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REPLY TO “COMMENTS ON Spirisosphaerospora pacifica AND Miniactinomyces chinensis IN PELAGIC MANGANESE NODULES”

Lin Cheng-yi1,Zhang Fu-sheng1,Bian Li-zeng2,Chen Jian-lin3, Shen Hua-ti3, HanXi-qiu3   

  1. 1. Center for Materials Analysis, Nanjing University; 2. Department of Earth sciences, Najing University; 3. 2d Institute of Oceanograp , State Oceanic Administration, Hangzhou
  • Received:1997-06-20 Revised:1997-06-20 Online:1997-06-20 Published:1997-06-20

Abstract: Whether Miniactinomyces chinensis and Spirisosphaerospora pacifica in the pelagic manganese nodules from the East Pacific Ocean are ultra-microbes is discussed in detail. Firstly, they were identified by authors as ultra microfossils instead of ultra-microbes based on their morphology, structure and elemental composition. Secondly, the complete microbiological structures including hyphae, spores, sporangia and colonies can be distinguished obviously in the TEM images. The size proportion between them is appropriate to each other. In addition, the TEM images also revealed that the laminae in manganese stromatolites were formed as a result of rhythmic growth of these ultra-microbes, which are similar to the laminae in strand stromatolites. The minimum size of known microbes can not be considered as a criterion for negating the newly-discovered ultra-microfossils. The term, namely ultra-microfossil, is discussed as wel1.