The Deep Biosphere is a relatively unexplored frontier and studies of biodiversity here offer unique opportunities to examine the ecological and evolutionary processes that drive microbial diversity, community organisation and microbial interactions.

Fluids that circulate through the earth’s crust and mix with the ocean waters above are responsible for the exchange of elements between the crust and sea water. The processes involved are as yet poorly understood, but are critically important for complete models of marine chemistry and global element cycling.
 
Water-Rock-Microbe Interactions & Deep Biosphere scientists:

Ingunn Thorseth (Theme Leader)
Ingeborg Elisabet Økland
Tamara Baumberger
Håkon Dahle
Desiree Roerdink
Steffen Leth Jørgensen
Karen Johannessen
Anne Stensland
Kristin Flesland