SCIENCE@home

Eukaryotic opportunists dominate the deep-subsurface biosphere in South Africa

G. Borgonie,B. Linage-Alvarez,A. Ojo,S. Mundle,L. B. Freese,C. V. Rooyen,O. Kuloyo,J. Albertyn,C. Pohl,E. Cason,J. Vermeulen,C. Pienaar,D. Litthauer,H. V. Niekerk,J. V. Eeden,B. Lollar,T. Onstott,E. V. Heerden

Published 2015 in Nature Communications

ABSTRACT

Following the discovery of the first Eukarya in the deep subsurface, intense interest has developed to understand the diversity of eukaryotes living in these extreme environments. We identified that Platyhelminthes, Rotifera, Annelida and Arthropoda are thriving at 1.4 km depths in palaeometeoric fissure water up to 12,300 yr old in South African mines. Protozoa and Fungi have also been identified; however, they are present in low numbers. Characterization of the different species reveals that many are opportunistic organisms with an origin due to recharge from surface waters rather than soil leaching. This is the first known study to demonstrate the in situ distribution of biofilms on fissure rock faces using video documentation. Calculations suggest that food, not dissolved oxygen is the limiting factor for eukaryal population growth. The discovery of a group of Eukarya underground has important implications for the search for life on other planets in our solar system. The extent of diversity in deep subsurface mines is not well documented. Here, Borgonie et al.report the discovery of Protozoa, Fungi, Platyhelminthes, Rotifera, Annelida and Arthropoda from 1.4 km below ground, and conclude that their population growth is limited by food rather than oxygen availability.

PUBLICATION RECORD

CITATION MAP

EXTRACTION MAP

CLAIMS

  • No claims are published for this paper.

CONCEPTS

  • No concepts are published for this paper.

REFERENCES

Showing 1-72 of 72 references · Page 1 of 1

CITED BY

Showing 1-68 of 68 citing papers · Page 1 of 1