Abstract
Basalt and sediment samples were collected (at 1,460–2,996 m of water depth) along the Mid-Atlantic-Ridge. The microbial diversity was analysed by aerobic cultivation on three different media enriched for manganese- and sulphur-oxidising bacteria. Phylogenetic analyses of bacterial isolates revealed affiliations to the classes Alphaproteobacteria, Betaproteobacteria, Gammaproteobacteria, Actinobacteria and Bacilli. Our data revealed significant differences in the occurrence and diversity of these communities between the respective deep seafloor biosphere sources. Among 138 genotypes, 12 putatively unknown isolates were detected. Characterisation of selected isolates revealed high tolerances against a broad range of temperatures, pH-values and salt concentrations.
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