title: Assessing the Ecophysiology of Methanogens in the Context of Recent Astrobiological and Planetological Studies.
abstract: Among all known microbes capable of thriving under extreme and, therefore, potentially extraterrestrial environmental conditions, methanogens from the domain Archaea are intriguing organisms. This is due to their broad metabolic versatility, enormous diversity, and ability to grow under extreme environmental conditions. Several studies revealed that growth conditions of methanogens are compatible with environmental conditions on extraterrestrial bodies throughout the Solar System. Hence, life in the Solar System might not be limited to the classical habitable zone. In this contribution we assess the main ecophysiological characteristics of methanogens and compare these to the environmental conditions of putative habitats in the Solar System, in particular Mars and icy moons. Eventually, we give an outlook on the feasibility and the necessity of future astrobiological studies concerning methanogens.
authors.affiliation: Research Platform: ExoLife, University of Vienna, Türkenschanzstraße 17, 1180 Vienna, Austria. ruth-sophie.taubner@univie.ac.at.|Institute of Astrophysics, University of Vienna, Türkenschanzstraße 17, 1180 Vienna, Austria. ruth-sophie.taubner@univie.ac.at.
authors.forename: Ruth-Sophie
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Taubner
authors.affiliation: Archaea Biology and Ecogenomics Division, Department of Ecogenomics and Systems Biology, University of Vienna, Althanstraße 14, 1090 Vienna, Austria. christa.schleper@univie.ac.at.
authors.forename: Christa
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schleper
authors.affiliation: Research Platform: ExoLife, University of Vienna, Türkenschanzstraße 17, 1180 Vienna, Austria. maria.firneis@univie.ac.at.|Institute of Astrophysics, University of Vienna, Türkenschanzstraße 17, 1180 Vienna, Austria. maria.firneis@univie.ac.at.
authors.forename: Maria G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Firneis
authors.affiliation: Archaea Biology and Ecogenomics Division, Department of Ecogenomics and Systems Biology, University of Vienna, Althanstraße 14, 1090 Vienna, Austria. simon.rittmann@univie.ac.at.
authors.forename: Simon K-M R
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Rittmann
keywords: Archaea; Earth; Mars; Solar System; extremophiles; icy moons; metabolism; methanogenesis; microorganism; space