Recent research conducted by a team of scientists has revealed a fascinating discovery about the ancient groundwaters beneath the Canadian prairies.
The team surveyed groundwater samples from aquifers covering over 80,000 square miles and found not only diverse and active microbial communities, but surprisingly large numbers of microbial cells.
What’s more, some of these microbes seem to produce ‘dark oxygen,’ which is oxygen produced in the absence of sunlight, in such abundance that it may leak into the environment and support other oxygen-reliant microbes that cannot produce it themselves.
This discovery challenges the long-held assumption that groundwater is sterile and lifeless. It’s fascinating to learn that there is so much life lurking beneath our feet, unbeknownst to us.
The team’s research is a huge milestone in the field of microbial ecology and gives new insights into how life can exist in virtually any environment.
It’s crucial to understand the behavior and characteristics of these microbes and the role they can play in regulating important biogeochemical cycles, such as carbon and nitrogen cycling, within the groundwater ecosystem.
So far, the team has only scratched the surface, and there is still much more to learn about the billions of microscopic organisms in our groundwater.
Nevertheless, their discovery is a significant contribution to scientific knowledge, and a reminder that there is still so much to discover on our planet.
Edited by Zeng Han-Jun
Written by Juliana Rodriguez
Terra Link Research 