Sea ice, extremophiles and life on extra-terrestrial ocean worlds
Abstract The primary aim of this review is to highlight that sea-ice microbes would be capable of occupying ice-associated biological niches on Europa and Enceladus. These moons are compelling targets for astrobiological exploration because of the inferred presence of subsurface oceans that have per...
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Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s1473550416000483 https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S1473550416000483 |
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crcambridgeupr:10.1017/s1473550416000483 2024-06-23T07:56:41+00:00 Sea ice, extremophiles and life on extra-terrestrial ocean worlds Martin, Andrew McMinn, Andrew 2017 http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s1473550416000483 https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S1473550416000483 en eng Cambridge University Press (CUP) https://www.cambridge.org/core/terms International Journal of Astrobiology volume 17, issue 1, page 1-16 ISSN 1473-5504 1475-3006 journal-article 2017 crcambridgeupr https://doi.org/10.1017/s1473550416000483 2024-06-05T04:04:31Z Abstract The primary aim of this review is to highlight that sea-ice microbes would be capable of occupying ice-associated biological niches on Europa and Enceladus. These moons are compelling targets for astrobiological exploration because of the inferred presence of subsurface oceans that have persisted over geological timescales. Although potentially hostile to life in general, Europa and Enceladus may still harbour biologically permissive domains associated with the ice, ocean and seafloor environments. However, validating sources of free energy is challenging, as is qualifying possible metabolic processes or ecosystem dynamics. Here, the capacity for biological adaptation exhibited by microorganisms that inhabit sea ice is reviewed. These ecosystems are among the most relevant Earth-based analogues for considering life on ocean worlds because microorganisms must adapt to multiple physicochemical extremes. In future, these organisms will likely play a significant role in defining the constraints on habitability beyond Earth and developing a mechanistic framework that contrasts the limits of Earth's biosphere with extra-terrestrial environments of interest. Article in Journal/Newspaper Sea ice Cambridge University Press International Journal of Astrobiology 17 1 1 16 |
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Cambridge University Press |
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English |
description |
Abstract The primary aim of this review is to highlight that sea-ice microbes would be capable of occupying ice-associated biological niches on Europa and Enceladus. These moons are compelling targets for astrobiological exploration because of the inferred presence of subsurface oceans that have persisted over geological timescales. Although potentially hostile to life in general, Europa and Enceladus may still harbour biologically permissive domains associated with the ice, ocean and seafloor environments. However, validating sources of free energy is challenging, as is qualifying possible metabolic processes or ecosystem dynamics. Here, the capacity for biological adaptation exhibited by microorganisms that inhabit sea ice is reviewed. These ecosystems are among the most relevant Earth-based analogues for considering life on ocean worlds because microorganisms must adapt to multiple physicochemical extremes. In future, these organisms will likely play a significant role in defining the constraints on habitability beyond Earth and developing a mechanistic framework that contrasts the limits of Earth's biosphere with extra-terrestrial environments of interest. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Martin, Andrew McMinn, Andrew |
spellingShingle |
Martin, Andrew McMinn, Andrew Sea ice, extremophiles and life on extra-terrestrial ocean worlds |
author_facet |
Martin, Andrew McMinn, Andrew |
author_sort |
Martin, Andrew |
title |
Sea ice, extremophiles and life on extra-terrestrial ocean worlds |
title_short |
Sea ice, extremophiles and life on extra-terrestrial ocean worlds |
title_full |
Sea ice, extremophiles and life on extra-terrestrial ocean worlds |
title_fullStr |
Sea ice, extremophiles and life on extra-terrestrial ocean worlds |
title_full_unstemmed |
Sea ice, extremophiles and life on extra-terrestrial ocean worlds |
title_sort |
sea ice, extremophiles and life on extra-terrestrial ocean worlds |
publisher |
Cambridge University Press (CUP) |
publishDate |
2017 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s1473550416000483 https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S1473550416000483 |
genre |
Sea ice |
genre_facet |
Sea ice |
op_source |
International Journal of Astrobiology volume 17, issue 1, page 1-16 ISSN 1473-5504 1475-3006 |
op_rights |
https://www.cambridge.org/core/terms |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1017/s1473550416000483 |
container_title |
International Journal of Astrobiology |
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17 |
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1 |
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1 |
op_container_end_page |
16 |
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1802649976871845888 |