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Microbial Life, Evolution and Adaptation

by matt_voss — last modified 2007-08-30 14:42

The darkness and isolation of subglacial environments constrains the energy and chemicals available for primary production.

Microbiology Microbiology 

If hydrothermal fluids and chemicals are present they will have a profound importance for subglacial microbiology. Subglacial lakes are thought to be relatively stable environments that may contain ancient ecosystems. As with surface lakes, the stability of lakes over time will be a major determinant of the kind of ecosystems that are present.

The first order question is whether microbial life is present in these environments. Protocols must be developed to detect life in very dilute environments. If life is unambiguously detected, it will then be important to establish the biomass, distribution, and diversity of organisms in subglacial environments. This will require sampling of water columns, sediments, and ice. Retrieval and analysis of samples at in situ conditions will present special technological challenges. The metabolism and physiological capability of subglacial microorganisms will lend clues to special adaptive strategies for surviving in these harsh conditions. The study of life in subglacial environments will contribute new information on life at the edges of survivability, furthering our understanding of the diversity of life on Earth, its evolution, and its response to environmental processes over geological time.

Microbiology....The Long Version


Scientific questions related to microbiological life, evolution, and adaptations:

  • Is there microbial life in subglacial environments?

  •  What types of microbiota are present and what metabolic processes do they rely on to survive and propagate?

  •   What are the intra- and inter-lake microbial distributions (biomass) and how diverse is the microbial life? 

  •  How long has microbial life in subglacial environments been isolated? 

  •  Do subglacial environment micro-organisms express unique metabolic adaptations, especially adaptations to toxic environmental conditions such as high oxygen concentrations?  

  •   Does subglacial microbiology exhibit the characteristics of a community and/or an ecosystem?

  •   Do syntrophic consortia exist among microorganisms within lakes?

For more details go to ... SALE BIOLOGY and GENOMICS


Related topics:


Selected Publications: To be added.....