Cowen James P
Department of Oceanography, School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology, Univerisity of Hawaii, 1000 Pope Road, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA.
Res Microbiol. 2004 Sep;155(7):497-506. doi: 10.1016/j.resmic.2004.03.008.
Low-temperature hydrothermal fluids, circulating within the vast volume of sediment-buried upper oceanic basement on the flanks of the global mid-ocean ridge system, represent a largely unexplored habitat that could potentially host a significant and unique microbial biosphere. The present state of knowledge and many remaining challenges are discussed.