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Trace gases, such as methane and various organo-sulfur compounds, are both produced and consumed by microbial communities. Photosynthetic microbial mats are unusual among microbial communities in that they contain zones of both extremely high oxygen concentrations and zones in which oxygen is absent. This dramatically affects the rates at which trace gases are cycled within these zones. We study the daily variations in the rates at which gases are produced and consumed as high concentrations of photosynthetically-produced oxygen are present during the day but not at night. In addition to their important role in biogeochemical cycling, and even climate control on Earth, analyzing trace gases, using a device such as Terrestrial Planet Finder, may be our best bet for finding life on Extrasolar Planets. We are involved in cataloging the composition of trace gases produced by microbial communities in a number of different environments. |
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