@article {4844, title = {Causes and characteristics of electrical resistivity variability in shallow (<4 m) soils in Taylor Valley, East Antarctica}, journal = {Journal of Geophysical Research: Earth Surface}, volume = {128}, year = {2023}, month = {02/2023}, pages = {e2022JF006696}, abstract = {

Airborne electromagnetic surveys collected in December 2011 and November 2018 and three soil sampling transects were used to analyze the spatial heterogeneity of shallow (\<4 m) soil properties in lower Taylor Valley (TV), East Antarctica. Soil resistivities from 2011 to 2018 ranged from \∼33 Ωm to \∼3,500 Ωm with 200 Ωm assigned as an upper boundary for brine-saturated sediments. Elevations below \∼50 m above sea level (masl) typically exhibit the lowest resistivities with resistivity increasing at high elevations on steeper slopes. Soil water content was empirically estimated from electrical resistivities using Archie\&$\#$39;s Law and range from \∼\<1\% to \∼68\% by volume. An increase in silt- and clay-sized particles at low elevations increases soil porosity but decreases hydraulic conductivity, promoting greater residence times of soil water at low elevations near Lake Fryxell. Soil resistivity variability between 2011 and 2018 shows soils at different stages of soil freeze-thaw cycles, which are caused predominantly by solar warming of soils as opposed to air temperature. This study furthers the understanding of the hydrogeologic structure of the shallow subsurface in TV and identifies locations of soils that are potentially prone to greater rates of thaw and resulting ecosystem homogenization of soil properties from projected increases in hydrological connectivity across the region over the coming decades.

}, keywords = {LTER-MCM, active layer, airborne electromagnetic surveys, McMurdo Dry Valleys, permafrost dynamics}, issn = {2169-9003}, doi = {10.1029/2022JF006696}, url = {https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2022JF006696}, author = {Gutterman, William S. and Peter T. Doran and Ross A. Virginia and John E. Barrett and Myers, Krista F. and Tulaczyk, Slawek M. and Foley, Neil T. and Jill A. Mikucki and Hilary A. Dugan and Grombacher, Denys and Bording, Thue S. and Auken, E.} } @article {4838, title = {The time is right for an Antarctic biorepository network}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences}, volume = {119}, year = {2022}, month = {12/2022}, abstract = {

Antarctica is a central driver of the Earth\’s climate and health. The Southern Ocean surrounding Antarctica serves as a major sink for anthropogenic CO2 and heat, and the loss of Antarctic ice sheets contributes significantly to sea level rise and will continue to do so as the loss of ice sheets accelerates, with sufficient water stores to raise sea levels by 58 m. Antarctica\&$\#$39;s marine environment is home to a number of iconic species, and the terrestrial realm harbors a remarkable oasis for life, much of which has yet to be discovered. Distinctive oceanographic features of the Southern Ocean\—including the Antarctic Circumpolar Current, the Antarctic Polar Front, and exceptional depths surrounding the continent\—coupled with chronically cold temperatures have fostered the evolution of a vast number of uniquely coldadapted species, many of which are found nowhere else on the Earth. The Antarctic marine biota, for example, displays the highest level of species endemism on the Earth. However, warming, ocean acidification, pollution, and commercial exploitation threaten the integrity of Antarctic ecosystems. Understanding changes in the biota and its capacities for adaptation is imperative for establishing effective policies for mitigating the impacts of climate change and sustaining the Antarctic ecosystems that are vital to global health.

