Integral Prospection of Andean Microbial Ecosystem Project

FARIAS MARIA EUGÉNIA; VILLAFAÑE PATRICIO GUILLERMO; LENCINA AGUSTINA INÉS

Microbial Ecosystems in Central Andes Extreme Environments: Biofilms, Microbial Mats, Microbialites and Endoevaporites

Springer Nature

Año: 2020; p. 245 - 260

When microbial ecosystems first started to be reported 10 years ago, nobody really had a notion of the relevance they would have in the Central Andean region. Consequently, the heritage of the microbialites reported in El Peinado, Laguna Negra, Laguna Pozo Bravo, Laguna La Brava, etc. promises to position the Andes as reservoirs of the most relevant modern microbialites on the planet. Furthermore, the number of different ecosystems is worth paying close attention to, as it gives rise to questions such as: What favors the development of these ecosystems? What are the conditions that influence the precipitation of a carbonaceous or a gypsum system at such a short distance and under similar environmental conditions, such as at the Atacama salt flat? Why are oncolites distributed so? Until now, it has been possible only to survey the systems and to carry out more in-depth studies in some of them to try to achieve their preservation. Throughout the prospection ducing adenosine triphosphate (ATP); (8) arsenic resistance and bioenergetic mechanisms; and (9) predominance of Carbon fixation pathways other than the Calvin cycle]. The biological aspects of these are being studied thoroughly in our lab and are briefly discussed below.