Evening star., 1952-07-14

Living InIn9S Are roun0
Seven Miles Under Sea
Millions Of Bucteriu Make
Life Possible for Them
By Thomas R. Henry
Living things have been found at the
greatest depths on the earth's surface
nearly seven miles under the sea.
They include sea cucumbers, sea
anemones, worms and crablike animals
which crawl in the deep ooze. In the
bottom mud Of the most abysmal depths
also are millions. of bacteria which prob
ably make life possible for the higher
forms.
This has just been reported to the
American Association for the Advance
ment Of Science here by DR.. Claude E.
ZoBell OF the Scripps Institution of
Oceanography. He recently accom-
panied for time the deep-sea expedi-
ton Of the Danish exploration ship
Galathea. His investigation was sup
ported in part by the Office of Naval
Research.
Mud samples were collected from the
bottom Of the Philippine Trench, which
sinks further below the surface of the
earth than Mount Everest scars into the
clouds. For the first time on the Gala
thea expedition this great hole IN the
bottom OF the sea was accurately out
lined. Echo soundingS showed that 1t
extends approximately 100 miles. For
doSNf TIC - X
touSly from the bottom which is from a
hall mile to three miles wide. Only by
very skillful navigation was it possible
to outline the trench and to stay on the
station from eight to 18 hours, the
time required to collect sample from
the bottom.
Prime Interest in Bacteria.
DR.. ZoBell was interested primarily in
the bacteria. The higher animals al
ready have been reported by DR.. Anton
F. Bruun, Danish leader Of the expedi-
ton.
The micro organisms could be brought
to the surface alive. This was impossible
with the higher types Of life, because Of
the extreme differences in temperature
and pressure.
Bacteria also have been demonstrated
In abundance. DR.. ZoBell says. in several
other abysses three or four miles deep.
These include the Soenda Deep In tho
Indian Ocean and the Kermedec Deep
in the South Pacific.
Besides functioning as geochemical
agents." says DR.. ZoBell, "the deep sea
bacteria are believed to serve as an i'm
rnTtonf NJ hot
dwelling animals, whose only other
source of nutrient is the sparse supply Of
organic substances from above. The
bacteria which are known to nourish
many animal species can obtain their
energy for growth from waste or dis
solved organic matter in the circulating
sea water, or from the oxidation Of
methane, hydrogen and possibly other
inorganic substances" a-N
Remarkable Pumpkin Growth.
What is probably the most remarkable
growth ever recorded-that Of pump
kin at the University of Missouri
has just been reported to the American
Association for the Advancement Of
Science here.
Missouri faculty: "A single stray pie
pumpkin seed was found sprouting in
a row of garden beets on May II, 1851.
The plant was permitted to root, for
itself until killing frost laid it low
while still in the Wgor Of life on No
vember 5. The plant received no added
fertilizer and no cultivation or other
care, except that some Of the more
ambitious runners were turned back
from a city alley at the edge Of the
garden.
TN the 173 days. or 249.120 minutes.
of its active life the plant produced
total overall vine growth Of 1885 feet
The longest single branch measured
slightly over rs feet. This means that
the vine made an average tip growth
throughout the summer. rain or shine.
of .092 millimeters minute. At the
peaK of its growth 1t was greatly ex-
ceeding this record. It made an aver
age daily growth Of over five inches, SO
that one actually could see it grow.
"The vine also produced 20 pumpkins.
weighing total Of 800 pounds, besides
several small, immature ones. This
means that it produced one pumpkin
pie every seven hours. 1t overran every
growing thing, including grape arbor,
fruit trees and flowers In 1900 square
feet of garden space. Some of its
leaves were Is inches across. It actually
reproduced itself 10000 times. for the
20 mature pumpkins contained an aver
age Of 1000 seeds EACH"