The Atacama Desert: Technical Resources and the Growing Importance of Novel Microbial Diversity
Author
dc.contributor.author
Bull, Alan T.
Author
dc.contributor.author
Asenjo de Leuze, Juan
Author
dc.contributor.author
Goodfellow, Michael
Author
dc.contributor.author
Gómez Silva, Benito
Admission date
dc.date.accessioned
2017-11-21T15:08:05Z
Available date
dc.date.available
2017-11-21T15:08:05Z
Publication date
dc.date.issued
2016
Cita de ítem
dc.identifier.citation
Annu. Rev. Microbiol. 2016. 70:215–34
es_ES
Identifier
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10.1146/annurev-micro-102215-095236
Identifier
dc.identifier.uri
https://repositorio.uchile.cl/handle/2250/145709
Abstract
dc.description.abstract
The Atacama Desert of northern Chile is the oldest and most arid non-polar environment on Earth. It is a coastal desert covering approximately 180,000 km(2), and together with the greater Atacama region it comprises a dramatically wide range of ecological niches. Long known and exploited for its mineral resources, the Atacama Desert harbors a rich microbial diversity that has only recently been discovered; the great majority of it has not yet been recovered in culture or even taxonomically identified. This review traces the progress of microbiology research in the Atacama and dispels the popular view that this region is virtually devoid of life. We examine reasons for such research activity and demonstrate that microbial life is the latest recognized and least explored resource in this inspiring biome.