Microbial communities in terrestrial and deep sea mud volcanoes
Mud volcanoes are associated with geological compression zones along tectonic plate boundaries. They are connected to deep oil and gas reservoirs and emit methane gas, on land and on the seafloor. Mud volcanoes are unique ecosystems for Bacteria, Archaea and unicellular eukaryotes, converting methane to bacterial biomass. We are interested in these “primary producers“ and their symbioses with animals.
Figure. Sampling of terrestrial mud volcano fluids.
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