33 research outputs found
Molecular indicators of palaeoenvironmental conditions in an immature Permian shale (Kupferschiefer, Lower Rhine Basin, north-west Germany) from free and S-bound lipids
Changes in palaeoenvironmental conditions during deposition of the Permian Kupferschiefer (Lower Rhine Basin, northwest Germany) inferred from molecular and isotopic compositions of biomarker components
Stable carbon isotopic compositions and distributions of biomarkers in the Permian Kupferschiefer
Maleimides (1<i>H</i>-pyrrole-2,5-diones) as molecular indicators of anoxygenic photosynthesis in ancient water columns
Post-mortem interval estimation of human skeletal remains by micro-computed tomography, mid-infrared microscopic imaging and energy dispersive X-ray mapping
Role of basipetal auxin transport and lateral auxin movement in rooting and growth of etiolated lupin hypocotyls
Community dynamics of anaerobic bacteria in deep petroleum reservoirs
The nature, activity and metabolism of microbes that inhabit the deep subsurface environment are a matter of ongoing debate1?7. Primarily limited by temperature8, little is known about secondary factors that restrict or enhance microbial activity9,10 or about the extent of a habitable environment deep below the surface. In particular, the degraders of chemically inert organic substrates remain elusive9. Petroleum reservoirs can be regarded as natural bioreactors and are ideally suited for the study of microbial metabolism in the deep subsurface. Here we analyse series of oil samples that were biodegraded to different degrees. We find fatty acids after hydrolysis of purified crude oil fractions, indicating the presence of intact phospholipids and suggesting that indigenous bacteria inhabit petroleum reservoirs in sediment depths of up to 2,000 m. A major change in bacterial community structure occurs after the removal of n-alkanes, indicating that more than one consortium is responsible for petroleum degradation11. Our results suggest that further study of petroleum fluids will help understand bacterial metabolism and diversity in this habitat of the deep subsurface