02597nas a2200229   4500008004100000245011900041210006900160260001200229520184900241653001502090653001802105653002602123653000902149653001502158653001902173100002102192700002402213700002002237700002102257700002202278856006702300       2020                        eng d00aEstimating microbial mat biomass in the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica using satellite imagery and ground surveys0 aEstimating microbial mat biomass in the McMurdo Dry Valleys Anta  c09/20203 a<p>Cyanobacterial mat communities are the main drivers of primary productivity in the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica. These microbial communities form laminar mats on desert pavement surfaces adjacent to glacial meltwater streams, ponds, and lakes. The low-density nature of these communities and their patchy distribution make assessments of distribution, biomass, and productivity challenging. We used satellite imagery coupled with in situ surveying, imaging, and sampling to systematically estimate microbial mat biomass in selected wetland regions in Taylor Valley, Antarctica. On January 19th, 2018, the WorldView-2 multispectral satellite acquired an image of our study areas, where we surveyed and sampled seven 100 m<sup>2</sup> plots of microbial mats for percent ground cover, ash-free dry mass (AFDM), and pigment content (chlorophyll-a, carotenoids, and scytonemin). Multispectral analyses revealed spectral signatures consistent with photosynthetic activity (relatively strong reflection at near-infrared wavelengths and relatively strong absorption at visible wavelengths), with average normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) values of 0.09 to 0.28. Strong correlations of microbial mat ground cover (R<sup>2</sup>&thinsp;=&thinsp;0.84), biomass (R<sup>2</sup>&thinsp;=&thinsp;0.74), chlorophyll-a content (R<sup>2</sup>&thinsp;=&thinsp;0.65), and scytonemin content (R<sup>2</sup>&thinsp;=&thinsp;0.98) with logit transformed NDVI values demonstrate that satellite imagery can detect both the presence of microbial mats and their key biological properties. Using the NDVI&mdash;biomass correlation we developed, we estimate carbon (C) stocks of 21,715 kg (14.7 g C m<sup>&minus;2</sup>) in the Canada Glacier Antarctic Specially Protected Area, with an upper and lower limit of 74,871 and 6312 kg of C, respectively.</p>10aAntarctica10amicrobial mat10amultispectral imagery10aNDVI10aNostocales10aremote sensing1 aPower, Sarah, N.1 aSalvatore, Mark, R.1 aSokol, Eric, R.1 aStanish, Lee, F.1 aBarrett, John, E.  uhttps://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs00300-020-02742-y02051nas a2200253   4500008004100000245010800041210006900149260001200218520110900230653001201339653001401351653002401365653001701389653001901406653001701425100002401442700002501466700002201491700002001513700002101533700002101554700001601575856020601591       2020                        eng d00aRemote characterization of photosynthetic communities in the Fryxell basin of Taylor Valley, Antarctica0 aRemote characterization of photosynthetic communities in the Fry  c03/20203 a<p>We investigate the spatial distribution, spectral properties and temporal variability of primary producers (e.g. communities of microbial mats and mosses) throughout the Fryxell basin of Taylor Valley, Antarctica, using high-resolution multispectral remote-sensing data. Our results suggest that photosynthetic communities can be readily detected throughout the Fryxell basin based on their unique near-infrared spectral signatures. Observed intra- and inter-annual variability in spectral signatures are consistent with short-term variations in mat distribution, hydration and photosynthetic activity. Spectral unmixing is also implemented in order to estimate mat abundance, with the most densely vegetated regions observed from orbit correlating spatially with some of the most productive regions of the Fryxell basin. Our work establishes remote sensing as a valuable tool in the study of these ecological communities in the McMurdo Dry Valleys and demonstrates how future scientific investigations and the management of specially protected areas could benefit from these tools and techniques.</p>10aecology10ahydrology10aMcMurdo Dry Valleys10amicrobiology10aremote sensing10aspectroscopy1 aSalvatore, Mark, R.1 aBorges, Schuyler, R.1 aBarrett, John, E.1 aSokol, Eric, R.1 aStanish, Lee, F.1 aPower, Sarah, N.1 aMorin, Paul  uhttps://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/antarctic-science/article/remote-characterization-of-photosynthetic-communities-in-the-fryxell-basin-of-taylor-valley-antarctica/8576F6BB1BCFDCA8409F5EA96CA00C6F