Open AccessMetabolic activity and diversity of cryoconites in the Taylor Valley, Antarctica
Author(s) -
Foreman Christine M.,
Sattler Birgit,
Mikucki Jill A.,
Porazinska Dorota L.,
Priscu John C.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
journal of geophysical research: biogeosciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.67
H-Index - 298
eISSN - 2156-2202
pISSN - 0148-0227
DOI - 10.1029/2006jg000358
Subject(s) - biogeochemical cycle , biomass (ecology) , sediment , glacier , environmental chemistry , total organic carbon , geology , oceanography , environmental science , chemistry , paleontology
Metabolic activity and biogeochemical diversity within cryoconites from the Canada, Commonwealth, Howard, and Hughes glaciers in the McMurdo Dry Valleys revealed the presence of a productive microbial refuge in this polar desert ecosystem. Fluorescent in situ hybridization showed a high percentage of Cytophaga ‐ Flavobacteria cells in cryoconite sediments (87.2%), while β ‐ Proteobacterial cells dominated the ice overlying the sediment layer (54.2%). The biomass of bacterial cells in the sediments was also greater (4.82 μ gC ml −1 ) than that in the overlying ice (0.18 μ gC ml −1 ) and was related to bacterial productivity (on the basis of thymidine incorporation), which ranged from 36 ng C l −1 d −1 in the overlying ice to 3329 ng C l −1 d −1 in the sediment‐containing layers. Bacteria within both the sediments and overlying ice were able to actively incorporate and respire radio‐labeled glucose, as well as 17 other dissolved organic carbon compounds. The cryoconites in the Taylor Valley support an active, diverse assemblage of organisms despite the fact that they may remain sealed from the atmosphere for decades. Given the density of the cryoconites in the dry valleys (∼4–6% of ablation zone surfaces), flushing of the cryoconites during warm years could provide a vital nutrient and organic carbon source to the surrounding polar desert.