The distribution of bacterial communities in marine sediments

Examining the distribution of microorganisms in submarine canyons presents an opportunity to study the association of microbial dynamics relating to continental-oceanic interactions. Here we investigated bacterial communities along a sediment column over glacial-interglacial cycles in the Pearl River submarine canyon in the northern South China Sea. This study was aimed at determining the vertical distribution of benthic bacteria, evaluating their ecological importance in subseafloor biosphere.