Temp. at which microbes were actively respiring in brine channels in Arctic sea ice

Range -20 °C
Organism prokaryote
Reference Price PB, Sowers T. Temperature dependence of metabolic rates for microbial growth, maintenance, and survival. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2004 Mar 30 101(13):4631-6. p.4631 right column 6th paragraphPubMed ID15070769
Primary Source Junge K, Eicken H, Deming JW. Bacterial Activity at -2 to -20 degrees C in Arctic wintertime sea ice. Appl Environ Microbiol. 2004 Jan70(1):550-7.PubMed ID14711687
Method Staining and epifluorescence microscopy
Comments Junge et al. (primary source) studied prokaryotes inside brine channels in Arctic sea ice with staining and epifluorescence microscopy on a cold stage at -2°C to -20°C. A large fraction of the microbes were attached to particles or to ice-crystal boundaries and were actively respiring even at -20°C.
Entered by Uri M
ID 108050