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Cited by 243

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 1 of the 1 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.

Extending the Sub-Sea-Floor Biosphere

Open access
Roussel, Erwan G., Bonavita, Marie-Anne Cambon, Querellou, Joël, Cragg, Barry A., Webster, Gordon, Prieur, Daniel, Parkes, R. John·2008·Science

Abstract

Sub‐sea-floor sediments may contain two-thirds of Earth's total prokaryotic biomass. However, this has its basis in data extrapolation from ~500-meter to 4-kilometer depths, whereas the deepest documented prokaryotes are from only 842 meters. Here, we provide evidence for low concentrations of living prokaryotic cells in the deepest (1626 meters below the sea floor), oldest (111 million years old), and potentially hottest (~100�C) marine sediments investigated. These Newfoundland margin sediments also have DNA sequences related to thermophilic and/or hyperthermophilic Archaea. These form two unique clusters within Pyrococcus and Thermococcus genera, suggesting unknown, uncultured groups are present in deep, hot, marine sediments (~54� to 100�C). Sequences of anaerobic methane-oxidizing Archaea were also present, suggesting a deep biosphere partly supported by methane. These findings demonstrate that the sub‐sea-floor biosphere extends to at least 1600 meters below the sea floor and probably deeper, given an upper temperature limit for prokaryotic life of at least 113�C and increasing thermogenic energy supply with depth.

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Metadata

Authors
Roussel, E. G., Bonavita, M.-A. C., Querellou, J., Cragg, B. A., Webster, G., Prieur, D., & Parkes, R. J.
Venue
Science
Published
2008-05-23
Volume
320
Issue
5879
Pages
1046-1046
ISSN
  • 0036-8075 (ISSN-L)
  • 1095-9203
OpenAlex
W2160027672
Cited by
243
References
1
FWCI
18.24
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
green

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CoChat. (2026). Citation check: Extending the Sub-Sea-Floor Biosphere. https://app.cochat.ai/papers/10.1126/science.1154545
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Roussel, E. G., Bonavita, M.-A. C., Querellou, J., Cragg, B. A., Webster, G., Prieur, D., & Parkes, R. J. (2008). Extending the Sub-Sea-Floor Biosphere. Science. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1154545

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