Open AccessApplication of pulsed‐excitation fluorescence imager for daylight detection of sparse life in tests in the Atacama Desert
Author(s) -
Weinstein S.,
Pane D.,
Ernst L. A.,
WarrenRhodes K.,
Dohm J. M.,
Hock A. N.,
Piatek J. L.,
Emani S.,
Lanni F.,
Wagner M.,
Fisher G. W.,
Minkley E.,
Dansey L. E.,
Smith T.,
Grin E. A.,
Stubbs K.,
Thomas G.,
Cockell C. S.,
Marinangeli L.,
Ori G. G.,
Heys S.,
Teza J. P.,
Moersch J. E.,
Coppin P.,
Diaz G. Chong,
Wettergreen D. S.,
Cabrol N. A.,
Waggoner A. S.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
journal of geophysical research: biogeosciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.67
H-Index - 298
eISSN - 2156-2202
pISSN - 0148-0227
DOI - 10.1029/2006jg000319
Subject(s) - fluorescence , remote sensing , daylight , context (archaeology) , chlorophyll fluorescence , environmental science , optics , geology , physics , paleontology
A daylight fluorescence imager was deployed on an autonomous rover, Zoë, to detect life on the surface and shallow subsurface in regions of the Atacama Desert in Chile during field tests between 2003 and 2005. In situ fluorescent measurements were acquired from naturally fluorescing biomolecules such as chlorophyll and from specific fluorescent probes sprayed on the samples, targeting each of the four biological macromolecule classes: DNA, protein, lipid, and carbohydrate. RGB context images were also acquired. Preparatory reagents were applied to enhance the dye probe penetration and fluorescence intensity of chlorophyll. Fluorescence imager data sets from 257 samples were returned to the Life in the Atacama science team. A variety of visible life forms, such as lichens, were detected, and several of the dye probes produced signals from nonphotosynthetic microorganisms.