摘要
火星经历了3个主要的气候阶段:早期湿润的较宜居环境,中期不断干旱化的环境转变期,以及现今极端寒冷干燥的恶劣环境。火星是否可能存在生命以及如何探寻火星过去或现在潜在的生命信号一直是火星探测的重要科学目标。原位探测和采样返回无疑是探寻火星生命信号的有效手段,而地球上存在的类火星极端环境则为研究火星潜在的生命信号与宜居性、规划未来火星探测任务提供了另一视角。系统研究和认识地球类火星极端环境中的微生物及其生存策略有助于评估火星过去或现今存在生命的可能性、遴选火星生命信号探测的优先区域、筛选生命探测的信号指标、优化生命信号探测的方法和策略等。文章围绕地球典型类火星极端环境的微生物研究,综述了地球上类比火星不同地质历史时期的环境中微生物的多样性、分布特征、适应机制、生命信号保存与识别等,探讨了火星演化过程中可能存在的宜居环境,并对未来火星生命信号探测研究提供了建议。
The search for extant or extinct life on Mars has been a central objective of Mars exploration missions.Mars has undergone three major climatic stages throughout its geological history:an early wet and habitable environment,a transitional period of increasing aridification,and the present-day extremely cold and arid conditions.While in situ exploration and sample return missions are the most effective approaches to detecting signs of life,terrestrial Mars-analog environments offer unique perspectives for investigating potential habitability and biosignatures on Mars,as well as for developing Mars exploration strategies.Research on microbial life in Mars-analog environments provides valuable insights into assessing the potential for past or present life on Mars,identifying high-priority regions for future Mars exploration missions,selecting optimal targets for Mars life detection missions,and optimizing methods and strategies for detecting biosignatures.Here,we review microbial diversity,distribution,adaptation mechanisms,and biosignature preservation in terrestrial environmental analogs simulating different periods of Martian climatic evolution.This review evaluates the potential habitability of Mars across its climatic evolution stages and provides implications for future life detection strategies.
作者
刘立
林巍
LIU Li;LIN Wei(Key Laboratory of Planetary Science and Frontier Technology,Institute of Geology and Geophysics,Chinese Academy of Sciences,Beijing 100029,China;College of Earth and Planetary Sciences,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences,Beijing 100049,China)
出处
《第四纪研究》
北大核心
2025年第4期985-1000,共16页
Quaternary Sciences
基金
国家自然科学基金杰出青年项目(批准号:T2225011)资助。
