@article {5016, title = {Inference from eDNA-based field distributions vs laboratory analysis of isolated strains: Physiological performance of non-marine Antarctic biota}, journal = {Polar Biology}, volume = {48}, year = {2025}, month = {03/2025}, pages = {36}, abstract = {

Environmental DNA (eDNA) is frequently used to infer distributions of microorganisms in Antarctica. Their distributions relative to environmental variables are, in turn, sometimes used to infer their physiological range (and a relationship between the two is generally assumed for conservation purposes). We sought to determine whether ecological inferences based on distributions accurately reflect tolerances of the organisms concerned, using 249 legacy non-marine samples from a latitudinal gradient between 72 and 86\°S, Antarctica. A cyanobacterium, a heterotrophic bacterium, two eukaryotic algae, two fungi, and a moss were isolated into culture, and their field distributions inferred using eDNA analysis of the samples above. Tolerances of each organism with respect to environmental predictors were then inferred from the eDNA distribution and metadata using Generalised Additive Models. We then measured growth of the cultured isolates in response to a set of these predictors. Laboratory responses were then compared to inferences from the eDNA/metadata. Predictions from eDNA/metadata agreed with the results of physiological laboratory experiments for strains that were detected at high taxonomic resolution in the field samples. However, errors were never completely eliminated, and direct contradictions occurred when strains were represented at lower taxonomic resolution in the field data. We found that accurate ecological inference from eDNA studies would be best achieved via maximising both taxonomic resolution (through marker choice/read length) and ecological signal (through careful sampling design and rigorous metadata collection).

}, keywords = {LTER-MCM, Antarctic, distribution, eDNA, inference, microbial biodiversity, physiology}, issn = {0722-4060}, doi = {10.1007/s00300-025-03356-y}, url = {https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00300-025-03356-y}, author = {Novis, Phil M. and Monks, Adrian and Hunt, John E. and Adams, Byron J. and Dhami, Manpreet K. and Kim, Ji Hee and Mitchell, Caroline and Morgan, Fraser and Ian Hawes and Aislabie, J and P. Broady} } @phdthesis {4999, title = {In situ and remote biosignatures from microbial mats in ephemeral streams of Fryxell Basin, Antarctica}, volume = {Ph.D.}, year = {2024}, month = {08/2024}, pages = {340}, school = {Northern Arizona University}, type = {doctoral}, address = {Flagstaff, AZ}, abstract = {

Transient water-limited environments are understood to have hosted microbial communities early in Earth\’s history, and thus, may have been important ecosystems for life in ancient fluvial systems on Mars and water-limited environments on rocky Earth-like exoplanets. Similar environmental systems exist on Earth today, acting as meaningful analogs to study the preservation and detection of life in these environments. Particularly useful analogs are the McMurdo Dry Valleys of Antarctica, given their cold temperatures, aridity, elevated UV radiation exposure, and predominantly microbial ecosystem. Basins in these valleys contain ephemeral glacial meltwater streams, which contain a diversity of microbial communities that are only active when the streams are flowing ten weeks of the summer. These microbial communities were studied to examine how their in situ and remote biosignatures could inform the detection of similar life on Mars and rocky exoplanets. Specifically, these organisms were found in association with carbonate rock coatings, morphologically resembling modern and ancient stromatolites from rivers, ponds, lakes, and hot springs. Microorganisms from these communities were preserved within and influenced the formation of these coatings, becoming an additional Antarctic analog to ancient stromatolites. The presence of these carbonate coatings in an ephemeral stream suggests that processes in transient fluvial environments on Mars could have also generated coatings, which could have preserved biosignatures. We also identified pigments within these microbial communities and correlated the pigments to community composition. We determined how the reflectance spectra of these communities were influenced by their pigments, demonstrating the capability of distinguishing microbial mat community composition in visible and near-infrared spectroscopy. The results of our study indicate that pigment spectral absorptions can act as remote biosignatures which we then applied to modeling the detection of similar life on the surfaces of cold and rocky Earth-like exoplanets. The detection times of Antarctic microbial mat remote biosignatures were compared with those of anoxygenic photosynthetic and nonphotosynthetic microorganisms, accounting for false positives, to determine which biosignatures were most detectable. The results from this work demonstrate the ability of the future space-based telescope, Habitable Worlds Observatory, to detect surface life on rocky Earth-like exoplanets.

}, keywords = {LTER-MCM, Antarctica, astrobiology, pigments, spectroscopy, stromatolites}, url = {https://www.proquest.com/dissertations-theses/em-situ-remote-biosignatures-microbial-mats/docview/3094642420/se-2}, author = {Borges, Schuyler R.} } @article {4839, title = {Impact of meltwater flow intensity on the spatiotemporal heterogeneity of microbial mats in the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica}, journal = {ISME Communications}, volume = {3}, year = {2023}, month = {01/2023}, pages = {3}, abstract = {

The meltwater streams of the McMurdo Dry Valleys are hot spots of biological diversity in the climate-sensitive polar desert landscape. Microbial mats, largely comprised of cyanobacteria, dominate the streams which flow for a brief window of time (~10 weeks) over the austral summer. These communities, critical to nutrient and carbon cycling, display previously uncharacterized patterns of rapid destabilization and recovery upon exposure to variable and physiologically detrimental conditions. Here, we characterize changes in biodiversity, transcriptional responses and activity of microbial mats in response to hydrological disturbance over spatiotemporal gradients. While diverse metabolic strategies persist between marginal mats and main channel mats, data collected from 4 time points during the austral summer revealed a homogenization of the mat communities during the mid-season peak meltwater flow, directly influencing the biogeochemical roles of this stream ecosystem. Gene expression pattern analyses identified strong functional sensitivities of nitrogen-fixing marginal mats to changes in hydrological activities. Stress response markers detailed the environmental challenges of each microhabitat and the molecular mechanisms underpinning survival in a polar desert ecosystem at the forefront of climate change. At mid and end points in the flow cycle, mobile genetic elements were upregulated across all mat types indicating high degrees of genome evolvability and transcriptional synchronies. Additionally, we identified novel antifreeze activity in the stream microbial mats indicating the presence of ice-binding proteins (IBPs). Cumulatively, these data provide a new view of active intra-stream diversity, biotic interactions and alterations in ecosystem function over a high-flow hydrological regime.

