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| Titel |
Microbial colonisation of chasmoendolithic habitats in the hyper-arid zone of the Atacama Desert |
| VerfasserIn |
J. DiRuggiero, J. Wierzchos, C. K. Robinson, T. Souterre, J. Ravel, O. Artieda, V. Souza-Egipsy, C. Ascaso |
| Medientyp |
Artikel
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| Sprache |
Englisch
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| ISSN |
1726-4170
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| Digitales Dokument |
URL |
| Erschienen |
In: Biogeosciences ; 10, no. 4 ; Nr. 10, no. 4 (2013-04-12), S.2439-2450 |
| Datensatznummer |
250018195
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| Publikation (Nr.) |
 copernicus.org/bg-10-2439-2013.pdf |
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| Zusammenfassung |
| Efforts in searching for microbial life in the driest part of Atacama
Desert, Chile, revealed a small number of lithic habitats that can be
considered as environmental refuges for life. In this study, we describe for
the first time chasmoendolithic colonisation of fissures and cracks of
rhyolite-gypsum and calcite rocks collected in the hyper-arid zone of the
desert. The use of high-throughput sequencing revealed that the Atacama rock
communities comprised a few dominant phylotypes and a number of less
abundant taxa representing the majority of the total community diversity.
The chasmoendolithic communities were dominated by Chroococcidiopsis species cyanobacteria
and supported a number of heterotrophic bacterial lineages. Micro-climate
data and geomorphic analysis of the mineral substrates suggested higher
water availability in the calcite rocks in the form of enhanced water
retention in the complex network of cracks and fissures of these rocks as
well as increased occurrence of liquid water in the form of dewfall. These
characteristics were associated with a diverse community of phototrophic and
heterotrophic bacteria in the calcite chasmoendolithic ecosystem. This study
is another example of the diversity of adaptive strategies at the limit for
life and illustrates that rock colonisation is controlled by a complex set
of factors. |
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