Microbial processes in the deep biosphere of the CO2-dominated active fault zone in NW Bohemia

在温度高于100摄氏度的3.5公里以上的沉积物中发现了微生物，这些微生物在所谓的深层生物圈中的微生物过程以及与地质过程的联系还没有很好地了解。限制微生物在深层地下生长的主要因素是温度、pH、氧化还原电位、气体浓度、水和底物的可用性。我们假设，在活动断裂带，由于加强了底物的支持，与其他大陆深层生物圈生态系统相比，微生物的过程显著加快。因此，活动断裂带可以视为深部地下微生物生命的热点。作为对计划中的ICDP深部钻探活动(PIER-ICDP，探测大陆内岩浆活动：钻探Eger裂谷)的预审研究，计划于2015年8月在近距离进行第一次钻探，钻探深度达100米。这项研究的目的是通过应用现代高通量DNA测序技术和地球化学分析，初步了解裂谷带二氧化碳管道中的微生物群落结构。这项研究的结果将扩大我们对地震和流体活动断裂中的深层生物圈的了解，并有助于调整计划中的ICDP钻探的方法范围。钻探和所有实验工作所需的财政资源将由GFZ波茨坦提供。

Microorganisms are found in sediment depth from more than 3.5 km with temperatures higher than 100°C. Microbial processes in the so-called Deep Biosphere and the link to geological processes are not well understood. Major limiting factors for microbial growth in the deep subsurface are temperature, pH, redox potential, gas concentration, water and substrate availability. We hypothesize that in active fault zones, due to an intensified substrate support, microbial processes are significantly accelerated compared to other continental Deep Biosphere ecosystems. Therefore active fault zones could be seen as Hot Spots of microbial life in the deep subsurface. As a pre-examination study to the planned deep ICDP-drilling campaign (PIER-ICDP, Probing of Intra-continental magmatic activity: drilling the Eger Rift) a first drilling in the proximity down to a depth of 100 m is planned for August 2015. The aim of the study is to get first insights into the microbial community structure in CO2 conduits of the rift zone by applying modern high-throughput DNA sequencing techniques and geochemical analysis. The outcome of the study will expand our knowledge on the Deep Biosphere in seismically and fluid-active faults and help to adapt the spectrum of methods for the planned ICDP-drilling. The financial resources needed for the drilling as well as all experimental work will be provided by the GFZ Potsdam.