Search

The zone of continental margins is most important for the ocean’s productivity and nutrient budget and connects the flow of material from terrestrial environments to the deep-sea. Microbial processes are an important “filter” in this exchange between sediments and ocean interior. As a consequence of the variety of habitats and special environmental conditions at continental margins an enormous diversity of microbial processes and microbial life forms is found. The only definite limit to microbial life in sedimentary systems of continental margins appears to be high temperatures in the interior earth or in fluids rising from the interior. Many of the catalytic capabilities which microorganisms possess are still only incompletely explored and appear to continuously expand as new organisms are discovered. Recent discoveries at continental margins such as the microbial life in the deep sub-seafloor, microbial utilization of hydrate deposits, highly specialized microbial symbioses and the involvement of microbial processes in the formation of carbonate mounds have extended our understanding of the Earth’s bio- and geosphere dramatically. The aim of this paper is to identify important scientific issues for future research on microbial life in sedimentary environments of continental margins.

The zone of continental margins is most important for the ocean’s productivity and nutrient budget and connects the flow of material from terrestrial environments to the deep-sea. Microbial processes are an important “filter” in this exchange between sediments and ocean interior. As a consequence of the variety of habitats and special environmental conditions at continental margins an enormous diversity of microbial processes and microbial life forms is found. The only definite limit to microbial life in sedimentary systems of continental margins appears to be high temperatures in the interior earth or in fluids rising from the interior. Many of the catalytic capabilities which microorganisms possess are still only incompletely explored and appear to continuously expand as new organisms are discovered. Recent discoveries at continental margins such as the microbial life in the deep sub-seafloor, microbial utilization of hydrate deposits, highly specialized microbial symbioses and the involvement of microbial processes in the formation of carbonate mounds have extended our understanding of the Earth’s bio- and geosphere dramatically. The aim of this paper is to identify important scientific issues for future research on microbial life in sedimentary environments of continental margins.

The zone of continental margins is most important for the ocean’s productivity and nutrient budget and connects the flow of material from terrestrial environments to the deep-sea. Microbial processes are an important “filter” in this exchange between sediments and ocean interior. As a consequence of the variety of habitats and special environmental conditions at continental margins an enormous diversity of microbial processes and microbial life forms is found. The only definite limit to microbial life in sedimentary systems of continental margins appears to be high temperatures in the interior earth or in fluids rising from the interior. Many of the catalytic capabilities which microorganisms possess are still only incompletely explored and appear to continuously expand as new organisms are discovered. Recent discoveries at continental margins such as the microbial life in the deep sub-seafloor, microbial utilization of hydrate deposits, highly specialized microbial symbioses and the involvement of microbial processes in the formation of carbonate mounds have extended our understanding of the Earth’s bio- and geosphere dramatically. The aim of this paper is to identify important scientific issues for future research on microbial life in sedimentary environments of continental margins.

The zone of continental margins is most important for the ocean’s productivity and nutrient budget and connects the flow of material from terrestrial environments to the deep-sea. Microbial processes are an important “filter” in this exchange between sediments and ocean interior. As a consequence of the variety of habitats and special environmental conditions at continental margins an enormous diversity of microbial processes and microbial life forms is found. The only definite limit to microbial life in sedimentary systems of continental margins appears to be high temperatures in the interior earth or in fluids rising from the interior. Many of the catalytic capabilities which microorganisms possess are still only incompletely explored and appear to continuously expand as new organisms are discovered. Recent discoveries at continental margins such as the microbial life in the deep sub-seafloor, microbial utilization of hydrate deposits, highly specialized microbial symbioses and the involvement of microbial processes in the formation of carbonate mounds have extended our understanding of the Earth’s bio- and geosphere dramatically. The aim of this paper is to identify important scientific issues for future research on microbial life in sedimentary environments of continental margins.

Seismic profiles from a venting area on the western margin of Paramushir Island (Sea of Okhotsk) reveal a local complex structure and an interesting, unusual pattern of the bottom simulating reflector (BSR). The BSR is gradual rising towards the venting area. The geothermal gradient and the bottom temperature confirmed the methane hydrate. The temperature appears to be the most important factor controlling the hydrate stability. A locally higher heat flow caused the upward migration of the hydrate stability field and the subsequent degradation of the hydrated sediments, causing gas vent formation and the flux of methane gas into the water column.

Seismic profiles from a venting area on the western margin of Paramushir Island (Sea of Okhotsk) reveal a local complex structure and an interesting, unusual pattern of the bottom simulating reflector (BSR). The BSR is gradual rising towards the venting area. The geothermal gradient and the bottom temperature confirmed the methane hydrate. The temperature appears to be the most important factor controlling the hydrate stability. A locally higher heat flow caused the upward migration of the hydrate stability field and the subsequent degradation of the hydrated sediments, causing gas vent formation and the flux of methane gas into the water column.