Keywords
crater lake
Rincón de Parangueo
extremophile microorganisms
extreme environment
How to Cite
Abstract
On Earth, some microorganisms that live defying the limits of life as we know it are called "extremophiles". Until recently, it was believed that life was only capable of developing under certain conditions. But in recent years, scientists around the world have found microscopic life growing in extreme environmental conditions. In Earth history, extremophile microorganisms have left their mark in the form of fossil microbialites. At present, these small beings still participate in the formation of microbialites in many parts of the world. In Mexico they have been reported in several places, such as volcanic crater lakes in the center of the country and Rincón de Parangueo is one of them. The Rincón de Parangueo crater lake is the product of a phreatomagmatic explosion, which until a few decades ago contained a perennial lake inside, unfortunately, human activities have contributed to the water level decrease. The gradual desiccation of the lake has been accompanied by a significant increase in the salinity and pH of the water, providing an extreme environment for the development of extremophile microbial life. Within the crater, microbial communities precipitate carbonates as part of their biological activity, contributing to the formation of microbialites. Geobiological studies carried out in different areas of the crater have reported microbial communities capable of surviving the extreme conditions of the place. The development of extremophile microbial communities has been documented mainly in three areas of the crater: 1) the former lake shoreline, 2) remnant pools, and 3) deep lake sediments. The development of extremophile microorganisms in such peculiar environments as Rincón de Parangueo is of special importance to understand the origin, evolution, and distribution of life on Earth. In addition, they are a source of scientific and technological knowledge that can be applied in the search for life on other planets with extreme characteristics similar to those identified on Earth.
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