@article {4842, title = {Biogeography and genetic diversity of terrestrial mites in the Ross Sea region, Antarctica}, journal = {Genes}, volume = {14}, year = {2023}, month = {03/2023}, pages = {606}, abstract = {

Free-living terrestrial mites (Acari) have persisted through numerous glacial cycles in Antarctica. Very little is known, however, of their genetic diversity and distribution, particularly within the Ross Sea region. To redress this gap, we sampled mites throughout the Ross Sea region, East Antarctica, including Victoria Land and the Queen Maud Mountains (QMM), covering a latitudinal range of 72\–85 \°S, as well as Lauft Island near Mt. Siple (73 \°S) in West Antarctica and Macquarie Island (54 \°S) in the sub-Antarctic. We assessed genetic diversity using mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene sequences (COI-5P DNA barcode region), and also morphologically identified voucher specimens. We obtained 130 sequences representing four genera: Nanorchestes (n = 30 sequences), Stereotydeus (n = 46), Coccorhagidia (n = 18) and Eupodes (n = 36). Tree-based analyses (maximum likelihood) revealed 13 genetic clusters, representing as many as 23 putative species indicated by barcode index numbers (BINs) from the Barcode of Life Datasystems (BOLD) database. We found evidence for geographically-isolated cryptic species, e.g., within Stereotydeus belli and S. punctatus, as well as unique genetic groups occurring in sympatry (e.g., Nanorchestes spp. in QMM). Collectively, these data confirm high genetic divergence as a consequence of geographic isolation over evolutionary timescales. From a conservation perspective, additional targeted sampling of understudied areas in the Ross Sea region should be prioritised, as further diversity is likely to be found in these short-range endemic mites.

}, keywords = {LTER-MCM, Acari, Antarctic conservation, DNA barcoding, geographic isolation, speciation}, doi = {10.3390/genes14030606}, url = {https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/14/3/606}, author = {Gemma E. Collins and Young, Monica R. and Peter Convey and Steven L. Chown and Craig S Cary and Byron Adams and Diana H. Wall and Hogg, Ian D.} } @article {4153, title = {Biotic interactions are an unexpected yet critical control on the complexity of an abiotically driven polar ecosystem}, journal = {Communications Biology}, volume = {2}, year = {2019}, month = {02/2019}, abstract = {

Abiotic and biotic factors control ecosystem biodiversity, but their relative contributions remain unclear. The ultraoligotrophic ecosystem of the Antarctic Dry Valleys, a simple yet highly heterogeneous ecosystem, is a natural laboratory well-suited for resolving the abiotic and biotic controls of community structure. We undertook a multidisciplinary investigation to capture ecologically relevant biotic and abiotic attributes of more than 500 sites in the Dry Valleys, encompassing observed landscape heterogeneities across more than 200 km2. Using richness of autotrophic and heterotrophic taxa as a proxy for functional complexity, we linked measured variables in a parsimonious yet comprehensive structural equation model that explained significant variations in biological complexity and identified landscape-scale and fine-scale abiotic factors as the primary drivers of diversity. However, the inclusion of linkages among functional groups was essential for constructing the best-fitting model. Our findings support the notion that biotic interactions make crucial contributions even in an extremely simple ecosystem.

}, keywords = {LTER-MCM}, doi = {10.1038/s42003-018-0274-5}, url = {https://www.nature.com/articles/s42003-018-0274-5}, author = {Charles K. Lee and Laughlin, Daniel C. and Bottos, Eric M. and Caruso, Tancredi and Joy, Kurt and John E. Barrett and Brabyn, Lars and Uffe N. Nielsen and Byron Adams and Diana H. Wall and D. W. Hopkins and Pointing, Steve B. and McDonald, Ian R. and Cowan, Don A. and Banks, Jonathan C. and Stichbury, Glen A. and Jones, Irfon and Zawar-Reza, Peyman and Katurji, Marwan and Hogg, Ian D. and Sparrow, Ashley D. and Storey, Bryan C. and Allan Green, T. G. and Craig S Cary} } @article {1263, title = {Biotic interactions in Antarctic terrestrial ecosystems: Are they a factor?}, journal = {Soil Biology and Biochemistry}, volume = {38}, year = {2006}, pages = {3035-3040}, keywords = {LTER-MCM}, doi = {10.1016/j.soilbio.2006.04.026}, url = {http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0038071706002173}, author = {Hogg, I and Diana H. Wall and Craig S Cary and Convey, K and Newsham, K and ODonnell, G and Byron Adams and Aislabie, J and Francesco Frati and Stevens, M} }