Subduction zones: Earth's tectonic conveyor revives ancient deep biosphere microbes, reshaping carbon cycles and biodiversity

Indigenous cosmologies universally frame Earth as a living, sentient system where geological processes are sacred and interconnected with microbial life. Māori, Andean, and Australian Aboriginal traditions describe tectonic activity as a form of 'breathing' or 'circulation,' aligning with the tectonic 'pump' mechanism but centering reciprocity over extraction. These perspectives emphasize the moral dimensions of geological research, often absent in Western scientific narratives.

The Great Oxygenation Event (2.4 billion years ago) demonstrates how microbial life reshaped Earth's atmosphere through geological processes, foreshadowing the role of subduction in carbon cycling. Ancient microbial mats in the Archean Eon (3.5–2.5 billion years ago) thrived in tectonically active zones, suggesting a 3-billion-year-old feedback loop between deep biosphere and surface ecosystems. The Permian-Triassic mass extinction (252 million years ago) was linked to volcanic subduction-related methane release, highlighting the dual role of tectonics in both sustaining and disrupting life.

Japanese *kami* traditions describe seismic zones as inhabited by spirits, framing tectonic activity as a dialogue between humans and Earth, rather than a mechanical process. In Hindu cosmology, the serpent *Shesha* supports the Earth on its coils, with geological shifts interpreted as the serpent's movements—echoing the 'pump' metaphor. African diasporic traditions (e.g., Yoruba *orisha* Obatala) associate mountains with divine breath, linking deep Earth processes to spiritual vitality.

Subduction zones act as Earth's 'kidneys,' filtering and recycling carbon and nutrients through microbial metabolic pathways, as evidenced by metagenomic studies of deep biosphere samples. The 'tectonic pump' mechanism is supported by seismic tomography and fluid dynamics models, showing how pressure gradients drive microbial transport. However, most research focuses on bacteria, underrepresenting archaea and fungi, which play critical roles in carbon cycling and methane production in these zones.

Artists like Agnes Denes and Olafur Eliasson have explored geological time and microbial agency, framing tectonic processes as creative forces akin to artistic expression. In Indigenous art, geological formations (e.g., Uluru, Machu Picchu) are depicted as living entities, challenging the separation of 'nature' and 'culture.' Spiritual traditions (e.g., Sufi cosmology) describe Earth as a 'breathing organism,' resonating with the tectonic 'pump' as a form of divine circulation.

If subduction zones are critical to carbon sequestration, deep-sea mining could disrupt this process, accelerating climate feedback loops. Scenario modeling suggests that increased tectonic activity (e.g., from glacial rebound) may enhance microbial 'revival,' potentially offsetting some anthropogenic carbon emissions. However, these models lack integration with Indigenous knowledge systems, which could provide early warning systems for seismic risks.

Coastal communities in the Pacific Ring of Fire (e.g., Vanuatu, Chile) have long observed seismic-ecological linkages but are excluded from geoscience discourse. Indigenous geologists (e.g., Māori scientists like Dr. Ocean Mercier) challenge Western framings of 'discovery,' emphasizing ancestral knowledge of geological cycles. Women in Global South communities, often responsible for water management, possess empirical insights into microbial-tectonic interactions but are rarely consulted.