Microbial response to deliquescence of nitrate-rich soils in the hyperarid Atacama Desert
<p>Life in hyperarid regions has adapted to extreme water scarcity through mechanisms like salt deliquescence. While halite (NaCl) crusts have been intensively studied and identified as one of the last habitats under hyperarid conditions, other less common hygroscopic salt crusts remain unexpl...
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Copernicus Publications
2024-11-01
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| Series: | Biogeosciences |
| Online Access: | https://bg.copernicus.org/articles/21/5305/2024/bg-21-5305-2024.pdf |
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| author | F. L. Arens A. Airo A. Airo C. Sager C. Sager H.-P. Grossart H.-P. Grossart K. Mangelsdorf R. U. Meckenstock M. Pannekens P. Schmitt-Kopplin P. Schmitt-Kopplin J. Uhl B. Valenzuela P. Zamorano L. Zoccarato L. Zoccarato L. Zoccarato D. Schulze-Makuch D. Schulze-Makuch D. Schulze-Makuch |
| author_facet | F. L. Arens A. Airo A. Airo C. Sager C. Sager H.-P. Grossart H.-P. Grossart K. Mangelsdorf R. U. Meckenstock M. Pannekens P. Schmitt-Kopplin P. Schmitt-Kopplin J. Uhl B. Valenzuela P. Zamorano L. Zoccarato L. Zoccarato L. Zoccarato D. Schulze-Makuch D. Schulze-Makuch D. Schulze-Makuch |
| author_sort | F. L. Arens |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <p>Life in hyperarid regions has adapted to extreme water scarcity through mechanisms like salt deliquescence. While halite (NaCl) crusts have been intensively studied and identified as one of the last habitats under hyperarid conditions, other less common hygroscopic salt crusts remain unexplored. Here, we investigated newly discovered deliquescent soil surfaces in the Atacama Desert, containing substantial amounts of nitrates, to evaluate their habitability for microorganisms. We characterized the environment with respect to water availability and biogeochemistry. Microbial abundances and composition were determined by cell cultivation experiments, 16S rRNA gene sequencing, and membrane phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) analysis, while microbial activity was assessed by analyzing adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and the molecular composition of organic matter. Our findings reveal that, while the studied hygroscopic salts provide temporary water, microbial abundances and activity are lower in the studied soil surfaces than in non-deliquescent soil surfaces. Intriguingly, the deliquescent crusts are enriched in geochemically degraded organic matter, indicated by the molecular composition. We conclude that high nitrate concentrations in the hyperarid soils suppress microbial activity but preserve eolian-derived biomolecules. These insights are important for assessing the habitability and searching for life in hyperarid environments on Earth and beyond.</p> |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-a3819f60ad90456388bb7aea0c0a99d1 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1726-4170 1726-4189 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-11-01 |
| publisher | Copernicus Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Biogeosciences |
| spelling | doaj-art-a3819f60ad90456388bb7aea0c0a99d12024-11-27T13:10:42ZengCopernicus PublicationsBiogeosciences1726-41701726-41892024-11-01215305532010.5194/bg-21-5305-2024Microbial response to deliquescence of nitrate-rich soils in the hyperarid Atacama DesertF. L. Arens0A. Airo1A. Airo2C. Sager3C. Sager4H.-P. Grossart5H.-P. Grossart6K. Mangelsdorf7R. U. Meckenstock8M. Pannekens9P. Schmitt-Kopplin10P. Schmitt-Kopplin11J. Uhl12B. Valenzuela13P. Zamorano14L. Zoccarato15L. Zoccarato16L. Zoccarato17D. Schulze-Makuch18D. Schulze-Makuch19D. Schulze-Makuch20Zentrum für Astronomie und Astrophysik, Technische Universität Berlin, 10623 Berlin, GermanyZentrum für Astronomie und Astrophysik, Technische Universität Berlin, 10623 Berlin, GermanyMuseum für Naturkunde, Leibniz-Institut für Evolutions- und Biodiversitätsforschung, 10115 Berlin, GermanyZentrum für Astronomie und Astrophysik, Technische Universität Berlin, 10623 Berlin, GermanyMuseum für Naturkunde, Leibniz-Institut für Evolutions- und Biodiversitätsforschung, 10115 Berlin, GermanyDepartment of Plankton and Microbial Ecology, Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, 16775 Stechlin, GermanyInstitute for