02147nas a2200205 4500008004100000245009900041210006900140260005900209300000800268490000900276520148500285653001501770653001601785653001401801653001801815653001701833100002201850700002101872856004801893 2024 eng d00aDevelopment of a laboratory simulation for freeze-thaw of aeolian sediments in glacial systems0 aDevelopment of a laboratory simulation for freezethaw of aeolian aBoulder, CO, USAbUniversity of Colorado Boulderc2024 a2610 vM.A.3 a

Glacial systems are vital for supplying trace metals, nutrients, and weathering products to downstream ecosystems. While subglacial and proglacial weathering pathways are highly studied, supraglacial weathering processes receive less attention. Aeolian sediments on glaciers can lower albedo, generating meltwater; this water can refreeze around sediment grains during cloudy periods or when the sun is obstructed, resulting in a freeze-thaw process. For solute generation in the most upstream source in glacial-proglacial environments, it's unclear whether chemical or physical weathering dominates nutrient release. This study presents a methodology to simulate freeze-thaw processes in a controlled laboratory setting to understand the importance of freeze-thaw in nutrient mobilization. Analysis of sediments from Antarctica's McMurdo Dry Valleys showed significant differences in the concentrations of ion, nutrient, and trace metal between initial wetting and subsequent freeze-thaw cycles. For example, phosphorus concentrations consistently increased with each cycle, indicating that freeze-thaw is an important mobilization mechanism for this nutrient. Silicon increased from cycle 1-30 but decreased at cycle 60 and iron concentrations were initially higher but decreased during subsequent cycles. This research highlights the importance of freeze-thaw processes in understanding glacial weathering dynamics and nutrient release for downstream ecosystems.

10aAntarctica10afreeze-thaw10anutrients10aTaylor Valley10atrace metals1 aMondragon, Denise1 aDiaz, Melisa, A. uhttps://www.proquest.com/docview/306679220201795nas a2200205 4500008004100000022001400041245009300055210006900148260001200217520099200229653002501221653001901246653002401265100002101289700002901310700002201339700001701361700001701378856019401395 2023 eng d a0260-305500aChange at 85 degrees south: Shackleton Glacier region proglacial lakes from 1960 to 20200 aChange at 85 degrees south Shackleton Glacier region proglacial  c05/20233 a

Over the last two decades, anomalous warming events have been observed in coastal Antarctic regions. While these events have been documented in the Ross Sea sector, the Antarctic interior is believed to have been buffered from warming. In this work, we present data from lakes located near Mt. Heekin and Thanksgiving Valley (~85° S) along the Shackleton Glacier, which are believed to be the southern-most Antarctic dry valley lakes. In 2018, the lakes were characterized, repeat satellite images were examined, and lake water chemistry was measured. Our analysis shows that lake areas recently increased, and the water-soluble ion chemistry indicates a flushing of salts from periglacial soils, likely from increased glacial melt as illustrated by water isotope data. Our results show that high southern latitude ice-free areas have likely been affected by warm pulses over the past 60 years and these pulses may be quasi-synchronous throughout the Transantarctic Mountains.

10aAntarctic glaciology10aclimate change10ameltwater chemistry1 aDiaz, Melisa, A.1 aGardner, Christopher, B.1 aElliot, David, H.1 aAdams, Byron1 aLyons, Berry uhttps://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/annals-of-glaciology/article/change-at-85-degrees-south-shackleton-glacier-region-proglacial-lakes-from-1960-to-2020/565D96AD7AE72BD22C49CCB772867AC402259nas a2200289 4500008004100000245009100041210006900132260001200201490000600213520140100219653002301620653001601643653001401659653001001673653001801683100002401701700001701725700002101742700002601763700002601789700001701815700001701832700001801849700002001867700001801887856006401905 2023 eng d00aStrong dispersal limitation of microbial communities at Shackleton Glacier, Antarctica0 aStrong dispersal limitation of microbial communities at Shacklet c01/20230 v83 a

