Subaqual soils of Antarctica: conditions of formation and perspectives of microbiological research

The relevance of polar research is constantly increasing due to the higher response of Arctic and Antarctic ecosystems to global climate warming compared to other areas of the planet. The increase in average annual temperatures leads to the melting of glaciers, inundation of a part of the territory...

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Main Authors: D. A. Nikitin, M. V. Semenov
Format: Article
Language:Russian
Published: V.V. Dokuchaev Soil Science Institute 2020-07-01
Series:Бюллетень Почвенного института им. В.В. Докучаева
Subjects:
Online Access:https://bulletin.esoil.ru/jour/article/view/558
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author D. A. Nikitin
M. V. Semenov
author_facet D. A. Nikitin
M. V. Semenov
author_sort D. A. Nikitin
collection DOAJ
description The relevance of polar research is constantly increasing due to the higher response of Arctic and Antarctic ecosystems to global climate warming compared to other areas of the planet. The increase in average annual temperatures leads to the melting of glaciers, inundation of a part of the territory and, consequently, to the expansion of areas of subaqual (underwater) precipitation. In recent years, there has been a significant increase in the number of studies in which underwater soils are not only recognized as objects of soil science, but are also considered as full-fledged components of the soil cover of the planet. The sustainable existence of soils and ecosystems in Antarctica becomes possible only in local erosion bases – lakes, where biota is oftenly represented only by microorganisms. Biota activity results in the transformation of geological rocks in situ and accumulation of significant organic matter stock. Microbiome seems to be a determining factor of soil formation, namely in subaqueous Antarctic biotopes, which are characterized by all the elementary processes of soil formation in reducing and, often, anaerobic conditions. Nevertheless, quantitative parameters of their microbiome (biomass, cell counts, number of ribosomal genes of prokaryotes and fungi, basal respiration) are still unknown for subaqual soils of Antarctica, although these parameters are necessary for evaluation of ecosystem productivity, including the intensity of the C cycle and biological activity of soil. This review examines the current state of research on microbial communities in Antarctic biotopes, discusses the role of microorganisms in soil formation processes of subaqual soils in Antarctica, and explains the need for microbiological studies of this soil type.
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spelling doaj.art-b3d307584c4343399a68ba8e2dc9534e2024-04-01T16:06:43ZrusV.V. Dokuchaev Soil Science InstituteБюллетень Почвенного института им. В.В. Докучаева0136-16942312-42022020-07-010102496910.19047/0136-1694-2020-102-49-69495Subaqual soils of Antarctica: conditions of formation and perspectives of microbiological researchD. A. Nikitin0M. V. Semenov1Federal Research Centre “V.V. Dokuchaev Soil Science Institute”Federal Research Centre “V.V. Dokuchaev Soil Science Institute”The relevance of polar research is constantly increasing due to the higher response of Arctic and Antarctic ecosystems to global climate warming compared to other areas of the planet. The increase in average annual temperatures leads to the melting of glaciers, inundation of a part of the territory and, consequently, to the expansion of areas of subaqual (underwater) precipitation. In recent years, there has been a significant increase in the number of studies in which underwater soils are not only recognized as objects of soil science, but are also considered as full-fledged components of the soil cover of the planet. The sustainable existence of soils and ecosystems in Antarctica becomes possible only in local erosion bases – lakes, where biota is oftenly represented only by microorganisms. Biota activity results in the transformation of geological rocks in situ and accumulation of significant organic matter stock. Microbiome seems to be a determining factor of soil formation, namely in subaqueous Antarctic biotopes, which are characterized by all the elementary processes of soil formation in reducing and, often, anaerobic conditions. Nevertheless, quantitative parameters of their microbiome (biomass, cell counts, number of ribosomal genes of prokaryotes and fungi, basal respiration) are still unknown for subaqual soils of Antarctica, although these parameters are necessary for evaluation of ecosystem productivity, including the intensity of the C cycle and biological activity of soil. This review examines the current state of research on microbial communities in Antarctic biotopes, discusses the role of microorganisms in soil formation processes of subaqual soils in Antarctica, and explains the need for microbiological studies of this soil type.https://bulletin.esoil.ru/jour/article/view/558antarcticaextreme ecosystemssubaerial and subaqual soilsmicroorganisms
spellingShingle D. A. Nikitin
M. V. Semenov
Subaqual soils of Antarctica: conditions of formation and perspectives of microbiological research
Бюллетень Почвенного института им. В.В. Докучаева
antarctica
extreme ecosystems
subaerial and subaqual soils
microorganisms
title Subaqual soils of Antarctica: conditions of formation and perspectives of microbiological research
title_full Subaqual soils of Antarctica: conditions of formation and perspectives of microbiological research
title_fullStr Subaqual soils of Antarctica: conditions of formation and perspectives of microbiological research
title_full_unstemmed Subaqual soils of Antarctica: conditions of formation and perspectives of microbiological research
title_short Subaqual soils of Antarctica: conditions of formation and perspectives of microbiological research
title_sort subaqual soils of antarctica conditions of formation and perspectives of microbiological research
topic antarctica
extreme ecosystems
subaerial and subaqual soils
microorganisms
url https://bulletin.esoil.ru/jour/article/view/558
work_keys_str_mv AT danikitin subaqualsoilsofantarcticaconditionsofformationandperspectivesofmicrobiologicalresearch
AT mvsemenov subaqualsoilsofantarcticaconditionsofformationandperspectivesofmicrobiologicalresearch