Cited by 325Planetary Science and ExplorationSpace Science and Extraterrestrial LifeAstro and Planetary Science

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On the possibility of chemosynthetic ecosystems in subsurface habitats on Mars

Boston, Penelope J., Ivanov, Mikhail V., P. McKay, Christopher·1992·Icarus

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Abstract

We have reexamined the question of extant microbial life on Mars in light of the most recent information about the planet and recently discovered nonphotosynthetic microbial ecosystems on Earth--deep sea hydrothermal vent communities and deep subsurface aquifer communities. On Mars, protected subsurface niches associated with hydrothermal activity could have continued to support life even after surface conditions became inhospitable. Geochemical evidence from the SNC meteorites and geomorphological evidence for recent volcanism suggest that such habitats could persist to the present time. There are also extensive geological features that attest to the ubiquitous nature of volcano-ground ice interactions on Mars. We suggest a possible deep subsurface microbial ecology similar to those discovered to depths of several kilometers below the surface of the Earth. We focus on anaerobic systems utilizing CO2 as the primary source of carbon. Liquid water could be provided by the heat of geothermal or volcanic activity melting permafrost or other subsurface water sources. Gases from volcanic activity deep in the planet could provide reducing power (as CH4, H2, or H2S) percolating up from below and enabling the development of a microbial community based upon chemolithoautotrophy. We suggest a methanogen (or acetogen) and sulfur-based microbial ecology as one possible basis for microbial primary production. Our hypothetical ecosystem is neither supported, nor excluded, by current observations of Mars. Tests for such a subsurface system involve locating active geothermal areas associated with ground ice or detecting trace quantities of reduced atmospheric gases that would leak from such a system.

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“In subsurface of Mars pressure and temperature increases with depth and thereby the probability of liquid, additionally radiation protected, water reservoirs (such as subsurface aquifers) rises, too (Boston et al., 1992; Dartnell et al., 2007).”
Background
Fluid Inclusion Studies of Chemosynthetic Carbonates: Strategy for Seeking Life on Mars
Parnell, J., Mazzini, A., & Honghan, C. (2002) · Astrobiology · doi:10.1089/153110702753621330 · Cited by 22
“Since subsurface existence would preclude photosynthesis, chemosynthesis would likely be the preferred metabolic strategy for a biota in such an environment (Rothschild, 1990; Boston et al ., 1992).”
Subsurface scientific exploration of extraterrestrial environments (MINAR 5): analogue science, technology and education in the Boulby Mine, UK
Cockell, C. S., Holt, J. W., Campbell, J., Groseman, H., Josset, J. L., Bontognali, T. R. R., Phelps, A., Hakobyan, L., Kuretn, L., Beattie, A., et al. (2018) · International Journal of Astrobiology · doi:10.1017/s1473550418000186 · Cited by 26
“On Mars, the deep subsurface is recognized to be a location that may have hosted habitable conditions in its past and has a high possibility of hosting such conditions today (Boston et al. , 1992; Hofmann, 2008).”
PRESERVATION OF FOSSIL MICROBES AND BIOFILM IN CAVE POOL CARBONATES AND COMPARISON TO OTHER MICROBIAL CARBONATE ENVIRONMENTS
Melim, L., Northup, D., Boston, P., & Spilde, M. (2016) · Palaios · doi:10.2110/palo.2015.033 · Cited by 24
“…earth-like subsurface environments are interesting targets in the search for life on Mars or icy moons around gas giants because they could provide refuge from harsh surface conditions including desiccation and ionizing radiation (Boston et al. 1992, 2001; Westall et al. 2000; Boston 2010).”
BackgroundSelf-citation
Prime candidate sites for astrobiological exploration through the hydrogeological history of Mars
Fairén, A., Dohm, J., Uceda, E. R., Rodriguez, A., Baker, V., Fernández-Remolar, D., Schulze-Makuch, D., & Amils, R. (2005) · Planetary and Space Science · doi:10.1016/j.pss.2005.06.007 · Cited by 24
“A continual source of energy for their metabolism possibly was the diffusion of H2 and CO downward into the regolith (Boston et al., 1992; Weiss et al., 2000), readily produced in the atmosphere by the photochemical breakup of H2O and CO2, respectively.”
