{"id":3341,"date":"2019-07-25T09:56:45","date_gmt":"2019-07-25T07:56:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/site.uit.no\/cage\/?p=3341"},"modified":"2023-04-04T10:31:28","modified_gmt":"2023-04-04T08:31:28","slug":"unusual-mucous-like-substance-found-buried-within-seafloor-sediment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/site.uit.no\/cage\/2019\/07\/25\/unusual-mucous-like-substance-found-buried-within-seafloor-sediment\/","title":{"rendered":"Unusual mucous-like substance found buried within seafloor sediment"},"content":{"rendered":"

The location and microbial composition of recently found biofilms are challenging beliefs about methane diffusion<\/h2>\n

When Friederike Gr\u00fcndger<\/a> and her team cracked open the long, heavy cylinders of black sediment drawn from the ocean floor, they were surprised to find pockets of yellowish-green slime buried within two of the samples. The average person may not consider the appearance of such unseemly goo as a cause for celebration, but the biologists knew that this slime, otherwise known as biofilm, was a highly unusual find in this particular location, and could even play a role in terms of climate change.<\/p>\n

This group from the Centre for Arctic Gas Hydrates, Environment, and Climate (CAGE) at UiT The Arctic University of Norway set out to investigate the microscopic and macroscopic organisms living in or around cold seep sites such as Gas Hydrate Pingos (GHP) in the Svalbard area. These dome-like, geological structures leak methane gas into the ocean water with the potential to travel to the surface and enter our atmosphere, possibly advancing climate change.<\/p>\n

Underwater organisms thrive on deadly greenhouse gas<\/h2>\n

Some of the organisms living at these sites are relevant to this process, as they have adapted to live off the methane and convert it into harmless compounds such as carbonate and water. This activity is called anaerobic oxidation of methane (AOM) and has a global impact on the diffusion of underwater methane. The most relevant entities contributing to this process are methanotrophic archaea (ANME -1, -2, and -3) and sulphate-reducing bacterial (SRB), two microorganisms usually found living co-dependently in colonies. It is still unclear, however, where they can be reliably found and how involved they are in such methane control.<\/p>\n

Slimy biofilm coats microbial communities; provides protection<\/h2>\n

Biofilms are glue-like substances that encase clusters of microbes to provide extra protection against the elements. They can be found all throughout nature, even on the human body; biofilms can lead to complications in wound care and adhere to your teeth as plaque. But they are also found on the ocean floor, protecting the microbial communities that set up shop near areas of methane accumulation. Where they are not usually found, however, is within the cracks and crevices of seabed sediment \u2013 at least, not as far as we know. But Gr\u00fcndger et al.\u2019s research may be showing us once again how the ocean is constantly capable of surprising us.<\/p>\n

Research findings surprise scientists<\/h2>\n

Here are the highlights from the recently published article from Gr\u00fcndger et. al. in Scientific Reports<\/em>:<\/p>\n