What is the Endolithic Biome?
The endolithic (meaning “within rock”) biome is a biome located below the surface of the Earth. Other examples of biomes include savanna, desert, and jungle. The endolithic biome consists entirely of microbes living in tiny pores and cracks of rocks, and extends down to at least 3 km (9,600 feet) below the surface. The endolithic biome may be considered the most harsh biome on Earth, due to a near-complete absence of sunlight, oxygen, and most nutrients. Endolithic microbes have affectionately been referred to as “bugs from Hell.” The endolithic biome is the most recently discovered biome. Serious exploration only began in the early 1990s. The most popular venue for study of these microbes are gold mines, some of which extend as far as two miles below the surface. Microbes found are either bacteria or archaea. All microbes in the endolithic biome are extremophiles, meaning they thrive in extreme conditions of heat or absence of nutrients. Endolithic microbes are rock eaters, or lithotr
