LEXEN: Geomicrobiological Interactions of Microbial Communities in Cave Deep Subsurface Environments: A Novel Extreme Environment

9809096DahmCaves提供了研究微生物生命多样性的可访问地下环境。这些生态系统受到极端环境压力的影响，可能依赖无机能源而不是阳光。墨西哥龙舌兰洞（新墨西哥州）是美国大陆最深的洞穴，它是地下微生物生活的一个很好的例子。龙舌兰洞，一个巨大的，古老的洞穴，接近原始状态，含有硫，铁，锰矿床和极低的营养环境，窝藏各种微生物的生命。碳酸盐岩围岩和上覆的腐蚀石灰岩为研究生命如何生存、适应和改变这种岩石环境提供了一个很好的模型。初步证据表明，栖息在腐蚀残留物中的微生物群落多样，包括以锰和铁为生的真菌和细菌。我们将调查存在的不寻常微生物的性质，它们适应极端环境的方式，它们使用的能源以及社区生物活动的总体水平。 由于其他行星上存在地下生命的潜力以及与龙舌兰洞可能存在的化学相似性，我们的研究还将探索洞穴群落与其他地方可能存在的洞穴群落的相关性。

9809096DahmCaves offer accessible subterranean environments in which to study thediversity of microbial life. These ecosystems are exposed to extremeenvironmental stresses and may be based on inorganic energy sources rather than sunlight. An excellent example of subterranean microbial life is found in Lechuguilla Cave (New Mexico), the deepest cave in thecontinental United States. Lechuguilla Cave, an immense, ancient cavein near pristine condition, contains sulfur, iron, and manganese deposits and extremely low nutrient environments harboring diverse microbial life. The carbonate wallrock and overlying corroded limestone provide an excellent model for studying how life has survived, adapted, and altered this rock environment. Preliminary evidence suggests that the diverse community of microorganisms inhabiting corrosion residues includes fungi and bacteria that live by using manganese and iron. We will investigate the nature of the unusual microorganisms present, the means by which they adapt to their extreme environment, the energy sources that they use, and the overall level of biological activity of the communities. Because of the potential for subsurface life on other planets and possible chemical similarity to Lechuguilla Cave, our research will also explore the relevance of cave communities to those that may exist elsewhere.