Endolithic microbial habitats as refuges for life in polyextreme environment of the Atacama Desert

Wierzchoś, Jacek; Casero, María Cristina; Artieda, Octavio; Ascaso, Carmen

doi:10.1016/j.mib.2018.01.003

Cited by 83 publications

(69 citation statements)

References 33 publications

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“…Our data recapitulate previous findings on the pivotal role for Cyanobacteria as primary producers in endolithic communities (Friedmann, ; Bell, ; Walker and Pace, ; Wierzchos et al ., ; de los Ríos et al ., 2014; Lacap‐Bugler et al ., ) and the idea that variations in Cyanobacteria relative abundance between substrates might reflect differences in ecosystem functioning (Cary et al ., ; Valverde et al ., ). For example, it was proposed that a higher relative abundance of photoautotrophs in the driest environments might indicate reduced capacity for primary production, due to the scarcity of water, hence the decrease in consumers’ relative abundance (DiRuggiero et al ., ; Robinson et al ., ; Wierzchos et al ., ). Indeed, salt deliquescence in halite nodules, and, therefore, conditions conducive to photosynthesis, was continuous in the Salar Grande area of the Atacama Desert while the interior of halite nodules in the driest Yungay area remained wet for only 5362 h per year (Wierzchos et al ., ; Robinson et al ., ), matching a higher relative abundance of phototrophs in the Yungay community (Robinson et al ., ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Fundamental drivers for endolithic microbial community assemblies in the hyperarid Atacama Desert

Meslier

Casero

Dailey

et al. 2018

Environmental Microbiology

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102

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In hyperarid deserts, endolithic microbial communities colonize the rocks' interior as a survival strategy. Yet, the composition of these communities and the drivers promoting their assembly are still poorly understood. We analysed the diversity and community composition of endoliths from four different lithic substrates - calcite, gypsum, ignimbrite and granite - collected in the hyperarid zone of the Atacama Desert, Chile. By combining microscopy, mineralogy, spectroscopy and high throughput sequencing, we found these communities to be highly specific to their lithic substrate, although they were all dominated by the same four main phyla, Cyanobacteria, Actinobacteria, Chloroflexi and Proteobacteria. Our finding indicates a fine scale diversification of the microbial reservoir driven by substrate properties. The data suggest that the overall rock chemistry and the light transmission properties of the substrates are not essential drivers of community structure and composition. Instead, we propose that the architecture of the rock, i.e., the space available for colonization and its physical structure, linked to water retention capabilities, is ultimately the driver of community diversity and composition at the dry limit of life.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Fundamental drivers for endolithic microbial community assemblies in the hyperarid Atacama Desert

Meslier

Casero

Dailey

et al. 2018

Environmental Microbiology

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102

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“…As a result of this photosynthetic activity, a carbohydrate-based rich nutrient environment exists within these rocks which is capable of sustaining microbial life. Thus, halites can be considered as micro-scaled salterns that are colonized by a poly-extremophilic microbiota [2,16,17].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Metagenomics of Atacama Lithobiontic Extremophile Life Unveils Highlights on Fungal Communities, Biogeochemical Cycles and Carbohydrate-Active Enzymes

et al. 2019

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Halites, which are typically found in various Atacama locations, are evaporitic rocks that are considered as micro-scaled salterns. Both structural and functional metagenomic analyses of halite nodules were performed. Structural analyses indicated that the halite microbiota is mainly composed of NaCl-adapted microorganisms. In addition, halites appear to harbor a limited diversity of fungal families together with a biodiverse collection of protozoa. Functional analysis indicated that the halite microbiome possesses the capacity to make an extensive contribution to carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur cycles, but possess a limited capacity to fix nitrogen. The halite metagenome also contains a vast repertory of carbohydrate active enzymes (CAZY) with glycosyl transferases being the most abundant class present, followed by glycosyl hydrolases (GH). Amylases were also present in high abundance, with GH also being identified. Thus, the halite microbiota is a potential useful source of novel enzymes that could have biotechnological applicability. This is the first metagenomic report of fungi and protozoa as endolithobionts of halite nodules, as well as the first attempt to describe the repertoire of CAZY in this community. In addition, we present a comprehensive functional metagenomic analysis of the metabolic capacities of the halite microbiota, providing evidence for the first time on the sulfur cycle in Atacama halites.

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“…The most frequent genera in the Artemia gut of Cisnes lagoon individuals are Halolactobacillus, Psychroflexus, Halomonas, and Vibrio, a pattern similar to that previously described [30]. The observation that some bacteria present in the gut of Artemia individuals are in low frequency in the environment, or not found, supports the idea that in some polyextremophile environments like Salar de Atacama, microbial habitats are serving as a refuge, i.e., Hypersaline Lagoons from Chile, the Southern Edge of the World DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.88438 the so-called endolithic habitats [38]. From data in Figure 4, it is possible to think that the Artemia-gut microbiota could also serve as a refuge to bacteria uncommon in natural brines such as Halomonas and Halolactobacillus.…”

Section: Microbial Communities Of Patagonian Lagoonsmentioning

confidence: 67%

Hypersaline Lagoons from Chile, the Southern Edge of the World

Gajardo¹,

Redón²

2020

Lagoon Environments Around the World - A Scientific Perspective

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Hypersaline lagoons distributed in arid and semiarid regions are unique ecosystems with unique value stemming from their extremophile biodiversity, limnological properties and services, like mining and waterbird habitat. They are natural laboratories to understand how life evolved in extreme environments and how simple ecosystems function to provide waterbird habitat, an essential noneconomic service. Policymakers need this knowledge to protect these ecosystems increasingly affected by climatic change and human-driven perturbations. Hypersaline lagoons from contrasting latitudinal conditions in Chile provide a study case to evaluate how such conditions affect their microscopic and macroscopic diversities. Those in the hyperarid Atacama Desert in northern Chile are an integral part of mineral-rich salars, whereas Patagonian lagoons are unique among freshwater lakes of glacier origin. Despite latitudinal differences, prokaryotic diversity tends to be similar in both extremes. However, genetically distant brine shrimp (Artemia) species, A. franciscana (north) and A. persimilis (Patagonia), inhabit them. This crustacean is a keystone taxon in the food web, and its abundance indicates ecosystem quality and attracts waterbirds. This chapter stresses the need to systematically monitoring Artemia abundance and all factors affecting its fitness (gut microbiota, parasites, environmental conditions). Finally, the need to conserve these unique and extreme ecosystems is highlighted.

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Endolithic microbial habitats as refuges for life in polyextreme environment of the Atacama Desert

Cited by 83 publications

References 33 publications

Fundamental drivers for endolithic microbial community assemblies in the hyperarid Atacama Desert

Fundamental drivers for endolithic microbial community assemblies in the hyperarid Atacama Desert

Metagenomics of Atacama Lithobiontic Extremophile Life Unveils Highlights on Fungal Communities, Biogeochemical Cycles and Carbohydrate-Active Enzymes

Hypersaline Lagoons from Chile, the Southern Edge of the World

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