Extremophiles

1. Extremophiles Extremophiles are organisms that are able to thrive under extreme conditions. Extremophiles can be found in environments of high or low temperature, high pressure, high salt or acidity, or low oxygen, among others. These extreme conditions would be harmful to most other life on earth. It is suggested that the ability to adapt to these conditions by the extremophiles may have been important to the development of early life. Water Bear

2. Common types of Extremophiles…

3. Psychrophiles Ice Worm

4. Acidophiles • ...an organism that grows best at a low, or acidic pH level of 3 or less. Red and green algae can grow below a pH 1 and fungi can grow near a pH of 0. Red Algae

5. Alkaliphiles

6. Endoliths • ...an organism that lives in microscopic spaces within rocks, aquifers, or faults, often filled with water deep under the surface. Their main food source is CO2, but they also eat rocks.

7. Thermophiles Hot spring

8. Hyperthermophiles • ...an organism that can thrive at extremely hot temperatures, ranging between 80–122 °C. They can often be found in hydrothermal systems (underground reservoirs). Then can also tolerate high acidity or radiation levels. Hot spring

9. Hypoliths Translucent rock

10. Piezophiles • ...an organism that thrives at high pressures. They are commonly found far below the earths surface on the ocean floor, and up to 6.5 miles in the deepest trenches.

11. Radioresistants

12. Xerophiles Water Bears