Lichens Bite the Dust: A Bioweathering Scenario in the Atacama Desert

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleResearchpeer review

Authors

  • Patrick Jung
  • Karen Baumann
  • Dina Emrich
  • Armin Springer
  • Vincent J.M.N.L. Felde
  • Stefan Dultz
  • Christel Baum
  • Marcus Frank
  • Burkhard Büdel
  • Peter Leinweber

External Research Organisations

  • Hochschule Kaiserslautern University of Applied Sciences
  • University of Rostock
  • University of Freiburg
  • University of Kassel
  • University of Kaiserslautern
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Details

Original languageEnglish
Article number101647
JournaliScience
Volume23
Issue number11
Early online date7 Oct 2020
Publication statusPublished - 20 Nov 2020

Abstract

Bioweathering mediated by microorganisms plays a significant role in biogeochemical cycles on global scales over geological timescales. Single processes induced by specific taxa have been described but could rarely be demonstrated for complex communities that dominate whole landscapes. The recently discovered grit crust of the coastal Atacama Desert, which is a transitional community between a cryptogamic ground cover and a rock-bound lithic assemblage, offers the unique chance to elucidate various bioweathering processes that occur simultaneously. Here, we present a bioweathering scenario of this biocenosis including processes such as penetration of the lithomatrix, microbial responses to wet-dry cycles, alkalinolysis, enzyme activity, and mineral re-localization. Frequently occurring fog, for example, led to a volume increase of microorganisms and the lithomatrix. This, together with pH shifts and dust accumulation, consequently results in biophysical breakdown and the formation of a terrestrial protopedon, an initial stage of pedogenesis fueled by the grit crust.

Keywords

    Biogeoscience, Earth sciences, Earth-Surface Processes, Geomicrobiology, Weathering

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Sustainable Development Goals

Cite this

Lichens Bite the Dust: A Bioweathering Scenario in the Atacama Desert. / Jung, Patrick; Baumann, Karen; Emrich, Dina et al.
In: iScience, Vol. 23, No. 11, 101647, 20.11.2020.

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleResearchpeer review

Jung, P, Baumann, K, Emrich, D, Springer, A, Felde, VJMNL, Dultz, S, Baum, C, Frank, M, Büdel, B & Leinweber, P 2020, 'Lichens Bite the Dust: A Bioweathering Scenario in the Atacama Desert', iScience, vol. 23, no. 11, 101647. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2020.101647
Jung, P., Baumann, K., Emrich, D., Springer, A., Felde, V. J. M. N. L., Dultz, S., Baum, C., Frank, M., Büdel, B., & Leinweber, P. (2020). Lichens Bite the Dust: A Bioweathering Scenario in the Atacama Desert. iScience, 23(11), Article 101647. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2020.101647
Jung P, Baumann K, Emrich D, Springer A, Felde VJMNL, Dultz S et al. Lichens Bite the Dust: A Bioweathering Scenario in the Atacama Desert. iScience. 2020 Nov 20;23(11):101647. Epub 2020 Oct 7. doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2020.101647
Jung, Patrick ; Baumann, Karen ; Emrich, Dina et al. / Lichens Bite the Dust : A Bioweathering Scenario in the Atacama Desert. In: iScience. 2020 ; Vol. 23, No. 11.
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title = "Lichens Bite the Dust: A Bioweathering Scenario in the Atacama Desert",
abstract = "Bioweathering mediated by microorganisms plays a significant role in biogeochemical cycles on global scales over geological timescales. Single processes induced by specific taxa have been described but could rarely be demonstrated for complex communities that dominate whole landscapes. The recently discovered grit crust of the coastal Atacama Desert, which is a transitional community between a cryptogamic ground cover and a rock-bound lithic assemblage, offers the unique chance to elucidate various bioweathering processes that occur simultaneously. Here, we present a bioweathering scenario of this biocenosis including processes such as penetration of the lithomatrix, microbial responses to wet-dry cycles, alkalinolysis, enzyme activity, and mineral re-localization. Frequently occurring fog, for example, led to a volume increase of microorganisms and the lithomatrix. This, together with pH shifts and dust accumulation, consequently results in biophysical breakdown and the formation of a terrestrial protopedon, an initial stage of pedogenesis fueled by the grit crust.",
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