Microbial communities can be structured by both deterministic and stochastic processes, but the relative importance of these processes remains unknown. The ambiguity partly arises from an inability to disentangle soil microbial processes from confounding factors, such as aboveground plant communities or anthropogenic disturbance. In this study, we characterized the relative contributions of determinism and stochasticity to assembly processes of soil bacterial communities across a large environmental gradient of undisturbed Antarctic soils. We hypothesized that harsh soils would impose a strong environmental selection on microbial communities, whereas communities in benign soils would be structured largely by dispersal. Contrary to our expectations, dispersal was the dominant assembly mechanism across the entire soil environmental gradient, including benign environments. The microbial community composition reflects slowly changing soil conditions and dispersal limitation of isolated sites. Thus, stochastic processes, as opposed to deterministic, are primary drivers of soil ecosystem assembly across space at our study site. This is especially surprising given the strong environmental constraints on soil microorganisms in one of the harshest environments on the planet, suggesting that dispersal could be a driving force in microbial community assembly in soils worldwide.

10acommunity assembly10adeterminism10adispersal10aniche10astochasticity1 aLemoine, Nathan, P.1 aAdams, Byron1 aDiaz, Melisa, A.1 aDragone, Nicholas, B.1 aFranco, André, L. C.1 aFierer, Noah1 aLyons, Berry1 aHogg, Ian, D.1 aWall, Diana, H.1 aLurgi, Miguel uhttps://journals.asm.org/doi/full/10.1128/msystems.01254-2202367nas a2200289 4500008004100000245011400041210006900155260001200224300001400236490000600250520147700256653001501733653002201748653002201770653001001792100002601802700002401828700002701852700002101879700001801900700001701918700002001935700001701955700001701972700002401989856006402013 2022 eng d00aElevational constraints on the composition and genomic attributes of microbial communities in Antarctic soils0 aElevational constraints on the composition and genomic attribute c01/2022 ae01330-210 v73 a

The inland soils found on the Antarctic continent represent one of the more challenging environments for microbial life on Earth. Nevertheless, Antarctic soils harbor unique bacterial and archaeal (prokaryotic) communities able to cope with extremely cold and dry conditions. These communities are not homogeneous, and the taxonomic composition and functional capabilities (genomic attributes) of these communities across environmental gradients remain largely undetermined. We analyzed the prokaryotic communities in soil samples collected from across the Shackleton Glacier region of Antarctica by coupling quantitative PCR, marker gene amplicon sequencing, and shotgun metagenomic sequencing. We found that elevation was the dominant factor explaining differences in the structures of the soil prokaryotic communities, with the drier and saltier soils found at higher elevations harboring less diverse communities and unique assemblages of cooccurring taxa. The higher-elevation soil communities also had lower maximum potential growth rates (as inferred from metagenome-based estimates of codon usage bias) and an overrepresentation of genes associated with trace gas metabolism. Together, these results highlight the utility of assessing community shifts across pronounced environmental gradients to improve our understanding of the microbial diversity found in Antarctic soils and the strategies used by soil microbes to persist at the limits of habitability.

10aAntarctica10amicrobial ecology10asoil microbiology10asoils1 aDragone, Nicholas, B.1 aHenley, Jessica, B.1 aHolland-Moritz, Hannah1 aDiaz, Melisa, A.1 aHogg, Ian, D.1 aLyons, Berry1 aWall, Diana, H.1 aAdams, Byron1 aFierer, Noah1 aMackelprang, Rachel uhttps://journals.asm.org/doi/full/10.1128/msystems.01330-2102944nas a2200301 4500008004100000022001400041245009600055210007100151260001200222490000700234520204100241653001702282653001902299653002002318653001402338653002302352653002302375100002602398700001702424700002102441700002402462700002602486700001702512700001702529700001802546700002002564856005802584 2022 eng d a1354-101300aResponse of Antarctic soil fauna to climate‐driven changes since the Last Glacial Maximum0 aResponse of Antarctic soil fauna to climate‐driven changes since c01/20220 v283 a

