Subsurface lithoautotrophic microbial ecosystem

Subsurface lithoautotrophic microbial ecosystems, or "SLIMEs" (also abbreviated "SLMEs" or "SLiMEs"), are a type of endolithic ecosystems. They are defined by Edward O. Wilson as "unique assemblages of bacteria and fungi that occupy pores in the interlocking mineral grains of igneous rock beneath Earth's surface."^[1]

Endolithic systems are still at an early stage of exploration. In some cases its biota can support simple invertebrates; in most, organisms are unicellular. Near-surface layers of rock may contain blue-green algae but most energy comes from chemical synthesis of minerals. The limited supply of energy limits the rates of growth and reproduction. In deeper rock layers microbes are exposed to high pressures and temperatures.^[2]

References

1. Wilson, Edward O. (2002). The future of life (1st ed.). Vintage Books. p. 7. ISBN 9780679768111.
2. Keith, DA; Iliffe, TM; Gerovasileiou, V; Gonzalez, B; Brankovits, D; Martínez García, A (2020). "S1.2 Endolithic systems". In Keith, D.A.; Ferrer-Paris, J.R.; Nicholson, E.; Kingsford, R.T. (eds.). The IUCN Global Ecosystem Typology 2.0: Descriptive profiles for biomes and ecosystem functional groups. Gland, Switzerland: IUCN. doi:10.2305/IUCN.CH.2020.13.en. ISBN 978-2-8317-2077-7. S2CID 241360441.

Further reading

• Nealson, Kenneth H.; Inagaki, Fumio; Takai, Ken (September 2005). "Hydrogen-driven subsurface lithoautotrophic microbial ecosystems (SLiMEs): do they exist and why should we care?". Trends in Microbiology. 13 (9): 405–410. doi:10.1016/j.tim.2005.07.010. PMID 16054814.
• Stevens, T. O.; McKinley, J. P. (20 October 1995). "Lithoautotrophic Microbial Ecosystems in Deep Basalt Aquifers". Science. 270 (5235): 450–455. Bibcode:1995Sci...270..450S. doi:10.1126/science.270.5235.450. S2CID 176418752.
• Stevens, Todd O. (11 July 1997). Subsurface lithoautotrophic microbial ecosystems (SLMEs) in igneous rocks: prospects for detection. Proceedings of SPIE 3111, Instruments, Methods, and Missions for the Investigation of Extraterrestrial Microorganisms. doi:10.1117/12.278790.