Halophile
Halophile
Halophile (/ˈhæləˌfaɪl/; from the Greek: ἅλς, hals, "salt" and φίλος, philos, "loving") is an organism that thrives in high salt concentrations. They are a type of extremophile organisms. Most halophiles are categorized as archaea, a domain of single-celled microorganisms.
Etymology
The term "halophile" comes from Greek, hals meaning "salt" and philos meaning "loving". It was first used in the late 19th century to describe organisms that required a high salt concentration to survive.
Characteristics
Halophiles can survive in environments with a salt concentration more than five times greater than that of the ocean. They are found in environments such as the Dead Sea, Great Salt Lake, and salt pans. Some halophiles can also survive in sodium chloride solutions, which are extremely salty.
Types of Halophiles
There are three types of halophiles: slight, moderate, and extreme. Slight halophiles prefer a salt concentration of 0.3 to 0.8 M, moderate halophiles prefer a salt concentration of 0.8 to 3.4 M, and extreme halophiles prefer a salt concentration of 3.4 to 5.1 M.
Related Terms
- Extremophile: An organism that thrives in physically or geochemically extreme conditions that are detrimental to most life on Earth.
- Archaea: A domain of single-celled microorganisms. These microbes are prokaryotes.
- Dead Sea: A salt lake bordered by Jordan to the east and Israel and Palestine to the west.
- Great Salt Lake: The largest saltwater lake in the Western Hemisphere, and the eighth-largest terminal lake in the world.
- Salt pans: Flat expanses of ground covered with salt and other minerals, usually shining white under the sun.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Halophile
- Wikipedia's article - Halophile
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