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Spatial Distribution of the Subseafloor Life: Diversity and Biogeography

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Book cover Links Between Geological Processes, Microbial Activities&Evolution of Life

Part of the book series: Modern Approaches in Solid Earth Sciences ((MASE,volume 4))

Abstract

Marine subsurface sediments that cover more than two-thirds of the Earth harbor remarkable numbers of microbial cells. Subseafloor microbial activities may affect global biogeochemical cycles; however, our knowledge of the deep-subseafloor biosphere remains very limited. Recent molecular ecological studies have shown that subseafloor microbial communities are predominantly composed of yet -uncultivated, -uncharacterized bacteria and archaea with great phylogenetic diversity. Some phylogenetic groups are commonly detected in global marine sediments regardless of location and depth, and environmental factors such as sedimentological, geochemical, and geophysical characteristics probably control their activities, biomass, and community structures. This chapter reviews emerging patterns of microbial diversity in deeply buried marine sediments and discusses the potential ecological roles and distribution of microbial communities.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Geomicrobiology Group, Kochi Institute for Core Sample Research, Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technolog (JAMSTEC), Monobe B200 Nankoku, Kochi 783-8502, Japan

    Fumio Inagaki

  2. Subground Animalcule Retrieval (SUGAR) Program, Extremobiosphere Research Center JAMSTEC, Natsushima-cho 2-15, Yokosuka 237-0061, Japan

    Fumio Inagaki

Authors
  1. Fumio Inagaki
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  2. Satoshi Nakagawa
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geology, Miami University, 114 Shideler Hall, Oxford OH 45056, USA

    Yildirim Dilek

  2. Department of Earth Science, University of Bergen, Allegaten 41, 5007 Bergen, Norway

    Harald Furnes

  3. Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Alberta, 1-26 Earth Sciences Bldg, Edmonton AB T6G 2E3, Canada

    Karlis Muehlenbachs

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Inagaki, F., Nakagawa, S. (2008). Spatial Distribution of the Subseafloor Life: Diversity and Biogeography. In: Dilek, Y., Furnes, H., Muehlenbachs, K. (eds) Links Between Geological Processes, Microbial Activities&Evolution of Life. Modern Approaches in Solid Earth Sciences, vol 4. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-8306-8_4

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