Ancient Photosynthetic Eukaryote Biofilms in an Atacama Desert Coastal Cave

作者：Azua Bustos A^*; Gonzalez Silva C; Mancilla R A; Salas L; Palma R E; Wynne J J; McKay C P; Vicuna R

来源：Microbial Ecology, 2009, 58(3): 485-496.

DOI：10.1007/s00248-009-9500-5

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.

• 出版日期2009-10