Young volcanic terrains are windows into early microbial colonization

Abstract Volcanic eruptions generate initially sterile materials where biological processes are absent, allowing for the fresh colonization by new organisms. This review summarizes the characteristics of volcanic habitats that are available for pioneer microbial colonization, including hot springs,...

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Main Authors: Nathan Hadland, Christopher W. Hamilton, Solange Duhamel
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2024-03-01
Series:Communications Earth & Environment
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-024-01280-3
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author Nathan Hadland
Christopher W. Hamilton
Solange Duhamel
author_facet Nathan Hadland
Christopher W. Hamilton
Solange Duhamel
author_sort Nathan Hadland
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Volcanic eruptions generate initially sterile materials where biological processes are absent, allowing for the fresh colonization by new organisms. This review summarizes the characteristics of volcanic habitats that are available for pioneer microbial colonization, including hot springs, fumaroles, lava tubes, and recently cooled rock surfaces and interiors. Eruptions provide unique insight into microbial community development in extreme environments. The trajectories that these ecosystems follow are largely dictated by the initial environmental conditions and identities of the colonizers, rather than the age of the system. The review also discusses how studies of microbial communities in young lava flow fields can provide insights into the possibility of life on Mars, which was volcanically and hydrologically active in the past. Understanding biosignature preservation as well as the metabolisms and survival mechanisms of microorganisms in volcanic systems has implications for how an ecosystem might have developed on early Earth and possibly Mars.
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spelling doaj.art-22df5cbc751c417e947493a36772109d2024-03-05T20:28:05ZengNature PortfolioCommunications Earth & Environment2662-44352024-03-015111910.1038/s43247-024-01280-3Young volcanic terrains are windows into early microbial colonizationNathan Hadland0Christopher W. Hamilton1Solange Duhamel2Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of ArizonaLunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of ArizonaLunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of ArizonaAbstract Volcanic eruptions generate initially sterile materials where biological processes are absent, allowing for the fresh colonization by new organisms. This review summarizes the characteristics of volcanic habitats that are available for pioneer microbial colonization, including hot springs, fumaroles, lava tubes, and recently cooled rock surfaces and interiors. Eruptions provide unique insight into microbial community development in extreme environments. The trajectories that these ecosystems follow are largely dictated by the initial environmental conditions and identities of the colonizers, rather than the age of the system. The review also discusses how studies of microbial communities in young lava flow fields can provide insights into the possibility of life on Mars, which was volcanically and hydrologically active in the past. Understanding biosignature preservation as well as the metabolisms and survival mechanisms of microorganisms in volcanic systems has implications for how an ecosystem might have developed on early Earth and possibly Mars.https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-024-01280-3
spellingShingle Nathan Hadland
Christopher W. Hamilton
Solange Duhamel
Young volcanic terrains are windows into early microbial colonization
Communications Earth & Environment
title Young volcanic terrains are windows into early microbial colonization
title_full Young volcanic terrains are windows into early microbial colonization
title_fullStr Young volcanic terrains are windows into early microbial colonization
title_full_unstemmed Young volcanic terrains are windows into early microbial colonization
title_short Young volcanic terrains are windows into early microbial colonization
title_sort young volcanic terrains are windows into early microbial colonization
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-024-01280-3
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AT christopherwhamilton youngvolcanicterrainsarewindowsintoearlymicrobialcolonization
AT solangeduhamel youngvolcanicterrainsarewindowsintoearlymicrobialcolonization