Ancient photosynthetic eukaryote biofilms in an Atacama Desert coastal cave
January 1, 2009
Caves offer a stable and protected environment from harsh and changing outside prevailing conditions. Hence, they represent an interesting habitat for studying life in extreme environments. Here, we report the presence of a member of the ancient eukaryote red algae Cyanidium group in a coastal cave of the hyperarid Atacama Desert. This microorganism was found to form a seemingly monospecific biofilm growing under extremely low photon flux levels. Our work suggests that this species, Cyanidium sp. Atacama, is a new member of a recently proposed novel monophyletic lineage of mesophilic "cave" Cyanidium sp., distinct from the remaining three other lineages which are all thermo-acidophilic. The cave described in this work may represent an evolutionary island for life in the midst of the Atacama Desert. ?? Springer Science + Business Media, LLC 2009.
Citation Information
Publication Year | 2009 |
---|---|
Title | Ancient photosynthetic eukaryote biofilms in an Atacama Desert coastal cave |
DOI | 10.1007/s00248-009-9500-5 |
Authors | Armando Azua-Bustos, C. Gonzalez-Silva, R.A. Mancilla, L. Salas, R.E. Palma, J.J. Wynne, C.P. McKay, R. Vicuna |
Publication Type | Article |
Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
Series Title | Microbial Ecology |
Index ID | 70034780 |
Record Source | USGS Publications Warehouse |