@article {4940, title = {McMurdo Dry Valley lake edge {\textquoteleft}moats{\textquoteright}: The ecological intersection between terrestrial and aquatic polar desert habitat}, journal = {Antarctic Science}, year = {2024}, month = {04/2024}, pages = {1 - 17}, abstract = {

Aquatic ecosystems - lakes, ponds and streams - are hotspots of biodiversity in the cold and arid environment of Continental Antarctica. Environmental change is expected to increasingly alter Antarctic aquatic ecosystems and modify the physical characteristics and interactions within the habitats that they support. Here, we describe physical and biological features of the peripheral \‘moat\’ of a closed-basin Antarctic lake. These moats mediate connectivity amongst streams, lake and soils. We highlight the cyclical moat transition from a frozen winter state to an active open-water summer system, through refreeze as winter returns. Summer melting begins at the lakebed, initially creating an ice-constrained lens of liquid water in November, which swiftly progresses upwards, creating open water in December. Conversely, freezing progresses slowly from the water surface downwards, with water at 1 m bottom depth remaining liquid until May. Moats support productive, diverse benthic communities that are taxonomically distinct from those under the adjacent permanent lake ice. We show how ion ratios suggest that summer exchange occurs amongst moats, streams, soils and sub-ice lake water, perhaps facilitated by within-moat density-driven convection. Moats occupy a small but dynamic area of lake habitat, are disproportionately affected by recent lake-level rises and may thus be particularly vulnerable to hydrological change.

}, keywords = {LTER-MCM, connectivity, ecosystem, ice, microbial mats, transition}, issn = {0954-1020}, doi = {10.1017/S0954102024000087}, url = {https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/antarctic-science/article/mcmurdo-dry-valley-lake-edge-moats-the-ecological-intersection-between-terrestrial-and-aquatic-polar-desert-habitats/31D94DD51E651603482A3AE6E8A52A57}, author = {Stone, Michael S. and Devlin, Shawn and Ian Hawes and Kathleen A. Welch and Michael N. Gooseff and Cristina D. Takacs-Vesbach and Rachael M. Morgan-Kiss and Byron Adams and John E. Barrett and John C. Priscu and Peter T. Doran} } @article {4297, title = {Methane production in the oxygenated water column of a perennially ice-covered Antarctic lake}, journal = {Limnology and Oceanography}, volume = {65}, year = {2020}, month = {01/2020}, abstract = {

Aerobic methane production in aquatic ecosystems impacts the global atmospheric budget of methane, but the extent, mechanism, and taxa responsible for producing this greenhouse gas are not fully understood. Lake Bonney (LB), a perennially ice-covered Antarctic lake, has cold hypersaline waters underlying an oxygenated freshwater layer. We present temporal methane concentration profiles in LB indicating methane production in the oxygenated (\>\ 200\% air saturation) water. Experiments amended with methylphosphonate (MPn) yielded methane generation, suggesting in situ methanogenesis via the carbon-phosphorus (C-P) lyase pathway. Enrichment cultures from the lake were used to isolate five bacterial strains capable of generating methane when supplied with MPn as the sole P source. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing, the isolates belong to the Proteobacteria (closely related to Marinomonas, Hoeflea, and Marinobacter genera) and Bacteroidetes (Algoriphagus genus). 16S rRNA metagenomic sequencing confirms the presence of these taxa in LB. None of the isolated species were reported to be capable to produce methane. In addition, orthologs of the phosphoenolpyruvate mutase gene (PepM) and methylphosphonate synthase (MPnS), enzymes involved in phosphonate and MPn biosynthesis, were widely spread in the LB shotgun metagenomic libraries; genes related to C-P lyase pathways (phn gene clusters) were also abundant. 16S rRNA and mcrA genes of anaerobic methanogens were absent in both 16S rRNA and metagenomics libraries. These data reveal that in situ aerobic biological methane production is likely a significant source of methane in LB.

