(Guangdong, May 11) The Danxia Mountain Management Committee in Shaoguan City, Guangdong Province, announced last Friday (9th) that a scientific research team from Sun Yat-sen University has discovered a new microorganism in the red rocks of Danxia Mountain. This discovery marks the 52nd new species found in Danxia Mountain and establishes a previously unknown genus. The research findings have been published in an international microbiology journal.
The research team named the microorganism “Danxia Rubrobacter,” with the strain code SYSU DXS3258T, signifying that the bacterium originates from the red rocks of Danxia Mountain. This is the second new species and genus discovered and named by the team, following their identification of "Danxia Flavobacterium" two years ago.
Danxia Landform: A Cradle for Unique "Microbial Natives"
The Danxia landform is renowned for its unique red sandstone layers formed through long-term weathering and erosion under specific climatic conditions. Known for its arid and barren environment, the landform has long posed challenges to life. The research team suggests that Danxia Rubrobacter might be a “native” microorganism, having co-evolved and adapted with the environment over the landform's long evolutionary history. This discovery offers new insights into the interaction between landforms and microorganisms.
The Danxia landform is renowned for its unique red sandstone layers formed through long-term weathering and erosion under specific climatic conditions. Known for its arid and barren environment, the landform has long posed challenges to life. The research team suggests that Danxia Rubrobacter might be a “native” microorganism, having co-evolved and adapted with the environment over the landform's long evolutionary history. This discovery offers new insights into the interaction between landforms and microorganisms.