Biogenic Mn-Oxides in Subseafloor Basalts

Overview

Journal PLoS One

Specialties General Medicine
Science

Date 2015 Jun 25

PMID 26107948

Citations 6

Authors

Magnus Ivarsson

Curt Broman

Hakan Gustafsson

Nils G Holm

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The deep biosphere of the subseafloor basalts is recognized as a major scientific frontier in disciplines like biology, geology, and oceanography. Recently, the presence of fungi in these environments has involved a change of view regarding diversity and ecology. Here, we describe fossilized fungal communities in vugs in subseafloor basalts from a depth of 936.65 metres below seafloor at the Detroit Seamount, Pacific Ocean. These fungal communities are closely associated with botryoidal Mn oxides composed of todorokite. Analyses of the Mn oxides by Electron Paramagnetic Resonance spectroscopy (EPR) indicate a biogenic signature. We suggest, based on mineralogical, morphological and EPR data, a biological origin of the botryoidal Mn oxides. Our results show that fungi are involved in Mn cycling at great depths in the seafloor and we introduce EPR as a means to easily identify biogenic Mn oxides in these environments.

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