}, keywords = {LTER-MCM}, doi = {10.1002/lno.11257}, url = {https://aslopubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/lno.11257}, author = {Li, Wei and John E. Dore and Steigmeyer, August J. and Cho, Yong-Joon and Kim, Ok-Sun and Liu, Yongqin and Rachael M. Morgan-Kiss and Skidmore, Mark L. and John C. Priscu} } @article {4017, title = {Microbial Community Dynamics in Two Polar Extremes: The Lakes of the McMurdo Dry Valleys and the West Antarctic Peninsula Marine Ecosystem}, journal = {BioScience}, volume = {66}, year = {2016}, month = {Jan-10-2016}, pages = {829 - 847}, keywords = {LTER-MCM}, issn = {0006-3568}, doi = {10.1093/biosci/biw103}, url = {https://academic.oup.com/bioscience/article-lookup/doi/10.1093/biosci/biw103https://academic.oup.com/bioscience/article/66/10/829/2236137/Microbial-Community-Dynamics-in-Two-Polar-Extremes}, author = {Bowman, Jeff S. and Trista J. Vick-Majors and Rachael M. Morgan-Kiss and Cristina D. Takacs-Vesbach and Hugh W. Ducklow and John C. Priscu} } @article {4013, title = {Microbial Community Structure of Subglacial Lake Whillans, West Antarctica}, journal = {Frontiers in Microbiology}, volume = {7}, year = {2016}, month = {Oct-09-2017}, keywords = {LTER-MCM}, doi = {10.3389/fmicb.2016.01457}, url = {http://journal.frontiersin.org/Article/10.3389/fmicb.2016.01457/abstract}, author = {Achberger, Amanda and Brent C. Christner and Alexander B. Michaud and John C. Priscu and Skidmore, Mark L. and Trista J. Vick-Majors} } @phdthesis {4090, title = {Microbially mediated biogeochemical cycles in polar ice covered lakes}, volume = {Ph.D.}, year = {2016}, school = {Montana State University}, type = {doctoral}, address = {Bozeman, MT}, abstract = {

Lakes are important sites for globally-relevant biogeochemical cycles mediated by microorganisms. In the Arctic, seasonally ice covered thermokarst lakes are a large component in Earth\&$\#$39;s carbon cycle due to their methane emissions from organic carbon degradation. In the Antarctic, over 400 unexplored lakes exist beneath the Antarctic ice sheet with unknown biogeochemical contributions to the Earth system. This dissertation seeks to investigate the biogeochemical role of microorganisms in the lake habitat and how they interact with the seasonal and permanent ice covers of lakes in polar environments. Microbiologically clean hot water drilling was used to access a subglacial lake beneath Antarctica\&$\#$39;s ice to collect, for the first time, intact sediment and water samples. Laboratory experiments on Arctic and Antarctic, seasonally and perennially, respectively, ice covered lakes were used to investigate the impact of lake ice freezing regimes on microorganisms. My results show that subglacial lake sediments beneath the West Antarctic Ice Sheet contain solute ratios that suggest relict marine sediments were deposited during previous interglacial periods. Microbial activity overprints the marine geochemical signature to produce fluxes of ions into the Subglacial Lake Whillans water column, which ultimately drains to the Southern Ocean. Microbial activity in Subglacial Lake Whillans is partially fueled by biologically-formed methane diffusing from below our deepest collected (~38 cm) subglacial sediment samples. The ice above Subglacial Lake Whillans appears to be an important source of molecular oxygen for microorganisms to drive oxidative physiologies. My experimental evidence shows microorganisms incorporate into lake ice cover to, potentially, avoid increasing stressors from progressive lake ice freezing. Taken together, the results from this dissertation reinforce the hypothesis that subglacial environments beneath the Antarctic ice sheet are habitats for life. Further, the microorganisms in subglacial lakes participate in globally-relevant biogeochemical cycles. Here, I extend the extent of the biosphere and show sediments at the base of ice sheets are an active component of the Earth system.

