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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Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2024-03-01
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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. |
first_indexed | 2024-03-07T14:38:34Z |
format | Article |
id | doaj.art-22df5cbc751c417e947493a36772109d |
institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
issn | 2662-4435 |
language | English |
last_indexed | 2024-03-07T14:38:34Z |
publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
publisher | Nature Portfolio |
record_format | Article |
series | Communications Earth & Environment |
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 |
work_keys_str_mv | AT nathanhadland youngvolcanicterrainsarewindowsintoearlymicrobialcolonization AT christopherwhamilton youngvolcanicterrainsarewindowsintoearlymicrobialcolonization AT solangeduhamel youngvolcanicterrainsarewindowsintoearlymicrobialcolonization |