Evaluation of biological activity in Atacama Desert soils by amino acid analysis

Abstract

Biological activities have been detected in extreme environments such as super-arid dessert environments. We examined whether amino acid concentration could be used as parameters of biological activities in extreme environments. We determined amino acid concentration of dessert soils sampled at 5 sites in Atacama dessert, Chile, where is one of the most desiccated place on the earth. Amino acid concentration in Atacama is quite low, and the soil obtained at the site with the lowest rainfall level showed the lowest amino acid concentration. Amino acid concentration was correlated to phosphatase activity and viable microbial count.