En un descubrimiento sorprendente, American scientists have identified a geological phenomenon that could have a significant impact on microscopic marine life. During a meeting of the Seismological Society of America (SSA) in 2026, the hypothesis was presented that subduction zones act as a ‘tectonic pump‘, raising microbes from the oceanic subsurface to more superficial layers.
Under the ocean, there exists a vast deep biosphere of microorganisms that can remain dormant for millennia. The researchers suggest that these tectonic movements could mobilize more than a million gigatonnes of fluids every million years, transporting up to 10^30 microbial cells, based on theoretical models.
The seafloor is not a simple desert, but an ecosystem where sediments and microbial communities accumulate over eons. These microbes have developed unique adaptations to survive with very little energy, such as DNA repair mechanisms and enzymes specialized in breaking down organic matter in depth.
The challenge is to understand how these microorganisms can return to an active state after being buried by kilometers of sediments. In the subduction zones, one tectonic plate descends under another, accumulating sediments in a wedge, which facilitates the movement of fluids through fractures and faults.
According to Zhengze Li, a researcher at the University of Southern California, this fluid flow acts as a ‘microbial elevator‘, raising microorganisms to the surface. Although not all microbes manage to ascend, those that do find a more favorable environment to reactivate and reproduce.
The process is slow and can last tens of millions of years. However, in areas like the cold springs of the seafloor, direct evidence of this fluid transport can be observed.
The SSA indicates that these springs show an active flow of fluids that fits with the tectonic pump theory, providing an opportunity to study these microbial communities. Observations in Costa Rica revealed a correlation between seismic activity and microbial abundance.
This study proposes a paradigm shift about the seafloor, suggesting a constant interaction between the deep biosphere and the more accessible layers, largely driven by tectonics.
While the work is based on models and requires more research, it suggests that geology not only moves rocks but also fluids and life. Much remains to be explored to confirm how earthquakes affect the ocean on a microscopic level.