Background
Survivability and growth kinetics of methanogenic archaea at various pHs and pressures: Implications for deep subsurface life on Mars
Sinha, N., Nepal, S., Kral, T. A., & Kumar, P. (2016) · Planetary and Space Science · doi:10.1016/j.pss.2016.11.012 · Cited by 30
Studies of Antibiotic Production by Cave Bacteria
Montaño, E. T., & Henderson, L. (2013) · doi:10.1007/978-1-4614-5206-5_6 · Cited by 23
Bioenergetic Constraints on Microbial Hydrogen Utilization in Precambrian Deep Crustal Fracture Fluids
Telling, J. P., Voglesonger, K. M., Sutcliffe, C. N., Lacrampe‐Couloume, G., Edwards, E. A., & Lollar, B. S. (2017) · Geomicrobiology Journal · doi:10.1080/01490451.2017.1333176 · Cited by 23
“Our study at the Thompson Mine suggests that hydrogenotrophic microorganisms are unlikely to be present in similar highly saline brines in the subsurface of Mars unless they base their osmotic regulation around the accumulation of inorganic (e.g., KC) rather than organic osmolytes (Figure 7).”
BackgroundInfluential
Significance to Astrobiology of Micro-Organisms in Permafrost and Ice
Hoover, R., & Gilichinsky, D. (2001) · doi:10.1007/978-94-010-0684-2_38 · Cited by 22
A New Frontier for Palaeobiology: Earth's Vast Deep Biosphere
McMahon, S., & Ivarsson, M. (2019) · Bioessays · doi:10.1002/bies.201900052 · Cited by 20
Advancing the search for extra-terrestrial genomes
Carr, C. E., Mojarro, A., Tani, J., Bhattaru, S. A., Zuber, M. T., Doebler, R. W., Brown, M. J., Herrington, K., Talbot, R., Fuller, C. W., et al. (2016) · IEEE Aerospace Conference (AERO) · doi:10.1109/aero.2016.7500859 · Cited by 21
“A reasonable place to search for extant Martian life would be in the subsurface of once habitable locations [39, 40].”
Background
The habitability of vesicles in martian basalt
McMahon, S., Parnell, J., Ponicka, J., Hole, M., & Boyce, A. (2013) · Astronomy & Geophysics · doi:10.1093/astrogeo/ats035 · Cited by 20
Peer Reviewed: Detecting Amino Acids on Mars
Bada, J., & Mcdonald, G. (1996) · Analytical Chemistry · doi:10.1021/ac9621231 · Cited by 20
Fungal Spores Viability on the International Space Station
Gomoiu, I., Chatzitheodoridis, E., Vadrucci, S., Walther, I., & Cojoc, R. (2016) · Origins of Life and Evolution of Biospheres · doi:10.1007/s11084-016-9502-5 · Cited by 19
“2008), in which microbial communities possibly could have been found inhabiting niche environments in subsurface rocks (Chatzitheodoridis et al. 2014; Marschall et al. 2012; Boston et al. 1992).”
Background
Evaluating reaction pathways of hydrothermal abiotic organic synthesis at elevated temperatures and pressures using carbon isotopes
Fu, Q., Socki, R. A., & Niles, P. B. (2015) · Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta · doi:10.1016/j.gca.2015.01.027 · Cited by 21
Eos Chasma, Mars: Regional setting for a potential landing site for astrobiology
Greeley, R., Kuzmin, R. O., Nelson, D. M., & Farmer, J. D. (2003) · Journal of Geophysical Research Atmospheres · doi:10.1029/2002je002014 · Cited by 8
Mars as a time machine to Precambrian Earth
Lapôtre, M. G. A., Bishop, J. L., Ielpi, A., Lowe, D. R., Siebach, K. L., Sleep, N. H., & Tikoo-Schantz, S. M. (2022) · Journal of the Geological Society · doi:10.1144/jgs2022-047 · Cited by 18
“…(e.g. Gault et al. 1968; Osinski et al. 2020), creating new spaces within fracture networks that are shielded from UV and cosmic radiation (e.g. Boston et al. 1992; Osinski et al. 2020), and giving way to conditions conducive to hydrothermal circulation (e.g. Abramov and Kring 2005; Kirsimäe…”
Background
Infrared Spectroscopic Biosignatures from Hidden Cave, New Mexico: Possible Applications for Remote Life Detection
Preston, L., Melim, L., Polyak, V., Asmerom, Y., & Southam, G. (2014) · Geomicrobiology Journal · doi:10.1080/01490451.2014.913096 · Cited by 17
“This data will be added to the development of a biosignature suite (Boston et al. 1992, 2001) to identify microbial involvement in carbonate precipitation on the earth and elsewhere.”
