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The resistance of viable permafrost algae to simulated environmental stresses: implications for astrobiology

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 January 2004

T.A. Vishnivetskaya
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Soil Cryology, Institute for Physicochemical and Biological Problems in Soil Science, Russian Academy of Sciences, 142290, Pushchino, Moscow Region, Russia e-mail: [email protected]
E.V. Spirina
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Soil Cryology, Institute for Physicochemical and Biological Problems in Soil Science, Russian Academy of Sciences, 142290, Pushchino, Moscow Region, Russia e-mail: [email protected]
A.V. Shatilovich
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Soil Cryology, Institute for Physicochemical and Biological Problems in Soil Science, Russian Academy of Sciences, 142290, Pushchino, Moscow Region, Russia e-mail: [email protected]
L.G. Erokhina
Affiliation:
Institute of Basic Biological Problems, Russian Academy of Sciences, 142290, Pushchino, Moscow Region, Russia
E.A. Vorobyova
Affiliation:
Department of Soil Science, Moscow State University, 119899, Moscow, Russia
D.A. Gilichinsky
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Soil Cryology, Institute for Physicochemical and Biological Problems in Soil Science, Russian Academy of Sciences, 142290, Pushchino, Moscow Region, Russia e-mail: [email protected]

Abstract

54 strains of viable green algae and 26 strains of viable cyanobacteria were recovered from 128 and 56 samples collected from Siberian and Antarctic permafrost, respectively, with ages from modern to a few million years old. Although species of unicellular green algae belonged to Chlorococcales were subdominant inside permafrost, green algae Pedinomonas sp. were observed in Antarctic permafrost. Filamentous cyanobacteria of Oscillatoriales, Nostocales were just found in Siberian permafrost. Algal biomass in the permanently frozen sediments, expressed as concentration of chlorophyll a, was 0.06–0.46 μg g−1. The number of viable algal cells varied between <102 and 9×103 cfu g−1, but the number of viable bacterial cells was usually higher from 102 to 9.2×105 cfu g−1. Frozen but viable permafrost algae have preserved their morphological characteristics and photosynthetic apparatus in the dark permafrost. In the laboratory, they restored their photosynthetic activity, growth and development in favourable conditions at positive temperatures and with the availability of water and light. The discovery of ancient viable algae within permafrost reflects their ability to tolerate long-term freezing. In this study, the tolerance of algae and cyanobacteria to freezing, thawing and freezing–drying stresses was evaluated by short-term (days to months) low-temperature experiments. Results indicate that viable permafrost microorganisms demonstrate resistance to such stresses. Apart from their ecological importance, the bacterial and algal species found in permafrost have become the focus for novel biotechnology, as well as being considered proxies for possible life forms on cryogenic extraterrestrial bodies.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
2003 Cambridge University Press

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