Biology
Scientific paper
Dec 2010
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2010agufm.p12a..01c&link_type=abstract
American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2010, abstract #P12A-01
Biology
[1605] Global Change / Abrupt/Rapid Climate Change, [5200] Planetary Sciences: Astrobiology, [5455] Planetary Sciences: Solid Surface Planets / Origin And Evolution, [5499] Planetary Sciences: Solid Surface Planets / General Or Miscellaneous
Scientific paper
The environment of the Andes presents analogies with Mars when the planet was transitioning from a wetter to a drier, colder climate: thin atmosphere, high solar irradiance, depleted ozone, high temperature fluctuations with low averages, ice, low precipitation and RH, and volcanic activity. This region is also among three areas of the world most impacted by climate change, which results in enhanced evaporation and high negative water balance that modifies lake habitat rapidly. Data shows strong interannual fluctuations in precipitation, water balance, major ion concentration, and pH are well marked. Microorganisms dwelling near the surface are exposed to a UV flux 170% that of sea level, and exceptionally high UVB levels. The thin cold atmosphere generates sudden and significant inverse relationship between UV and temperatures. In this cold, unstable environment lake habitats host abundant life. In addition to adaptation strategies, the timing of key cycles appears to be a critical factor in life’ survival. Environmental analogy with early Mars is multifold. Aridification has resulted in an evaporative environment. Latitude and altitude generate a UV-flux double that of present-day Mars at the equator and UVB only half that of the red planet, low average total ozone, and a low atmospheric pressure. Yearly temperature extremes range from -40C to +9C. Lakes are ice-covered starting austral fall, reaching maximum thickness by mid-winter. Thawing occurs in spring, but negative night temperatures result in the formation of a thin film of ice that thaws by mid-morning in spring and summer. Because of their geophysical environment, rapid climate change, isolation, and mostly uncharted ecosystems, these lakes are representative of an end-member class of terrestrial lakes and are meaningful analogs to early martian lakes. With differences inherent to the study of terrestrial analogs, the overall environmental similarity of Andean lakes with Mars at the Noachian/Hesperian transition makes them uniquely similar to early martian lakes and a window into the likely transformation they experienced during the transition period from a wet to a dry Mars. Our results show that decline was unlikely to be monotonical over time on Mars, and therefore probably challenging for putative life, if any, to adapt to. Physicochemical changes associated with such variability are significant. There is currently no data to show how this environmental roller coaster impacts biodiversity at the level of the overall population’s density or that of the species. However, the relatively low diversity found in the samples of the microbial community is consistent with biodiversity loss and selection of specific species capable of mutating and adapting rapidly. The timing of key cycles appears critical to the ecosystem’s survival. Here, we will discuss our latest results, the main similarities and differences with Mars, and how exploring these analogs help us better learn how to identify their signatures on Mars.
Cabrol Nathalie A.
Grin Edmon A.
High Lakes Project Team
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