ones consist dominantly of either aragonite or calcite. Thus, aragonite common to both sample groups, and is interpreted to represent the initial primary carbonate precipitate in hydrocarbon seep provinces under specific fluid flux and local pore-water chemistry conditions. Aragonite morphologies range from microcrystalline carbonate ('micarb'), to acicular aragonites that may form botryoids or spherulites. Dolomite occurs in those modern samples which appear to constitute exhumed remnants of a former subsurface 'seep plumbing system', and so are strictly not true seabed 'seep-carbonates', but instead are part of the larger hydrocarbon seep province. Calcite in the ancient samples is either a product of alteration and neomorphic transformation of aragonite, or derives from late stage cementation from burial fluids. As a result of their formation processes, the calcites are generally recrystallised and have equant or 'cellular' textures. Stable δ13C and δ18O isotope cross-plots reveal a large spread of values for the sample groups. Ancient samples range from δ13C -8 to -50 PDB and δ18O -5.5 to +2 PDB. Modern samples have δ13C values from -6 to -41 PDB and δ18O values ranging from +2.6 to +6.7 PDB. The δ13C values suggest the majority of the methane that formed these seep-carbonates is of thermogenic origin, although some mixing from other carbon sources may have occurred. The positive δ18O signatures are suggestive of carbonate formation during dissociation of gas hydrates, while the negative values possibly indicate that some of the formation fluids were warmer than normal in the 17 - 30 C range.