Question

If you were to speculate what types of microbes possibly exist in Lake Vostok before Russians report their real findings, what types of microbes do you think are likely? What are their possible lifestyles (possible substrates they use and energy sources)? Are they likely autotrophic or heterotrophic?

Answer 1

The organisms that live in extremely cold temperatures or atmospheric conditions are known as the are extremophilic organisms (psychrophilic or cryophilic). They can live in permanently cold conditions as well. Extreme habitat reported being inhabited exclusively by heterotrophic bacteria.

They are likely heterotrophic.

Their community can contain a predominant chemoheterotrophic and photoheterotrophic metabolism in the summer, also in the winter season there can be chemolithoautotrophic bacteria and archaea dominating.

Their possible substrates for living in that extreme condition can be the carbon sources for heterotrophic growth. If they are lithotrophic they can use inorganic substrate (usually of mineral origin).