02755nas a2200169 4500008004100000020002200041245005500063210005300118260005100171300001200222520220300234100001902437700001802456700002202474700002002496856006902516 2014 eng d a978-3-642-45212-300aAntarctic Terrestrial Microbiology : Invertebrates0 aAntarctic Terrestrial Microbiology Invertebrates aBerlin, HeidelbergbSpringer Berlin Heidelberg a55 - 783 a

Terrestrial invertebrates are the largest permanent residents for much of the Antarctic continent with body lengths < 2 mm for most. The fauna consists of the arthropod taxa Collembola (springtails) and Acari (mites) as well as the microinvertebrates Nematoda, Tardigrada and Rotifera. Diversity in continental Antarctica is lower compared with warmer regions such as the Antarctic Peninsula and the subantarctic islands and several taxa such as the arthropods have considerably restricted distributions. The highest diversity of invertebrates is found along the Transantarctic Mountains of the Ross Sea Region and taxa are likely to be relicts from a warmer past that have survived in glacial refugia. Dispersal among the extremely fragmented Antarctic landscape is likely to be limited to transport via fresh- or salt-waters, particularly for the arthropod taxa, although long-distance wind dispersal is also possible for the microinvertebrates. Invertebrates possess several adaptations to low moisture levels and extreme cold temperatures in Antarctica. For example, nematodes and tardigrades avoid extreme dry and cold temperatures by entering a desiccation-resistant anhydrobiotic state. In contrast, arthropods do not have such a resistant state and freezing is lethal. Adaptations for the arthropod taxa include freeze avoidance and the production of intracellular, antifreeze proteins. Climate changes in Antarctica are likely to pose significant challenges for the invertebrate fauna. Changes in temperature, soil moisture and associated shifts in taxon distributions as well as the potential for non-indigenous species introductions are all likely to have considerable impacts on the Antarctic fauna. From a conservation perspective, there is a pressing need for terrestrial observation networks to record the present state of Antarctic terrestrial ecosystems as well as to monitor impending changes. Biosecurity measures which minimize species introductions or transfers of organisms within Antarctica will be essential.

1 aCowan, Don, A.1 aHogg, Ian, D.1 aStevens, Mark, I.1 aWall, Diana, H. uhttp://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/978-3-642-45213-0_400753nas a2200193 4500008004100000245014000041210006900181260001200250300000800262490000700270100002100277700002300298700001700321700002500338700002400363700002400387700002200411856012600433 2012 eng d00aAntarctic Tardigrada: a first step in understanding molecular operational taxonomic units (MOTUs) and biogeography of cryptic meiofauna0 aAntarctic Tardigrada a first step in understanding molecular ope c12/2012 a5260 v261 aCzechowski, Paul1 aSands, Chester, J.1 aAdams, Byron1 aD'Haese, Cyrille, A.1 aGibson, John, A. E.1 aMcInnes, Sandra, J.1 aStevens, Mark, I. uhttps://mcm.lternet.edu/content/antarctic-tardigrada-first-step-understanding-molecular-operational-taxonomic-units-motus02734nas a2200229 4500008004100000245012900041210006900170260001600239300001100255490000600266520197000272100002402242700002202266700001902288700001602307700002202323700002002345700001702365700002102382700002402403856007702427 2012 eng d00aAt Limits of Life: Multidisciplinary Insights Reveal Environmental Constraints on Biotic Diversity in Continental Antarctica0 aAt Limits of Life Multidisciplinary Insights Reveal Environmenta cJul-09-2013 ae445780 v73 a

Multitrophic communities that maintain the functionality of the extreme Antarctic terrestrial ecosystems, while the simplest of any natural community, are still challenging our knowledge about the limits to life on earth. In this study, we describe and interpret the linkage between the diversity of different trophic level communities to the geological morphology and soil geochemistry in the remote Transantarctic Mountains (Darwin Mountains, 80°S). We examined the distribution and diversity of biota (bacteria, cyanobacteria, lichens, algae, invertebrates) with respect to elevation, age of glacial drift sheets, and soil physicochemistry. Results showed an abiotic spatial gradient with respect to the diversity of the organisms across different trophic levels. More complex communities, in terms of trophic level diversity, were related to the weakly developed younger drifts (Hatherton and Britannia) with higher soil C/N ratio and lower total soluble salts content (thus lower conductivity). Our results indicate that an increase of ion concentration from younger to older drift regions drives a succession of complex to more simple communities, in terms of number of trophic levels and diversity within each group of organisms analysed. This study revealed that integrating diversity across multi-trophic levels of biotic communities with abiotic spatial heterogeneity and geological history is fundamental to understand environmental constraints influencing biological distribution in Antarctic soil ecosystems.

 
1 aMagalhaes, Catarina1 aStevens, Mark, I.1 aCary, Craig, S1 aBall, Becky1 aStorey, Bryan, C.1 aWall, Diana, H.1 aTürk, Roman1 aRuprecht, Ulrike1 ade Bello, Francesco uhttp://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0044578