What is the biological work known as ecopoiesis on a planet like Mars intended to achieve initially?
Seeding the world with microbes to begin oxygen production
Ecopoiesis refers specifically to the complex biological phase of terraforming, focused on establishing the foundational life necessary to transition a sterile world toward habitability. This process begins long before large flora can survive. It involves engineering and introducing a suite of specialized microorganisms, such as bacteria and algae, designed to withstand the target world's harsh initial stresses, like radiation and drought. The immediate goal of these engineered organisms is metabolic—they must be able to process the existing materials and begin the long cycle of metabolizing compounds and generating free oxygen, preparing the environment for more complex life forms later on.
