Open AccessExploration of deep intraterrestrial microbial life: current perspectives
Author(s) -
Pedersen K
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
fems microbiology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1574-6968
pISSN - 0378-1097
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-6968.2000.tb09033.x
Subject(s) - geology , methane , sedimentary rock , biosphere , earth science , chemosynthesis , cold seep , geochemistry , igneous rock , carbon dioxide , basement , environmental science , paleontology , ecology , hydrothermal vent , hydrothermal circulation , archaeology , history , biology
Abstract Intraterrestrial life has been found at depths of several thousand metres in deep sub‐sea floor sediments and in the basement crust beneath the sediments. It has also been found at up to 2800‐m depth in continental sedimentary rocks, 5300‐m depth in igneous rock aquifers and in fluid inclusions in ancient salt deposits from salt mines. The biomass of these intraterrestrial organisms may be equal to the total weight of all marine and terrestrial plants. The intraterrestrial microbes generally seem to be active at very low but significant rates and several investigations indicate chemolithoautotrophs to form a chemosynthetic base. Hydrogen, methane and carbon dioxide gases are continuously generated in the interior of our planet and probably constitute sustainable sources of carbon and energy for deep intraterrestrial biosphere ecosystems. Several prospective research areas are foreseen to focus on the importance of microbial communities for metabolic processes such as anaerobic utilisation of hydrocarbons and anaerobic methane oxidation.