Method
Can rapid loss and high variability of Martian methane be explained by surface H2O2?
Gough, R. V., Turley, J., Ferrell, G. R., Cordova, K. E., Wood, S. E., DeHaan, D. O., McKay, C. P., Toon, O. B., & Tolbert, M. A. (2010) · Planetary and Space Science · doi:10.1016/j.pss.2010.09.018 · Cited by 19
Geology, Life, and Habitability
Southam, G., Westall, F., & Spohn, T. (2015) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-444-53802-4.00175-5 · Cited by 21
Astrobiological Benefits of Human Space Exploration
Crawford, I. A. (2010) · Astrobiology · doi:10.1089/ast.2010.0476 · Cited by 16
“The harsh conditions of the martian surface have led many to suggest that, if life does exist on Mars today, it is most likely to be found below the surface ( e.g., Boston et al., 1992).”
Biosignatures Associated with Organic Matter in Late Paleoproterozoic Stromatolitic Dolomite and Implications for Martian Carbonates
Goodwin, A., & Papineau, D. (2021) · Astrobiology · doi:10.1089/ast.2021.0010 · Cited by 17
“There is signiﬁcant evidence for past liquid water preserved in the martian geological record (Boston et al. , 1992), and it has been hypothesized that microbial mats could have thrived on a wet martian surface * 3.8–3.1 Ga (Ellery et al. , 2004).”
Influential
Secondary sulfate mineralization and basaltic chemistry of craters of the Moon National Monument, Idaho: Potential martian analog
Richardson, C. D., Hinman, N. W., McHenry, L. J., Kotler, J. M., Knipe, D., & Scott, J. R. (2012) · Planetary and Space Science · doi:10.1016/j.pss.2012.02.002 · Cited by 17
Hydrogen symbioses in evolution and disease
Williams, A. C., & Ramsden, D. B. (2007) · QJM · doi:10.1093/qjmed/hcm045 · Cited by 14
A Mobile Robot System for Remote Measurements of Ammonia Vapor in the Atmosphere
Anderson, G., Sheesley, C., Tolson, J., Wilson, E., & Tunstel, E. (2006) · IEEE International Conference on Systems, Man and Cybernetics · doi:10.1109/icsmc.2006.384389 · Cited by 16
An Overview Of The Origin Of Life: The Case For Biological Prospecting On Mars
Hiscox, J. A. (1999) · Earth Moon and Planets · doi:10.1023/a:1013143024842 · Cited by 17
“Extant (living organisms) such as chemolithotrophs might still be located below the martian surface, provided liquid water was stable (Boston et al., 1992).”
Background
Stable carbon isotope fractionation by methanogens growing on different Mars regolith analogs
Sinha, N., & Kral, T. A. (2015) · Planetary and Space Science · doi:10.1016/j.pss.2015.04.011 · Cited by 15
The effects of meteorite impacts on the availability of bioessential elements for endolithic organisms
Pontefract, A., Osinski, G. R., Lindgren, P., Parnell, J., Cockell, C. S., & Southam, G. (2012) · doi:10.1111/maps.12004 · Cited by 15
Mars Atmospheric Oxidant Sensor (MAOS): An In-Situ Heterogeneous Chemistry Analysis
Zent, A., Quinn, R., Grunthaner, F., Hecht, M., Buehler, M., Mckay, C., & Ricco, A. (2002) · Planetary and Space Science · doi:10.1016/s0032-0633(02)00204-0 · Cited by 15
The Thermal Behavior of Ice-Bearing Ground: The Highest Cold, Dry Desert on Earth as an Analog for Conditions on Mars, at Ojos del Salado, Puna de Atacama-Altiplano Region
Nagy, B., Kovács, J., Ignéczi, Á., Beleznai, S., Mari, L., Keresztúri, Á., & Szalai, Z. (2020) · Astrobiology · doi:10.1089/ast.2018.2021 · Cited by 16
“…evolution and melting of the permafrost in the vicinity of the Ojos del Salado could provide insights into the potential habitability of such dry regions with shallow sub-surface ice occurrence (Boston et al. , 1992; Gilichinsky, 2011; Dogamal-Goldmann et al. , 2016; Kereszturi and Noack, 2016).”
