Microbial communities in active fluid discharge zones of the East Siberian Sea

Microbial communities formed under the influence of oil and gas-bearing structures may contain unique ecological relationships between individual organisms, forming symbioses or syntrophic associations of microorganisms. An example of such relationships may be syntrophic consortia of methanotrophic archaea and sulfate-reducing bacteria, which are abundant in areas of focused fluid discharge on the seabed. Thus, the aim of the work is to assess the potential of uncultivated sulfate reducers found in the Arctic seas for a syntrophic lifestyle.