Earth, Atmosphere & Environment Sciences
Title : | Carbon and energy metabolisms of deep life within the granitic basement of Koyna seismogenic zone |
Area of research : | Earth, Atmosphere & Environment Sciences |
Focus area : | Seismology |
Principal Investigator : | Prof. Pinaki Sar, Department of Biotechnology, IIT, Kharagpur, West Bengal. : Phone: 03222283754 |
Timeline Start Year : | 2023 |
Timeline End Year : | 2026 |
Details
Executive Summary : | Deep terrestrial subsurface within the continental crust represents an emerging frontier for geobiosphere studies. The continental biosphere represents an extraordinary ecosystem with many of the standard forces is either much reduced or not applicable. Nevertheless, such deep subterranean earth systems are appreciated as dynamic, populated, metabolically active, interacting with and possibly controlling global elemental cycles. Despite past research endeavors supported by ICDP, IODP or other organizations, still there is a large knowledge gap on functioning of deep terrestrial subsurface microbiomes, and particularly so for crystalline rock setting at great depth (>2.0 km) with recurrent seismic activities. The metabolic pathways driving subsurface geomicrobiological processes and their significance in seismically active systems remained inadequately addressed. Details on how the resident microorganisms respond and adapt to the dynamic physicochemical state (with respect of chronic seismic events) and the possible effect that might impart on local environment are also unexplored. Successful completion of 3000 m deep Koyna pilot bore hole in the Koyna seismogenic zone offers an extraordinary opportunity to investigate all such issues pertaining to function and interconnection of deep biosphere within the continental crust underneath the Deccan traps. The present project is proposed to explore the mechanisms of carbon and energy metabolism by deep subsurface microbial communities and their interrelation with local geophysical and geochemical processes within the granitic crust using state of the art metagenomic and culturomics approaches. The present proposal seeks answers of the major questions related to carbon and energy metabolisms by these rock hosted communities, role of specific microbial species and metabolic interactions driving the subsurface carbon and energy metabolisms with varying electron donor and acceptor regimes and deciphering the interrelation between seismic activities and metabolic pathways and species involved. Along with the revelation of mechanistic details of microbial metabolism that allow survival/functioning of deep life communities, the effect of seismic activities on metabolic landscapes of inhabiting microorganisms and possible impact of microbial processes on subsurface fracture will also be established. Answering these questions will allow us to better constrain the characteristics of deep subsurface microbial communities, evolution and role in subsurface geology in continental subsurface. |
Co-PI: | Dr Kazy Sufia Khannam Co Principal Investigator Department of Biotechnology National Institute of Technology Durgapur Durgapur –713209, WB Telephone : 9434788200 Fax: 0343-2546406 |
Total Budget (INR): | 78,45,312 |
Organizations involved