Nematoda from the terrestrial deep subsurface of South Africa

G. Borgonie (), A. García-Moyano, D. Litthauer, W. Bert, A. Bester, E. van Heerden, C. Möller, M. Erasmus and T. C. Onstott ()
Additional contact information
G. Borgonie: Nematology Section, Ghent University, Ledeganckstraat 35, B9000 Ghent, Belgium
A. García-Moyano: Metagenomics Platform, Biochemical and Food Biotechnology, University of the Free State, PO Box 339, Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa
D. Litthauer: Metagenomics Platform, Biochemical and Food Biotechnology, University of the Free State, PO Box 339, Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa
W. Bert: Nematology Section, Ghent University, Ledeganckstraat 35, B9000 Ghent, Belgium
A. Bester: Metagenomics Platform, Biochemical and Food Biotechnology, University of the Free State, PO Box 339, Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa
E. van Heerden: Metagenomics Platform, Biochemical and Food Biotechnology, University of the Free State, PO Box 339, Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa
C. Möller: Metagenomics Platform, Biochemical and Food Biotechnology, University of the Free State, PO Box 339, Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa
M. Erasmus: Metagenomics Platform, Biochemical and Food Biotechnology, University of the Free State, PO Box 339, Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa
T. C. Onstott: Princeton University

Nature, 2011, vol. 474, issue 7349, 79-82

Abstract: Low life: nematodes from the deep In the past two decades, a variety of single-cell organisms have been found living within Earth's crust, forming what has become known as the deep subsurface biosphere. A new report describes the first multicellular creatures from this biosphere — nematode worms, including one new to science. Up to around half a millimetre in length, the worms feed on bacteria, reproduce without mating by parthenogenesis and tolerate the high temperatures found in their habitat, 3 kilometres deep in the Beatrix gold mine in South Africa. Similar organisms might be expected to occur in certain sub-seafloor settings, and the viability of multicellular life in such a hostile environment will also be of relevance to astrobiology.

Date: 2011
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DOI: 10.1038/nature09974

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