Life in Ancient Ice: A Workshop

这次研讨会的目的是将研究冰、进化、生物保存、古代生命和天体生物学的专家聚集在一起，评估我们目前对古代冰中生命的了解，并讨论未来的研究和合作，以扩大我们在这一领域的知识。从冰川冰芯内部发现了数量惊人、种类繁多的微生物，这些微生物可以追溯到40万年前。研究人员对古冰芯样本中的细菌、真菌、藻类、维管束植物(作为花粉)和病毒进行了系统的调查。冰川冰是一种天然的空气采样和保存基质。通过地质时代，风运输的微生物已经被困在这些基质中。因此，冰川提供了独特的全球微生物来源，进而呈现了当代和古代真菌、细菌和病毒多样性的图景。陆续更古老的冰层的剖面将把对微生物生物多样性的时间和空间评估延伸到地质时间框架。这些微生物随后可能在后续研究中用作气候、地质和人类活动方面全球变化的生物指标。此外，在连续的时间序列中发现的物种可用于研究物种的系统发育、长寿、休眠机制和生态相关性。最后，开发和测试的协议可能有助于未来在外星冰(例如，来自月球、火星、欧罗巴、彗星等的冰)中寻找微生物。拟议的研讨会将积极讨论古代冰中的生命，并讨论当前的研究趋势。讲习班还将作为讨论在这些古老的基质中进行微生物检测所需的方法学途径的媒介。各种方法，都涉及真菌、细菌和病毒，将侧重于评估时间和空间的多样性。讲习班的介绍和讨论将有助于为今后的研究和改进方法提出建议。最终，所有信息都将通过研讨会报告、研讨会总结手册和因特网信息网站传播。

The purpose of this workshop is to bring together experts studying ice, evolution, biological preservation, ancient life, and astrobiology to assess our current knowledge of life in ancient ice, and to discuss future research and collaborations that would extend our knowledge in this area. A surprising number and variety of microorganisms have been recovered from the interior of glacial ice cores, dating back beyond 400,000 years. Researchers have performed systematic surveys for bacteria, fungi, algae, vascular plants (as pollen), and viruses in samples of ancient ice cores. Glacial ice is a natural air-sampling and preservation matrix. Through geological epochs wind-transported microorganisms have been trapped within these matrices. Thus, glacial ice provides a unique global source of microorganisms which, in turn, presents a view of both contemporary and ancient fungal, bacterial, and viral diversity. Profiles of successively older ice strata will extend temporal and spatial assessments of microbial biodiversity to geologic time frames. The microorganisms might then be utilized in subsequent studies as bioindicators of global change with respect to climate, geology and human activity. In addition, species detected across a continuous chronological sequence can be utilized to study phylogenic, mechanisms of longevity, dormancy and ecological relevance. Finally, developed and tested protocols may contribute to future searches for microorganisms in extraterrestrial ice (e.g., ice from the Moon, Mars, Europa, comets, etc.). The proposed workshop will engage in active discussion of life in ancient ice and discuss current research trends. The workshop will also serve as a medium for discussion of the methodological approaches needed for microbial detection in these ancient matrices. Various approaches, all involving fungi, bacteria, and viruses, will focus on assessing diversity in both time and space. Workshop presentations and discussions will serve to generate recommendations for future research and for improvements in methodologies. Ultimately all information will be disseminated through a workshop report, workshop summary books, and Internet information sites.