A pioneering international research effort has successfully identified the first microbial communities colonizing the lava tubes formed after the eruption of the Tajogaite volcano in La Palma in 2021. These findings, published in the scientific journal 'Environmental Microbiome', not only shed light on ecosystem recovery in extreme conditions but also serve as an invaluable model for studying the potential existence of life on Mars.
The study, supported by the Consejería de Universidad, Investigación e Innovación, involves institutions such as the Institute of Natural Resources and Agrobiology of Seville (IRNAS-CSIC), the Geological and Mining Institute of Spain (IGME-CSIC), the University of Almería, and the University of Huelva, with collaboration from the University of Évora and INESCTEC (Portugal), as well as the Canary Federation of Speleology.
Scientists have been able to observe the initial stages of life emerging in a completely sterile environment, newly created by volcanic activity. The analyzed lava tubes, described as a 'newborn world,' lack soil and vegetation, forcing the first living organisms to pave the way for ecosystem development. These extreme environments have become a natural laboratory for investigating the limits of life and its implications for habitability on other planets.
The results suggest that microorganisms primarily arrive from the outside, transported by air as aerosols or spores, or associated with animals. These inputs introduce organic matter, facilitating the emergence of the first biological communities. The team accessed the lava tubes one to two years after the eruption, encountering air temperatures up to 60 degrees Celsius and rock surfaces exceeding 90 degrees.
Through three sampling campaigns, researchers combined DNA analysis with the study of minerals and environmental conditions. Factors such as temperature, salinity, and ventilation determine which microorganisms manage to establish and survive. The study also reveals that these microorganisms actively transform their environment, forming biofilms that modify minerals and lay the groundwork for fertile soil formation.
The team will continue to investigate the evolution of these microbial communities to better understand ecosystem recovery after extreme events like volcanic eruptions and to explore their potential for producing bioactive compounds with applications in health and biotechnology.