}, keywords = {LTER-MCM}, doi = {10.1038/s43705-022-00202-8}, url = {https://www.nature.com/articles/s43705-022-00202-8}, author = {Zoumplis, Angela and Kolody, Bethany C. and Kaul, Drishti and Zheng, Hong and Venepally, Pratap and Diane M. McKnight and Cristina D. Takacs-Vesbach and DeVries, Arthur L. and Allen, Andrew E.} } @mastersthesis {4863, title = {Influence of landscape-variation in geochemistry on taxonomic and functional composition of microbial mat communities in the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica}, volume = {M.S.}, year = {2023}, school = {Virginia Tech}, type = {masters}, address = {Blacksburg, VA}, abstract = {

Microbial communities play critical roles in biogeochemical cycles of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, but studies of soil microbial communities have been limited by the diversity and complexity found in most ecosystems. Here we report on work investigating the functional diversity of microbial mat and underlying soil communities in the McMurdo Dry Valleys of Antarctica across a gradient of phosphorus availability on glacial tills of distinct age and mineral composition in Taylor Valley, Antarctica. Microbial mat and soil DNA were extracted and sequenced on an Illumina NextSeq500 in a 150 bp paired end format. Raw sequences were uploaded to the MG-RAST server for processing and annotation. Community taxonomic and functional annotation were determined using the RefSeq and SEED Subsystem databases, respectively. The results revealed significant variation in microbial mat community taxonomic composition between the two tills, strongly associated with visual assessment of mat morphology, e.g., \"black\" and \"orange\" mats, and soil N:P ratios. The underlying soil microbial communities did not exhibit significant differences in diversity between the two tills, but community composition varied significantly across gradients of soil chemistry, particularly extractable-phosphate content even within tills. The relative abundance of biogeochemistry-relevant pathways determined from the SEED database varied amongst soil microbial communities between the two tills. For example, microbial mat communities exhibited significant variation in the relative abundance of key nitrogen and phosphorus metabolism associated genes strongly associated with the underlying soil N:P. These results suggest that spatial variation in geochemistry influences the distribution and activity of microbial mats, but that the microbial mats themselves also exert a significant homogenizing effect on the underlying soil communities and some of the key biogeochemical processes they facilitate.

}, keywords = {LTER-MCM, carbon, microbial community, microbial mat, nitrogen, phosphorus, polar desert, soil}, url = {http://hdl.handle.net/10919/115384}, author = {Risteca, Paul J.}, editor = {John E. Barrett} } @article {4817, title = {Islands in the ice: Potential impacts of habitat transformation on Antarctic biodiversity}, journal = {Global Change Biology}, year = {2022}, month = {07/2022}, abstract = {

Antarctic biodiversity faces an unknown future with a changing climate. Most terrestrial biota is restricted to limited patches of ice-free land in a sea of ice, where they are adapted to the continent\&$\#$39;s extreme cold and wind and exploit microhabitats of suitable conditions. As temperatures rise, ice-free areas are predicted to expand, more rapidly in some areas than others. There is high uncertainty as to how species\&$\#$39; distributions, physiology, abundance, and survivorship will be affected as their habitats transform. Here we use current knowledge to propose hypotheses that ice-free area expansion (i) will increase habitat availability, though the quality of habitat will vary; (ii) will increase structural connectivity, although not necessarily increase opportunities for species establishment; (iii) combined with milder climates will increase likelihood of non-native species establishment, but may also lengthen activity windows for all species; and (iv) will benefit some species and not others, possibly resulting in increased homogeneity of biodiversity. We anticipate considerable spatial, temporal, and taxonomic variation in species responses, and a heightened need for interdisciplinary research to understand the factors associated with ecosystem resilience under future scenarios. Such research will help identify at-risk species or vulnerable localities and is crucial for informing environmental management and policymaking into the future.

}, keywords = {LTER-MCM, Antarctica, biodiversity, biotic homogenization, climate change, connectivity, ice-free, non-native species}, doi = {10.1111/gcb.16331}, url = {https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/gcb.16331}, author = {Lee, Jasmine R. and Waterman, Melinda J. and Shaw, Justine D. and Bergstrom, Dana M. and Lynch, Heather J. and Diana H. Wall and Robinson, Sharon A.} } @article {4472, title = {The influence of environmental microseismicity on detection and interpretation of small-magnitude events in a polar glacier setting}, journal = {Journal of Glaciology}, year = {2020}, month = {07/2020}, abstract = {

Glacial environments exhibit temporally variable microseismicity. To investigate how microseismicity influences event detection, we implement two noise-adaptive digital power detectors to process seismic data from Taylor Glacier, Antarctica. We add scaled icequake waveforms to the original data stream, run detectors on the hybrid data stream to estimate reliable detection magnitudes and compare analytical magnitudes predicted from an ice crack source model. We find that detection capability is influenced by environmental microseismicity for seismic events with source size comparable to thermal penetration depths. When event counts and minimum detectable event sizes change in the same direction (i.e. increase in event counts and minimum detectable event size), we interpret measured seismicity changes as \‘true\’ seismicity changes rather than as changes in detection. Generally, one detector (two degree of freedom (2dof)) outperforms the other: it identifies more events, a more prominent summertime diurnal signal and maintains a higher detection capability. We conclude that real physical processes are responsible for the summertime diurnal inter-detector difference. One detector (3dof) identifies this process as environmental microseismicity; the other detector (2dof) identifies it as elevated waveform activity. Our analysis provides an example for minimizing detection biases and estimating source sizes when interpreting temporal seismicity patterns to better infer glacial seismogenic processes.

