Study finds life in the geothermal zone

New research has uncovered micro-organisms in the Taupo volcanic zone that haven't been found anywhere else in the world.

The three-year study was carried out by GNS Science and catalogued micro-organisms living in selected geothermal systems within the zone.

GNS scientist Matthew Stott presented the study's findings to Environment Waikato's environment committee meeting in Hamilton this week.

Dr Stott said DNA sequencing work had revealed an extraordinary diversity of bacterial species in the geothermal systems, the function and role of many of which were unknown.

Up until now the microbial diversity in geothermal systems in the zone had not been systematically catalogued, Dr Stott said.

This study had shown that New Zealand geothermal systems housed an extraordinary population of unique and possibly some globally rare micro-organisms. "Current estimates are that we only know of 5 to 10 per cent of the total microbial species on earth," he said.

Dr Stott said two highlights of the study were the discovery of a new microbial metabolism in a species isolated from a geothermal soil, and that scientists had managed to grow the first representative of a new phylum (taxonomic rank).

Some species found in the Taupo geothermal systems showed potential for use in new technologies and had commercial potential.

Geothermal micro-organisms were an important repository of national and international biodiversity and many were being studied for medicinal and commercial uses, or already being used for industrial processes, he said.

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