What lives in Lake Vostok?

Living Hydrogenophilus thermoluteolus micro-organisms have been found in Lake Vostok’s deep ice core drillings; they are an extant surface-dwelling species. This suggests the presence of a deep biosphere utilizing a geothermal system of the bedrock encircling the subglacial lake.

Was there anything found in Lake Vostok?

The embayment contained the most biological activity with the largest number of species Identified. After two years of computer analysis, the final results reveal that Vostok Lake contains a diverse set of microbes, as well as some multicellular organisms.

Are there animals in Lake Vostok?

Well, the lake, called Lake Vostok, is covered by a 2.5-mile-thick glacier. It may also have hydrothermal vents at the bottom, pumping energy and nutrients into the buried lake. There may even be some complex, multicellular animals in there, although the evidence for that is preliminary, for now.

Why is Lake Vostok important?

Still, what makes Lake Vostok more important than other extreme environments is its incredible isolation. For example, in Atacama, life probably blew in from elsewhere, NASA astrobiologist Chris McKay said. More than 10 million years ago there was little or no ice there, so life could easily have existed then.

Which lake is hidden under the Antarctic ice?

Recently, a massive ice-covered lake in Antarctica vanished within days, raising alarm bells in the scientific community over the dangerous trends of climate change and global warming. The event that occurred in 2019 on Amery Ice Shelf in East Antarctica was only noticed in satellite images.

What are the scientists looking for in Lake Vostok?

Again, scientists are still looking at evidence in the ice, but the team found genetic sequences from crustaceans, mollusks, sea anemones, and fish—and they found bacteria sequences that are common symbionts of larger species.

How are microbes able to survive in Lake Vostok?

Ice freezing in the open waters will likely result in type II ice. In order to survive in Lake Vostok, microbes must be able to tolerate extreme low temperatures, high pressure, high oxygen concentration, and absence of light. The lack of organic carbon selects against a heterotrophic microbiota [5] .

How many genes have been found in Lake Vostok?

Scientists have discovered more than 3,500 unique gene sequences in Lake Vostok – the underground Antarctic water reservoir isolated from the outside world for 15 million years – revealing a complex ecosystem far beyond anything they could have expected.

How long has Lake Vostok been under ice?

The lake, buried under more than 2 miles (3.7 kilometers) of Antarctic ice, has been seen as an earthly analog for ice-covered seas on such worlds as Europa and Enceladus. It’s thought to have been cut off from the outside world for as long as 15 million years.

Who are the authors of Lake Vostok accretion ice?

The authors of “Subglacial Lake Vostok (Antarctica) Accretion Ice Contains a Diverse Set of Sequences from Aquatic, Marine and Sediment-Inhabiting Bacteria and Eukarya” are Yury M. Shtarkman, Zeynep A. Kocer, Robyn Edgar, Ram S. Veerapaneni, Tom D’Elia, Paul F. Morris and Scott O. Rogers. Tip o’ the log to Carl Zimmer and Elise Andrew.