Active bacterial flora surrounding foraminifera (xenophyophorea) living on the deep-sea floor.

Bacteria form unique ecosystems by coexisting with large organisms. Here we present the first evidence of active flora surrounding xenophyophorea revealed through clone analyses of environmental ribosomal RNA gene sequences. The flora included eight phyla in the xenophyophorean cells with agglutinated test. The major operational taxonomic units were unique from that in the near-surface sediment. This flora appears to be formed by coexistence with xenophyophores.