}, keywords = {LTER-MCM}, url = {https://scholarworks.montana.edu/xmlui/handle/1/13793}, author = {Alexander B. Michaud}, editor = {John C. Priscu} } @article {3919, title = {Modeling the thickness of perennial ice covers on stratified lakes of the Taylor Valley, Antarctica}, journal = {Journal of Glaciology}, year = {2016}, month = {06/2016}, pages = {1 - 10}, chapter = {1}, abstract = {
A 1-D ice cover model was developed to predict and constrain drivers of long-term ice thickness trends in chemically stratified lakes of Taylor Valley, Antarctica. The model is driven by surface radiative heat fluxes and heat fluxes from the underlying water column. The model successfully reproduced 16 a (between 1996 and 2012) of ice thickness changes for the west lobe of Lake Bonney (average ice thickness = 3.53 m) and Lake Fryxell (average ice thickness = 4.22 m). Long-term ice thickness trends require coupling with the thermal structure of the water column. The heat stored within the temperature maximum of lakes exceeding a liquid water column depth of 20 m can either impede or facilitate ice thickness change depending on the predominant climatic trend (cooling or warming). As such, shallow (\<20 m deep water columns) perennially ice-covered lakes without deep temperature maxima are more sensitive indicators of climate change. The long-term ice thickness trends are a result of surface energy flux and heat flux from the deep temperature maximum in the water column, the latter of which results from absorbed solar radiation.