}, keywords = {LTER-MCM}, doi = {10.1017/jog.2020.48}, url = {https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/journal-of-glaciology/article/influence-of-environmental-microseismicity-on-detection-and-interpretation-of-smallmagnitude-events-in-a-polar-glacier-setting/E1A441425341F677117509351F3C6763}, author = {Carr, Chris G. and Carmichael, J. D. and Pettit, Erin C. and Truffer, Martin} } @mastersthesis {4165, title = {Impact of simulated polar night on Antarctic mixotrophic and strict photoautotrophic phytoplankton}, volume = {M.S.}, year = {2019}, month = {2018}, school = {Miami University}, type = {masters}, address = {Oxford, OH}, abstract = {

Phytoplankton in polar regions experience long periods of continuous darkness annually during the polar night. Due to difficulties in performing field work during this period, it is largely unknown how phytoplankton endure this extreme transition from 24-hour daylight in the fall to several months of total darkness in the austral winter. The primary goal of this study was to compare physiological and photosynthetic responses of several Antarctic phytoplankton of variable trophic abilities (pure photosynthetic vs. mixotrophic) to simulated polar night conditions, including the transition seasons before and after winter. Two distinct responses were observed to extended darkness: (1) strict photoautotrophs (Chlamydomonas sp. ICE-MDV and Chlamydomonas sp. UWO241) exhibited functional downregulation their photosynthetic processes in the winter, followed by a lag phase of several days during mimicked spring, and (2) mixotrophs (Isochrysis sp. MDV and Geminigera cryophila) maintained functional photosynthetic apparatus, increased heterotrophy through the winter, and exhibited immediate growth upon return to light incubation. These differing responses to mimicked polar night conditions could represent two different strategies for surviving the long period of darkness in the phytoplankton\’s natural environment.

}, keywords = {LTER-MCM, algae, Antarctic phytoplankton, chlorophyll fluorescence analysis, McMurdo Dry Valleys, Photosynthesis, phytoplankton, polar microbiology, polar night}, url = {http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami1547204599969081}, author = {Cariani, ZE and Rachael M. Morgan-Kiss} } @article {4140, title = {In a PICL: The sedimentary deposits and facies of perennially ice-covered lakes}, journal = {Sedimentology}, volume = {66}, year = {2019}, month = {04/2019}, abstract = {

Perennially ice-covered lakes can have significantly different facies than open-water lakes because sediment is transported onto the ice, where it accumulates, and sand grains preferentially melt through to be deposited on the lake floor. To characterize the facies in these lakes, sedimentary deposits from five Antarctic perennially ice-covered lakes were described using lake-bottom observations, underwater video and images, and sediment cores. One lake was dominated by laminated microbial mats and mud (derived from an abutting glacier), with disseminated sand and rare gravel. The other four lakes were dominated by laminated microbial mats and moderately well to moderately sorted medium to very coarse sand with sparse granules and pebbles; they contained minor interstitial or laminated mud (derived from streams and abutting glaciers). The sand was disseminated or localized in mounds and 1 m to more than 10 m long elongate ridges. Mounds were centimetres to metres in diameter; conical, elongate or round in shape; and isolated or deposited near or on top of one another. Sand layers in the mounds had normal, inverse, or no grading. Nine mixed mud and sand facies were defined for perennially ice-covered lakes based on the relative proportion of mud to sand and the style of sand deposition. While perennially ice-covered lake facies overlap with other ice-influenced lakes and glaciomarine facies, they are characterized by a paucity of grains coarser than granules, a narrow range in sand grain sizes, and inverse grading in the sand mounds. These facies can be used to infer changes in ice cover through time and to identify perennially ice-covered lakes in the rock record. Ancient perennially ice-covered lakes are expected on Earth and Mars, and their characterization will provide new insights into past climatic conditions and habitability.

}, keywords = {LTER-MCM}, doi = {10.1111/sed.12522}, url = {https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/sed.12522}, author = {Rivera-Hernandez, Frances and Sumner, Dawn Y. and Mackey, Tyler J. and Ian Hawes and Dale T. Andersen} } @article {4186, title = {Influence of environmental drivers and potential interactions on the distribution of microbial communities from three permanently stratified Antarctic lakes}, journal = {Frontiers in Microbiology}, volume = {10}, year = {2019}, month = {05/2019}, abstract = {

The McMurdo Dry Valley (MDV) lakes represent unique habitats in the microbial world. Perennial ice covers protect liquid water columns from either significant allochthonous inputs or seasonal mixing, resulting in centuries of stable biogeochemistry. Extreme environmental conditions including low seasonal photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), near freezing temperatures, and oligotrophy have precluded higher trophic levels from the food webs. Despite these limitations, diverse microbial life flourishes in the stratified water columns, including Archaea, bacteria, fungi, protists, and viruses. While a few recent studies have applied next generation sequencing, a thorough understanding of the MDV lake microbial diversity and community structure is currently lacking. Here we used Illumina MiSeq sequencing of the 16S and 18S rRNA genes combined with a microscopic survey of key eukaryotes to compare the community structure and potential interactions among the bacterial and eukaryal communities within the water columns of Lakes Bonney (east and west lobes, ELB, and WLB, respectively) and Fryxell (FRX). Communities were distinct between the upper, oxic layers and the dark, anoxic waters, particularly among the bacterial communities residing in WLB and FRX. Both eukaryal and bacterial community structure was influenced by different biogeochemical parameters in the oxic and anoxic zones. Bacteria formed complex interaction networks which were lake-specific. Several eukaryotes exhibit potential interactions with bacteria in ELB and WLB, while interactions between these groups in the more productive FRX were relatively rare.

