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dc.contributor.advisorWolfgang Back and Katrina J. Edwards.en_US
dc.contributor.authorSantelli, Cara Men_US
dc.contributor.otherWoods Hole Oceanographic Institution.en_US
dc.date.accessioned2008-03-27T18:31:23Z
dc.date.available2008-03-27T18:31:23Z
dc.date.copyright2007en_US
dc.date.issued2007en_US
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/40967
dc.descriptionThesis (Ph. D.)--Joint Program in Oceanography (Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences; and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution), 2007.en_US
dc.descriptionIncludes bibliographical references.en_US
dc.description.abstractBasaltic ocean crust has the potential to host one of the largest endolithic communities on Earth. This portion of the biosphere, however, remains largely unexplored. In this study, we utilize molecular biological, microscopic, and geochemical tools to gain a better understanding of the geomicrobiology of the ocean crust. Specifically, we examine the phylogenetic diversity of microorganisms inhabiting basaltic lavas, the activities and abundances of these microorganisms, the spatial extent of the biosphere, and the potential effect that microbial activity has on the geochemistry of the ocean crust and overlying water column. Our study demonstrates that young, fresh volcanic lavas near mid-ocean ridges host an incredibly diverse and dense population of microorganisms dominated by Bacteria, quite distinct from the microbial communities found in surrounding deep seawater and hydrothermal vents. Furthermore, these communities may contribute to the elemental cycling of Fe, S, Mn, N, and C in this environment. The inability to definitively identify microorganisms in drill-cores of old (> 15 Ma) ocean crust, however, implies that these once prolific communities may become scarce as the crust ages and moves further away from the ridge axis. Finally, we provide evidence suggesting that these communities are fueled by oxidative alteration reactions occurring in the basaltic crust.en_US
dc.description.statementofresponsibilityby Cara M. Santelli.en_US
dc.format.extent217 p.en_US
dc.language.isoengen_US
dc.publisherMassachusetts Institute of Technologyen_US
dc.rightsM.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.en_US
dc.rights.urihttp://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582en_US
dc.subjectEarth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences.en_US
dc.subjectJoint Program in Oceanography.en_US
dc.subjectWoods Hole Oceanographic Institution.en_US
dc.subject.lcshSediments (Geology) Microbiologyen_US
dc.subject.lcshBiogeochemical cyclesen_US
dc.titleGeomicrobiology of the ocean crust : the phylogenetic diversity, abundance, and distribution of microbial communities inhabiting basalt and implications for rock alteration processesen_US
dc.typeThesisen_US
dc.description.degreePh.D.en_US
dc.contributor.departmentJoint Program in Oceanographyen_US
dc.contributor.departmentWoods Hole Oceanographic Institutionen_US
dc.contributor.departmentMassachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences
dc.identifier.oclc213281553en_US


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