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The deep ocean and its underlying sediments represent vast, largely unexplored microbial habitats that extend far beyond the sunlit photic zone. The photic (euphotic) zone typically spans the upper ~100–200 meters of pelagic waters in the open ocean, but its depth varies geographically and seasonally, where sufficient light supports photosynthetic life. Below this lies the deep sea, spanning roughly 1000–6000 meters (bathypelagic to abyssal zones), with deeper hadal trenches extending beyond...
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Phylum Ascomycota, a major division within the subkingdom Dikarya, comprises a diverse range of fungal species, including both unicellular yeasts and filamentous molds such as Aspergillus and Penicillium. These fungi thrive in a variety of habitats, from aquatic ecosystems to terrestrial environments, playing crucial ecological and economic roles.Morphology and ReproductionThe defining characteristic of Ascomycetes, commonly referred to as sac fungi, is the ascus—a sac-like structure that...
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Marine subsurface eukaryotes: the fungal majority.

Virginia P Edgcomb1, David Beaudoin1, Rebecca Gast1

  • 1Departments of Geology and GeophysicsBiology, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA 02543, USACollege of Earth, Ocean and the Environment, University of Delaware, Lewes, DE 19958, USADepartment of Marine Sciences, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.

Environmental Microbiology
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Summary

Fungi are the most common eukaryotes found in deep marine sediments. Some species may be uniquely adapted to this environment, playing key roles in nutrient cycling.

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Area of Science:

  • Marine Biology
  • Microbial Ecology
  • Geomicrobiology

Background:

  • Deep subsurface sediments harbor diverse microbial communities, including Bacteria and Archaea.
  • Microbial eukaryotes, such as protists and fungi, may also inhabit these environments, potentially feeding on bacteria or utilizing buried organic carbon.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the diversity of microbial eukaryotes in deep-sea sediment cores from the Peru Margin and Peru Trench.
  • To identify potentially active microbial eukaryotes by comparing DNA- and RNA-based analyses.
  • To compare microbial eukaryotic communities between surface and deep subsurface sediments, and across different sites.

Main Methods:

  • DNA- and RNA-based clone library analyses were employed.
  • Sediment cores from the Peru Margin and Peru Trench were analyzed.
  • Comparisons were made between surface and deep subsurface samples, as well as between different sampling sites.

Main Results:

  • Fungal sequences were frequently recovered from both DNA- and RNA-based libraries.
  • Abundances and dominant types of fungal sequences varied between DNA- and RNA-based libraries.
  • Surficial sediment communities differed from each other and from deep subsurface communities.
  • Some fungal sequences indicated potentially novel organisms and cosmopolitan species.

Conclusions:

  • Fungi are the most consistently detected eukaryotes in the marine sedimentary subsurface.
  • Certain fungal species may possess adaptations specific to the deep subsurface environment.
  • These fungi likely play significant roles in the utilization and recycling of nutrients within the deep marine subsurface.