}, keywords = {LTER-MCM, Aquatic protists, environmental drivers, heterotrophic bacteria, interactions, McMurdo Dry Valley lakes}, doi = {10.3389/fmicb.2019.01067}, url = {https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2019.01067/full}, author = {Li, Wei and Rachael M. Morgan-Kiss} } @article {4176, title = {Inorganic carbon fixation in ice-covered lakes of the McMurdo Dry Valleys}, journal = {Antarctic Science}, volume = {72}, year = {2019}, month = {04/2019}, abstract = {

Inorganic carbon fixation, usually mediated by photosynthetic microorganisms, is considered to form the base of the food chain in aquatic ecosystems. In high-latitude lakes, lack of sunlight owing to seasonal solar radiation limits the activity of photosynthetic plankton during the polar winter, causing respiration-driven demand for carbon to exceed supply. Here, we show that inorganic carbon fixation in the dark, driven by organisms that gain energy from chemical reactions rather than sunlight (chemolithoautotrophs), provides a significant influx of fixed carbon to two permanently ice-covered lakes (Fryxell and East Bonney). Fryxell, which has higher biomass per unit volume of water, had higher rates of inorganic dark carbon fixation by chemolithoautotrophs than East Bonney (trophogenic zone average 1.0 \µg C l\−1 d\−1\ vs 0.08 \µg C l\−1 d\−1, respectively). This contribution from dark carbon fixation was partly due to the activity of ammonia oxidizers, which are present in both lakes. Despite the potential importance of new carbon input by chemolithoautotrophic activity, both lakes remain net heterotrophic, with respiratory demand for carbon exceeding supply. Dark carbon fixation increased the ratio of new carbon supply to respiratory demand from 0.16 to 0.47 in Fryxell, and from 0.14 to 0.22 in East Bonney.

}, keywords = {LTER-MCM, ammonia oxidation, carbon budget, chemoautotrophy, chemolithoautotrophy}, issn = {0954-1020}, doi = {10.1017/S0954102019000075}, url = {https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/antarctic-science/article/inorganic-carbon-fixation-in-icecovered-lakes-of-the-mcmurdo-dry-valleys/4B5CA9E91C85B307EFDA69F8D7B5BFD9}, author = {Trista J. Vick-Majors and John C. Priscu} } @article {4335, title = {Sabbea gen. nov., a new diatom genus (Bacillariophyta) from continental Antarctica}, journal = {Phytotaxa}, volume = {418}, year = {2019}, month = {09/2019}, abstract = {

The non-marine diatom flora of the Antarctic Continent includes several endemic taxa recorded over the past 100 years. One of these taxa, Navicula adminensis D.Roberts \& McMinn, was described from the Vestfold Hills, East Antarctica. Detailed light and scanning electron microscopy observations have shown that based on its morphological features, the species does not belong to the genus Navicula sensu stricto. To determine the most closely related genera to N. adminensis, the morpho- logical features of Adlafia, Kobayasiella, Envekadea, Stenoneis, Berkeleya, Climaconeis, and Parlibellus were compared with those of N. adminensis. Although each of these genera shows one or more similar features, none of them accommodates the salient morphological characteristics of N. adminensis. Therefore, a new genus, Sabbea gen. nov., is herein described, and Navicula adminensis is formally transferred to the new genus as Sabbea adminensis comb. nov. The genus Sabbea is characterized by uniseriate striae composed of small, rounded areolae occluded externally by individual hymenes, a rather simple raphe structure with straight, short proximal ends and short terminal raphe fissures, open girdle bands with double perforation and a very shallow mantle.

}, keywords = {LTER-MCM, Bacillariophyta, Cape Royds, East Antarctica, McMurdo Dry Valleys, new genus, Vestfold Hills}, doi = {10.11646/phytotaxa.418.1.2}, url = {https://www.mapress.com/j/pt/article/view/phytotaxa.418.1.2}, author = {Bishop, Jordan and Kopalov{\'a}, Kate{\v r}ina and Darling, Joshua P. and Schulte, Nicholas O. and Tyler J. Kohler and McMinn, Andrew and Sarah A. Spaulding and Diane M. McKnight and Bart Van de Vijver} } @article {4106, title = {The impact of fossil fuel burning related to scientific activities in the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica: Revisited}, journal = {Elementa: Science of the Anthropocene}, volume = {6}, year = {2018}, month = {04/2018}, abstract = {

Fossil fuel use associated with scienti c activities in the Taylor Valley, Antarctic has been examined to determine the fluxes of particulate organic and elemental carbon and nitrogen as well as NOx\ for the 2015\–2016 austral summer field season. These carbon and nitrogen fluxes are compared to our previously published calculations for the 1997\–1998 austral summer. In addition, we compile fossil fuel usage and resulting C and N fluxes from the major field camp in Taylor Valley, Lake Hoare Camp (LHC) from the late 1990\’s through 2017. In general, the annual fluxes do vary from year to year, but there is no significant trend, at least during the primary summer field season. There is indication that increasing the length of scientific operations does increase the C and N inputs via fossil fuel burning. This works supports our original results demonstrating that over long periods of time the anthropogenic flux of N from local fossil fuel burning could become quantitatively important in the region. Although the particulate C fluxes remain very low, the recent finding of black carbon in the Taylor Valley landscape indicates more on-going monitoring of the source of this material is merited.

}, keywords = {LTER-MCM, carbon dynamics, emissions, fossil fuels, helicopter, management, McMurdo Dry Valleys, nitrogen, science activites}, doi = {10.1525/elementa.288}, url = {https://www.elementascience.org/article/10.1525/elementa.288/}, author = {W. Berry Lyons and Saelens, Elsa D. and Kathleen A. Welch} } @article {4115, title = {Impact of nitrogen and phosphorus on phytoplankton production and bacterial community structure in two stratified Antarctic lakes: a bioassay approach}, journal = {Polar Biology}, volume = {40}, year = {2017}, month = {05/2017}, chapter = {1007}, abstract = {

Arctic, Antarctic, and alpine ecosystems are recognized as sensors and sentinels of global change. As a consequence of their high sensitivity to minor climatic perturbations, permanently ice-covered lakes located in the McMurdo Dry Valleys (MDV), Antarctica, represent end members in the global network of inland bodies of water. Episodic climatic events in the form of increased summer glacial melt result in inputs of organic sediment and nutrients from glacial streams to these closed basins. Phytoplankton communities residing in the oligotrophic water columns are highly responsive to pulses in nutrient availability; however, there is a lack of understanding on whether specific phytoplankton groups are more competitive during a summer flood event and how shifts in the phytoplankton community may influence heterotrophic bacteria. A bioassay approach in 3-l bottles was used to investigate the influence of inorganic nitrogen and phosphorus availability on planktonic communities from the oligotrophic upper waters of two chemically distinct MDV lakes (Lakes Bonney and Fryxell) which differ in their external inputs and water column N/P stoichiometry. While microbial community responses varied between lakes and were nutrient-dependent, stimulation of phytoplankton biomass and productivity across all treatments was strongly linked with increased abundance of a single phytoplankton phylum (Chlorophyta). Despite stimulation of phytoplankton growth, primary and bacterial productivity was generally uncoupled; however, shifts in bacterial community diversity were observed in bioassays amended with either P or NP. We suggest that climate-associated increases in phytoplankton production and concomitant shifts in diversity will influence MDV bacterial community structure by altering the availability and composition of autochthonous carbon for heterotrophic production.

