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The potential for photosynthesis in hydrothermal vents: a new avenue for life in the Universe?

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Abstract

We perform a quantitative assessment for the potential for photosynthesis in hydrothermal vents in the deep ocean. The photosynthetically active radiation in this case is from geothermal origin: the infrared thermal radiation emitted by hot water, at temperatures ranging from 473 up to 673 K. We find that at these temperatures the photosynthetic potential is rather low in these ecosystems for most known species. However, species which a very high efficiency in the use of light and which could use infrared photons till 1300 nm, could achieve good rates of photosynthesis in hydrothermal vents. These organisms might also thrive in deep hydrothermal vents in other planetary bodies, such as one of the more astrobiologically promising Jupiter satellites: Europa.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Planetary Science Lab., Department of Physics, Universidad Central “Marta Abreu” de Las Villas, Santa Clara, Cuba

    Noel Perez, Rolando Cardenas & Osmel Martin

  2. Institute for Plant Biotechnology, Universidad Central “Marta Abreu” de Las Villas, Santa Clara, Cuba

    Leiva-Mora Michel

Authors
  1. Noel Perez
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  2. Rolando Cardenas
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  3. Osmel Martin
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  4. Leiva-Mora Michel
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Correspondence to Rolando Cardenas.

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Perez, N., Cardenas, R., Martin, O. et al. The potential for photosynthesis in hydrothermal vents: a new avenue for life in the Universe?. Astrophys Space Sci 346, 327–331 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10509-013-1460-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10509-013-1460-z

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