Upper circumpolar deep water influences microbial functional gene composition and diversity along the southern Central Indian Ridge and eastern Southwest Indian Ridge.

Deep sea microbial communities play a significant role in global biogeochemical processes. However, the depth-wise metabolic potential of microbial communities in hydrothermally influenced Central Indian Ridge (CIR) and Southwest Indian Ridge (SWIR) remains elusive. In this study, a comprehensive functional microarray-based approach was used to understand factors influencing the metabolic potential of microbial communities and depth-driven differences in microbial functional gene composition in CIR and SWIR.

Changes in morphology and metabolism enable Mn-oxidizing bacteria from mid-oceanic ridge environment to counter metal-induced stress.

Mn-oxidizing potential of two metal-tolerant bacterial strains - Halomonas meridiana and Marinobacter algicola isolated from the South West Indian Ridge waters were compared at varying concentrations of Mn (II), i.e., 1, 10, and 100 μmol and mmol L .