Earth’s Cryosphere, 2011, Vol. XV, No. 4, p. 75-78

DISTRIBUTION OF MICROORGANIZMS IN FROZEN GROUND

V.P. Мelnikov¹, V.V. Rogov², А.N. Kurchatova³, А.V. Brouchkov⁴, G.I. Griva¹

¹ Tyumen Science Center, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 86, Malygina str., Tyumen, 625026, Russia; melnikov@ikz.ru, grivag@mail.ru
² Lomonosov Moscow State University, Department of Geography, 1, Leninskie Gory, Moscow, 119991, Russia; rogovvic@mail.ru
³ State Oil and Gas University, 38, Volodarskogo str., Tyumen, 625000, Russia; kanni@mail.ru
⁴ Lomonosov Moscow State University, Department of Geology, 1, Leninskie Gory, Moscow, 119991, Russia; brouchkov@hotmail.com

Various microbial forms have been discovered in situ in ice lenses within frozen loam by means of optical and electron microscopy. Migration of bacteria on freezing of fine-grained soil has been investigated in experiments. The viability of bacteria may be maintained by processes associated with ice segregation. Ice lenses in cryotic soils appear to be the best habitat for sustainable microbial life.

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