FIGURE 6.

Metabolic CO₂ profiles upon rewetting of desiccated samples. Desiccated microbial communities at bentonite (A) and PEG (B) interfaces were incubated at low and high RH for 7 days, rewet (T₀) with tap water and CO₂ accumulation was measured in a closed-loop system. An inoculated PEG sample was compared to a sterile PEG sample by rewetting (T₀) with a rich carbon source (C). Ambient CO₂ levels (450–550 ppm) are evident at T₀ (moment of connection to the closed loop system upon rewetting after 7 days of desiccation), with no CO₂ gradient in the tubes prior to rewetting (data not shown).