}, keywords = {LTER-MCM, Algal{\textendash}bacteria interactions, climate change, McMurdo Dry Valleys, Nutrient bioassay, Primary production}, issn = {0722-4060}, doi = {10.1007/s00300-016-2025-8}, url = {https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00300-016-2025-8}, author = {Teufel, Amber G. and Li, Wei and Kiss, Andor J. and Rachael M. Morgan-Kiss} } @article {4032, title = {Impacts of permafrost degradation on a stream in Taylor Valley, Antarctica}, journal = {Geomorphology}, volume = {285}, year = {2017}, month = {05/2017}, pages = {205 - 213}, abstract = {

The McMurdo Dry Valleys (MDV) of Antarctica are an ice-free landscape that supports a complex, microbially dominated ecosystem despite a severely arid, cold environment (b 5 cm water equivalent/y, \− 18 \°C mean annual air temperature). Recent observations of permafrost degradation in the coastal zones of the MDV suggest that this region is nearing a threshold of rapid landscape change. In 2012, substantial thermokarst development was observed along several kilometers of the west branch of Crescent Stream in Taylor Valley mostly in the form of bank failures, whereas the adjacent east branch was unaffected. The objective of this study was to quantify the changes to the stream banks of the west branch of Crescent Stream and to determine the impacts on the composition of the stream bed material. Three annually repeated terrestrial LiDAR scans were compared to determine the rates of ground surface change caused by thermokarst formation on the stream bank. The areal extent of the thermokarst was shown to be decreasing; however, the average vertical rate of retreat remained constant. Field measurements of bed materials indicated that the west branch and the reach downstream of the confluence (of east and west branches) consistently contained more fines than the unaffected east branch. This suggests that the finer bed material is a result of the thermokarst development on the west branch. These finer bed material compositions are likely to increase the mobility of the bed material, which will have implications for stream morphology, stream algal mat communities, and downstream aquatic ecosystems.

}, keywords = {LTER-MCM}, doi = {10.1016/j.geomorph.2017.02.009}, url = {http://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0169555X16308467}, author = {Sudman, Zachary and Michael N. Gooseff and Andrew G Fountain and Joseph S. Levy and Maciek K. Obryk and David J. Van Horn} } @article {4029, title = {The influence of f{\"o}hn winds on Glacial Lake Washburn and palaeotemperatures in the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica, during the Last Glacial Maximum}, journal = {Antarctic Science}, volume = {29}, year = {2017}, month = {10/2017}, pages = {457-467}, keywords = {LTER-MCM}, doi = {10.1017/S0954102017000062}, url = {https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0954102017000062/type/journal_article}, author = {Maciek K. Obryk and Peter T. Doran and Waddington, E.D. and Christopher P. McKay} } @article {4102, title = {The Impact of a Large-Scale Climate Event on Antarctic Ecosystem Processes}, journal = {BioScience}, volume = {66}, year = {2016}, month = {10/2016}, pages = {848 - 863}, abstract = {

Extreme climate and weather events, such as a drought, hurricanes, or ice storms, can strongly imprint ecosystem processing and may alter ecosystem structure. Ecosystems in extreme environments are particularly vulnerable because of their adaptation to severe limitations in energy, water, or nutrients. The vulnerability can be expressed as a relatively long-lasting ecosystem response to a small or brief change in environmental conditions. Such an event occurred in Antarctica and affected two vastly different ecosystems: a marine-dominated coastal system and a terrestrial polar desert. Both sites experienced winds that warmed air temperatures above the 0\°C threshold, resulting in extensive snow and ice melt and triggering a series of cascading effects through the ecosystems that are continuing to play out more than a decade later. This highlights the sensitivity of Antarctic ecosystems to warming events, which should occur more frequently in the future with global climate warming.

}, keywords = {LTER-MCM}, issn = {0006-3568}, doi = {10.1093/biosci/biw110}, url = {http://academic.oup.com/bioscience/article-pdf/66/10/848/7510601/biw110.pdf}, author = {Andrew G Fountain and Saba, Grace and Byron Adams and Peter T. Doran and Fraser, William and Michael N. Gooseff and Maciek K. Obryk and John C. Priscu and Sharon E. Stammerjohn and Ross A. Virginia} } @article {4025, title = {Impact of diurnal freeze{\textendash}thaw cycles on the soil nematode Scottnema lindsayae in Taylor Valley, Antarctica}, journal = {Polar Biology}, volume = {39}, year = {2016}, month = {04/2016}, pages = {583 - 592}, keywords = {LTER-MCM}, issn = {0722-4060}, doi = {10.1007/s00300-015-1809-6}, url = {https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00300-015-1809-6}, author = {Matthew Knox and Diana H. Wall and Ross A. Virginia and Martijn L. Vandegehuchte and Inigo San Gil and Byron Adams} } @phdthesis {4167, title = {Influence of abiotic drivers (light and nutrients) on photobiology and diversity of Antarctic lake phytoplankton communities}, volume = {Ph.D.}, year = {2016}, month = {2016}, school = {Miami University}, type = {doctoral}, address = {Oxford, OH}, abstract = {

