Study of microbial ecology in sedimentary rocks and granite using the underground research laboratories

Amano, Yuki   ; Sasaki, Yoshito ; Ise, Kotaro; Iwatsuki, Teruki  

The Japan Atomic Energy Agency has been constructing an Underground Research Laboratory (URL) in the Horonobe and Mizunami area, Japan to establish general techniques for the assessment of deep geological environments. To evaluate the microbial effects on geological disposal, groundwater chemistry and microbial community composition in and around the URLs were investigated. Microbial numbers were determined by direct count using fluorescent microscopy. Culture-independent techniques were used to determine the diversity and metabolic activity of the microbial community in groundwater samples collected from the boreholes. The results shows microbial community structure, abundance, and their size distribution depend on the geology, pore size, and geochemistry. In this presentation, we will discuss about the research of microbial ecology in Horonobe and Mizunami area.