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What ecosystems would be present on Noachian Mars, considering the proposed nutrient cycling?

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On Noachian Mars, ecosystems would likely involve clay minerals like nontronite and montmorillonite, indicating long-term water-rock interactions and potential nutrient sources for microbial life . To sustain settlements independently, utilizing biological systems like diazotrophic cyanobacteria fed with Martian resources has been proposed, producing consumables and supporting other organisms for a self-sustaining cycle . Analogous environments on early Mars have shown habitability, with microbial communities capable of growth under simulated Martian chemistries, including sulfur-cycling bacteria and halophiles, suggesting survival under accurate proxies for Martian conditions . Additionally, nitrate-dependent Fe2+ oxidation microorganisms could have thrived in early Martian groundwaters, depending on local lithology, providing insights for biosignature detection in Martian samples .

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Book Chapter•DOI Ecosystems: Forest Nutrient Cycling Neil W. Foster, Jagtar S. Bhatti - Show less +1 more 19 May 2020	Not addressed in the paper.
Open access Nontronite and Montmorillonite as Nutrient Sources for Life on Mars P. I. Craig, R. L. Mickol, P. D. Archer, Timothy A. Kral - Show less +3 more 20 Mar 2017 3 Citations	On Noachian Mars, potential ecosystems could include microbial life relying on clay minerals like nontronite and montmorillonite as nutrient sources, possibly supporting methanogens and methane production.
Open access•Journal Article•DOI Sulfur Cycling as a Viable Metabolism under Simulated Noachian/Hesperian Chemistries J. A. W. Oliver, Matthew Kelbrick, Nisha K. Ramkissoon, Amy Dugdale, Ben Stephens, Ezgi Kucukkilic-Stephens, Mark Fox-Powell, Susanne P. Schwenzer, André Antunes, Michael C. Macey - Show less +9 more 01 Apr 2022-Reproductive and developmental Biology 3 Citations	Sulfur-cycling bacteria, including sulfate-reducing and sulfur-oxidizing bacteria, along with heterotrophic halophiles, would likely dominate the ecosystems on Noachian Mars based on proposed nutrient cycling.
Open access•Journal Article•DOI Oligotrophic Growth of Nitrate-Dependent Fe2+-Oxidising Microorganisms Under Simulated Early Martian Conditions Alex Price, Michael C. Macey, Victoria K. Pearson, Susanne P. Schwenzer, Nisha K. Ramkissoon, Karen Olsson-Francis - Show less +5 more 28 Mar 2022-Frontiers in Microbiology 4 Citations	Oligotrophic environments with nitrate-dependent Fe2+-oxidising microorganisms could have thrived on Noachian Mars, suggesting potential early martian biospheres in neutral-alkaline settings.
Posted Content•DOI On the cost-efficiency of cyanobacterium-based, biological ISRU on Mars 06 Jul 2022	Not addressed in the paper.

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Could life on Mars during the Noachian period have used cosmic radiation as an energy source for autotrophy?5 answersDuring the Noachian period on Mars, life could have potentially utilized cosmic radiation as an energy source for autotrophy. The Noachian epoch (~4.5-3.5 billion years ago) was conducive to the emergence of life on Mars, with liquid water sporadically present, making it a promising era for life. The surface radiation environment on early Mars was less hazardous due to a denser atmosphere and a global magnetic field, indicating conditions suitable for life. Additionally, the presence of liquid water and subsurface ice could have influenced the radiation field, affecting the long-term resilience of dormant microbial life on Mars. Furthermore, microorganisms capable of nitrate-dependent Fe2+ oxidation could have thrived in early martian groundwaters, indicating the potential for utilizing cosmic radiation as an energy source for autotrophy.