Arctic, Antarctic, and alpine ecosystems are recognized as sensors and sentinels of global climate change. As a consequence of their high sensitivity to minor climatic perturbations, permanently ice-covered lakes located in the McMurdo Dry Valleys (MCM), Antarctica, represent end members in the global network of inland bodies of water. Episodic climatic events in the form of increased summer glacial melt result in inputs of organic sediment and nutrients from glacial streams to these closed basins. By better understanding how Antarctic lake communities respond to mimicked climate change, we can more accurately predict how they will react to further temperature changes in the future. We began by investigating the influence of inorganic nitrogen and phosphorus availability on planktonic communities residing in the oligotrophic upper waters of two chemically distinct MCM lakes (Lakes Bonney and Fryxell) which differ in their external inputs as well as water column N:P stoichiometry. Although microbial community responses varied between the lakes and were nutrient-dependent, stimulation of phytoplankton biomass and productivity across all treatments was strongly linked with increased abundance of a single phytoplankton phylum (Chlorophyta). Despite stimulation of phytoplankton growth, primary and bacterial productivity were largely uncoupled across all enrichments. We suggest that climate-associated shifts in phytoplankton diversity influence the bacterial community structure by altering the availability and composition of autochthonous carbon for heterotrophic production. To monitor the physiological adaptations that occur over time and depth, we then transplanted two dominant phytoplankton, Chlamydomonas sp. ICE- MDV and Isochrysis sp. MDV back into the Lake Bonney water column. Our results demonstrated that both organisms are specialists for surviving specific depths of the water column and are capable of acclimating to their native environment within a short period of time, and that the chlorophyte Chlamydomonas sp. ICE-MDV most likely makes this adjustment via photoacclimation and accumulating chlorophyll-a per cell. The final study presented here investigated whether or not the dominant chlorophyte, Chlamydomonas sp. ICE-MDV has retained the ability to respond to a diel 12-hour day/night cycle. Although light levels in MCM lakes remain low during the austral summers, daily irradiation varies by as much as tenfold during the course of the day, resulting in a circadian-like light cycle for organisms residing there. With decreased ice coverage on the lakes due to climate change and increased melt, it is likely that these light variations will become amplified over time. This study tested for the presence of a circadian rhythm under various light quality, light quantity, and temperature conditions and demonstrated that although a diel rhythm was maintained in terms of growth and several photochemical parameters, a true circadian rhythm was not identified. Although it is predicted that photosynthetic communities in polar regions will be more responsive to climate warming and episodic events, the complexity of these systems provides numerous challenges to understanding how these organism will adapt in the future.

}, keywords = {LTER-MCM, Antarctica, bacterial production, Chlamydomonas sp ICE MDV, Chlorophyll fluorescence, circadian rhythm, climate change, McMurdo Dry Valleys, nutrient amendment, photobiology, Primary production}, url = {http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami1468411564}, author = {Teufel, Amber G. and Rachael M. Morgan-Kiss} } @phdthesis {4168, title = {Influence of environmental drivers and interactions on the microbial community structures in permanently stratified meromictic Antarctic lakes}, volume = {Ph.D.}, year = {2016}, month = {2016}, school = {Miami University}, type = {doctoral}, address = {Oxford, OH}, abstract = {

The microbial loop plays important roles in the cycling of energy, carbon and elements in aquatic ecosystems. Viruses, bacteria, Archaea and microbial eukaryotes are key players in global carbon cycle and biogeochemical cycles. Investigating microbial diversity and community structure is crucial first step for understanding the ecological functioning in aquatic environment. Meromictic lakes are bodies of water and exhibit permanent stratification of major physical and chemical environmental factors. Microbial consortia residing in permanently stratified lakes exhibit relatively constant spatial stratification throughout the water column and are adapted to vastly different habitats within the same water. Pristine perennially-ice-covered lakes (Lake Bonney, Lake Fryxell and Lake Vanda) are meromictic lakes located in the McMurdo Dry Valleys (MDV) of Southern Victoria Land, Antarctica. The lakes have isolated water bodies and extremely stable strata that vary physically, chemically, and biologically within and between the water columns. The unique characteristics support microbially dominated food webs in these lakes.

In the research presented here, we gathered new understanding of how environmental drivers influence microbial community structure in these aquatic ecosystems. We explored the lake microbial ecology from three major approaches: 1). Assess trophic activities in the natural environment and identify potential environmental drivers impacting heterotrophic (β Glucosaminidase) and autotrophic (Ribulose 1,5 bisphosphate carboxylase) enzyme activities; 2). Resolve the protist community composition (i.e. autotrophic, heterotrophic and mixotrophic groups) based on high throughput sequencing and bioinformatics. Identify how the community structures correlate with specific environmental and biological factors; 3). Reveal the diversity of potential microbial interactions between the microorganisms in the MDV lakes at individual cell level, and investigate how the interactions vary between organisms with different nutritional strategies.

Studies of polar microbial communities on the cusp of environmental change will be important for predicting how microbial communities in low latitude aquatic systems will respond. This study expands the understanding of how environmental drivers interact with microbial communities in the Antarctica lakes, and provide new information to predict how the community structure will alter as response to climate changes.

}, keywords = {LTER-MCM}, url = {http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami1469757316}, author = {Li, Wei and Rachael M. Morgan-Kiss} } @mastersthesis {4192, title = {The impacts of thermokarst activity on a stream in the McMurdo Dry Valleys}, volume = {M.S.}, year = {2015}, month = {2015}, pages = {70}, school = {University of Colorado}, type = {masters}, address = {Boulder, CO}, abstract = {

The McMurdo Dry Valleys (MDV) of Antarctica are a unique ice-free landscape that is host to vibrant ecosystems despite the harsh environment (\<10 cm water equivalent/yr, -20\°C mean air temperature). Aquatic ecosystems in the MDV are dependent on the ephemeral glacial runoff streams which feed the closed basin perennially ice covered lakes. The upland zones of the Dry Valleys have been shown to have some of the slowest ground surface change rates in the world. However, recent observations in the coastal valley transition zones suggest that this area may be nearing a threshold of rapid landscape change.

