1 Biological diversity: A geobiological perspective
1.1 Introduction
1.2 Classification of biological entities
1.2.1 Acellular life
1.2.2 Domains of cellular life
1.2.3 Kingdoms of cellular Life
1.3 Diversity of biological metabolism
1.3.1 Metabolic classification of organisms
1.3.2 Photosynthesis
1.3.3 Nitrogen fixation
1.3.4 Chemolithotrophy: energy from oxidation of inorganics
1.3.5 Catabolism
2 Life in extreme environments
2.1 Introduction
2.2 Diversity of extreme environments and extremophiles
2.2.1 Extreme environments
2.2.2 Phylogenic diversity of extremophiles
2.3 Thermophiles
2.4 Psychrophiles
2.5 Acidophiles
2.6 Alkaliphiles
2.7 Halophiles
2.8 Xerophilies
2.9 Radiodurans
2.10 Barophiles
2.11 Tardigrades as a model animal for astrobiology
3 Microbial ecosystems
3.1 Introduction
3.1.1 From cell to microbial communities
3.1.2 Extracellular polymeric substances (EPS)
3.1.3 Preservation potential
3.2 Biofilms and Microbial mats
3.2.1. Biofilms
3.2.2 Microbial mats
3.3 Microbial Ecosystem on Earth
3.3.1 Microbial ecosystem in marine settings
3.3.2 Microbial ecosystem in terrestrial settings
3.3.3 Microbial ecosystem in other extreme settings
3.4 Microbial Ecosystem as a model for exploring life beyond
4 Earth as a system and biogeochemical cycles
4.1 Introduction
4.2 Earth system: an overview
4.2.1 A system approach
4.2.2 Energy flows of the Earth system
4.2.3 Three key traits of the Earth system
4.3 Biogeochemical cycles
4.3.1 Concept
4.3.2 Element abundance
4.3.3 Carbon cycle
4.3.4 Oxygen cycle
4.3.5 Nitrogen cycle
4.3.6 Sulfur cycle
4.3.7 Phosphorus cycle
4.3.8 Iron cycle
4.4 Major features of biogeochemical cycles
4.4.1 Diversity of pathways
4.4.2 Variable rates of cycling
4.4.3 The effects of human activity
5 Biomineralization and its origin
5.1 Introduction
5.2 Biominerals and organominerals
5.2.1 Concept and unique characteristics
5.2.2 Major Groups of Biominerals
5.3 Classification of Biomineralization
5.3.1 Biologically Influenced Mineralization (BFM)
5.3.2 Biologically Induced Mineralization (BIM)
5.3.3 Biologically Controlled Mineralization (BCM)
5.4 Principle of Biomineralization
5.4.1 Supersaturation and Nucleation
5.4.2 Amorphous Phase and Solidification
5.4.3 Hierarchical Organization
5.4.4 Genetic and Molecular System
5.4.5 Benefits and Costs
5.4.6 Prokaryotic vs. Eukaryotic Biomineralization
5.5 Origin and Evolution of Biomineralization
5.5.1 History of Biomineralization Pathways
5.5.2 On the Origin of Animal Skeletons
5.5.3 Controls on the Onset of Biomineralization
5.5.4 Cambrian Animal Skeletonization: Insights from Molluscs
5.6 Releasing Biomineralization Signatures from Fossils
5.6.1 Diagenesis, Permineralization, and Phosphatization
5.6.2 Recognizing Primary Biomineral Structures
5.6.3 Biomineralization in Phylogenetic Systematics
5.6.4 Skeletal Sediments and Paleoenvironmental Reconstruction
6 Biosedimentation
6.1 Introduction
6.2 Biogenic sediments
6.2.1 Carbonates
6.2.2 Siliceous sediments
6.2.3 Phosphatic sediments
6.2.4 Iron sediments
6.3. Biological diagenesis
6.3.1 Biogeochemical zonation of sediment column
6.3.2 Diagenetic mineralization
6.4 Microbially induced sedimentary structures
6.4.1 Definition
6.4.2 Classification
6.4.3 Biological processes in MISS formation
6.4.4 Distribution and Preservation
6.5 Astrobiological implications
7 Bioerosion and Biological Weathering
7.1 Introduction
7.2 Bioerosion
7.2.1 Macroborers
7.2.2 External Grazers and Scrapers (raspers)
7.2.3 Microborers
7.3 Biological Weathering
7.3.1 Biological Mechanisms that Enhance Rock Weathering
7.3.2 Biological Weathering of Silicate Minerals and Rocks
7.3.3 Carbonate Weathering
7.3.4 Sulfide Mineral Oxidation
7.3.5 Insight into Lichen Weathering
7.4 Soil as a classic system of biological weathering
7.4.1 Soil development
7.4.2 Horizons of soil profile
7.4.3 Humus in soils
8 Co-evolution of life and environment
8.1 Introduction
8.2 Earth's earliest records and habitability
8.3. Evolution of atmosphere
8.4. Evolution of the ocean
8.5. Evolution of biosphere
8.6. A summary: 4 billion years of co-evolution to one intelligent species
9 Exploring Extraterrestrial Life
9.1 Introduction
9.2 Habitability and Habitable Zone
9.3 Potentially Habitable Worlds Beyond Earth
9.4 Detecting Life beyond Earth
9.4.1 Life Detection
9.4.2 Biosignatures
9.4.3 Case Studies
9.5 Lessons from Explorations
