Cryptic desert biotopes as Martian analogues
- Paper number
IAC-11,A1,5,13,x11667
- Author
Mr. Thulani Makhalanyane, University of the Western Cape, South Africa
- Coauthor
Dr. Francesca Stomeo, University of the Western Cape, South Africa
- Coauthor
Dr. Stephen Pointing, Hong Kong
- Coauthor
Dr. Marla Tuffin, University of the Western Cape, South Africa
- Coauthor
Prof. Don Cowan, University of the Western Cape, South Africa
- Coauthor
Dr. Donna Lacap-Bugler, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
- Year
2011
- Abstract
The Namib, considered the oldest desert on earth, exhibits the extreme aridity and high mean annual temperature of such environments. This hyperarid ecotope is a viable analogue site for the dry conditions of Mars deserts particularly with respect to detection of cryptic biological systems. Hypoliths, photosynthetic microbial communities found underneath translucent rocks, are distributed widely within the Namib. Environmental data (Temperature, Relative humidity, UVA/UVB) were collected from selected hypoliths and surrounding open soil. These data suggest that the presence of the overlying quartz rock favourably modified the sublithic microenvironment, making it possible for the development of discrete cryptic microbial communities. The data also implicate ground water (vapour) transport as a source of biological hydration. Molecular characterizations of genetic fingerprints (Terminal Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism) reveal that {\it Chroococcidiopsis} as the dominant taxon. Understanding the evolutionary adaptations of communities to survive such extremes would give insight into the possible distribution of life on Mars.- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
(absent)