The potential for photosynthesis in hydrothermal vents: a new avenue for life in the universe?

Fecha

2013

Autores

Pérez Díaz, Noel
Cárdenas Ortiz, Rolando Pedro
Martín González, Osmel
Leiva Mora, Michel

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Resumen

We perform a quantitative assessment for the potential for photosynthesis in hydrothermal vents in the deep ocean. The photosynthetically active radiation in this case is from geothermal origin: the infrared thermal radiation emitted by hot water, at temperatures ranging from 473 up to 673 K.We find that at these temperatures the photosynthetic potential is rather low in these ecosystems for most known species. However, species which a very high efficiency in the use of light and which could use infrared photons till 1300 nm, could achieve good rates of photosynthesis in hydrothermal vents. These organisms might also thrive in deep hydrothermal vents in other planetary bodies, such as one of the more astrobiologically promising Jupiter satellites: Europa

Descripción

Palabras clave

Hydrothermal vent, Thermal radiation, Photosynthesis

Citación

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