}, keywords = {LTER-MCM}, issn = {0022-1430}, doi = {10.1017/jog.2016.69}, url = {http://www.journals.cambridge.org/abstract_S0022143016000691}, author = {Maciek K. Obryk and Peter T. Doran and J. A. Hicks and Christopher P. McKay and John C. Priscu} } @article {1085, title = {Modular community structure suggests metabolic plasticity during the transition to polar night in ice-covered Antarctic lakes}, journal = {The ISME Journal}, year = {2014}, month = {10/2013}, keywords = {LTER-MCM}, doi = {10.1038/ismej.2013.190}, url = {http://www.nature.com/ismej/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/ismej2013190a.html}, author = {Trista J. Vick-Majors and John C. Priscu and Linda A. Amaral-Zettler} } @article {1113, title = {Microbial dynamics and flagellate grazing during transition to winter in Lakes Hoare and Bonney, Antarctica}, journal = {FEMS Microbiology Ecology}, volume = {82}, year = {2012}, month = {11/2012}, pages = {449 - 458}, keywords = {LTER-MCM}, doi = {10.1111/j.1574-6941.2012.01423.x}, url = {http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1574-6941.2012.01423.x/full}, author = {Jill Thurman and Jacqueline Parry and Philip J. Hill and John C. Priscu and Trista J. Vick-Majors and Amy Chiuchiolo and Johanna Laybourn-Parry} } @article {3528, title = {Microbial life at -13 ~C in the brine of an ice-sealed Antarctic lake}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences}, volume = {109}, year = {2012}, month = {12/2012}, pages = {20626 - 20631}, keywords = {LTER-MCM}, issn = {0027-8424}, doi = {10.1073/pnas.1208607109}, url = {http://www.pnas.org/cgi/doi/10.1073/pnas.1208607109}, author = {A. E. Murray and Kenig, Fabien and Christian H. Fritsen and Christopher P. McKay and Kaelin M. Cawley and R. L. Edwards and Kuhn, Emanuele and Diane M. McKnight and Nathaniel E Ostrom and Vivian Peng and Adrian Ponce and John C. Priscu and Samarkin, Vladimir A. and Ashley T Townsend and Protima Wagh and Seth A Young and Pung To Yung and Peter T. Doran} } @article {1245, title = {Metabolic activity and diversity of cryoconites in the Taylor Valley, Antarctica}, journal = {Journal of Geophysical Research}, volume = {112}, year = {2007}, keywords = {LTER-MCM}, doi = {LTER}, author = {Christine M. Foreman and Sattler, B and Jill A. Mikucki and Porazinska, D and John C. Priscu} } @mastersthesis {1246, title = {Microbial Processes in the Moats of Lakes in the Taylor Valley, Antarctica}, volume = {M.S.}, year = {2007}, school = {Montana State University}, type = {masters}, keywords = {LTER-MCM}, doi = {LTER}, author = {Moore, J} } @phdthesis {1302, title = {Microbial Ecology of an Antarctic Subglacial Environment}, volume = {Ph.D.}, year = {2005}, school = {Montana State University}, type = {doctoral}, keywords = {LTER-MCM}, doi = {LTER}, author = {Jill A. Mikucki} } @article {1336, title = {Microplankton dynamics in a perennially ice-covered Antarctic lake-Lake Hoare}, journal = {Freshwater Biology}, volume = {27}, year = {2004}, pages = {238-249}, keywords = {LTER-MCM}, author = {Emily C. Roberts and John C. Priscu and Johanna Laybourn-Parry} } @article {1404, title = {The McMurdo Dry Valleys Long-Term Ecological Research Program: new understanding of the biogeochemistry of the Dry Valley lakes: a review.}, journal = {Polar Geography}, volume = {25}, year = {2001}, pages = {202-217}, keywords = {LTER-MCM}, author = {W. Berry Lyons and Kathleen A. Welch and John C. Priscu and Johanna Laybourn-Parry and Daryl L. Moorhead and Diane M. McKnight and Peter T. Doran and Martyn Tranter} } @article {1505, title = {The McMurdo Dry Valley Ecosystem: Organization, Controls, and Linkages, in Ecosystem Processes in a Polar Desert: The McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica}, journal = {Antarctic Research Series}, volume = {72}, year = {1998}, pages = {351-363}, keywords = {LTER-MCM}, author = {Daryl L. Moorhead and John C. Priscu} } @article {1511, title = {McMurdo Dry Valleys LTER: Phosphorus deficiency and alkaline phosphatase activity in lakes of Taylor Valley, Antarctica}, journal = {Antarctic Journal of the United States - 1996 Review Issue (NSF 98-28)}, volume = {31}, year = {1998}, pages = {206-208}, keywords = {LTER-MCM}, author = {John E. Dore and John C. Priscu} } @article {1516, title = {Microbial phototrophic, heterotrophic, and diazotrophic activities associated with aggregates in the permanent ice cover of Lake Bonney, Antarctica}, journal = {Microbial Ecology}, volume = {36}, year = {1998}, pages = {221-230}, keywords = {LTER-MCM}, author = {Hans W. Paerl and John C. Priscu} } @article {1560, title = {The microbial plankton of Lake Fryxell, southern Victoria Land, Antarctica during the summers of 1992 and 1994}, journal = {Polar Biology}, volume = {17}, year = {1997}, pages = {54-61}, keywords = {LTER-MCM}, author = {Johanna Laybourn-Parry and Mark R. James and Diane M. McKnight and John C. Priscu and Sarah A. Spaulding and Russell Shiel} } @article {1592, title = {McMurdo LTER: Relationships between vertical nutrient flux and phytoplankton biomass and productivity in lakes of the Taylor Valley, Antarctica}, journal = {Antarctic Journal of the U.S.}, volume = {30}, year = {1995}, pages = {294-295}, keywords = {LTER-MCM}, author = {R. L. Edwards and John C. Priscu} } @article {1617, title = {McMurdo LTER: Inorganic geochemical studies with special reference to calcium carbonate dynamics}, journal = {Antarctic Journal of the U.S.}, volume = {29}, year = {1994}, pages = {237-239}, keywords = {LTER-MCM}, author = {Kathleen A. Welch and W. Berry Lyons and John C. Priscu and R. L. Edwards and Diane M. McKnight and Harold R. House and Robert A. Wharton Jr.} } @article {1631, title = {McMurdo LTER: Phytoplankton nutrient deficiency in lakes of the Taylor Valley, Antarctica}, journal = {Antarctic Journal of the U.S.}, volume = {29}, year = {1994}, pages = {239-241}, keywords = {LTER-MCM}, author = {John C. Priscu} } @article {1639, title = {Microbial communities in the permanent ice cap of Lake Bonney, Antarctica: Relationships among chlorophyll-a , gravel, and nutrients.}, journal = {Antarctic Journal of the U.S}, volume = {28}, year = {1993}, pages = {247-249}, keywords = {LTER-MCM}, author = {Wing, Kate T. and John C. Priscu} } @article {1640, title = {Microbial respiration potential in Lake Bonney using a novel tetrazolium-reduction method}, journal = {Antarctic Journal of the U.S.}, volume = {28}, year = {1993}, pages = {244-245}, keywords = {LTER-MCM}, author = {Smith, James J. and John C. Priscu} }