Barometric Pumping Through Fractured Rock: A Mechanism for Venting Deep Methane to Mars' Atmosphere
Ortiz, J., Rajaram, H., Stauffer, P., Harp, D., Wiens, R., & Lewis, K. (2022) · Geophysical Research Letters · doi:10.1029/2022gl098946 · Cited by 13
Mars-Analog Calcium Sulfate Veins Record Evidence of Ancient Subsurface Life
McMahon, S., Parnell, J., & Philippe, R. (2020) · Astrobiology · doi:10.1089/ast.2019.2172 · Cited by 15
“…in Earth’s deep biosphere and its fossil record have inspired widespread speculation that life on Mars could also have colonized the subsurface, perhaps surviving there for billions of years after the surface became inhospitable ( e.g., Boston et al., 1992; Fisk and Giovannoni 1999; Cockell, 2014).”
Conditions of stichtite (Mg6Cr2(OH)16[CO3]·4H2O) formation and its geochemical and isotope record of early phanerozoic serpentinizing environments
Melchiorre, E. B., Bottrill, R. S., Huss, G. R., & Lopez, A. M. (2016) · Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta · doi:10.1016/j.gca.2016.10.020 · Cited by 12
Discovery of Naturally Etched Fission Tracks and Alpha-Recoil Tracks in Submarine Glasses: Reevaluation of a Putative Biosignature for Earth and Mars
French, J. E., & Blake, D. (2016) · International Journal of Geophysics · doi:10.1155/2016/2410573 · Cited by 13
“Accordingly, a flurry of recent studies have focussed on understanding terrestrial examples of life-harbouring extreme environments/ paleoenvironments that could have analogs on Mars, including evaporite deposits [7], thermal spring deposits [8], Antarctic paleolake deposits [9], deep sea hydrothermal vent systems and…”
Background
Numerical modelling of impact crater formation associated with isolated lunar skylight candidates on lava tubes
Martellato, E., Foing, B., & Benkhoff, J. (2013) · doi:10.1016/j.pss.2013.06.010 · Cited by 13
Growth of a lower eukaryote in non-aromatic hydrocarbon media ⩾C12 and its exobiological significance
Marcano, V., Benítez, P., & Palacios‐Prü, E. (2002) · Planetary and Space Science · doi:10.1016/s0032-0633(02)00069-7 · Cited by 15
Hells Bells – unique speleothems from the Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico, generated under highly specific subaquatic conditions
Stinnesbeck, W., Frey, E. D., Zell, P., Olguín, J. A., Hering, F., Frank, N., Arps, J., Geenen, A., Gescher, J., Isenbeck‐Schröter, M., et al. (2017) · Palaeogeography Palaeoclimatology Palaeoecology · doi:10.1016/j.palaeo.2017.10.012 · Cited by 17
Hydrocarbon System Analysis for Methane Hydrate Exploration on Mars
Max, M., Clifford, S., & Johnson, A. H. (2013) · American Association of Petroleum Geologists eBooks · doi:10.1306/13361573m1013546 · Cited by 13
The Habitability of Mars: Past and Present
McCollom, T. M. (2006) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/3-540-37683-6_6 · Cited by 11
Methane on Mars
Chen, P. (2015) · Journal of Astrobiology & Outreach · doi:10.4172/2332-2519.1000125 · Cited by 6
“Some methanogens are able to utilize inorganic compounds (H2 and CO2) as their only source of energy through the following methane-generating redox reaction [4,22]:”
Background
Microbial life detection with minimal assumptions
Kounaves, S., Noll, R. A., Buehler, M., Hecht, M., Lankford, K., & West, S. (2002) · SPIE Optics + Photonics · doi:10.1117/12.454772 · Cited by 12
