Scientists Reveal a Massive Biosphere of Life Hidden Under Earth's Surface

[bad seed]

This isn't really news.

We use nematodes as organic grub control where I live, there's a pesticide ban.

Organic fertilizers are just a food source for micro-organisms / nematodes, the micro-organisms turn the organic matter into chelated nutrients which plants can absorb and consume. Nematodes are the kings of soil, on the microscopic level.

There's millions of different types of nematodes, each with specific purposes. They make up 80% of the life on earth. New ones must be discovered daily.

All weeds evolved to serve their purpose too, they exist to help, aerate the soil, draw nutrients from deeper down, keep it from drying out, attracting beneficial insects, providing shade etc. They take root and thrive in areas that meet their specific requirements.

Soil biology is interesting.

it's not nematodes that live under the surface- it's only there because it contaminated (or deliberately placed) the biofilm of samples extracted. The conditions they describe are absolutely not habitable for any multicellular worm. This is for archaea and bacteria whose metabolism does not rely on solar energy at all.

 

[minute bull]

I never dealt with slug infestations, and there are many causes and solutions.

Here's a good article.
https://www.thespruce.com/getting-rid-of-garden-slugs-2656251

You can use nematodes to kill slugs too. Probably in the same way they kill grubs, they enter the grubs body, lay their eggs and as the eggs grow and expand the grub eventually bursts open and dies, releasing more nematode babies to hunt out the rest of the grubs or slugs.

Cleaning the area up and putting down sand is probably the easiest way to do it.

Hey thanks, man.

 

[BeardotheWeirdo]

it's not nematodes that live under the surface- it's only there because it contaminated (or deliberately placed) the biofilm of samples extracted. The conditions they describe are absolutely not habitable for any multicellular worm. This is for archaea and bacteria whose metabolism does not rely on solar energy at all.

"A nematode (eukaryote) in a biofilm of microorganisms. This deep-dwelling creature (Poikilolaimus sp.) was discovered in the Kopanang gold mine in South Africa, and was found 0.86 miles (1.4 km) below the surface"

It says the Poikilolaimus was discovered in the gold mine (1.4 km) below the surface. Poikilolaimus is a nematode, from the Rhabditidae family.

http://www.csun.edu/~rlh47258/Hong pdf/Hong(JEZ)2005.pdf

https://www.researchgate.net/public..._on_the_phylogeny_of_Poikilolaimus_Rhabditida

"The deep biosphere constitutes a world that can be viewed as a sort of "subterranean Galapagos" and includes members of all three domains of life: bacteria and archaea (microbes with no membrane-bound nucleus), and eukarya (microbes or multicellular organisms with cells that contain a nucleus as well as membrane-bound organelles)"
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/12/181210101909.htm

I guess it is news after all. I'm just a guy that owns a landscaping / lawn care business and spent a day or two researching soil biology, so I'm still learning.

Hey thanks, man.

No problem. Good luck with it.​

 

[bad seed]

"A nematode (eukaryote) in a biofilm of microorganisms. This deep-dwelling creature (Poikilolaimus sp.) was discovered in the Kopanang gold mine in South Africa, and was found 0.86 miles (1.4 km) below the surface"

It says the Poikilolaimus was discovered in the gold mine (1.4 km) below the surface. Poikilolaimus is a nematode, from the Rhabditidae family.

http://www.csun.edu/~rlh47258/Hong pdf/Hong(JEZ)2005.pdf

https://www.researchgate.net/public..._on_the_phylogeny_of_Poikilolaimus_Rhabditida

"The deep biosphere constitutes a world that can be viewed as a sort of "subterranean Galapagos" and includes members of all three domains of life: bacteria and archaea (microbes with no membrane-bound nucleus), and eukarya (microbes or multicellular organisms with cells that contain a nucleus as well as membrane-bound organelles)"
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/12/181210101909.htm

I guess it is news after all. I'm just a guy that owns a landscaping / lawn care business and spent a day or two researching soil biology, so I'm still learning.

No problem. Good luck with it.​

those links explain the sample better than the one in TS but I still say nematodes can't survive at the deeper levels where archaea have to metabolize methane.

 

[SammyPops]

There best be some funky scary af reptiles or something down there. Will be pissed if it some stupid bacteria we release from here that kills us all.

 

[BeardotheWeirdo]

those links explain the sample better than the one in TS but I still say nematodes can't survive at the deeper levels where archaea have to metabolize methane.

When they first explored the deep ocean they discovered hydrothermal vents feeding micro-organisms, and shrimp. That dramatically changed scientists understanding of the oceans, and how life evolved in the oceans and on earth.

I don't see why the deep earth should be any different.

But as a scientist it's always good to be skeptical.