The Biodiversity and Geochemistry of Cryoconite Holes in Queen Maud Land, East Antarctica
Cryoconite holes are oases of microbial diversity on ice surfaces. In contrast to the Arctic, where during the summer most cryoconite holes are ‘open’, in Continental Antarctica they are most often ‘lidded’ or completely frozen year-round. Thus, they represent...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2019-06-01
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| Series: | Microorganisms |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/7/6/160 |
| _version_ | 1818684170847649792 |
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| author | Stefanie Lutz Lori A. Ziolkowski Liane G. Benning |
| author_facet | Stefanie Lutz Lori A. Ziolkowski Liane G. Benning |
| author_sort | Stefanie Lutz |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Cryoconite holes are oases of microbial diversity on ice surfaces. In contrast to the Arctic, where during the summer most cryoconite holes are ‘open’, in Continental Antarctica they are most often ‘lidded’ or completely frozen year-round. Thus, they represent ideal systems for the study of microbial community assemblies as well as carbon accumulation, since individual cryoconite holes can be isolated from external inputs for years. Here, we use high-throughput sequencing of the 16S and 18S rRNA genes to describe the bacterial and eukaryotic community compositions in cryoconite holes and surrounding lake, snow, soil and rock samples in Queen Maud Land. We cross correlate our findings with a broad range of geochemical data including for the first time <sup>13</sup>C and <sup>14</sup>C analyses of Antarctic cryoconites. We show that the geographic location has a larger effect on the distribution of the bacterial community compared to the eukaryotic community. Cryoconite holes are distinct from the local soils in both <sup>13</sup>C and <sup>14</sup>C and their isotopic composition is different from similar samples from the Arctic. Carbon contents were generally low (≤0.2%) and older (6−10 ky) than the surrounding soils, suggesting that the cryoconite holes are much more isolated from the atmosphere than the soils. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-17T10:46:23Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7db624b47d4547fd80cefcb0edcc5841 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2607 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-17T10:46:23Z |
| publishDate | 2019-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Microorganisms |
| spelling | doaj.art-7db624b47d4547fd80cefcb0edcc58412022-12-21T21:52:07ZengMDPI AGMicroorganisms2076-26072019-06-017616010.3390/microorganisms7060160microorganisms7060160The Biodiversity and Geochemistry of Cryoconite Holes in Queen Maud Land, East AntarcticaStefanie Lutz0Lori A. Ziolkowski1Liane G. Benning2GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, Telegrafenberg, 14473 Potsdam, GermanyUniversity of South Carolina, School of the Earth, Ocean and Environment, 701 Sumter St., EWS 617, Columbia, SC 29208, USAGFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, Telegrafenberg, 14473 Potsdam, GermanyCryoconite holes are oases of microbial diversity on ice surfaces. In contrast to the Arctic, where during the summer most cryoconite holes are ‘open’, in Continental Antarctica they are most often ‘lidded’ or completely frozen year-round. Thus, they represent ideal systems for the study of microbial community assemblies as well as carbon accumulation, since individual cryoconite holes can be isolated from external inputs for years. Here, we use high-throughput sequencing of the 16S and 18S rRNA genes to describe the bacterial and eukaryotic community compositions in cryoconite holes and surrounding lake, snow, soil and rock samples in Queen Maud Land. We cross correlate our findings with a broad range of geochemical data including for the first time <sup>13</sup>C and <sup>14</sup>C analyses of Antarctic cryoconites. We show that the geographic location has a larger effect on the distribution of the bacterial community compared to the eukaryotic community. Cryoconite holes are distinct from the local soils in both <sup>13</sup>C and <sup>14</sup>C and their isotopic composition is different from similar samples from the Arctic. Carbon contents were generally low (≤0.2%) and older (6−10 ky) than the surrounding soils, suggesting that the cryoconite holes are much more isolated from the atmosphere than the soils.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/7/6/160Cryoconite holesAntarcticahigh-throughput sequencingbacteriaeukaryotescarbon<sup>13</sup>C<sup>14</sup>C |
| spellingShingle | Stefanie Lutz Lori A. Ziolkowski Liane G. Benning The Biodiversity and Geochemistry of Cryoconite Holes in Queen Maud Land, East Antarctica Microorganisms Cryoconite holes Antarctica high-throughput sequencing bacteria eukaryotes carbon <sup>13</sup>C <sup>14</sup>C |
| title | The Biodiversity and Geochemistry of Cryoconite Holes in Queen Maud Land, East Antarctica |
| title_full | The Biodiversity and Geochemistry of Cryoconite Holes in Queen Maud Land, East Antarctica |
| title_fullStr | The Biodiversity and Geochemistry of Cryoconite Holes in Queen Maud Land, East Antarctica |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Biodiversity and Geochemistry of Cryoconite Holes in Queen Maud Land, East Antarctica |
| title_short | The Biodiversity and Geochemistry of Cryoconite Holes in Queen Maud Land, East Antarctica |
| title_sort | biodiversity and geochemistry of cryoconite holes in queen maud land east antarctica |
| topic | Cryoconite holes Antarctica high-throughput sequencing bacteria eukaryotes carbon <sup>13</sup>C <sup>14</sup>C |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/7/6/160 |
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