Tag #Ice Caves

How do the microbes in Mount Erebus's caves obtain energy, and how does their metabolic process differ from that of other extremophiles?

This ecosystem thrives through chemosynthesis, utilizing volcanic gases—carbon monoxide and hydrogen—for energy via the Calvin-Benson-Bassham cycle. The absence of Archaea, common in extreme environments, suggests a unique evolutionary path separate from other extreme microbial habitats like deep-sea vents.