Abstract
The microbial ecology and activity of serpentine deposits and associated hydrated minerals are largely unknown. Previous research has largely focused on microbial communities in active serpentinizing systems, whereas relatively little research has demonstrated the ability of serpentine deposits to host microbial communities after the cessation of serpentinization. Given the potential role of serpentinization reactions fueling primitive microbial metabolisms on early Earth and the identification of serpentine deposits on Mars, knowledge of these geobiological relationships and potential for serpentine to host extant microbial communities and preserve biosignatures is increasingly important for planetary exploration seeking signs of life. The selection of habitable sites most likely to yield putative biosignatures is crucial to mission success. In this study, we aimed to characterize, on the basis of both metabolic activity and taxonomic composition, the microbial communities hosted in two naturally co-occurring and mineralogically distinct substrates within the serpentine-rich Jeffrey Mine pit-igneous quartzofeldspathic intrusives and serpentinite. Detection of heterotrophic activity in both lithologies at 24°C, and in serpentinite at -5°C, demonstrated that each substrate had the ability to host a viable microbial community, at Mars-relevant temperatures. Targeted amplicon sequencing subsequently showed the presence of bacterial, fungal, and photosynthetic microbial communities in both substrates. Here, we have demonstrated the presence of a viable lithic microbial community within two rock types in the Jeffrey Mine and provided evidence that lithologies associated with serpentine deposits and proximal hydrated minerals have the ability to support diverse prokaryotic and eukaryotic microbial colonization.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1008-1022 |
| Number of pages | 15 |
| Journal | Astrobiology |
| Volume | 18 |
| Issue number | 8 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Aug 1 2018 |
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Keywords
- Asbestos
- Astrobiology
- Geobiology
- Mars
- Quartzofeldspathic
- Serpentinite
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Agricultural and Biological Sciences (miscellaneous)
- Space and Planetary Science
Cite this
Characterization of Microbial Communities Hosted in Quartzofeldspathic and Serpentinite Lithologies in Jeffrey Mine, Canada. / Ronholm, Jennifer; Goordial, Jacqueline; Sapers, Haley M.; Richar Izawa, Matthew; Applin, Daniel M.; Pontefract, Alexandra; Omelon, Christopher R.; Lamarche-Gagnon, Guillaume; Cloutis, Edward A.; Whyte, Lyle G.
In: Astrobiology, Vol. 18, No. 8, 01.08.2018, p. 1008-1022.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Characterization of Microbial Communities Hosted in Quartzofeldspathic and Serpentinite Lithologies in Jeffrey Mine, Canada
AU - Ronholm, Jennifer
AU - Goordial, Jacqueline
AU - Sapers, Haley M.
AU - Richar Izawa, Matthew
AU - Applin, Daniel M.
AU - Pontefract, Alexandra
AU - Omelon, Christopher R.
AU - Lamarche-Gagnon, Guillaume
AU - Cloutis, Edward A.
AU - Whyte, Lyle G.
PY - 2018/8/1
Y1 - 2018/8/1
N2 - The microbial ecology and activity of serpentine deposits and associated hydrated minerals are largely unknown. Previous research has largely focused on microbial communities in active serpentinizing systems, whereas relatively little research has demonstrated the ability of serpentine deposits to host microbial communities after the cessation of serpentinization. Given the potential role of serpentinization reactions fueling primitive microbial metabolisms on early Earth and the identification of serpentine deposits on Mars, knowledge of these geobiological relationships and potential for serpentine to host extant microbial communities and preserve biosignatures is increasingly important for planetary exploration seeking signs of life. The selection of habitable sites most likely to yield putative biosignatures is crucial to mission success. In this study, we aimed to characterize, on the basis of both metabolic activity and taxonomic composition, the microbial communities hosted in two naturally co-occurring and mineralogically distinct substrates within the serpentine-rich Jeffrey Mine pit-igneous quartzofeldspathic intrusives and serpentinite. Detection of heterotrophic activity in both lithologies at 24°C, and in serpentinite at -5°C, demonstrated that each substrate had the ability to host a viable microbial community, at Mars-relevant temperatures. Targeted amplicon sequencing subsequently showed the presence of bacterial, fungal, and photosynthetic microbial communities in both substrates. Here, we have demonstrated the presence of a viable lithic microbial community within two rock types in the Jeffrey Mine and provided evidence that lithologies associated with serpentine deposits and proximal hydrated minerals have the ability to support diverse prokaryotic and eukaryotic microbial colonization.
AB - The microbial ecology and activity of serpentine deposits and associated hydrated minerals are largely unknown. Previous research has largely focused on microbial communities in active serpentinizing systems, whereas relatively little research has demonstrated the ability of serpentine deposits to host microbial communities after the cessation of serpentinization. Given the potential role of serpentinization reactions fueling primitive microbial metabolisms on early Earth and the identification of serpentine deposits on Mars, knowledge of these geobiological relationships and potential for serpentine to host extant microbial communities and preserve biosignatures is increasingly important for planetary exploration seeking signs of life. The selection of habitable sites most likely to yield putative biosignatures is crucial to mission success. In this study, we aimed to characterize, on the basis of both metabolic activity and taxonomic composition, the microbial communities hosted in two naturally co-occurring and mineralogically distinct substrates within the serpentine-rich Jeffrey Mine pit-igneous quartzofeldspathic intrusives and serpentinite. Detection of heterotrophic activity in both lithologies at 24°C, and in serpentinite at -5°C, demonstrated that each substrate had the ability to host a viable microbial community, at Mars-relevant temperatures. Targeted amplicon sequencing subsequently showed the presence of bacterial, fungal, and photosynthetic microbial communities in both substrates. Here, we have demonstrated the presence of a viable lithic microbial community within two rock types in the Jeffrey Mine and provided evidence that lithologies associated with serpentine deposits and proximal hydrated minerals have the ability to support diverse prokaryotic and eukaryotic microbial colonization.
KW - Asbestos
KW - Astrobiology
KW - Geobiology
KW - Mars
KW - Quartzofeldspathic
KW - Serpentinite
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85051749927&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85051749927&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1089/ast.2017.1685
DO - 10.1089/ast.2017.1685
M3 - Article
C2 - 29989429
AN - SCOPUS:85051749927
VL - 18
SP - 1008
EP - 1022
JO - Astrobiology
JF - Astrobiology
SN - 1531-1074
IS - 8
ER -