ARE THERE LIVING BACTERIA IN PERMANENTLY FROZEN SUBSOIL?

Abstract

Samples of frozen subsoil were obtained aseptically at Churchill, Man., located on Hudson Bay at about 58° north latitude. These were cultured on various media. The procedure followed failed to demonstrate the presence of viable micro-organisms in the permanently frozen zone of a clay subsoil. Bacteria were isolated from samples obtained as deep as nine feet from the surface of a coarse gravel subsoil.