One of the recent observations that supports this idea is the discovery of extensive thermokarst degradation (permafrost thaw features) along the banks of Crescent Stream in Taylor Valley. In 2012, a large stretch of the West Branch of Crescent Stream was found to have significant thermokarst bank failures, while the adjacent East Branch was found to be unaffected. The thermokarst impacts within this setting are important to understand because of the disturbances that massive sediment loading can impose on downstream biological communities.

Annually repeated terrestrial LiDAR scans (3) were compared to determine the rates of ground surface change due to thermokarst degradation. It was found that the areal extent of the thermokarst was decreasing, however the average linear rates of retreat remained constant. Field measurements including, pebble counts, fine sediment counts, and sieve samples were analyzed to determine the effects of the thermokarst on the stream bed material. It was found that the West Branch and the reach downstream of the confluence were consistently finer than the unaffected East Branch. This suggests that the finer bed material is due to the thermokarst bank degradation. Stream power was calculated for multiple reaches to be used as a metric for the mobilization of the streambed material. It was found that both branches infrequently experience flows substantial enough to mobilize the bed material. Even the finer bed material of the impacted West Branch reach required flows that had a 5 \% chance of exceedance for mobilization of the bed. These findings suggest the West Branch of Crescent Stream and the biota supported by this branch of the stream, continue to adjust to the sediment introduced from the thermokarst bank degradation.

