Subsurface lithoautotrophic microbial ecosystem explained

Subsurface lithoautotrophic microbial ecosystems, or "SLIMEs" (also abbreviated "SLMEs" or "SLiMEs"), are a type of endolithic ecosystems. They are defined by Edward O. Wilson as "unique assemblages of bacteria and fungi that occupy pores in the interlocking mineral grains of igneous rock beneath Earth's surface."^[1]

Endolithic systems are still at an early stage of exploration. In some cases its biota can support simple invertebrates, most organisms are unicellular. Near-surface layers of rock may contain blue-green algae but most energy comes from chemical synthesis of minerals. The limited supply of energy limits the rates of growth and reproduction. In deeper rock layers microbes are exposed to high pressures and temperatures.^[2]

Further reading

• Nealson . Kenneth H. . Inagaki . Fumio . Takai . Ken . Hydrogen-driven subsurface lithoautotrophic microbial ecosystems (SLiMEs): do they exist and why should we care? . Trends in Microbiology . September 2005 . 13 . 9 . 405–410 . 10.1016/j.tim.2005.07.010. 16054814 .
• Stevens . T. O. . McKinley . J. P. . Lithoautotrophic Microbial Ecosystems in Deep Basalt Aquifers . Science . 20 October 1995 . 270 . 5235 . 450–455 . 10.1126/science.270.5235.450. 1995Sci...270..450S . 176418752 .
• Stevens . Todd O. . Subsurface lithoautotrophic microbial ecosystems (SLMEs) in igneous rocks: prospects for detection . 11 July 1997 . Proceedings of SPIE 3111, Instruments, Methods, and Missions for the Investigation of Extraterrestrial Microorganisms. 10.1117/12.278790.

Notes and References

1. Book: Wilson . Edward O. . The future of life . 2002 . Vintage Books . 9780679768111 . 7 . 1st.
2. Book: DA . Keith . TM . Iliffe . V . Gerovasileiou. B . Gonzalez . D . Brankovits . A . Martínez García . 2020 . S1.2 Endolithic systems . https://global-ecosystems.org/explore/groups/S1.2 . Keith . D.A. . Ferrer-Paris . J.R. . Nicholson . E. . Kingsford . R.T. . The IUCN Global Ecosystem Typology 2.0: Descriptive profiles for biomes and ecosystem functional groups . Gland, Switzerland . IUCN . 10.2305/IUCN.CH.2020.13.en . 978-2-8317-2077-7. 241360441 .