Exploration for the hadal biosphere

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24370015
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Partial Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Ecology/Environment
• Research Institution: Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology
• Principal Investigator: NUNOURA Takuro 独立行政法人海洋研究開発機構, 海洋生命理工学研究開発センター, グループリーダー (60359164)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): TAKAKI Yoshihiro 独立行政法人海洋研究開発機構, 深海・地殻内生物圏研究分野, 主任技術研究員 (10399561)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: 超深海 / 海溝 / 硝化 / 物質循環

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, we have analyzed microbial ecosystems in halal water and sediments from the Mariana Trench, Izu-Ogasawara Trench and Japan Trench, and discussed about the geological and oceanographical backgrounds that support the halal biosphere. In the Mariana Trench project, we have revealed that the microbial ecosystem in the halal water was distinct from those in the upper abyssal and bathyal waters. Moreover, we hypothesized that the trench ecosystem was supported by the intrinsic geochemical cycle especially for the suspension of organic compounds from slope sediment (Nunoura et al. PNAS 2015). We also obtained data that presented the presence of halal water biosphere in the other trenches such as Izu-Ogasawara and Japan Trenches.

Free Research Field

微生物生態学