Life in earth: Energy, minerals, Mars and the deep biosphere.
The 2002 William Smith Meeting.
22nd/23rd October.
Convened by Steve Larter, Ian Head(University of Newcastle U Tyne, UK)
and Heinz Wilkes GeoForschungsZentrum Potsdam, Germany
It seems likely now that most sediments cooler than the temperature base
of the biosphere(80-? C) at depths up to 4km contain microorganisms that
evolve during burial to adapt to changes in-situ conditions and that
this in-earth biomass -the deep biosphere- represents a significant
fraction of life on the planet. Deep biosphere microorganisms are
implicated in the production and destruction of fossil fuels in
sedimentary basins and in the production of some mineral deposits,
recent studies suggesting the microbial flora of deep sediments maybe
represent truly isolated biospheres, the organisms being descendants of
ancient lineages responding in an isolated manner to evolution over
millions of years. As a most stable environment, life in deep sediments
thus potentially represents a unique repository of evolutionary
information and such environments are the most likely location of
surviving life on planets such as Mars.
Despite great advances in our understanding of microbial processes in
deep sediments our ignorance of the deep biosphere remains profound and
we therefore invite contributions of recent advances in the study of the
deep biosphere in any of the following areas:-
Nature of life in deep sediments, any aspect of the environment, the
organisms, their role in production or destruction of mineral or energy
resources.
The thermodynamics and kinetics of life in deep sediments.
The geochemistry of the deep biosphere-mechanisms of carbon cycling,
hydrocarbon degradation, energy sources and redox systems, nutrient
supply.
Geochemical or microbiological studies of petroleum or mineral deposits
or other natural or engineered environments that shed light on the
activity of organisms in deep sediments.
The conference will be introduced by the William Smith lecture for 2002
given by Prof. John Parkes of Bristol University, one of the pioneers of
the study of the deep biosphere.
Those interested in contributing at the meeting via presentations or
posters should email a not more than 2 page Microsoft word document
abstract in times new roman 12 point font containing not more then 1
figure to [log in to unmask] by May 1st 2002.
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