Sampling across large-scale geological gradients to study geosphere-biosphere interactions

Area of Science:

• Deep subsurface biosphere
• Geomicrobiology
• Biogeoscience

Background:

• The deep subsurface biosphere is a vast microbial ecosystem with many unanswered questions.
• Directly sampling the deep subsurface is challenging and expensive, limiting our understanding.
• Current research often focuses on local scales, hindering a broader ecological perspective.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose and validate a novel sampling approach for studying the deep subsurface biosphere.
• To investigate the interactions between the geosphere and biosphere across regional and planetary scales.
• To develop a framework for understanding subsurface ecosystem models and microbial roles.

Main Methods:

• Collecting extensive geological, geochemical, and biological data from deep-sourced seeps.
• Analyzing data across large spatial scales, including lower-temperature sites.
• Applying the approach to diverse geological settings, such as convergent margins.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated the successful application of the large-scale seep sampling approach.
• Enabled research into geosphere-biosphere interactions beyond single-site limitations.
• Provided a framework for interpreting deep biosphere evolution and ecosystem functions over geological timescales.

Conclusions:

• A large-scale, multi-data seep sampling strategy is effective for deep biosphere research.
• Understanding geo-bio feedbacks is crucial for planetary habitability and ecosystem stability.
• Deep biosphere studies are fundamental to global geo-bio feedback processes.