ABSTRACT

Planetary biology can be considered in terms of four components: (1) planetary protection, (2) the search for life, (3) human life support and (4) ecopoiesis and terraforming. Initially, contamination of a planet with Earth life is to be minimized in order to facilitate a search for planetary life. Meanwhile, humans, if present, must be sustained. Subsequently, large-scale modifications of a planetary environment can be considered. "Ecopoiesis" is a term introduced by McKay and Haynes to describe the initiation of a living, self-sustaining ecosystem in a planetary (Mars) environment. "Ecosynthesis" refers to the development of an ecosystem that includes succession (ecosystem maturation by the replacement of organisms). "Terraforming" refers to creating an Earth-like world and includes planetary engineering. A considerable amount of debate, discussion and publication has been devoted to these subjects, but, at least in the case of ecopoiesis, there has been very little, if any, experimental research. The speakers in this session address, in order, issues of planetary environments and habitability with reference to Earth analogues, the role of extremophiles as pioneer organisms in ecopoiesis, and the concept of succession as it applies to terrestrial ecology and ecosynthesis.

KEYWORDS

planetary biology, ecopoiesis, ecosynthesis, terraforming, Mars, extremophiles

INTRODUCTION

Mars is considered the ultimate target for terraforming. There are at least four levels of inquiry concerning biology and Mars:

(1) Planetary protection, contamination and quarantine issues (NRC, 1992; Rummel, 2001),

(2) The search for life on Mars (Banin and Mancinelli, 1995; Ivanov & Lein, 1995; Koike et al., 1995),

(3) Human expeditions to Mars and biological life support (Meyer & McKay, 1984, 1989) and

(4) The terraforming of Mars starting with ecopoiesis (McKay, 1982; Fogg, 1995a, b; Haynes, 1990; McKay and Haynes, 1990; Haynes and McKay, 1992; McKay et al., 1991; Hiscox, 1995) and continuing with ecosynthesis (Graham, 2005),

The discussions that follow are concerned with the fourth subject, terraforming.

A variety of claims have been made concerning the future of ecopoiesis (starting an ecosystem) and terraforming (creating an earth-like environment)--highly controversial subjects. Planetary protection is a significant component of the ecopoiesis debate. One of the significant outcomes of performing research in this area is expected to be the informing of a scientific community consensus concerning these subjects.

Today's thinkers hold varying opinions concerning ecopoiesis, the process of evolving a physical and biological environment that can lead to "terraforming"--the deliberate introduction of terrestrial-type ecosystems on remote celestial bodies such as planets, moons and asteroids (Haynes, 1990). On one extreme, principles of planetary protection prohibit the introduction of any living organisms onto Earth's neighbors in the solar system while, on the other extreme advocates of terraforming propose the early modification of Mars (for example) to initiate processes that will make the planet a more hospitable place for humans should they decide to go there (Zubrin and Wagner, 1996). Either way, knowledge is lacking, and experimental testing is nonexistent, related to the basic understanding of the ecopoiesis process. Since the implementation of any concepts related to ecopoiesis would occur several decades in the future, the experimental...