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Salt deliquescence drives photosynthesis in the hyperarid A tacama D esert
Author(s) -
Davila Alfonso F.,
Hawes Ian,
Ascaso Carmen,
Wierzchos Jacek
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
environmental microbiology reports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.229
H-Index - 69
ISSN - 1758-2229
DOI - 10.1111/1758-2229.12050
Subject(s) - halite , cyanobacteria , photosynthesis , environmental chemistry , salt (chemistry) , relative humidity , chemistry , astrobiology , botany , mineralogy , geology , bacteria , biology , physics , meteorology , paleontology , gypsum
Summary Endolithic cyanobacteria are found in halite nodules in the hyperarid core of the A tacama D esert. Using P ulse A mplitude M odulated F luorometry, we show here that photosynthetic systems of these cyanobacteria become active when the relative humidity rises above 70% and the salt becomes wet by way of deliquescence. This is the first evidence of active metabolism in the hyperarid core of the A tacama, and supports the view of a microbial community sustained by deliquescence. Our results expand the water activity envelope of life on E arth.