“Even though such constraints may have limited the ecological and evolutionary niches where life may have developed and still flourish, there have been numerous attempts at defining these niches, their chemistry, and the possible martian life-forms that may inhabit them.(13-20)”
Background
Site selection for Mars exobiology
Farmer, J. D., Marais, D. D., Greeley, R., Landheim, R., & Klein, H. (1995) · Advances in Space Research · doi:10.1016/s0273-1177(99)80078-7 · Cited by 12
Life in Earth’s Lava Caves: Implications for Life Detection on Other Planets
Northup, D. E., Hathaway, J. J. M., Snider, J. R., Balasch, M. M., Garcia, M. G., Dapkevicius, M. D. L. E., Gabriel, C. R., Stone, F. D., Spilde, M., & Boston, P. J. (2012) · Cellular origin and life in extreme habitats · doi:10.1007/978-94-007-4966-5_26 · Cited by 8
Self-citation
Subsurface Geomicrobiology of the Iberian Pyritic Belt
the MARTE Team, Amils, R., Fernández‐Remolar, D. C., Gómez, F., González‐Toril, E., Rodríguez, N., Briones, C., Prieto‐Ballesteros, O., Sanz, J. L., Díaz, E., et al. (2007) · Soil biology · doi:10.1007/978-3-540-74231-9_10 · Cited by 15
“Subsurface ecosystems are also intriguing exobiological models , useful for the re-creation of life on early Earth (Widdel et al. 1993) or the representation of life as it would occur in other planetary bodies ( Boston et al. 1992 ).”
Background
Volcanic Features of New Mexico Analogous to Volcanic Features on Mars
Crumpler, L., Aubele, J., & Zimbelman, J. (2007) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/cbo9780511536014.005 · Cited by 12
Potential for Liquid Water Biochemistry Deep under the Surfaces of the Moon, Mars, and beyond
Lingam, M., & Loeb, A. (2020) · Astrophysical Journal · doi:10.3847/2041-8213/abb608 · Cited by 11
“Hence, it is not surprising that a number of studies have inves- Corresponding author: Manasvi Lingam mlingam@fit.edu tigated Martian subsurface habitability (Boston et al. 1992; Cockell 2014; Michalski et al. 2018; Sholes et al. 2019; Carrier et al. 2020).”
Background
The Characterization of Biosignatures in Caves Using an Instrument Suite
Uckert, K., Chanover, N. J., Getty, S., Voelz, D., Brinckerhoff, W. B., McMillan, N. J., Xiao, X., Boston, P. J., Li, X., McAdam, A. C., et al. (2017) · Astrobiology · doi:10.1089/ast.2016.1568 · Cited by 14
“…offered by the terrestrial subsurface could have been exploited by primitive microorganisms early on in the history of life on Earth, and at present, these same subsurface attributes provide habitable environments for a vast variety of microorganisms (Kaiser and Bollag, 1990; Boston et al., 1992).”
Self-citation
Cave Geomicrobiology in India: Status and Prospects
Baskar, S., Baskar, R., Tewari, V. C., Thorseth, I., Øvreås, L., Lee, N. M., & Routh, J. (2011) · Cellular origin and life in extreme habitats · doi:10.1007/978-94-007-0397-1_24 · Cited by 11
Planetary protection issues and the future exploration of Mars
Devincenzi, D. (1992) · doi:10.1016/0273-1177(92)90165-t · Cited by 11
Large‐scale fluid‐deposited mineralization in Margaritifer Terra, Mars
Thomas, R. J., Potter‐McIntyre, S. L., & Hynek, B. M. (2017) · Geophysical Research Letters · doi:10.1002/2017gl073388 · Cited by 11
“…on Mars comes from a zone that is shielded from inhospitable surface conditions, retains porosity, is minimally altered, and features the elemental nutrients and redox reactions necessary for metabolically available energy [Boston et al., 1992; Michalski et al., 2013; Parnell and McMahon, 2016].”
