Halophiles, Continental Evaporites and the Search for Biosignatures in Environmental Analogues for Mars

Abstract

Roberto Barbieri is professor of paleontology at the University of Bologna (Italy). He investigates the role of microbes as geologic agents, the physical environment-biota interactions and other small-scale processes in high stress environments , and their astrobiological implications. His current research focuses on the geomicrobio-logy of chemosynthetic ecosystems, the geologic role of the microbial communities in methane seep (modern and fossil mud volcanoes and mud-carbonate mounds) and hypersaline ecosystems, and the processes of microbial fossilization. Nunzia Stivaletta received her Ph.D. in Paleontology in 2007 from the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Italy. Her current research focuses on the geomicro-biology of hypersaline and arid environments. She investigates the preservation potential of microbes and their endolithic mode life as a possible strategy of Martian life.