space ecology

Hello to the ssi group. I am a rsearch scientist and have been
interested in space colonisation since Gerry O'Neill's lectures in the
1970's. I was an early member of the L5 Society, in the New York
chapter. It is encouraging to see a renewal of interest in the subject.

I am a research chemist, now in New Zealand, and in the last five
years have been studying the biological and soil potentials of
carbonaceous chondrites, that will be likely sources of organics and
maybe water for the colonies. The results show, in short, that complex
soil microbial commmunities, including bacteria and algae, can live on
these materials and they would be suitable resources for space
agriculture. A recent paper (Icarus 2002, 158, 72-86) is on
www.astroecology.com
I am enjoying the group discussions and will participate. It would be
good to the see ideas on the biology and ecology of space
colonization.

Michael Mautner

Michael N. Mautner
Senior Research Fellow
Soil, Plant and Ecological Sciences Division
Lincoln University
Lincoln, New Zealand
Telephone (64) (3) 325-2811 ext 8352
Fax (64) (3) 325-3844
E-mail mautnerm@...

Senior Fellow
Department of Chemistry
University of Canterbury
Christchurch 8001
New Zealand
E-mail m.mautner@...