Open AccessBiodiversity of cryopegs in permafrost
Author(s) -
Gilichinsky David,
Rivkina Elizaveta,
Bakermans Corien,
Shcherbakova Viktoria,
Petrovskaya Lada,
Ozerskaya Svetlana,
Ivanushkitalia,
Kochkina Galina,
Laurinavichuis Kyastus,
Pecheritsina Svetlana,
Fattakhova Rushania,
Tiedje James M.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
fems microbiology ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.377
H-Index - 155
eISSN - 1574-6941
pISSN - 0168-6496
DOI - 10.1016/j.femsec.2005.02.003
Subject(s) - psychrophile , biology , halotolerance , extreme environment , permafrost , extremophile , halophile , salinity , biodiversity , arctic , spore , seawater , ecology , thermophile , botany , bacteria , genetics
This study describes the biodiversity of the indigenous microbial community in the sodium‐chloride water brines (cryopegs) derived from ancient marine sediments and sandwiched within permafrost 100–120,000 years ago after the Arctic Ocean regression. Cryopegs remain liquid at the in situ temperature of −9 to −11 °C and make up the only habitat on the Earth that is characterized by permanently subzero temperatures, high salinity, and the absence of external influence during geological time. From these cryopegs, anaerobic and aerobic, spore‐less and spore‐forming, halotolerant and halophilic, psychrophilic and psychrotrophic bacteria, mycelial fungi and yeast were isolated and their activity was detected below 0 °C.