Background
Life in Ice on Other Worlds
McKay, C. P., Mykytczuk, N., & Whyte, L. G. (2014) · ASM Press eBooks · doi:10.1128/9781555817183.ch14 · Cited by 8
Potential Habitability of Present-Day Martian Subsurface for Earth-Like Methanogens
Butturini, A., Benaiges-Fernández, R., Fors, O., & García‐Castellanos, D. (2025) · Astrobiology · doi:10.1089/ast.2024.0100 · Cited by 9
“Based on this, the methanogenic hydrogenotrophs have emerged as a candidate “ model organism ” for studying survival on Mars (Boston et al., 1992; Kral et al., 2010; Mickol et al., 2014) because they feed on simple inorganic molecules ( i.e. , H 2 and CO 2 ) that are expected to be available on the…”
Strategies for Deploying a Sensor Network to Explore Planetary Lava Tubes
Kalita, H., & Thangavelautham, J. (2021) · Italian National Conference on Sensors · doi:10.3390/s21186203 · Cited by 9
“Here, living organisms could have been sheltered from dangerous ultraviolet radiation, while volcanic minerals might have provided a rich source of nutrients for chemosynthesis (similar to living colonies near Earth-based volcanic vents) [18].”
Background
Paleo-Critical Zones, windows into the changing life and landscapes during the Quaternary Period
Ashley, G. M. (2020) · Quaternary Research · doi:10.1017/qua.2020.49 · Cited by 8
“If Mars was ever habitable (Boston et al., 1992), Martian PCZ’s are more likely to reveal the transition from proto-CZ (abiotic) to biotic CZ than on Earth (Fig.”
Background
Carbon and Hydrogen Isotopic Composition of Methane and C 2+ Alkanes in Electrical Spark Discharge: Implications for Identifying Sources of Hydrocarbons in Terrestrial and Extraterrestrial Settings
Telling, J. P., Lacrampe‐Couloume, G., & Lollar, B. S. (2013) · Astrobiology · doi:10.1089/ast.2012.0915 · Cited by 9
“…insight into the chemistry of organic synthesis before life evolved on Earth and deﬁne parameters for the search for life on future exobiology missions (Boston et al., 1992; McCollom, 1999; Fortes, 2000; Formisano et al., 2004; Krasnopolsky et al., 2004; Sleep et al., 2004; Niemann et al., 2005).”
Microbe–Mineral Interactions
Lavoie, K. H., Northup, D. E., & Barton, H. A. (2010) · Science Publishers eBooks · doi:10.1201/b10193-2 · Cited by 10
Stable Fe isotope fractionation during dissimilatory Fe(III) reduction by a thermoacidophile in acidic hydrothermal environments
Chanda, P., Amenábar, M. J., Boyd, E. S., Beard, B. L., & Johnson, C. M. (2020) · Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta · doi:10.1016/j.gca.2020.09.025 · Cited by 10
Hard rock dark biosphere and habitability
Escudero, C., & Amils, R. (2023) · Frontiers in Astronomy and Space Sciences · doi:10.3389/fspas.2023.1203845 · Cited by 10

Authors: Boston, P. J., Ivanov, M. V., & P. McKay, C.
Affiliations: Academy of Sciences of the Soviet Union (RU)
ORCID: Boston, Penelope J.
Ivanov, Mikhail V.
Venue: Icarus
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Published: 1992-02
Volume: 95
Issue: 2
Pages: 300-308
ISSN: 0019-1035 (ISSN-L)
DOI: 10.1016/0019-1035(92)90045-9
OpenAlex: W2039172699
Cited by: 325
References: 0
Citations by year: 2026: 6 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 11 · 2019: 10 · 2018: 11 · 2017: 15 · 2016: 15 · 2015: 9 · 2014: 11 · 2013: 10 · 2012: 12
FWCI: 5.27
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Licence: www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/ (tdm)
Locations: Icarus (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Topics: Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Space and Planetary Science › Planetary Science and Exploration
Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Astronomy and Astrophysics › Space Science and Extraterrestrial Life
Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Space and Planetary Science › Astro and Planetary Science
Keywords: chemosynthetic ecosystems, subsurface microbial life, Mars, hydrothermal activity, Martian meteorites, permafrost, geothermal activity, chemolithoautotrophy, methanogenic archaea, acetogenic bacteria, hydrothermal vent communities
MeSH terms: Carbon Dioxide, Environmental Microbiology, Extraterrestrial Environment, Geology, Temperature, Solar System, Ecosystem, Mars, Exobiology, Volcanic Eruptions, Geological Phenomena

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On the possibility of chemosynthetic ecosystems in subsurface habitats on Mars

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