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Extending the sub-sea-floor biosphere.

Erwan G Roussel1, Marie-Anne Cambon Bonavita, Joël Querellou

  • 1Laboratoire de Microbiologie des Environnements Extrêmes, UMR 6197, Université de Bretagne Occidentale, Ifremer, Centre de Brest, BP70, 29280 Plouzané, France.

Science (New York, N.Y.)
|May 24, 2008
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Deep-sea sediments harbor living prokaryotic cells, even in the oldest and hottest environments. This discovery expands our understanding of the deep biosphere and its potential extent.

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Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Geology
  • Oceanography

Background:

  • Sub-sea-floor sediments are estimated to contain a significant portion of Earth's prokaryotic biomass.
  • Previous studies extrapolated prokaryotic life to great depths based on limited data, with the deepest known prokaryotes found at only 842 meters.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the presence and characteristics of prokaryotic life in deep, old, and hot marine sediments.
  • To determine the lower depth and temperature limits of the sub-sea-floor biosphere.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of sediment cores from the Newfoundland margin.
  • DNA sequencing to identify prokaryotic organisms present.
  • Geochemical analysis to determine sediment age, temperature, and potential energy sources.

Main Results:

  • Living prokaryotic cells were detected at 1626 meters below the sea floor in sediments 111 million years old and approximately 100 degrees C.
  • DNA sequences revealed novel, uncultured thermophilic and hyperthermophilic Archaea within the Pyrococcus and Thermococcus genera.
  • Evidence of anaerobic methane-oxidizing Archaea suggests a methane-supported deep biosphere.

Conclusions:

  • The sub-sea-floor biosphere extends to at least 1600 meters below the sea floor and potentially deeper.
  • The upper temperature limit for prokaryotic life is at least 113 degrees C.
  • Deep, hot marine sediments harbor a unique and previously unknown microbial community.