Understanding how terrestrial biotic communities have responded to glacial recession since the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) can inform present and future responses of biota to climate change. In Antarctica, the Transantarctic Mountains (TAM) have experienced massive environmental changes associated with glacial retreat since the LGM, yet we have few clues as to how its soil invertebrate-dominated animal communities have responded. Here, we surveyed soil invertebrate fauna from above and below proposed LGM elevations along transects located at 12 features across the Shackleton Glacier region. Our transects captured gradients of surface ages possibly up to 4.5 million years and the soils have been free from human disturbance for their entire history. Our data support the hypothesis that soils exposed during the LGM are now less suitable habitats for invertebrates than those that have been exposed by deglaciation following the LGM. Our results show that faunal abundance, community composition, and diversity were all strongly affected by climate-driven changes since the LGM. Soils more recently exposed by glacial recession (as indicated by distances from present ice surfaces) had higher faunal abundances and species richness than older exposed soils. Higher abundances of the dominant nematode Scottnema were found in older exposed soils, while Eudorylaimus, Plectus, tardigrades, and rotifers preferentially occurred in more recently exposed soils. Approximately 30% of the soils from which invertebrates could be extracted had only Scottnema, and these single-taxon communities occurred more frequently in soils exposed for longer periods of time. Our structural equation modeling of abiotic drivers highlighted soil salinity as a key mediator of Scottnema responses to soil exposure age. These changes in soil habitat suitability and biotic communities since the LGM indicate that Antarctic terrestrial biodiversity throughout the TAM will be highly altered by climate warming.

10abiodiversity10aclimate change10aglacial retreat10anematodes10aShackleton Glacier10asoil invertebrates1 aFranco, André, L. C.1 aAdams, Byron1 aDiaz, Melisa, A.1 aLemoine, Nathan, P.1 aDragone, Nicholas, B.1 aFierer, Noah1 aLyons, Berry1 aHogg, Ian, D.1 aWall, Diana, H. uhttps://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/gcb.1594002506nas a2200289 4500008004100000022001400041245006300055210006300118260001200181490000800193520169900201653001501900653001701915653001301932653001801945653001001963653001001973100002601983700002102009700001802030700001702048700002002065700002002085700002102105700001702126856007302143 2021 eng d a2169-895300aExploring the boundaries of microbial habitability in soil0 aExploring the boundaries of microbial habitability in soil c06/20210 v1263 a

Microbes are widely assumed to be capable of colonizing even the most challenging terrestrial surface environments on Earth given enough time. We would not expect to find surface soils uninhabited by microbes as soils typically harbor diverse microbial communities and viable microbes have been detected in soils exposed to even the most inhospitable conditions. However, if uninhabited soils do exist, we might expect to find them in Antarctica. We analyzed 204 ice-free soils collected from across a remote valley in the Transantarctic Mountains (84–85°S, 174–177°W) and were able to identify a potential limit of microbial habitability. While most of the soils we tested contained diverse microbial communities, with fungi being particularly ubiquitous, microbes could not be detected in many of the driest, higher elevation soils—results that were confirmed using cultivation-dependent, cultivation-independent, and metabolic assays. While we cannot confirm that this subset of soils is completely sterile and devoid of microbial life, our results suggest that microbial life is severely restricted in the coldest, driest, and saltiest Antarctic soils. Constant exposure to these conditions for thousands of years has limited microbial communities so that their presence and activity is below detectable limits using a variety of standard methods. Such soils are unlikely to be unique to the studied region with this work supporting previous hypotheses that microbial habitability is constrained by near-continuous exposure to cold, dry, and salty conditions, establishing the environmental conditions that limit microbial life in terrestrial surface soils.

10aAntarctica10aastrobiology10abacteria10aextremophiles10afungi10asoils1 aDragone, Nicholas, B.1 aDiaz, Melisa, A.1 aHogg, Ian, D.1 aLyons, Berry1 aJackson, Andrew1 aWall, Diana, H.1 aAdams, Byron, J.1 aFierer, Noah uhttps://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1029/2020JG00605202615nas a2200229 4500008004100000245011400041210006900155260001200224300001600236490000700252520188900259100002102148700002902169700002102198700002002219700002102239700002002260700001802280700001702298700001702315856005302332 2021 eng d00aGeochemical zones and environmental gradients for soils from the central Transantarctic Mountains, Antarctica0 aGeochemical zones and environmental gradients for soils from the c03/2021 a1629 - 16440 v183 a