}, keywords = {LTER-MCM, Antarctica, Dry valleys, earth sciences, stream, thermokarst}, url = {https://search.proquest.com/docview/1717582573}, author = {Sudman, Zachary and Michael N. Gooseff} } @article {1087, title = {The influence of stream thermal regimes and preferential flow paths on hyporheic exchange in a glacial meltwater stream}, journal = {Water Resources Research}, volume = {49}, year = {2013}, month = {09/2013}, pages = {5552 - 5569}, keywords = {LTER-MCM}, doi = {10.1002/wrcr.20410}, url = {http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/wrcr.20410/pdf}, author = {Cozzetto, K and Kenneth E. Bencala and Michael N. Gooseff and Diane M. McKnight} } @article {3537, title = {Implications of meltwater pulse events for soil biology and biogeochemical cycling in a polar desert}, journal = {Polar Research}, volume = {3081281030352511340}, year = {2011}, month = {12/2011}, keywords = {LTER-MCM}, issn = {0800-0395}, doi = {10.3402/polar.v30i0.14555}, url = {http://www.polarresearch.net/index.php/polar/article/view/14555}, author = {Ball, Becky and John E. Barrett and Michael N. Gooseff and Ross A. Virginia and Diana H. Wall} } @article {1187, title = {Interactions between physical and biotic factors influence CO_2 flux in Antarctic dry valley soils}, journal = {Soil Biology and Biochemistry}, volume = {41}, year = {2009}, pages = {1510-1517}, keywords = {LTER-MCM}, doi = {LTER}, author = {Ball, Becky and Ross A. Virginia and John E. Barrett and Andrew N. Parsons and Diana H. Wall} } @inbook {1215, title = {Ice-based freshwater ecosystems}, booktitle = {Polar Lakes and Rivers: Limnology of Arctic and Antarctic Aquatic Ecosystems}, year = {2008}, publisher = {Oxford University Press}, organization = {Oxford University Press}, address = {Oxford}, keywords = {LTER-MCM}, doi = {LTER}, author = {Ian Hawes and Clive Howard-Williams and Andrew G Fountain}, editor = {Warwick F. Vincent and Johanna Laybourn-Parry} } @article {1205, title = {The influence of soil geochemistry on nematode distribution, McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica}, journal = {Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research}, volume = {40}, year = {2008}, month = {02/2008}, pages = {119-128}, keywords = {LTER-MCM}, doi = {10.1657/1523-0430(06-051)[POAGE]2.0.CO;2}, author = {Poage, M and John E. Barrett and Ross A. Virginia and Diana H. Wall} } @article {1216, title = {Inland diatoms from the McMurdo Dry Valleys and James Ross Island, Antarctica}, journal = {Botany-Botanique}, volume = {12}, year = {2008}, pages = {1378-1392}, keywords = {LTER-MCM}, doi = {LTER}, author = {Rhea M.M. Esposito and Sarah A. Spaulding and Diane M. McKnight and De Vijver, B and Kopalova, K and Lubinski, D and Brenda L. Hall and Whittaker, T} } @article {1217, title = {Introduction - The Biogeochemistry of Cryoconite Holes}, journal = {Journal of Geophysical Research}, volume = {113}, year = {2008}, keywords = {LTER-MCM}, doi = {10.1029/2008JG000698}, author = {Andrew G Fountain and Martyn Tranter} } @article {1290, title = {An index model of stream flow at below freezing-temperatures in Taylor Valley, Antarctica}, journal = {Annals of Glaciology}, volume = {40}, year = {2005}, month = {01/2005}, pages = {76-82}, type = {Journal}, keywords = {LTER-MCM, Climate Response}, doi = {10.3189/172756405781813519}, url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.3189/172756405781813519}, author = {Ebnet, A and Andrew G Fountain and Thomas H. Nylen} } @article {1313, title = {Invertebrate diversity in Taylor Valley soils and sediments}, journal = {Antarctic Journal of the United States}, volume = {33}, year = {2005}, pages = {13-16}, keywords = {LTER-MCM}, author = {Amy M Treonis and Diana H. Wall and Ross A. Virginia} } @article {1334, title = {Identification of a psychrophilic green alga from Lake Bonney, Antarctica: Chlamydomonas raudensis ETTL. (UWO 241) (Chlorophyceae)}, journal = {Journal of Phycology}, volume = {40}, year = {2004}, pages = {1138-1148}, keywords = {LTER-MCM}, author = {Pocock, T and Lachance, M and Proschold, T and John C. Priscu and Kim, S and Norman P.A. Huner} } @article {1354, title = {The impact of anhydrobiosis on the persistence of Scottnema lindsyae (Nematoda): a modeling analysis of population stability thresholds}, journal = {Polar Biology}, volume = {27}, year = {2004}, pages = {507-512}, keywords = {LTER-MCM}, author = {Weicht, T and Daryl L. Moorhead} } @article {1320, title = {Impact of episodic warming events on the physical, chemical and biological relationships of lakes in the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica}, journal = {Aquatic Geochemistry}, volume = {10}, year = {2004}, month = {09/2004}, pages = {239-268}, type = {Journal}, keywords = {LTER-MCM, Climate Response, stoichiometry}, doi = {10.1007/s10498-004-2261-3}, url = {http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007\%2Fs10498-004-2261-3}, author = {Christine M. Foreman and Wolf, C and John C. Priscu} } @article {1335, title = {Inorganic nitrogen and phosphorus dynamics of Antarctic glacial meltwater streams as controlled by hyporheic exchange and benthic autotrophic communities}, journal = {Journal of the North American Benthological Society}, volume = {23}, year = {2004}, pages = {171-188}, keywords = {LTER-MCM}, author = {Diane M. McKnight and Robert L. Runkel and John H. Duff and Cathy M. Tate and Daryl L. Moorhead} } @mastersthesis {1391, title = {Interannual variation in phytoplankton dynamics in Lake Fryxell}, volume = {M.S.}, year = {2002}, school = {University of Colorado}, type = {masters}, keywords = {LTER-MCM}, doi = {LTER}, author = {Van Matre, E} } @article {1392, title = {Invertebrates in ornithogenic soils at Ross Island, Antarctica.}, journal = {Polar Biology}, volume = {25}, year = {2002}, pages = {569-574}, keywords = {LTER-MCM}, author = {Porazinska, D and Diana H. Wall and Ross A. Virginia} } @mastersthesis {1417, title = {The influence of mixotroph growth on DOM chemistry in Pony Lake, a eutrophic coastal pond in Antarctica}, volume = {M.S.}, year = {2001}, school = {University of Colorado}, type = {masters}, keywords = {LTER-MCM}, doi = {LTER}, author = {Brown, A} } @article {1402, title = {The influence of soil biodiversity on hydrological pathways and the transfer of materials between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems}, journal = {Ecosystems}, volume = {4}, year = {2001}, keywords = {LTER-MCM}, author = {Richard D. Bardgett and Anderson, J. M. and Valerie Behan-Pelletier and Brussaard, L and David C. Coleman and Ettma, C and Moldenke, A and Schimel, J and Diana H. Wall} } @article {1432, title = {The importance of landscape position and legacy: The evolution of the Taylor Valley Lake District, Antarctica.}, journal = {Freshwater Biology}, volume = {43}, year = {2000}, pages = {355-367}, keywords = {LTER-MCM}, author = {W. Berry Lyons and Andrew G Fountain and Peter T. Doran and John C. Priscu and Klaus Neumann and Kathleen A. Welch} } @article {1433, title = {Interactions between above and belowground biodiversity in terrestrial ecosystems: patterns, mechanisms and feedbacks}, journal = {BioScience}, volume = {50}, year = {2000}, pages = {1049-1061}, keywords = {LTER-MCM}, author = {Hooper, D and Lavelle, P and van der Putten, W and DeRuiter, P and Josef Rusek and Silver, W and Tiedje, J and Wolters, V and Bignell, D and Brown, V and Brussaard, L and J. Mark Dangerfield and Diana H. Wall and Wardle, D and David C. Coleman and Giller, K} } @article {1461, title = {The importance of terminus cliff melt on stream flow, Taylor Valley, McMurdo Dry Valleys}, journal = {Global and Planetary Change}, volume = {22}, year = {1999}, pages = {105-115}, keywords = {LTER-MCM}, doi = {LTER}, author = {Karen J. Lewis and Andrew G Fountain and Paul Langevin} } @article {1462, title = {Interactions underground: soil biodiversity, mutalism and ecosystem processes}, journal = {Bioscience}, volume = {49}, year = {1999}, pages = {109-119}, keywords = {LTER-MCM}, doi = {LTER}, author = {Diana H. Wall and John C. Moore} } @article {1463, title = {Invertebrate biodiversity in Antarctic Dry Valley soils and sediments}, journal = {Ecosystems}, volume = {2}, year = {1999}, pages = {482-492}, keywords = {LTER-MCM}, author = {Amy M Treonis and Diana H. Wall and Ross A. Virginia} } @article {1502, title = {Inorganic carbon-isotope distribution and budget in the Lake Hoare and Lake Fryxell basins, Taylor Valley, Antarctica}, journal = {Annals of Glaciology}, volume = {27}, year = {1998}, pages = {685-690}, keywords = {LTER-MCM}, author = {Klaus Neumann and W. Berry Lyons and D.J. Des Marais} } @article {1555, title = {Impact of Light Regimes on Productivity Patterns of Benthic Microbial Mats in an Antarctic Lake: A Modeling Study}, journal = {Limnology and Oceanography}, volume = {42}, year = {1997}, pages = {1561-1569}, keywords = {LTER-MCM}, author = {Daryl L. Moorhead and Craig F. Wolf and Robert A. Wharton Jr.} } @article {1587, title = {The influence of stream channel characteristics on streamflow and annual water budgets for lakes in Taylor Valley}, journal = {Antarctic Journal of the U.S.}, volume = {30}, year = {1995}, pages = {284-287}, keywords = {LTER-MCM}, author = {Harold R. House and Diane M. McKnight and Paul Von Guerard} } @article {1637, title = {Influence of high salinity levels on ambient inorganic nitrogen and nitrogen-15 extraction efficiency in Lake Bonney}, journal = {Antarctic Journal of the U.S.}, volume = {28}, year = {1993}, pages = {245-246}, keywords = {LTER-MCM}, author = {Richard D. Bartlett and John C. Priscu and Christopher D. Woolston} } @article {1657, title = {Inorganic Nitrogen Uptake and Regeneration in Perennially Ice-Covered Lakes Fryxell and Vanda, Antarctica}, journal = {Journal of Plankton Research}, volume = {11}, year = {1989}, pages = {335-351}, keywords = {LTER-MCM}, author = {John C. Priscu and Warwick F. Vincent and Clive Howard-Williams} }