Humans are Leaving Behind a 'Frozen Signature' of Microbes on Mount Everest
Published:29 Mar.2023 Source:University of Colorado at Boulder
According to new University of Colorado Boulder-led research, they're also leaving behind a frozen legacy of hardy microbes, which can withstand harsh conditions at high elevations and lie dormant in the soil for decades or even centuries.
The research not only highlights an invisible impact of tourism on the world's highest mountain, but could also lead to a better understanding of environmental limits to life on Earth, as well as where life may exist on other planets or cold moons. The findings were published last month in Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research, a journal published on behalf of the Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research (INSTAAR) at CU Boulder.
"There is a human signature frozen in the microbiome of Everest, even at that elevation," said Steve Schmidt, senior author on the paper and professor of ecology and evolutionary biology.
In decades past, scientists have been unable to conclusively identify human-associated microbes in samples collected above 26,000 feet. This study marks the first time that next-generation gene sequencing technology has been used to analyze soil from such a high elevation on Mount Everest, enabling researchers to gain new insight into almost everything and anything that's in them.
The researchers weren't surprised to find microorganisms left by humans. Microbes are everywhere, even in the air, and can easily blow around and land some distance away from nearby camps or trails.