A dynamic microbial community with high functional redundancy inhabits the cold, oxic subseafloor aquifer.

ABSTRACT: The rock-hosted subseafloor crustal aquifer harbors a reservoir of microbial life that may influence global marine biogeochemical cycles. Here we utilized metagenomic libraries of crustal fluid samples from North Pond, located on the flanks of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, a site with cold, oxic subseafloor fluid circulation within the upper basement to query microbial diversity. Twenty-one samples were collected during a 2-year period to examine potential microbial metabolism and community dynamics. We observed minor changes in the geochemical signatures over the 2 years, yet the microbial community present in the crustal fluids underwent large shifts in the dominant taxonomic groups. An analysis of 195 metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) were generated from the data set and revealed a connecti

SUBMITTER: Tully BJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5739024 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature