It has been established that microbes are present in the ocean floor. Dr Orcutt continued: "One of the biggest mysteries of life below the sea floor is that although there are microbes down there it's really hard to understand how they have enough energy to live and how incredibly slowly they are growing." The other question we have is that even though we are finding cells, is it really true to call it alive when it's doubling every thousands of years? It's almost like a zombie state," Dr Orcutt commented.http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-23855436
“The bacteria feed on chemicals that are released when water seeps down through the rocks. The rocks contain iron ions that can react with sea water and produce hydrogen, which the bacteria can use as an energy source for producing their own organic matter,” says Lever.
“This form of chemical synthesis, which is an alternative energy source to photosynthesis, also occurs elsewhere on Earth, for instance around warm springs in the seabed. But this is the first time that it has been found in the earth’s crust below the sea.”
Bacteria may live even further down
The researchers have so far drilled several hundred metres down and have found microbes every time, regardless of depth. But it’s possible that bacteria can live even further down.
“A significant part of our project consists of exploring the limits of life on Earth. We know about bacteria that can live in temperatures of up to 122 degrees Celsius, which may bay the limiting factor for life below the seabed. If this is also the case for bacteria in the earth’s crust, there may be bacteria several kilometres below the seabed.”
Mark Lever continues his work with bacteria from deep inside the earth’s crust. His upcoming studies will take a closer look at the exchange of methane, sulfate and carbon between the ecosystem below the seabed and the rest of the Earth.
Source: http://sciencenordic.com/live-bacteria-found-deep-below-seabed
Bacterial decomposition is an important part of nutrient cycling, and bacteria can decompose dead organisms as big as whales or as small as other microbes. They break down organic molecules formed by biological processes, making the nutrients in these molecules available for use by other organisms, such as plants. The microbes themselves can also serve as food for larger organisms. Some elements, such as iron (Fe) are rare but important in the ocean, making it important to recycle them. When an organism dies or releases an iron-containing compound, microbes "catch" that and get all the iron out of it before it can sink too deep
http://www.teachoceanscience.net/teaching_resources/education_modules/marine_bacteria/learn_about/
Thanks,Beneath the ocean floor is a desolate place with no oxygen and sunlight. Yet microbes have thrived in this environment for millions of years.Scientists have puzzled over how these microbes survive, but today there are more answers.
A study led by Karen Lloyd, a University of Tennessee, Knoxville, assistant professor of microbiology, reveals that these microscopic life-forms called archaea slowly eat tiny bits of protein. The study was released today in Nature.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/03/130327163256.htm
- Badges
- Science topic
- Similar topics
- Biological Science
- Microbiology
- Microorganisms