Prokaryotic cells of the deep sub-seafloor biosphere identified as living bacteria

Axel Schippers (), Lev N. Neretin, Jens Kallmeyer, Timothy G. Ferdelman, Barry A. Cragg, R. John Parkes and Bo B. Jørgensen
Additional contact information
Axel Schippers: Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources
Lev N. Neretin: Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources
Jens Kallmeyer: Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology
Timothy G. Ferdelman: Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology
Barry A. Cragg: Cardiff University
R. John Parkes: Cardiff University
Bo B. Jørgensen: Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology

Nature, 2005, vol. 433, issue 7028, 861-864

Abstract: Digging deep for bacteria Sediments beneath the seafloor do not sound a promising habitat, yet it has been estimated from microscopic cell counts that sub-seafloor sediments account for over half of all eukaryotic cells on Earth. That figure does not differentiate live cells from dead, but a new study based on ribosomal RNA detection does. The data suggest that many of the cells are alive, even in 16-million-year-old sediments 400 metres beneath the seabed. All the detectable living cells are bacteria, and they seem to be thriving as they have a turnover rate comparable with those seen in surface sediments.

Date: 2005
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DOI: 10.1038/nature03302

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