GEOMICROBIOLOGY

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GEOMICROBIOLOGY
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BACKGROUND

• Geomicrobiology in unique ecosystems situations
  broadly representative of under-explored areas.
• Perception that geomicrobiological investigations
  are costly.
• But not for on-site sampling
• Make the pie larger
• What is necessary?
• Modest toolkit
• Tracers
• On-site sample handling
• Should consider drilling and coring tools
• May require slowing drilling.
• Separate methods workshop.
• Best-Practices document exists for IODP.

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PRIORITIZATION FOR SAMPLES

• Competition for same sample pore-water sample
  and microbial sampling take core that may be
  important stratigraphic interval.
• Field sampling protocol must be part of proposal.
  
• Effort may range from somebody to sample core and
  freeze to an on-site lab.

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NEW TECHNOLOGY

• Microsensors for geochemical variables.
• Down-hole Raman spectroscopy.
• Tiny sensors from NASA Drilling on Earth as a
  test bed for instruments designed for space
  flight
• In situ geomicrobiological experiments in
  boreholes.

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MICROBIOLOGICALLLY DRIVEN PROJECT?

• Microbiologists carry out projects that are
  exploratory science.
• Large projects must deal with major problems,
  e.g. sites where serpentinization may be driving
  autotroph community. Testing hypotheses.
• IODP includes three planned microbiological legs
  testing area with known water circulation,
  testing area in South Pacific where little life
  expected.

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BIOSIGNATURES

• Objective recovering evidence of fossil systems
  (eg meteorite impact)
• Microfossils
• Trace fossils
• Isotopes
• Mineralogical biosignatures
• E.g. magnetite
• Biochemical tracers
• Geolipids
• Overprinting
• Geolipids not specific.

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ANCIENT SYSTEMS LIMITS OF LIFE

• Faults, old, deep basins and fractures below
  mines may contain ancient water and microbes.
• Heat (in oil window!) speeds organic breakdown.
• Exploring pressure and temperature limits of
  life.
• Ecosystems with bizarre chemistry in various
  geological environments--lakes, hot springs,
  ore-forming systems.

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OPTIONS FOR COLLABORATION

• Conversation with principal investigators.
• Somebody needs to be pro-active at identifying
  proposed projects that are amenable to
  geomicrobiological investigations.
• Information about projects
• Geology to geomicrobiological community
• Geomicrobiology to geological community
• Workshop phase
• Sampling plan (at least a draft) must precede
  drilling.
• Review panels request add-ons
• No potential geomicrobiological results.

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FACILITIES

• Sampling protocols
• Modular sample processing unit.
• Equipment for transporting frozen samples.
• Data exchange and release.

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EDUCATION AND PUBLIC OUTREACH

• Because biology is more familiar to public than
  geology, geomicrobiology may serve as an entry
  point for engaging the public in geological.