Serpentinization is a reaction that involves the hydration of ferromagnesium minerals (e.g., olivine, pyroxenes), resulting in the production of hydrogen gas and reduced carbon compounds. This reaction also leads to the formation of mineral carbonates, and highly alkaline and reducing fluids. Microorganisms have adapted to such extremes and robust microbial communities were discovered at several locations, including the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, Mariana Forearc, the Cabeço de Vide Aquifer, the Cedars, the Coast Range Ophiolite Microbial Observatory, Hakuba Happo, the Samail ophiolite, the Voltri Massif, and the Zambales ophiolite. These locations represent a range of pressure and temperature conditions, demonstrating that serpentinization is a ubiquitous geologic process occurring at subduction zones, mid-ocean ridges, and passive margins. This process is also thought to have supported early life because of the availability of reduced products and the presence of geochemical disequilibria.
Current research has focused on understanding the evolution and adaptations of modern-day microbes, such as methanogens and acetogens, which persist within serpentinite-hosted ecosystems and may inform the evolution of life. Studies have also examined serpentinizing systems in the context of carbon sequestration for mitigating climate change. Thus, these environments represent relevant locations for studying both modern-day issues and the evolution of life.
Dr. Ivan Barnes, research geologist and senior scientist at U.S. Geological Survey, was one of the first to conduct detailed geochemical studies of serpentinite-hosted ecosystems. His work on these environments began at the Coast Range Ophiolite in 1963, and in 1967, he published a seminal work describing the mineral-fluid reactions titled “Geochemical Evidence of Present-Day Serpentinization” (doi: 10.1126/science.156.3776.830). The year 2022 marks the 55th anniversary of this publication, and this Research Topic aims to highlight recent advances in understanding the microbial communities of serpentinite-hosted ecosystems through experimental, computational, or theoretical studies.
We invite researchers to submit articles of any type (Original Research, Review, Methods, Perspective, Mini-Review, Opinion) related to the microbial communities found at serpentinite-hosted systems. Topics include but are not limited to:
• Microbial adaptations to the (poly)extremophilic conditions
• Microbial impacts on carbon sequestration potential of serpentinite-hosted ecosystems
• Characterization of microbial isolates or enrichment cultures and novel techniques/protocols to isolate microbes
• Biotechnological potential of microbes from serpentinite-hosted systems
• Microbial functions, metabolisms, pathways, enzymes, and metabolites of microbes found at serpentinite-hosted systems
Serpentinization is a reaction that involves the hydration of ferromagnesium minerals (e.g., olivine, pyroxenes), resulting in the production of hydrogen gas and reduced carbon compounds. This reaction also leads to the formation of mineral carbonates, and highly alkaline and reducing fluids. Microorganisms have adapted to such extremes and robust microbial communities were discovered at several locations, including the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, Mariana Forearc, the Cabeço de Vide Aquifer, the Cedars, the Coast Range Ophiolite Microbial Observatory, Hakuba Happo, the Samail ophiolite, the Voltri Massif, and the Zambales ophiolite. These locations represent a range of pressure and temperature conditions, demonstrating that serpentinization is a ubiquitous geologic process occurring at subduction zones, mid-ocean ridges, and passive margins. This process is also thought to have supported early life because of the availability of reduced products and the presence of geochemical disequilibria.
Current research has focused on understanding the evolution and adaptations of modern-day microbes, such as methanogens and acetogens, which persist within serpentinite-hosted ecosystems and may inform the evolution of life. Studies have also examined serpentinizing systems in the context of carbon sequestration for mitigating climate change. Thus, these environments represent relevant locations for studying both modern-day issues and the evolution of life.
Dr. Ivan Barnes, research geologist and senior scientist at U.S. Geological Survey, was one of the first to conduct detailed geochemical studies of serpentinite-hosted ecosystems. His work on these environments began at the Coast Range Ophiolite in 1963, and in 1967, he published a seminal work describing the mineral-fluid reactions titled “Geochemical Evidence of Present-Day Serpentinization” (doi: 10.1126/science.156.3776.830). The year 2022 marks the 55th anniversary of this publication, and this Research Topic aims to highlight recent advances in understanding the microbial communities of serpentinite-hosted ecosystems through experimental, computational, or theoretical studies.
We invite researchers to submit articles of any type (Original Research, Review, Methods, Perspective, Mini-Review, Opinion) related to the microbial communities found at serpentinite-hosted systems. Topics include but are not limited to:
• Microbial adaptations to the (poly)extremophilic conditions
• Microbial impacts on carbon sequestration potential of serpentinite-hosted ecosystems
• Characterization of microbial isolates or enrichment cultures and novel techniques/protocols to isolate microbes
• Biotechnological potential of microbes from serpentinite-hosted systems
• Microbial functions, metabolisms, pathways, enzymes, and metabolites of microbes found at serpentinite-hosted systems