Articles | Volume 21, issue 22
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-21-5305-2024
© Author(s) 2024. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-21-5305-2024
© Author(s) 2024. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| Highlight paper
| 
27 Nov 2024
Research article | Highlight paper |
| 27 Nov 2024
| 27 Nov 2024
Microbial response to deliquescence of nitrate-rich soils in the hyperarid Atacama Desert
Felix L. Arens
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Zentrum für Astronomie und Astrophysik, Technische Universität Berlin, 10623 Berlin, Germany
Alessandro Airo
Zentrum für Astronomie und Astrophysik, Technische Universität Berlin, 10623 Berlin, Germany
Museum für Naturkunde, Leibniz-Institut für Evolutions- und Biodiversitätsforschung, 10115 Berlin, Germany
Christof Sager
Zentrum für Astronomie und Astrophysik, Technische Universität Berlin, 10623 Berlin, Germany
Museum für Naturkunde, Leibniz-Institut für Evolutions- und Biodiversitätsforschung, 10115 Berlin, Germany
Hans-Peter Grossart
Department of Plankton and Microbial Ecology, Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, 16775 Stechlin, Germany
Institute for Biochemistry and Biology, Potsdam University, 14469 Potsdam, Germany
Kai Mangelsdorf
Organic Geochemistry Section, Helmholtz Centre Potsdam, GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, 14473 Potsdam, Germany
Rainer U. Meckenstock
Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45141 Essen, Germany
Mark Pannekens
Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45141 Essen, Germany
Philippe Schmitt-Kopplin
Research Unit Analytical BioGeoChemistry, Helmholtz Zentrum München, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany
Analytical Food Chemistry, Technische Universität München, 85354 Freising, Germany
Jenny Uhl
Research Unit Analytical BioGeoChemistry, Helmholtz Zentrum München, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany
Bernardita Valenzuela
Laboratorio de Microorganismos Extremófilos, Instituto Antofagasta, Universidad de Antofagasta, Antofagasta 1240000, Chile
Pedro Zamorano
Departamento Biomédico, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Antofagasta, Antofagasta 1240000, Chile
Luca Zoccarato
Department of Plankton and Microbial Ecology, Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, 16775 Stechlin, Germany
Core Facility Bioinformatics, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU), 1190 Vienna, Austria
Institute of Computational Biology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, 1180 Vienna, Austria
Dirk Schulze-Makuch
Zentrum für Astronomie und Astrophysik, Technische Universität Berlin, 10623 Berlin, Germany
Department of Plankton and Microbial Ecology, Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, 16775 Stechlin, Germany
Geomicrobiology Section, Helmholtz Centre Potsdam, GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, 14473 Potsdam, Germany
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Climate warming causes permafrost to thaw, releasing greenhouse gases and affecting ecosystems. We studied sediments from Arctic coastal landscapes, including land, lakes, lagoons, and the ocean, finding that organic carbon storage and quality vary with landscape features and saltwater influence. Freshwater and land areas store more carbon, while saltwater reduces its quality. These findings improve predictions of Arctic responses to climate change and their impact on global carbon cycling.
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There are many approaches to better understanding Antarctic processes that generate very large data sets (
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Buried animal and plant remains (carbon) from the last ice age were freeze-locked in permafrost. At an extremely fast eroding permafrost cliff in the Lena Delta (Siberia), we found this formerly frozen carbon well preserved. Our results show that ongoing degradation releases substantial amounts of this carbon, making it available for future carbon emissions. This mobilisation at the studied cliff and also similarly eroding sites bear the potential to affect rivers and oceans negatively.
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Editorial statement
This study, pertinent to astrobiology, utilizes the Atacama Desert as an analog for conditions on Mars. The findings indicate that nitrate-rich environments on Mars may preserve potential biosignatures and provide insights into the boundaries of life. This relationship supports the objectives of ongoing and upcoming Mars missions.
This study, pertinent to astrobiology, utilizes the Atacama Desert as an analog for conditions...
Short summary
We studied unique nitrate-rich soils in the hyperarid Atacama Desert that form brines at night under high relative humidity. Despite providing water for microorganisms, these soils exhibit extremely low microbial activity, indicating that the high nitrate levels inhibit microbial life. On the other hand, enriched organic matter indicates their potential preservation. This research helps to understand the limits of life in extreme environments and aids in the search for signs of life on Mars.
We studied unique nitrate-rich soils in the hyperarid Atacama Desert that form brines at night...
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