Scientific payload demonstration in volcanic environments for astrobiological research understanding microbial colonization of fresh basalt. The volcanic eruption in at Geldingadalir (Iceland) in 2021 is an ideal analog site for studying the biogeochemistry of volcanism on other planetary bodies, both those with active (e.g. Io) and extinct (e.g. Mars) volcanic systems. The recent eruption enables comparative studies between the "fresh" lava field at Geldingadalir and older, inactive lava fields present throughout Iceland. Studying these systems provides insight into (1) the conditions necessary for microorganisms or other biotic materials to colonize barren environments and (2) how life transforms its environment over time. These investigations, while interesting in their own right for characterizing the biogeochemical diversity of Iceland's landscapes, have implications beyond Earth in the search for extant or extinct life in our solar system. To simulate planetary exploration missions, we deployed a suite of four handheld, low-SWaP (size, weight, and power), ruggedized spectroscopic instruments to enable in-situ investigation of the lava fields. We deployed a gamma ray spectrometer and laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) probe for macroscopic and microscopic (respectively) assessment of the elemental composition of the natural samples; we used an ultraviolet (UV) fluorescence imager to investigate organic signatures present on the natural surfaces; and finally, we used a near-infrared (NIR) reflectance spectrometer for determining mineralogy and identifying hydrated bonding structures. These complementary measurement techniques enable a wholistic study of a samples' biogeochemistry and have a direct path for mission infusion in planetary science, as various embodiments of these spectroscopic techniques have been used to study planetary surfaces for decades. We collected co-registered spectroscopic measurements with all four instruments on several samples throughout the Geldingadalir lava field and at a control (i.e. inactive) field nearby. Additionally, we surveyed >10 surface and subsurface features throughout the lava field with one or more of the instruments. At the conclusion of this field campaign, we had collected >1000 UV fluorescence images, 10s of NIR reflectance and LIBS spectra, and >10 gamma ray measurements. Along with this, samples from the fresh and inactive lava fields were taken back to the lab for further investigation of microbial diversity using laboratory instrumentation.
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RBINS Staff Publications 2022
The rising temperatures associated with climate change could lead to increased ice melt on the Antarctic continent, causing the expansion of ice-free areas. With the decreasing distance between these areas, connectivity increases, which could have a significant impact on Antarctic ecosystems. Antarctic biota are characterized by high levels of endemism, likely as a result of their isolation and long-term evolution in glacial refugia. The combination of higher connectivity and a milder climate could enhance the establishment of invasive species and increase competition, which eventually could lead to the loss of endemic species and biotic homogenization. The HabitAnt project aims to assess how Antarctic freshwater systems could evolve under different climate change scenarios by studying the past and present habitability of lakes and their catchments. To achieve these goals, dated lake sediment cores from the Larsemann Hills, Syowa Oasis and Schirmacher Oasis will be analysed. Ancient DNA will be extracted from the cores and a metabarcoding approach will be used to assess biological succession over time and in response to environmental changes. We have already redesigned metabarcoding primers for the invertebrate taxa Copepoda, Cladocera, Rotifera, Ostracoda and Tardigrada. Furthermore, for one core of the Schirmacher Oasis, 18S rRNA and fossil pigment data are already available. Metabarcoding data will be complemented with microfossil analyses, and time-calibrated phylogenies will be constructed from the obtained aDNA sequencing reads. In addition, recent lake sediment samples will be analysed to assess the present-day community structure of freshwater biota in different lakes. The obtained datasets will allow us to determine locations of glacial refugia and to study processes such as colonization, long-term persistence in glacial refugia, diversification and extinction. We will also model optima and tolerances for several important environmental factors, enabling us to predict how freshwater biota might respond to future environmental changes.
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RBINS Staff Publications 2023
