TY - JOUR
T1 - A constant flux of diverse thermophilic bacteria into the cold Arctic seabed
AU - Hubert, Casey
AU - Loy, Alexander
AU - Nickel, Maren
AU - Arnosti, Carol
AU - Baranyi, Christian
AU - Brüchert, Volker
AU - Ferdelman, Timothy
AU - Finster, Kai
AU - Christensen, Flemming Mønsted
AU - de Rezende, Júlia Rosa
AU - Vandieken, Verona
AU - Jørgensen, Bo Barker
PY - 2009/9/1
Y1 - 2009/9/1
N2 - Microorganisms have been repeatedly discovered in environments that do not support their
metabolic activity. Identifying and quantifying these misplaced organisms can reveal dispersal
mechanisms that shape natural microbial diversity. Using endospore germination experiments, we
estimated a stable supply of thermophilic bacteria into permanently cold Arctic marine sediment at
a rate exceeding 108 spores per square meter per year. These metabolically and phylogenetically
diverse Firmicutes show no detectable activity at cold in situ temperatures but rapidly mineralize
organic matter by hydrolysis, fermentation, and sulfate reduction upon induction at 50°C. The
closest relatives to these bacteria come from warm subsurface petroleum reservoir and ocean crust
ecosystems, suggesting that seabed fluid flow from these environments is delivering thermophiles
to the cold ocean. These transport pathways may broadly influence microbial community
composition in the marine environment.
AB - Microorganisms have been repeatedly discovered in environments that do not support their
metabolic activity. Identifying and quantifying these misplaced organisms can reveal dispersal
mechanisms that shape natural microbial diversity. Using endospore germination experiments, we
estimated a stable supply of thermophilic bacteria into permanently cold Arctic marine sediment at
a rate exceeding 108 spores per square meter per year. These metabolically and phylogenetically
diverse Firmicutes show no detectable activity at cold in situ temperatures but rapidly mineralize
organic matter by hydrolysis, fermentation, and sulfate reduction upon induction at 50°C. The
closest relatives to these bacteria come from warm subsurface petroleum reservoir and ocean crust
ecosystems, suggesting that seabed fluid flow from these environments is delivering thermophiles
to the cold ocean. These transport pathways may broadly influence microbial community
composition in the marine environment.
M3 - Journal article
SN - 0036-8075
VL - 325
SP - 1541
EP - 1544
JO - Science
JF - Science
IS - 5947
ER -