Note to users. If you're seeing this message, it means that your browser cannot find this page's style/presentation instructions -- or possibly that you are using a browser that does not support current Web standards. Find out more about why this message is appearing, and what you can do to make your experience of our site the best it can be.

Science 19 February 1971:
Vol. 171. no. 3972, pp. 672 - 675
DOI: 10.1126/science.171.3972.672
Prev | Table of Contents | Next

Articles

Microbial Degradation of Organic Matter in the Deep Sea

Holger W. Jannasch 1, Kjell Eimhjellen 2, Carl 0. Wirsen 3, and A. Farmanfarmalan 4

1 Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543
2 Department of Biochemistry, The Technical University of Norway, Trondheim
3 Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
4 Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08903

Food materials from the sunken and recovered research submarine Alvin were found to be in a strikingly well-preserved state after exposure for more than 10 months to deep-sea conditions. Subsequent experiments substantiated this observation and indicated that rates of microbial degradation were 10 to 100 times slower in the deep sea than in controls under comparable temperatures.


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
Oxygen-related biofacies in marine strata: an overview and update.
C. E. Savrda and D. J. Bottjer (1991)
Geological Society, London, Special Publications 58, 201-219
   Abstract »    PDF »
The genesis and palynofacies characteristics of marine petroleum source rocks.
R. V. Tyson (1987)
Geological Society, London, Special Publications 26, 47-67
   Abstract »    PDF »
The carbon cycle--tracking the path of organic particles from sea to sediment.
E. T. Degens and V. Ittekkot (1987)
Geological Society, London, Special Publications 26, 121-135
   Abstract »    PDF »
Respiration of Benthopelagic Fishes: In situ Measurements at 1230 Meters.
K. L. Smith Jr. and R. R. Hessler (1974)
Science 184, 72-73
   Abstract »    PDF »
Wood-Boring Bivalves, Opportunistic Species in the Deep Sea.
R. D. Turner (1973)
Science 180, 1377-1379
   Abstract »    PDF »
Deep-Sea Microorganisms: In situ Response to Nutrient Enrichment.
H. W. Jannasch and C. O. Wirsen (1973)
Science 180, 641-643
   Abstract »    PDF »
Deep-Sea Benthic Community Respiration: An in situ Study at 1850 Meters.
K. L. Smith Jr. and J. M. Teal (1973)
Science 179, 282-283
   Abstract »    PDF »
Mercury Concentrations in Recent and Ninety-Year-Old Benthopelagic Fish.
R. T. Barber, A. Vijayakumar, and F. A. Cross (1972)
Science 178, 636-639
   Abstract »    PDF »


To Advertise     Find Products

Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)