01738nas a2200229 4500008004100000245008300041210006900124260001200193300001100205490000700216520101800223653001101241100002501252700001201277700002401289700001101313700001301324700002501337700002101362700001601383856010901399 2006 eng d00aAntarctic Climate Cooling and Response of Diatoms in Glacial Meltwater Streams0 aAntarctic Climate Cooling and Response of Diatoms in Glacial Mel c04/2006 aL074060 v333 a
To understand biotic responses to an Antarctic cooling trend, we analyzed diatom samples from glacial meltwater streams in the McMurdo Dry Valleys, the largest ice-free area in Antarctica. Diatoms are abundant in these streams, and 24 of 40 species have only been found in the Antarctic. The percentage of these Antarctic diatom species increased with decreasing annual stream flow and increasing harshness of the stream habitat. The species diversity of assemblages reached a maximum when the Antarctic species accounted for 40–60% of relative diatom abundance. Decreased solar radiation and air-temperatures reduce annual stream flow, raising the dominance of these Antarctic species to levels above 60%. Thus, cooling favors the Antarctic species, and lowers diatom species diversity in this region.
10aBiggie1 aEsposito, Rhea, M.M.1 aHorn, S1 aMcKnight, Diane, M.1 aCox, M1 aGrant, M1 aSpaulding, Sarah, A.1 aDoran, Peter, T.1 aCozzetto, K uhttps://mcm.lternet.edu/content/antarctic-climate-cooling-and-response-diatoms-glacial-meltwater-streams