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| Titel |
Novel water source for endolithic life in the hyperarid core of the Atacama Desert |
| VerfasserIn |
J. Wierzchos, A. F. Davila, I. M. Sánchez-Almazo, M. Hajnos, R. Swieboda, 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 ; 9, no. 6 ; Nr. 9, no. 6 (2012-06-26), S.2275-2286 |
| Datensatznummer |
250007130
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| Publikation (Nr.) |
 copernicus.org/bg-9-2275-2012.pdf |
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| Zusammenfassung |
| The hyperarid core of the Atacama Desert, Chile, is possibly the driest and
most life-limited place on Earth, yet endolithic microorganisms thrive
inside halite pinnacles that are part of ancient salt flats. The existence
of this microbial community in an environment that excludes any other life
forms suggests biological adaptation to high salinity and desiccation
stress, and indicates an alternative source of water for life other than
rainfall, fog or dew. Here, we show that halite endoliths obtain liquid water
through spontaneous capillary condensation at relative humidity (RH) much
lower than the deliquescence RH of NaCl. We describe how this condensation
could occur inside nano-pores smaller than 100 nm, in a newly characterized
halite phase that is intimately associated with the endolithic aggregates.
This nano-porous phase helps retain liquid water for long periods of time by
preventing its evaporation even in conditions of utmost dryness. Our results
explain how life has colonized and adapted to one of the most extreme
environments on our planet, expanding the water activity envelope for life
on Earth, and broadening the spectrum of possible habitats for life beyond
our planet. |
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