Table 3. Open in new tab Knowledge gaps...

Area

Knowledge gaps

Possible approaches and improvements

Extremophile adaptations

Uniqueness of specific MVOCs to specific extreme conditions.

Comparison of MVOC profiles across extreme environments with similar extreme conditions.

Significance of MVOCs as stress indicators in extreme environments.

Characterization of MVOC production by extremophiles subjected to stress (e.g. halophiles in low salinity).

MVOC-mediated communication pathways in extreme environments.

Linking MVOC production profiles and species interactions by defined multispecies set-ups in extreme conditions.
Modelling of communication networks in extremophilic communities.

Environmental biology

Significance of MVOCs in nutrient cycling in extreme environments.

Quantification of N- and S-containing MVOC fluxes.
Modelling of MVOC-mediated nutrient and metal fluxes in extreme environments.

Importance of microbial degradation of MVOCs in extreme environments.

Quantification of MVOC production and degradation in extreme environments.

Importance of MVOCs in detoxification of heavy metals in extreme environments.

Quantification of heavy metal-containing MVOCs.

Astrobiology

Incomplete inventory of MVOCs in extreme environments.

Use of targeted and untargeted MVOC analysis methods in situ in extreme environments.
Characterization of MVOC production by extremophilic isolates.

Insufficient knowledge on MVOC sampling in extraterrestrial environments (e.g. calibration, sensitivity).

Testing and development of techniques for quantification of MVOCs in extraterrestrial atmospheres and extraterrestrial-like conditions.

Biotechnology

Lack of knowledge on biochemical pathways behind production and transformation of MVOCs.

Link MVOC production profiles with (meta)genomics and (meta)transcriptomics analyses in extreme environments.
Targeted experiments to identify metabolic pathways.

Unknown mechanisms underlying the bioactivity of known and unknown MVOCs.
Quantification of bioactivity of known and unknown MVOCs produced by extremophiles.

Quantification of MVOC bioactivity and identification of mechanisms of action in extreme environments.

Production of known and unknown MVOCs with potential commercial value.

Improvement of MVOC databases to document MVOC-mediated bioactivity, including interactions with target species.

Table 3.

Open in new tab

Knowledge gaps identified in this review with suggested approaches and recommendations for future research.

Area	Knowledge gaps	Possible approaches and improvements
Extremophile adaptations	Uniqueness of specific MVOCs to specific extreme conditions.	Comparison of MVOC profiles across extreme environments with similar extreme conditions.
	Significance of MVOCs as stress indicators in extreme environments.	Characterization of MVOC production by extremophiles subjected to stress (e.g. halophiles in low salinity).
	MVOC-mediated communication pathways in extreme environments.	Linking MVOC production profiles and species interactions by defined multispecies set-ups in extreme conditions. Modelling of communication networks in extremophilic communities.
Environmental biology	Significance of MVOCs in nutrient cycling in extreme environments.	Quantification of N- and S-containing MVOC fluxes. Modelling of MVOC-mediated nutrient and metal fluxes in extreme environments.
	Importance of microbial degradation of MVOCs in extreme environments.	Quantification of MVOC production and degradation in extreme environments.
	Importance of MVOCs in detoxification of heavy metals in extreme environments.	Quantification of heavy metal-containing MVOCs.
Astrobiology	Incomplete inventory of MVOCs in extreme environments.	Use of targeted and untargeted MVOC analysis methods in situ in extreme environments. Characterization of MVOC production by extremophilic isolates.
	Insufficient knowledge on MVOC sampling in extraterrestrial environments (e.g. calibration, sensitivity).	Testing and development of techniques for quantification of MVOCs in extraterrestrial atmospheres and extraterrestrial-like conditions.
Biotechnology	Lack of knowledge on biochemical pathways behind production and transformation of MVOCs.	Link MVOC production profiles with (meta)genomics and (meta)transcriptomics analyses in extreme environments. Targeted experiments to identify metabolic pathways.
	Unknown mechanisms underlying the bioactivity of known and unknown MVOCs. Quantification of bioactivity of known and unknown MVOCs produced by extremophiles.	Quantification of MVOC bioactivity and identification of mechanisms of action in extreme environments.
	Production of known and unknown MVOCs with potential commercial value.	Improvement of MVOC databases to document MVOC-mediated bioactivity, including interactions with target species.

Area	Knowledge gaps	Possible approaches and improvements
Extremophile adaptations	Uniqueness of specific MVOCs to specific extreme conditions.	Comparison of MVOC profiles across extreme environments with similar extreme conditions.
	Significance of MVOCs as stress indicators in extreme environments.	Characterization of MVOC production by extremophiles subjected to stress (e.g. halophiles in low salinity).
	MVOC-mediated communication pathways in extreme environments.	Linking MVOC production profiles and species interactions by defined multispecies set-ups in extreme conditions. Modelling of communication networks in extremophilic communities.
Environmental biology	Significance of MVOCs in nutrient cycling in extreme environments.	Quantification of N- and S-containing MVOC fluxes. Modelling of MVOC-mediated nutrient and metal fluxes in extreme environments.
	Importance of microbial degradation of MVOCs in extreme environments.	Quantification of MVOC production and degradation in extreme environments.
	Importance of MVOCs in detoxification of heavy metals in extreme environments.	Quantification of heavy metal-containing MVOCs.
Astrobiology	Incomplete inventory of MVOCs in extreme environments.	Use of targeted and untargeted MVOC analysis methods in situ in extreme environments. Characterization of MVOC production by extremophilic isolates.
	Insufficient knowledge on MVOC sampling in extraterrestrial environments (e.g. calibration, sensitivity).	Testing and development of techniques for quantification of MVOCs in extraterrestrial atmospheres and extraterrestrial-like conditions.
Biotechnology	Lack of knowledge on biochemical pathways behind production and transformation of MVOCs.	Link MVOC production profiles with (meta)genomics and (meta)transcriptomics analyses in extreme environments. Targeted experiments to identify metabolic pathways.
	Unknown mechanisms underlying the bioactivity of known and unknown MVOCs. Quantification of bioactivity of known and unknown MVOCs produced by extremophiles.	Quantification of MVOC bioactivity and identification of mechanisms of action in extreme environments.
	Production of known and unknown MVOCs with potential commercial value.	Improvement of MVOC databases to document MVOC-mediated bioactivity, including interactions with target species.

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