Novel water source for endolithic life in the hyperarid core of the Atacama Desert

The hyperarid core of the Atacama Desert, Chile, is possibly the driest and most life-limited place on Earth, yet endolithic microorganisms thrive inside halite pinnacles that are part of ancient salt flats. The existence of this microbial community in an environment that excludes any other life for...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: J. Wierzchos, A. F. Davila, I. M. Sánchez-Almazo, M. Hajnos, R. Swieboda, C. Ascaso
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Copernicus Publications 2012-06-01
Series:Biogeosciences
Online Access:http://www.biogeosciences.net/9/2275/2012/bg-9-2275-2012.pdf