Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-gvvz8 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-26T06:22:59.614Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

On the quantification of habitability: merging the astrobiological and ecological schools

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 August 2018

Lien Rodríguez-López Open the ORCID record for Lien Rodríguez-López [Opens in a new window] ,
Rolando Cardenas Open the ORCID record for Rolando Cardenas [Opens in a new window] ,
Oscar Parra ,
Lisdelys González-Rodríguez ,
Osmel Martin Open the ORCID record for Osmel Martin [Opens in a new window]  and
Roberto Urrutia
Lien Rodríguez-López*
Affiliation:
Environmental Science Centre EULA, University of Concepción, Concepción, Chile
Rolando Cardenas
Affiliation:
Planetary Science Laboratory, Universidad Central ‘Marta Abreu’ de Las Villas, Santa Clara, Cuba
Oscar Parra
Affiliation:
Environmental Science Centre EULA, University of Concepción, Concepción, Chile
Lisdelys González-Rodríguez
Affiliation:
Faculty of Engineering, University of Concepción, Concepción, Chile
Osmel Martin
Affiliation:
Planetary Science Laboratory, Universidad Central ‘Marta Abreu’ de Las Villas, Santa Clara, Cuba
Roberto Urrutia
Affiliation:
Environmental Science Centre EULA, University of Concepción, Concepción, Chile
*
Author for correspondence: Lien Rodríguez-López, E-mail: lrodriguezl@udec.cl; rcardenas@uclv.edu.cu
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

In this paper, we connect ideas of the astrobiological and ecological schools to quantify habitability. We show how habitability indexes, devised using the astrobiologically inspired Quantitative Habitability Theory (QHT), can be embedded into ecological models of trophic levels. In particular, we address the problem of spatial-temporal scales. It turns out that the versatility of QHT allows to treat spatial and temporal scales typical of ecological studies. As a habitability index, we propose a new version of our Aquatic Primary Habitability, devised by some of us and formerly applied to saltwater ecosystems (both ocean and coastal) and now applied to freshwater. Although the aim of the paper is to outline the methodology rather than realism, initial steps for parameterization are considered for lakes of South-Central Chile.

Keywords

Freshwater ecosystemhabitability indexmodellingphysical–biological interactions
Type
Research Article
Information
International Journal of Astrobiology , Volume 18 , Issue 5 , October 2019 , pp. 412 - 415
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2018 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Avila-Alonso, D, Cardenas, R, Rodríguez-López, L and Álvarez-Salgueiro, J (2016) Phytoplankton photosynthetic potential in coastal zones around the world. Revista Cubana de Física 33, 12.Google Scholar
Campos, H, Steffen, W, Aguero, G, Parra, O and Zúñiga, L (1987) Limnology of Lake Riñihue. Limnologica 18, 339.Google Scholar
Campos, H, Hamilton, D, Villalobos, L, Imberger, J and Javam, A (2001) A modelling assessment of potential for eutrophication of lake riñihue, Chile. Archiv für Hydrobiologie 151, 101.Google Scholar
Cardenas, R, Pérez-Díaz, N, Martínez-Frias, J and Martín-González, O (2014) On the habitability of aquaplanets. Challenges 5, 284.Google Scholar
Cardenas, R (2017) On the Quantification of Habitability. Proceedings of the II International Conference on BioGeoSciences, Varadero, Cuba; October 23rd–27th, 2017. Available at https://www.researchgate.net/publication/321732366_On_the_Quantification_of_Habitability.Google Scholar
Ferrero, E, Eory, M, Ferreyra, G, Schloss, I, Zagarese, H, Vernet, M and Momo, F (2006) Vertical mixing and ecological effects of ultraviolet radiation in planktonic communities. Photochemistry and Photobiology 82, 898.Google Scholar
Fritz, J, Neale, P, Davis, R and Pelloquin, J (2008) Response of Aantarctic phytoplankton to solar UVR exposure: inhibition and recovery of photosynthesis in coastal and pelagic assemblages. Marine Ecology Progress Series 365, 1.Google Scholar
MMA (2014) Quinto Informe Nacional de Biodiversidad de Chile. Available at http://portal.mma.gob.cl/.Google Scholar
Mendez, A (2010) Evolution of the global terrestrial habitability during the last century. Proceedings of Sixth Astrobiology Science Conference, Houston, TX, USA. April 26th–29th (2010).Google Scholar
Montecino, V (1991) Primary productivity in South American temperate lakes and reservoirs. Revista Chilena de Historia Natural 64, 555.Google Scholar
Rodríguez-López, L, Cardenas, R and Avila-Alonso, D (2014) On the photosynthetic potential in open oceans. Revista Cubana de Física 31, 15.Google Scholar
Shock, E and Holland, M (2007) Quantitative habitability. Astrobiology 7, 839.Google Scholar
Thomasson, K (1963) Araucanian Lakes; Plankton Studies in North Patagonia, with Notes on Terrestrial Vegetation. Uppsala: Almquist & Wiksells Boktryckeri.Google Scholar
Volk, T (1987) Feedbacks between weathering and atmospheric CO2 over the last 100 million years. American Journal of Science 287, 763.Google Scholar
Woelfl, S, Villalobos, L and Parra, O (2003) Trophic and method validation in Lake Riñihue (North Patagonia: Chile) from 1978 through 1997. Revista Chilena de Historia Natural 76, 459.Google Scholar