}, keywords = {LTER-MCM}, issn = {0027-8424}, doi = {10.1073/pnas.2212800119}, url = {https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2212800119}, author = {O{\textquoteright}Brien, Kristin M. and Crockett, Elizabeth L. and Byron Adams and Amsler, Charles D. and Appiah-Madson, Hannah J. and Collins, Allen and Desvignes, Thomas and Detrich, H. William and Distel, Daniel L. and Eppley, Sarah M. and Frable, Benjamin W. and Franz, Nico M. and Grim, Jeffrey M. and Kocot, Kevin M. and Mahon, Andrew R. and Mayfield-Meyer, Teresa J. and Jill A. Mikucki and Moser, William E. and Schmull, Michaela and Seid, Charlotte A. and Smith, Craig R. and Todgham, Anne E. and Watkins-Colwell, Gregory J.} } @article {4647, title = {Thermal legacy of a large paleolake in Taylor Valley, East Antarctica, as evidenced by an airborne electromagnetic survey}, journal = {The Cryosphere}, volume = {15}, year = {2021}, month = {08/2021}, pages = {3577 - 3593}, abstract = {

Previous studies of the lakes of the McMurdo Dry Valleys have attempted to constrain lake level history, and results suggest the lakes have undergone hundreds of meters of lake level change within the last 20 000 years. Past studies have utilized the interpretation of geologic deposits, lake chemistry, and ice sheet history to deduce lake level history; however a substantial amount of disagreement remains between the findings, indicating a need for further investigation using new techniques. This study utilizes a regional airborne resistivity survey to provide novel insight into the paleohydrology of the region. Mean resistivity maps revealed an extensive brine beneath the Lake Fryxell basin, which is interpreted as a legacy groundwater signal from higher lake levels in the past. Resistivity data suggest that active permafrost formation has been ongoing since the onset of lake drainage and that as recently as 1500\–4000 years BP, lake levels were over 60 m higher than present. This coincides with a warmer-than-modern paleoclimate throughout the Holocene inferred by the nearby Taylor Dome ice core record. Our results indicate Mid to Late Holocene lake level high stands, which runs counter to previous research finding a colder and drier era with little hydrologic activity throughout the last 5000 years.

}, keywords = {LTER-MCM}, doi = {10.5194/tc-15-3577-2021}, url = {https://tc.copernicus.org/articles/15/3577/2021/}, author = {Myers, Krista F. and Peter T. Doran and Tulaczyk, Slawek M. and Foley, Neil T. and Bording, Thue S. and Auken, Esben and Hilary A. Dugan and Jill A. Mikucki and Foged, Nikolaj and Grombacher, Denys and Ross A. Virginia} } @article {4450, title = {The Geochemistry of Englacial Brine From Taylor Glacier, Antarctica}, journal = {Journal of Geophysical Research: Biogeosciences}, volume = {124}, year = {2019}, month = {03/2019}, abstract = {

Blood Falls is a hypersaline, iron-rich discharge at the terminus of the Taylor Glacier in the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica. In November 2014, brine in a conduit within the glacier was penetrated and sampled using clean-entry techniques and a thermoelectric melting probe called the IceMole. We analyzed the englacial brine sample for filterable iron (fFe), total Fe, major cations and anions, nutrients, organic carbon, and perchlorate. In addition, aliquots were analyzed for minor and trace elements and isotopes including δD and δ18O of water, δ34S and δ18O of sulfate, 234U, 238U, δ11B, 87Sr/86Sr, and δ81Br. These measurements were made in order to (1) determine the source and geochemical evolution of the brine and (2) compare the chemistry of the brine to that of nearby hypersaline lake waters and previous supraglacially sampled collections of Blood Falls outflow that were interpreted as end-member brines. The englacial brine had higher Cl\− concentrations than the Blood Falls end-member outflow; however, other constituents were similar. The isotope data indicate that the water in the brine is derived from glacier melt. The H4SiO4 concentrations and U and Sr isotope suggest a high degree of chemical weathering products. The brine has a low N:P ratio of ~7.2 with most of the dissolved inorganic nitrogen in the form of NH4+. Dissolved organic carbon concentrations are similar to end-member outflow values. Our results provide strong evidence that the original source of solutes in the brine was ancient seawater, which has been modified with the addition of chemical weathering products.