Could photosynthesis have evolved on Mars during the Noachian period (4.1-3.7 billion years ago)?5 answersPhotosynthesis could have potentially evolved on Mars during the Noachian period (4.1-3.7 billion years ago) due to the presence of liquid water, a prerequisite for life, and the promising conditions of that era. The discovery of atmospheric oxygen on Mars, which is continually replenished and shows diurnal and seasonal variations similar to Earth's biological fluctuations, further supports the possibility of photosynthesizing organisms on Mars. Additionally, the evolution of photosynthesis is traced back to at least 3.5 billion years ago on Earth, suggesting that the emergence of photochemical reaction centers could have occurred during the Noachian period on Mars as well. These factors collectively indicate that photosynthesis might have had the opportunity to evolve on Mars during the Noachian epoch.

What metabolic process on Noachian Mars would cause biologic carbon fixation?5 answersOn Noachian Mars, a metabolic process that could lead to biologic carbon fixation involves the incorporation of carbon dioxide into amino acids, potentially through carboxyl exchange mechanisms. Additionally, microbial communities from Mars analogue environments have shown the ability to thrive under simulated Martian chemistries, utilizing sulfur-cycling bacteria and heterotrophic halophiles for growth. Furthermore, the Martian atmosphere, rich in CO2, could serve as a plentiful carbon source for photo-assimilation by cyanobacteria in bio-regenerative systems on Martian bases, impacting their growth and metabolic pathways. These findings collectively suggest that various biological and microbial processes on Noachian Mars could have facilitated the fixation of carbon, contributing to the potential habitability and sustenance of life on the ancient Martian surface.

What geologic conditions on Noachian Mars would lead to the formation of oceans with a specific color?5 answersThe specific color of oceans on Noachian Mars could be influenced by the presence of phyllosilicate minerals, cold-based glaciers, and acidic conditions. The scarcity of phyllosilicates in the northern lowlands compared to the tropical highlands suggests a cold ocean fringed by glaciers. Early Mars likely had a CO2-rich atmosphere preventing carbonate formation, favoring acidic conditions and the precipitation of carbonates in the subsurface. Evidence of Noachian cold-based glaciation indicates episodic glacial melting, consistent with a cold and icy early Mars with limited melting during warming periods. Sulfate-dominated sedimentary deposits on Mars, influenced by the sulfur cycle, suggest a history of aqueous processes mediated by sulfur, leading to chemical features different from Earth's waters.

How does the geology of Noachian Mars differ from modern Mars?5 answersThe geology of Noachian Mars differs from modern Mars in several aspects. Noachian Mars experienced aqueous alteration episodes, impact basin formation, and diverse geological processes, indicating changing ancient environmental conditions. Evidence suggests that Noachian-aged craters on Mars were modified by runoff from rainfall, possibly indicating a warm and wet early Mars climate. Additionally, Noachian Mars may have had conditions favorable for the spread of life, with liquid water, volcanic activity, and higher atmospheric pressure and temperature than present-day Mars. The presence of glacially derived features in Noachian-aged craters further supports the idea of a cold and icy early Mars highlands with episodic glacial melting events. These differences highlight the dynamic geological evolution of Mars over time.

What would macroorganisms be like in Noachian Mars?4 answersMacroorganisms on Noachian Mars would have likely thrived in hydrothermal systems and high-altitude lakes. In the hydrothermal systems, the dominant energy-yielding reactions would have been methane formation. In high-altitude lakes, the presence of dissolved organic material would have shielded organisms from UV radiation, but shallow-water benthic communities would have been particularly sensitive to UV radiation. Analogue environments on Earth, such as the Strytan Hydrothermal Field in Iceland, can provide insights into the potential habitability of these Martian environments. Microbes from a Mars analogue environment, Colour Peak Springs, have been shown to be viable under simulated Martian chemistries, with distinct growth dynamics and taxonomic composition. The hypothetical viability of microbial nitrate-dependent Fe2+ oxidation (NDFO) suggests that certain early Martian environments fulfilled the key requirements for microbes with NDFO metabolism, including the availability of Fe2+ and nitrate. NDFO microorganisms could have thrived in early Martian groundwaters under oligotrophic conditions, depending on the local lithology.

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