Publications

Submitted

Weng, M.M., Klempay, B., Bowman, J.S., Fisher, L., Camplong, C., Doran, P., Rundell, S., Glass, J.B., Dutta, A.,Pontefract, A., Bartlett, D., Schmidt, B.E., Johnson, S.S. and the Oceans Across Space and Time team. (2023) Diel expression of oxygen-sensitive genes in a hypersaline saltern. Submitted, ISME: ISMEJ-D-23-00100.

Published

Paris, E.R., Arandia-Gorostidi, N., Klempay, B., Bowman, J.S., Pontefract, A., Elbon, C.E., Glass, J.B., Ingall, E.I., Doran, P.T., Som, S.M., Schmidt, B.E. and Dekas, A.E. (2023) Single-cell analysis in hypersaline brines extends the predicted water activity limit of life. Science Advances, ADJ3594, Accepted.

Nichols, F., Pontefract, A., Dion-Kirschner, H., Masterson, A.L., Osburn, M.R. (2023) Lipid Biosignatures from SO4-Rich Hypersaline Lakes of Cariboo Plateau. JGR Biogeosciences 128(10).

Buffo, J., Brown, E., Pontefract, A., Schmidt, B.E., Klempay, B., Lawrence, J., Bowman, J., Grantham, M., Glass, J.B., Plattner, T., Chivers, C., Doran, P and the OAST Team (2021) The Bioburden and Ionic Composition of Hypersaline Lake Ices: Novel Habitats on Earth and Their Astrobiological Implications. Astrobiology, Submitted AST-2021-0078

Fisher, L., Pontefract, A., Bowman, J., Schmidt, B.E., and Bartlett, D. (2020) Review: Looking for Life in Deep Hypersaline Anoxic Brines. Environmental Microbiology, 2021: 1-10.

Osinski, G.R., Cockell, C.S., Pontefract, A., Sapers, H.M. (2020) The role of meteorite impacts in the origin of life. Astrobiology, 20: 1-29.

Caudill, C. M., Pontefract, A., Osinski, G.R. and the 2015 & 2016 CanMars Science Team members. (2019) CanMars Mission Science Results and Review of Optimization for Sample Selection for Mars Sample Return (MSR) based on Science Operations and Procedures. Planetary and Space Science, 172: 43-56.

Osinski, G.R. Battler, M., Caudill, C.M., Francis, R., Haltigan, T., Hipkin, V.T., Kerrigan, M., Pilles, E.A., Pontefract, A., et al. (2019). The CanMars Sample Return analogue mission. Planetary and Space Science, 166:110-130.

Godin, E., Osinksi, G.R., Harrison, T., Pontefract, A., Zanetti, M. (2019) Geomorphology of Gullies at Thomas Lee Inlet, Devon Island, Canadian High Arctic. Permafrost and Periglacial Processes, 30: 19-34.

Pontefract, A., Hachey, J., Ruvkun, G.R., Zuber, M.T., Carr, C.E. (2018) Sequencing Nothing: Exploring Failure Modes of Nanopore Sensing and Implications for Life Detection. Life Sciences in Space Research, 18:80-86.

Ronholm, J., Goordial, J., Sapers, H.M., Izawa, M.M.R., Applin, D., Pontefract, A., Omelon, C.R., Lamarche-Gagnon, G., Osinski, G.R., Cloutis, E.A., and Whyte, L.G. (2017). Characterization of Microbial Communities Hosted in Quartzofeldspathic and Serpentinite Lithologies in Jeffrey Mine, Canada. Astrobiology, 18:1008-1022.

Pontefract, A., Zhu, T.F., Walker, V.K., Hepburn, H., Lui, C., Zuber, M.T., Ruvkun, G. and Carr, C.E. (2017) Microbial diversity in a hypersaline sulfate lake: an analog of ancient Mars. Frontiers in Microbiology, 8: 1819.

Carr C.E., Mojarro, A., Hachey, J., Saboda, K., Tani, J., Bhattaru, S.A., Smith, A., Pontefract, A., Zuber MT, Finney M, Doebler R, Brown M, Talbot R, Nguyen V, Bailey R, Ferguson T, Church G, Ruvkun G. (2017). Towards In Situ Sequencing for Life Detection. Aerospace Conference, 2017 IEEE. March 4-11, Big Sky, Montana. Paper # 2353.

Pontefract, A., Osinski, G.R., Cockell, C.S., Southam, G., McCausland, P.J.A., Umoh, J. and Holdsworth, D. (2016). Microbial diversity of impact-generated habitats in the Canadian high-Arctic: Implications for Mars. Astrobiology 16: 775-786.

Greenberger, R.N., Mustard, J., Osinski, G.R., Tornabene, L.L., Pontefract, A., Marion-Beauchamp, C.M., Flemming, R.J., Wilson, J. and Cloutis, E. (2016). Hyperspectral mapping of alteration assemblages within a hydrothermal vug at the Haughton impact structure, Canada. Meteoritics & Planetary Science, 51: 2274-2292.

Pontefract, A., Osinski, G.R., Cockell, C.S., Moores, J. and Southam, G. (2014). Impact-generated endolithic habitat within crystalline rocks of the Haughton impact structure, Devon Island Canada. Astrobiology, 14: 522-533.

Pontefract, A., Osinski, G.R., Lindgren, P., Parnell, J., Cockell, C.S. and Southam G. (2012). The effects of meteorite impacts on the availability of bioessential elements for endolithic organisms. Meteoritics & Planetary Science 47: 1681-1691.

Osinski, G.R., Tornabene L.L., Banerjee, N.R., Cockell, C.S., Flemming, R., Izawa, M.R.M., McCutcheon, J., Parnell, J., Pickersgill, A.E., Pontefract, A., Preston, L., Sapers, H.M. and Southam, G. (2012). Impact generated hydrothermal systems on Earth and Mars. Icarus 224 (2): 347-363.

Pontefract, A., and Gilbert, A. (2012). Astrobiology: An inquiry lab for high school space science and Biology classes. Crucible 44(1): 1-5.

Book Chapters

Cockell, C.S., Osinski, G.R., Pontefract, A., Parnell, J. and Sapers, H.M. (2020) "Microbial Life in Impact Craters". Astrobiology: Current, Evolving and Emerging Perspectives (Edited by: André Antunes). Caister Academic Press, U.K. pp. 75-102.

Pontefract, A. and J.R. Stone. (2007). “Gradual Origin for the Metazoans: A Snowball’s Chance.” Planetary Systems and the Origins of Life. Cambridge University Press. pp. 210–221.