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Chemotactic Response of Marine Micro-Organisms to Micro-Scale Nutrient Layers
22:38

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Published on: May 28, 2007

Fluids from aging ocean crust that support microbial life.

James P Cowen1, Stephen J Giovannoni, Fabien Kenig

  • 1Department of Oceanography, School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA. jcowen@soest.hawaii.edu

Science (New York, N.Y.)
|January 4, 2003
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Microbial life thrives in deep ocean crust fluids. These 65°C fluids from 3.5-million-year-old ocean crust support diverse Bacteria and Archaea, indicating active subsurface ecosystems.

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Published on: October 31, 2019

Area of Science:

  • Geomicrobiology
  • Oceanography
  • Microbial Ecology

Background:

  • The deep biosphere remains largely unexplored, particularly low-temperature (<100°C) fluid reservoirs within mid-ocean ridge flank and ocean basin crust.
  • Understanding microbial life in these environments is crucial for comprehending Earth's subsurface biosphere and biogeochemical cycles.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the potential for microbial life in geothermally heated crustal fluids.
  • To characterize the microbial communities present in these deep subsurface environments.

Main Methods:

  • Deployment of an experimental seal (CORK) in an overpressured borehole to access and sample crustal fluids.
  • Analysis of fluid chemistry and microbial community composition using ribosomal RNA gene sequencing.

Main Results:

  • Crustal fluids at 65°C from 3.5-million-year-old ocean crust were found to support microbial growth.
  • Diverse Bacteria and Archaea were identified, including sequences related to nitrate reducers, sulfate reducers, and fermentative heterotrophs.
  • The microbial community composition was consistent with the analyzed fluid chemistry.

Conclusions:

  • The deep ocean crust harbors a viable and diverse microbial ecosystem.
  • Subsurface fluid circulation systems can sustain microbial life, contributing to global biogeochemical processes.
  • This study provides critical insights into the habitability of deep, low-temperature crustal environments.