Previous studies have established links between biodiversity and soil geochemistry in the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica, where environmental gradients are important determinants of soil biodiversity. However, these gradients are not well established in the central Transantarctic Mountains, which are thought to represent some of the least hospitable Antarctic soils. We analyzed 220 samples from 11 ice-free areas along the Shackleton Glacier (~85°S), a major outlet glacier of the East Antarctic Ice Sheet. We established three zones of distinct geochemical gradients near the head of the glacier (upper), its central part (middle), and at the mouth (lower). The upper zone had the highest water-soluble salt concentrations with total salt concentrations exceeding 80 000 µg g-1, while the lower zone had the lowest water-soluble N:P ratios, suggesting that, in addition to other parameters (such as proximity to water and/or ice), the lower zone likely represents the most favorable ecological habitats. Given the strong dependence of geochemistry on geographic parameters, we developed multiple linear regression and random forest models to predict soil geochemical trends given latitude, longitude, elevation, distance from the coast, distance from the glacier, and soil moisture (variables which can be inferred from remote measurements). Confidence in our random forest model predictions was moderately high with R2 values for total water-soluble salts, water-soluble N:P, ClO4-, and ClO3- of 0.81, 0.88, 0.78, and 0.74, respectively. These modeling results can be used to predict geochemical gradients and estimate salt concentrations for other Transantarctic Mountain soils, information that can ultimately be used to better predict distributions of soil biota in this remote region.

1 aDiaz, Melisa, A.1 aGardner, Christopher, B.1 aWelch, Susan, A.1 aJackson, Andrew1 aAdams, Byron, J.1 aWall, Diana, H.1 aHogg, Ian, D.1 aFierer, Noah1 aLyons, Berry uhttps://bg.copernicus.org/articles/18/1629/2021/02540nas a2200289 4500008004100000245012600041210006900167260001200236490000800248520163000256653002101886653001501907653001701922653001501939653002401954653001901978100002101997700002102018700001902039700002402058700001902082700001702101700002402118700001902142700001702161856007202178 2020 eng d00aGeochemistry of aeolian material from the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica: Insights into Southern Hemisphere dust sources0 aGeochemistry of aeolian material from the McMurdo Dry Valleys An c10/20200 v5473 a

In the Southern Hemisphere, the major sources of dust and other aeolian materials are from Patagonia, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand. Dust from Patagonia and New Zealand has been identified in ice cores throughout Antarctica, suggesting that during arid and windy periods, such as glacial periods, dust can be entrained and transported onto the continent. However, little information exists on modern Antarctic dust sources, transport, and its role in the Southern Hemisphere dust cycle. We present the first geochemical characterization of aeolian materials collected at five heights (between 5 cm and 100 cm) above the surface in four valleys within the McMurdo Dry Valleys, the largest ice-free area in Antarctica. Our mineralogy data indicate that these materials are primarily derived from local rocks of the McMurdo Volcanics, Ferrar Dolerite, Beacon Sandstone and Granite Harbor Intrusives, with varying contributions of each rock type dependent on the valley location. While major oxide, trace element and rare earth element data show that low elevation and coastal locations (with respect to the Ross Sea) are dominated by local sources, high elevation and inland locations have accumulated both local materials and dust from other distant Southern Hemisphere sources. This far-traveled material may not be accumulating today, but represents a paleo source that is resuspended from the soils. By geochemically “fingerprinting” aeolian materials from the MDV, we can better inform future studies on the transport of materials within Antarctica and between Southern Hemisphere land masses.

10aaeolian material10aAntarctica10amajor oxides10amineralogy10arare earth elements10atrace elements1 aDiaz, Melisa, A.1 aWelch, Susan, A.1 aSheets, J., M.1 aWelch, Kathleen, A.1 aKhan, Alia, L.1 aAdams, Byron1 aMcKnight, Diane, M.1 aCary, Craig, S1 aLyons, Berry uhttps://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0012821X2030404002534nas a2200229 4500008004100000245010900041210006900150260001200219300001600231490000800247520179600255100002102051700001702072700002402089700001502113700002302128700001902151700002402170700001902194700001702213856007402230 2018 eng d00aAeolian material transport and its role in landscape connectivity in the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica0 aAeolian material transport and its role in landscape connectivit c12/2018 a3323 - 33370 v1233 a

