Microbial diversity formation and maintenance due to temporal niche differentiation caused by low-dose ionizing radiation in oligotrophic environments.

The planetary protection strives to minimize the contamination of microorganisms in spacecrafts. However, it is reported that microbial diversity is abnormally high in the International Space Station (ISS) after long-term exposure to low-dose ionizing radiation (LDIR). It remains a mystery why LDIR leads to the formation and maintenance of high microbial diversity in oligotrophic environments like the ISS.