Subsurface Lithoautotrophic Microbial Ecosystem

Subsurface Lithoautotrophic Microbial Ecosystems, or "SLIMEs" (also abbreviated "SLMEs" or "SLiMEs"), are defined by Edward O. Wilson as "unique assemblages of bacteria

Bacteria

Bacteria are a large domain of prokaryotic microorganisms. Typically a few micrometres in length, bacteria have a wide range of shapes, ranging from spheres to rods and spirals...

and fungi that occupy pores in the interlocking mineral grains of igneous rock beneath Earth's surface."

External links

Article from Sciencemag.org about SLIMEs in Deep Basalt Aquifers
Subsurface lithoautotrophic microbial ecosystems (SLMEs) in igneous rocks: prospects for detection
Hydrogen-driven subsurface lithoautotrophic microbial ecosystems (SLiMEs): do they exist and why should we care?

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.