Arid regions, particularly polar and alpine desert environments, have diminished landscape connectivity compared to temperate regions due to limited and/or seasonal hydrological processes. For these environments, aeolian processes play a particularly important role in landscape evolution and biotic community vitality through nutrient and solute additions. The McMurdo Dry Valleys (MDV) are the largest ice-free area in Antarctica and are potentially a major source of aeolian material for the continent. From this region, samples were collected at five heights (~5, 10, 20, 50, and 100 cm) above the surface seasonally for 2013 through 2015 from Alatna Valley, Victoria Valley, Miers Valley, and Taylor Valley (Taylor Glacier, East Lake Bonney, F6 (Lake Fryxell), and Explorer’s Cove). Despite significant geological separation and varying glacial histories, low-elevation and coastal sites had similar major ion chemistries, as did high-elevation and inland locations. This locational clustering of compositions was also evident in scanning electron microscopy images and principal component analyses, particularly for samples collected at ~100 cm above the surface. Compared to published soil literature, aeolian material in Taylor Valley demonstrates a primarily down-valley transport of material toward the coast. Soluble N:P ratios in the aeolian material reflect relative nutrient enrichments seen in MDV soils and lakes, where younger, coastal soils are relatively N depleted, while older, up-valley soils are relatively P depleted. The aeolian transport of materials, including water-soluble nutrients, is an important vector of connectivity within the MDV and provides a mechanism to help “homogenize” the geochemistry of both soil and aquatic ecosystems.

1 aDiaz, Melisa, A.1 aAdams, Byron1 aWelch, Kathleen, A.1 aWelch, Sue1 aOpiyo, Stephen, O.1 aKhan, Alia, L.1 aMcKnight, Diane, M.1 aCary, Craig, S1 aLyons, Berry uhttps://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1029/2017JF00458903009nas a2200133 4500008004100000245011500041210006900156260002600225490000900251520251000260100002102770700001702791856006702808 2017 eng d00aSpatial and Temporal Geochemical Characterization of Aeolian Material from the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica0 aSpatial and Temporal Geochemical Characterization of Aeolian Mat bOhio State University0 vM.S.3 a

Aeolian processes play an important role in the transport of both geological and biological materials globally, on the biogeochemistry of ecosystems, and in landscape evolution. As the largest ice free area on the Antarctic continent (approximately 4800 km2), the McMurdo Dry Valleys (MDV) are potentially a major source of aeolian material for Antarctica, but information on the spatial and temporal variability of this material is needed to understand its soluble and bulk geochemistry, deposition and source, and hence influence on ecosystem dynamics. 53 samples of aeolian material from Alatna Valley, Victoria Valley, Miers Valley, and Taylor Valley (Taylor Glacier, East Lake Bonney, F6 (Lake Fryxell), and Explorer’s Cove) were collected at five heights (5, 10, 20, 50, 100 cm) above the surface seasonally for 2013 through 2015. The sediment was analyzed for soluble solids, total and organic carbon, minerology, and bulk chemistry. Of the soluble component, the major anions varied between Cl- and HCO3-, and the major cation was Na+ for all sites. Soluble N:P ratios in the aeolian material reflect nutrient limitations seen in MDV soils, where younger, coastal soils are N-limited, while older, up valley soils are P-limited. Material from East Lake Bonney was P-limited in the winter samples, but N-limited in the full year samples, suggesting different sources of material based on season. Analysis of soluble salts in aeolian material in Taylor Valley compared to published soil literature demonstrates a primarily down valley transport of materials from Taylor Glacier towards the coast. The bulk chemistry suggests that the aeolian material is highly unweathered (CIA values less than 60 %), but scanning electron microscope images show alteration for some individual sediment grains. The mineralogy was reflective of local rocks, specifically the McMurdo Volcanics, Ferrar Dolerite, Beacon Sandstone and granite, but variations in major oxide percentages and rare earth element signatures could not be explained by mixing lines between these four rock types. This potentially suggests that there may be an additional, and possibly distant, source of aeolian material to the MDV that is not accounted for. This work provides the first fully elevated spatial and temporal analysis of the geochemistry of aeolian material from the Dry Valleys, and contributes to a better understanding of sediment provenance and how aeolian deposition may affect surface biological communities.

1 aDiaz, Melisa, A.1 aLyons, Berry uhttp://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1500468216147725