The "Martian" flora: new collections of vascular plants, lichens, fungi, algae, and cyanobacteria from the Mars Desert Research Station, Utah

Abstract

The Mars Desert Research Station is a Mars analog research site located in the desert outside of Hanksville, Utah, U.S.A. Here we present a preliminary checklist of the vascular plant and lichen flora for the station, based on collections made primarily during a two-week simulated Mars mission in November, 2014. Additionally, we present notes on the endolithic chlorophytes and cyanobacteria, and the identification of a fungal genus also based on these collections. Altogether, we recorded 38 vascular plant species from 14 families, 13 lichen species from seven families, six algae taxa including both chlorophytes and cyanobacteria, and one fungal genus from the station and surrounding area. We discuss this floristic diversity in the context of the ecology of the nearby San Rafael Swell and the desert areas of Wayne and Emery counties in southeastern Utah.

Additions to the “Martian Flora”: new botanical records from the Mars Desert Research Station, Utah

“…At each sampling site, we surveyed the vegetation by searching various microhabitats on foot, seeking out plant taxa not previously documented from the station in Sokoloff et al (2016) . These plants were photographed in situ (where possible), dug up by the roots and placed in a plastic bag for transport back to MDRS, where they were pressed in the station's lab.…”

“…As such, there is a strong history of astrobiological field campaigns based out of the station, examining the microbial diversity of this unique area and techniques we might use in the search for such life on Mars ( Direito et al 2011 , Martins et al 2011 , Thiel et al 2011 ). Until recent years, nearly all biological fieldwork at MDRS focused on microbial life; however, in 2014, Crew 143, a Mars Society supported mission, began work to take inventory of the vascular plant, lichen and algal biodiversity of MDRS ( Sokoloff et al 2016 ).…”

“…Though there is a long tradition of floristic work across Utah and there are comprehensive plant lists for many areas near MDRS, like the San Rafael Swell ( Harris 1983 ) and Capitol Reef National Park ( Fertig 2009 ) - see Sokoloff et al (2016) for a complete synopsis - the work started by Crew 143 was the beginning of a checklist specific to MDRS. In addition to 13 lichen and 6 algae/cyanobacterial taxa, this study recorded 39 vascular plant species for MDRS (reported erroneously as 38 in that paper).…”

Extremophile Microalgae: the potential for biotechnological application

“…This exploration science is a field of investigation increasingly taken into account also at Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS) (Sokoloff et al. ). The latter one is a Mars analog research site located in the desert outside of Hanksville, Utah, USA.…”

“…During a suitable investigation, the flora of this area was collected as well as classified and six algae taxa including both chlorophyta and cyanobacteria were found (Sokoloff et al. ).…”