Title

Nitrogen Stimulates the Growth of Subsurface Basalt-associated Microorganisms at the Western Flank of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge.

Authors

Xinxu Zhang; Jing Fang; Fengping Wang; Bach, Wolfgang; Edwards, Katrina J.; Orcutt, Beth N.

Abstract

Oceanic crust constitutes the largest aquifer system on Earth, and microbial activity in this environment has been inferred from various geochemical analyses. However, empirical documentation of microbial activity from subsurface basalts is still lacking, particularly in the cool (3 /∑Fe ratios only when nitrogen substrates were added. Furthermore, a Marinobacter strain with neutrophilic iron-oxidizing capabilities was isolated from the basalt. This work reveals that basalt-associated microorganisms at North Pond had the potential for activity and that microbial growth could be stimulated by in vitro nitrogen addition. Furthermore, iron oxidation is supported as an important process for microbial communities in subsurface basalts from young and cool ridge flank basement.

Subjects

NITROGEN; MICROBIAL growth; GEOMICROBIOLOGY

Publication

Frontiers in Microbiology, 2016, p1

ISSN

1664-302X

Publication type

Academic Journal

DOI

10.3389/fmicb.2016.00633