Bacterial communities associated with subsurface geochemical processes in continental serpentinite springs.

ABSTRACT: Reactions associated with the geochemical process of serpentinization can generate copious quantities of hydrogen and low-molecular-weight organic carbon compounds, which may provide energy and nutrients to sustain subsurface microbial communities independently of the photosynthetically supported surface biosphere. Previous microbial ecology studies have tested this hypothesis in deep sea hydrothermal vents, such as the Lost City hydrothermal field. This study applied similar methods, including molecular fingerprinting and tag sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene, to ultrabasic continental springs emanating from serpentinizing ultramafic rocks. These molecular surveys were linked with geochemical measurements of the fluids in an interdisciplinary approach designed to distinguish potential subsu

SUBMITTER: Brazelton WJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3697581 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature