Microbial community distribution in variously altered basalts: Insights into astrobiology sample site selection

Terrestrial basalts represent ecological niches with the potential for microbial habitability. However, little is known about how gradients of physical and/or chemical alteration may impact the distribution of microbial biomass. If higher abundances of microbial biomass are associated with identifiable alteration features, i.e. visible from orbit or rover, such features would become an important tool in the selection of astrobiology targets for …