MICROBIAL LIFE IN SALINE LAKES AND PANS: A MICROBIOLOGIST'S PERSPECTIVE

Primary fluid inclusions from modern and ancient halites formed in saline lakes and pans can be considered repositories for microorganisms or their bio-molecules. Previously, a halobacterium was isolated from a 186 m subsurface core taken from the Badwater salt pan in Death Valley, CA. A number of crystals were removed from various halite layers including one that was deposited 97 kyr ago as indicated by U-Th disequilibrium dating. Although the isolated organism was identified as Halobacterium salinarum, it is not known if this species was a prominent member of the microbial community at the time of halite deposition. Halites from modern Australian lakes were collected during fieldwork in June-July 2005 and are being examined for the presence of microorganisms through (1) selective culturing and (2) microscopically by using a microdrill/micropipet. The recovered organisms will be compared to the microbial community in the overlying water. This research provides insight into the feasibility of extrapolating the microbial population found within evaporite inclusions to that inhabiting the surrounding aqueous environments, be they on Earth or possibly on Mars.