Biochemistry and Biology, Potsdam University, 14469 Potsdam, GermanyOrganic Geochemistry Section, Helmholtz Centre Potsdam, GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, 14473 Potsdam, GermanyEnvironmental Microbiology and Biotechnology, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45141 Essen, GermanyEnvironmental Microbiology and Biotechnology, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45141 Essen, GermanyResearch Unit Analytical BioGeoChemistry, Helmholtz Zentrum München, 85764 Neuherberg, GermanyAnalytical Food Chemistry, Technische Universität München, 85354 Freising, GermanyResearch Unit Analytical BioGeoChemistry, Helmholtz Zentrum München, 85764 Neuherberg, GermanyLaboratorio de Microorganismos Extremófilos, Instituto Antofagasta, Universidad de Antofagasta, Antofagasta 1240000, ChileDepartamento Biomédico, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Antofagasta, Antofagasta 1240000, ChileDepartment of Plankton and Microbial Ecology, Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, 16775 Stechlin, GermanyCore Facility Bioinformatics, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU), 1190 Vienna, AustriaInstitute of Computational Biology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, 1180 Vienna, AustriaZentrum für Astronomie und Astrophysik, Technische Universität Berlin, 10623 Berlin, GermanyDepartment of Plankton and Microbial Ecology, Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, 16775 Stechlin, GermanyGeomicrobiology Section, Helmholtz Centre Potsdam, GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, 14473 Potsdam, Germany<p>Life in hyperarid regions has adapted to extreme water scarcity through mechanisms like salt deliquescence. While halite (NaCl) crusts have been intensively studied and identified as one of the last habitats under hyperarid conditions, other less common hygroscopic salt crusts remain unexplored. Here, we investigated newly discovered deliquescent soil surfaces in the Atacama Desert, containing substantial amounts of nitrates, to evaluate their habitability for microorganisms. We characterized the environment with respect to water availability and biogeochemistry. Microbial abundances and composition were determined by cell cultivation experiments, 16S rRNA gene sequencing, and membrane phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) analysis, while microbial activity was assessed by analyzing adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and the molecular composition of organic matter. Our findings reveal that, while the studied hygroscopic salts provide temporary water, microbial abundances and activity are lower in the studied soil surfaces than in non-deliquescent soil surfaces. Intriguingly, the deliquescent crusts are enriched in geochemically degraded organic matter, indicated by the molecular composition. We conclude that high nitrate concentrations in the hyperarid soils suppress microbial activity but preserve eolian-derived biomolecules. These insights are important for assessing the habitability and searching for life in hyperarid environments on Earth and beyond.</p>https://bg.copernicus.org/articles/21/5305/2024/bg-21-5305-2024.pdf |
| spellingShingle | F. L. Arens A. Airo A. Airo C. Sager C. Sager H.-P. Grossart H.-P. Grossart K. Mangelsdorf R. U. Meckenstock M. Pannekens P. Schmitt-Kopplin P. Schmitt-Kopplin J. Uhl B. Valenzuela P. Zamorano L. Zoccarato L. Zoccarato L. Zoccarato D. Schulze-Makuch D. Schulze-Makuch D. Schulze-Makuch Microbial response to deliquescence of nitrate-rich soils in the hyperarid Atacama Desert Biogeosciences |
| title | Microbial response to deliquescence of nitrate-rich soils in the hyperarid Atacama Desert |
| title_full | Microbial response to deliquescence of nitrate-rich soils in the hyperarid Atacama Desert |
| title_fullStr | Microbial response to deliquescence of nitrate-rich soils in the hyperarid Atacama Desert |
| title_full_unstemmed | Microbial response to deliquescence of nitrate-rich soils in the hyperarid Atacama Desert |
| title_short | Microbial response to deliquescence of nitrate-rich soils in the hyperarid Atacama Desert |
| title_sort | microbial response to deliquescence of nitrate rich soils in the hyperarid atacama desert |
| url | https://bg.copernicus.org/articles/21/5305/2024/bg-21-5305-2024.pdf |
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