Projects per year
Abstract
Microbial processes dominate geochemical cycles at and near the
Earth’s surface today. Their role was even greater in the past, with
microbes being the dominant life form for the first 90% of Earth’s
history. Most of their metabolic pathways originated billions of years ago as
both causes and effects of environmental changes of the highest order, such
as the first accumulation of oxygen in the oceans and atmosphere. Microbial
processes leave behind diverse geochemical fingerprints that can remain
intact for billions of years. These rock-bound signatures are now steering our
understanding of how life coevolved with the environments on early Earth
and are guiding our search for life elsewhere in the universe.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 415-421 |
Journal | Elements |
Volume | 11 |
Issue number | 6 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 1 Dec 2015 |
Keywords
- Early Earth
- Microbiology
- Environmental change
- Biogeochemical cycles
- Biosignatures
- Isotopes
- Astrobiology
Fingerprint
Dive into the research topics of 'Emerging biogeochemical views of Earth's ancient microbial worlds'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.Projects
- 2 Finished
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Response of the Nitrogen Cycle: Response of the Nitrogen Cycle to Ocean Redox Chemistry During the Great Oxidation Event
Zerkle, A. L. (PI)
16/05/13 → 15/01/14
Project: Fellowship
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Did biogeochemical methane cycling: Did biogeochemical methane cycling regulate the Neoarchean atmosphere?
Zerkle, A. L. (PI), Claire, M. (Researcher) & Izon, G. (Researcher)
16/05/13 → 14/07/16
Project: Standard