Abstract
Cryptoendolithic microorganisms in the Antarctic desert liver inside porous sandstone rocks, protected by a thin rock crust. While the rock surface is abiotic, the microclimate inside the rock is comparatively mild. These organisms may have descended from early, pre-glaciation Antarctic life forms and thus may represent the last outpost of life in a gradually deterorating environment. Assuming that life once arose on Mars, it is conceivable that, following the loss of water, the last of surviving organisms withdrew to similar insulated microenvironments. Because such microscopic pockets have little connection with the outside environment, their detection may be difficult. The chances that the Viking lander could sample cryptoendolithic microorganisms in the Antarctic desert would be infinitesimal.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Denton, G. H., R. L. Armstrong, and M. Stuiver. 1971. The late cenozoic glacial history of Antarctica. pp. 267–306.In K. K. Turekian (ed.): The Lat Cenozoic Glacial Ages. Yale University Press, New Haven.
Friedmann, E. I. 1977. Microorganisms in Antarctic desert rocks from dry valleys and Dufek Massif. Antarct. J. U. S. XII, pp. 26–30.
Friedmann, E. I. 1978. Melting snow in the dry valleys is a source of water for endolithic microorganisms. Antarct. J. U. S. XIII, pp. 162–163.
Friedman, E. I. 1982. Endolithic microorganisms in the Antarctic cold desert. Science (Washington, D.C.) 215, pp. 1045–1053.
Friedman, E. I., and A. P. Kibler. 1980. Nitrogen economy of endolithic microbial communities in hot and cold deserts. Microb. Ecol. 6, pp. 95–108.
Friedmann, E. I., R. Ocampo. 1976. Endolithic blue-green algae in the dry valleys: Primary producers in the Antarctic desert ecosystem. Science (Washington, D.C.) 193, pp. 1247–1249.
Friedmann, E. I., R. O. Friedmann, L. Kappen, C. P. McKay, and J. R. Vestal. 1983. The cryptoendolithic microbial community: A “closed” ecosystem in nature. p. 101.In D. L. DeVincenzi and L. G. Pleasant (eds.): First Symposium on Chemical Evolution and the Origin and Evolution of Life. NASA Conf. Publ. 2276.
Friedmann, E. I., R. O. Friedmann, and C. P. McKay. 1981. Adaptations of cryptoendolithic lichens in the Antarctic desert. pp. 65–60.In Colloque sur les Écosystèmes Subantarctiques. Paimpont, C.N.F.R.A., No. 51. Comité National Français des Recherches Antarctiques.
Horowitz, N. H. 1976. Life in extreme environments: Biological water requirements. pp. 121–128.In C. Ponamperuma (ed.): Chemical Evolution of the Gian Planets. Academic Press, New York.
Horowitz, N. H., R. E. Cameron, and J. S. Hubbard. 1972. Microbiology of the dry valleys of Antarctica. Science (Washington, D.C.) 176, pp. 24–245.
Kappen, L., and E. I. Friedmann. 1983. Ecophysiology of lichens in the dry valleys of Southern Victoria Land, Antarctica. II. CO2 gas exchange in cryptoendolithic lichens. Polar Biol. 1, pp. 227–232.
Kappen, L., E. I. Friedmann, and J. Garty. 1981. Ecophysiology of lichens in the dry valleys of Southern Victoria Land, Antarctica. I. Microclimate of the cryptoendolithic lichen habitat. Flora (Jena) 171, pp. 216–235.
Lange, O. L., and L. Kappen. 1972. Photosynthesis of lichens from Antarctica. pp. 83–95.In G. A. Llano (ed.): Antarctic Terrestrial Biology, Antarct. Res. Ser. Vol. 20.
Maguire, B., Jr., L. B. Slobodkin, H. J. Morowitz, B. Moore, III, and D. B. Botkin. 1980. A new paradigm for the examination of closed ecosystems. pp. 30–68.In J. P. Giesy, Jr. (ed.): Microcosms in Ecological Research. D.O.E. Symp. Ser. 52.
McKay, C. P., and E. I. Friedmann (in preparation). Temperature varition in the cryptoendolithic microbial environment in the Antarctic cold desert.
Nienow, J. A., and E. I. Friedmann (in preparation). Light and temperature gradients in Beacon sandstone colonized by cryptoendolithic microorganisms in the Antarctic cold desert.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Friedmann, E.I., Ocampo-Friedmann, R. The antarctic cryptoendolithic ecosystem: Relevance to exobiology. Origins Life Evol Biosphere 14, 771–776 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00933732
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00933732