EarthRef.org Reference Database (ERR) -- Fisk et al. 1998

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Fisk et al. 1998

Fisk, M.R., Giovannoni, S.J. and Thorseth, I.H. (1998). Alteration of oceanic volcanic glass: Textural evidence of microbial activity. Science 281(5379): 978-980.

The subsurface biosphere may constitute as much as 50 percent of Earth's biomass. Direct and indirect evidence suggests that an extensive biosphere exists in the rocks below the sea floor. This survey of basalts of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans supports the hypothesis that bacteria have colonized much of the upper oceanic crust, which has a volume estimated at 10(18) cubic meters. Although this is the Largest habitat on Earth, its Low abundance of bacteria constitutes much Less than 1 percent of Earth's biomass.

BACKGROUND DATA FILES

	Abstract

	Table 1

Keywords
basaltic glass, ridge

Journal
Science
http://www.sciencemag.org/

Publisher
American Association for the Advancement of Science
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