}, keywords = {LTER-MCM}, doi = {10.1029/2018JG004411}, url = {https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1029/2018JG004411}, author = {W. Berry Lyons and Jill A. Mikucki and German, Laura A. and Kathleen A. Welch and Sue Welch and Christopher B. Gardner and Tulaczyk, Slawek M. and Pettit, Erin C. and Kowalski, Julia and Dachwald, Bernd} } @article {4033, title = {Physiological Ecology of Microorganisms in Subglacial Lake Whillans}, journal = {Frontiers in Microbiology}, volume = {7}, year = {2016}, month = {Mar-10-2018}, keywords = {LTER-MCM}, doi = {10.3389/fmicb.2016.01705}, url = {http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fmicb.2016.01705/fullhttp://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fmicb.2016.01705/full}, author = {Trista J. Vick-Majors and Mitchell, Andrew and Achberger, Amanda and Brent C. Christner and John E. Dore and Alexander B. Michaud and Jill A. Mikucki and Purcell, Alicia M. and Skidmore, Mark L. and John C. Priscu} } @article {3012, title = {Deep groundwater and potential subsurface habitats beneath an Antarctic dry valley}, journal = {Nature Communications}, volume = {6}, year = {2015}, month = {Apr-04-2017}, pages = {6831}, abstract = {The occurrence of groundwater in Antarctica, particularly in the ice-free regions and along the coastal margins is poorly understood. Here we use an airborne transient electromagnetic (AEM) sensor to produce extensive imagery of resistivity beneath Taylor Valley. Regional-scale zones of low subsurface resistivity were detected that are inconsistent with the high resistivity of glacier ice or dry permafrost in this region. We interpret these results as an indication that liquid, with sufficiently high solute content, exists at temperatures well below freezing and considered within the range suitable for microbial life. These inferred brines are widespread within permafrost and extend below glaciers and lakes. One system emanates from below Taylor Glacier into Lake Bonney and a second system connects the ocean with the eastern 18 km of the valley. A connection between these two basins was not detected to the depth limitation of the AEM survey (~350 m).}, keywords = {LTER-MCM}, doi = {10.1038/ncomms7831}, url = {http://www.nature.com/doifinder/10.1038/ncomms7831}, author = {Jill A. Mikucki and Auken, E. and Tulaczyk, S and Ross A. Virginia and Schamper, C. and S{\o}rensen, K. I. and Peter T. Doran and Hilary A. Dugan and Foley, N.} } @article {1062, title = {Radiocarbon abundance and reservoir effects in lakes of the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica}, journal = {Limnology and Oceanography}, volume = {59}, year = {2014}, month = {05/2014}, pages = {811-826}, chapter = {811}, keywords = {LTER-MCM}, author = {Peter T. Doran and Kenig, Fabien and Lawson Knoepfle and Jill A. Mikucki and W. Berry Lyons} } @book {1173, title = {Life in Antarctic Deserts and Other Cold Environments}, series = {Astrobiological Analogs}, volume = {5}, year = {2010}, pages = {307}, publisher = {Cambridge University Press.}, organization = {Cambridge University Press.}, address = {Cambridge}, keywords = {LTER-MCM, Planetary Science}, isbn = {9780511712258}, doi = {10.1017/CBO9780511712258}, url = {http://ebooks.cambridge.org/ebook.jsf?bid=CBO9780511712258}, author = {Peter T. Doran and W. Berry Lyons and Diane M. McKnight}, editor = {Diane M. McKnight and Michael N. Gooseff and Cristina D. Takacs-Vesbach and Jill A. Mikucki and Martyn Tranter and Sun, Henry J} } @inbook {1175, title = {Saline lakes and ponds in the McMurdo Dry Valleys: ecological analogs to martian paleolake environments}, booktitle = {Life in Antarctic Deserts and other Cold Dry Environments}, year = {2010}, pages = {160 - 194}, publisher = {Cambridge University Press}, organization = {Cambridge University Press}, address = {Cambridge}, keywords = {LTER-MCM}, isbn = {9780521889193}, doi = {10.1017/CBO9780511712258.006}, url = {http://ebooks.cambridge.org/chapter.jsf?bid=CBO9780511712258\&cid=CBO9780511712258A013}, author = {Jill A. Mikucki and W. Berry Lyons and Ian Hawes and Brian D. Lanoil and Peter T. Doran} } @article {1184, title = {A Contemporary Microbially Maintained Subglacial Ferrous "Ocean"}, journal = {Science}, volume = {324}, year = {2009}, month = {04/2009}, pages = {397-400}, type = {Journal}, abstract = {

