Authors
Cara M Santelli, Beth N Orcutt, Erin Banning, Wolfgang Bach, Craig L Moyer, Mitchell L Sogin, Hubert Staudigel, Katrina J Edwards
Publication date
2008/5/29
Journal
Nature
Volume
453
Issue
7195
Pages
653-656
Publisher
Nature Publishing Group UK
Description
Oceanic lithosphere exposed at the sea floor undergoes seawater–rock alteration reactions involving the oxidation and hydration of glassy basalt. Basalt alteration reactions are theoretically capable of supplying sufficient energy for chemolithoautotrophic growth. Such reactions have been shown to generate microbial biomass in the laboratory, but field-based support for the existence of microbes that are supported by basalt alteration is lacking. Here, using quantitative polymerase chain reaction, in situ hybridization and microscopy, we demonstrate that prokaryotic cell abundances on seafloor-exposed basalts are 3–4 orders of magnitude greater than in overlying deep sea water. Phylogenetic analyses of basaltic lavas from the East Pacific Rise (9° N) and around Hawaii reveal that the basalt-hosted biosphere harbours high bacterial community richness and that community membership is shared between these …
Total citations
Scholar articles
CM Santelli, BN Orcutt, E Banning, W Bach, CL Moyer… - Nature, 2008