Temperature limits to deep subseafloor life in the Nankai Trough subduction zone

Authors

Verena B. Heuer, MARUM – Zen­trum für Ma­ri­ne Um­welt­wis­sen­schaf­ten
Fumio Inagaki, Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology
Yuki Morono, Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology
Yusuke Kubo, Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology
Arthur J. Spivack, University of Rhode Island
Bernhard Viehweger, MARUM – Zen­trum für Ma­ri­ne Um­welt­wis­sen­schaf­ten
Tina Treude, University of California, Los Angeles
Felix Beulig, Aarhus Universitet
Florence Schubotz, MARUM – Zen­trum für Ma­ri­ne Um­welt­wis­sen­schaf­ten
Satoshi Tonai, Kochi University
Stephen A. Bowden, University of Aberdeen
Margaret Cramm, University of Calgary
Susann Henkel, Alfred-Wegener-Institut Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung
Takehiro Hirose, Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology
Kira Homola, University of Rhode Island
Tatsuhiko Hoshino, Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology
Akira Ijiri, Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology
Hiroyuki Imachi, Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology
Nana Kamiya, Nihon University
Masanori Kaneko, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology
Lorenzo Lagostina, ETH Zürich
Hayley Manners, University of Plymouth
Harry Luke McClelland, Washington University in St. Louis
Kyle Metcalfe, Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences
Natsumi Okutsu, University of Tokyo
Donald Pan, Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology
Maija J. Raudsepp, University of Queensland
Justine Sauvage, University of Rhode Island
Man Yin Tsang, University of Toronto
David T. Wang, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Emily Whitaker, Texas A&M University
Yuzuru Yamamoto, Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology
Kiho Yang, Yonsei University
Lena Maeda, Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology
Rishi R. Adhikari, MARUM – Zen­trum für Ma­ri­ne Um­welt­wis­sen­schaf­ten
Clemens Glombitza, ETH Zürich

Document Type

Article

Date of Original Version

12-4-2020

Abstract

Microorganisms in marine subsurface sediments substantially contribute to global biomass. Sediments warmer than 40°C account for roughly half the marine sediment volume, but the processes mediated by microbial populations in these hard-to-access environments are poorly understood. We investigated microbial life in up to 1.2-kilometer-deep and up to 120°C hot sediments in the Nankai Trough subduction zone. Above 45°C, concentrations of vegetative cells drop two orders of magnitude and endospores become more than 6000 times more abundant than vegetative cells. Methane is biologically produced and oxidized until sediments reach 80° to 85°C. In 100° to 120°C sediments, isotopic evidence and increased cell concentrations demonstrate the activity of acetate-degrading hyperthermophiles. Above 45°C, populated zones alternate with zones up to 192 meters thick where microbes were undetectable.

Publication Title, e.g., Journal

Science

Volume

370

Issue

6521

Citation/Publisher Attribution

Heuer, Verena B., Fumio Inagaki, Yuki Morono, Yusuke Kubo, Arthur J. Spivack, Bernhard Viehweger, Tina Treude, Felix Beulig, Florence Schubotz, Satoshi Tonai, Stephen A. Bowden, Margaret Cramm, Susann Henkel, Takehiro Hirose, Kira Homola, Tatsuhiko Hoshino, Akira Ijiri, Hiroyuki Imachi, Nana Kamiya, Masanori Kaneko, Lorenzo Lagostina, Hayley Manners, Harry L. McClelland, Kyle Metcalfe, Natsumi Okutsu, Donald Pan, Maija J. Raudsepp, Justine Sauvage, Man Yin Tsang, David T. Wang, Emily Whitaker, Yuzuru Yamamoto, Kiho Yang, Lena Maeda, Rishi R. Adhikari, and Clemens Glombitza. "Temperature limits to deep subseafloor life in the Nankai Trough subduction zone." Science 370, 6521 (2020). doi: 10.1126/science.abd7934.