An active microbial assemblage cycles sulfur in a sulfate-rich, ancient marine brine beneath Taylor Glacier, an outlet glacier of the East Antarctic Ice Sheet, with Fe(III) serving as the terminal electron acceptor. Isotopic measurements of sulfate, water, carbonate, and ferrous iron and functional gene analyses of adenosine 5\′-phosphosulfate reductase imply that a microbial consortium facilitates a catalytic sulfur cycle. These metabolic pathways result from a limited organic carbon supply because of the absence of contemporary photosynthesis, yielding a subglacial ferrous brine that is anoxic but not sulfidic. Coupled biogeochemical processes below the glacier enable subglacial microbes to grow in extended isolation, demonstrating how analogous organic-starved systems, such as Neoproterozoic oceans, accumulated Fe(II) despite the presence of an active sulfur cycle.

}, keywords = {LTER-MCM, Biggie}, doi = {10.1126/science.1167350}, url = {http://www.sciencemag.org/content/324/5925/397.short}, author = {Jill A. Mikucki and Pearson, A and Johnston, D and Turchyn, A and Farquhar, J and Schrag, D and Anbar, A and John C. Priscu and Lee, P} } @article {1238, title = {Bacterial diversity associated with Blood Falls, A subglacial outflow from the Taylor Glacier, Antarctica}, journal = {Applied and Environmental Microbiology}, volume = {73}, year = {2007}, pages = {4029-4039}, keywords = {LTER-MCM}, doi = {LTER}, author = {Jill A. Mikucki and John C. Priscu} } @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} } @article {1298, title = {Glacial ice cores: a model system for developing extraterrestrial decontamination protocols}, journal = {Icarus}, volume = {174}, year = {2005}, pages = {572-584}, keywords = {LTER-MCM}, doi = {LTER}, url = {/reports/lakes/ChristnerEtAl2005Decontamination.pdf}, author = {Brent C. Christner and Jill A. Mikucki and Christine M. Foreman and Denson, J and John C. Priscu} } @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} } @inbook {1304, title = {Perennial Antarctic lake ice: A refuge for cyanobacteria in an extreme environment}, booktitle = {Life in Ancient Ice}, year = {2005}, pages = {22-49}, publisher = {Princeton University Press}, organization = {Princeton University Press}, keywords = {LTER-MCM}, url = {http://www.montana.edu/lkbonney/DOCS/Publications/PriscuEtAl2005CyanobacteriaRefuge.pdf}, author = {John C. Priscu and Edward E. Adams and Hans W. Paerl and Christian H. Fritsen and John E. Dore and John T. Lisle and Craig F. Wolf and Jill A. Mikucki}, editor = {S. O. Rogers and J. Castello} } @article {1333, title = {Geomicrobiology of Blood Fall: An iron-rich saline discharge at the terminus of the Taylor Glacier, Antarctica}, journal = {Aquatic Geochemistry}, volume = {10}, year = {2004}, pages = {199-200}, keywords = {LTER-MCM}, author = {Jill A. Mikucki and Christine M. Foreman and Sattler, B and W. Berry Lyons and John C. Priscu} } @article {1345, title = {Thermodynamic constraints on microbially mediated processes in lakes of the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica}, journal = {Geomicrobiology Journal}, volume = {21}, year = {2004}, pages = {1-17}, keywords = {LTER-MCM}, doi = {LTER}, author = {Lee, P and Jill A. Mikucki and Christine M. Foreman and John C. Priscu and G R DiTullio and Riseman, S and DeMora, S and Craig F. Wolf and Kester, L} }