03147nas a2200241 4500008004100000245006800041210006800109260001200177300001400189490000800203520239000211653001102601100002202612700002302634700001702657700002402674700002102698700002402719700002002743700002402763700002102787856009702808 2007 eng d00aBiogeochemical stoichiometry of Antarctic Dry Valley ecosystems0 aBiogeochemical stoichiometry of Antarctic Dry Valley ecosystems c02/2007 aG01010+120 v1123 a

Among aquatic and terrestrial landscapes of the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica, ecosystem stoichiometry ranges from values near the Redfield ratios for C:N:P to nutrient concentrations in proportions far above or below ratios necessary to support balanced microbial growth. This polar desert provides an opportunity to evaluate stoichiometric approaches to understand nutrient cycling in an ecosystem where biological diversity and activity are low, and controls over the movement and mass balances of nutrients operate over 10–106 years. The simple organisms (microbial and metazoan) comprising dry valley foodwebs adhere to strict biochemical requirements in the composition of their biomass, and when activated by availability of liquid water, they influence the chemical composition of their environment according to these ratios. Nitrogen and phosphorus varied significantly in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems occurring on landscape surfaces across a wide range of exposure ages, indicating strong influences of landscape development and geochemistry on nutrient availability. Biota control the elemental ratio of stream waters, while geochemical stoichiometry (e.g., weathering, atmospheric deposition) evidently limits the distribution of soil invertebrates. We present a conceptual model describing transformations across dry valley landscapes facilitated by exchanges of liquid water and biotic processing of dissolved nutrients. We conclude that contemporary ecosystem stoichiometry of Antarctic Dry Valley soils, glaciers, streams, and lakes results from a combination of extant biological processes superimposed on a legacy of landscape processes and previous climates.

10aBiggie1 aBarrett, John, E.1 aVirginia, Ross, A.1 aLyons, Berry1 aMcKnight, Diane, M.1 aPriscu, John, C.1 aFountain, Andrew, G1 aWall, Diana, H.1 aMoorhead, Daryl, L.1 aDoran, Peter, T. uhttps://mcm.lternet.edu/content/biogeochemical-stoichiometry-antarctic-dry-valley-ecosystems01239nas a2200157 4500008004100000245010700041210006900148260001200217300001400229490000800243520072000251653001100971653000900982100002000991856007001011 2007 eng d00aGlobal Change tipping points: Above- and below-ground biotic interactions in a low diversity ecosystem0 aGlobal Change tipping points Above and belowground biotic intera c12/2007 a2291-23060 v3623 a

Low diversity ecosystems are expected to be more vulnerable to global changes although they have received less attention than high diversity ecosystems. Addressing the present state of the Antarctic Dry Valley region by focusing on the potential global changes that may alter the coupling of above- and below-ground species and ecosystem processes is a realistic and critical need that has value beyond the Antarctic community. Presented here are suggested implications of global change on the Dry Valley terrestrial systems and how these effects might be manifested in the future.

10aBiggie10asoil1 aWall, Diana, H. uhttp://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/362/1488/2291.full02560nas a2200205 4500008004100000245008000041210006900121300001200190490000700202520193000209653001102139100002202150700002002172700002302192700002202215700001302237700001802250700001702268856006902285 2006 eng d00aWind dispersal of soil invertebrates in the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica0 aWind dispersal of soil invertebrates in the McMurdo Dry Valleys  a346-3520 v293 a

Dispersal of soil organisms is crucial for their spatial distribution and adaptation to the prevailing conditions of the Antarctic Dry Valleys. This study investigated the possibility of wind dispersal of soil invertebrates within the dry valleys. Soil invertebrates were evaluated in (1) pockets of transported sediments to lake ice and glacier surfaces, (2) wind-transported dust particles in collection pans (Bundt pans) 100 cm above the soil surface, and (3) sediments transported closer to the surface (<50 cm) and collected in open top chambers (OTCs). Invertebrates were extracted and identified. Nematodes were identified to species and classified according to life stage and sex. Three species of nematodes were recovered and Scottnema lindsayae was the most dominant. There were more juveniles (∼71%) in the transported sediments than adults (29%). Tardigrades and rotifers were more abundant in sediments on lake and glacier surfaces while nematodes were more abundant in the dry sediment collections of Bundt pans and OTCs. The abundance of immobile (dead) nematodes in the Bundt pans and OTCs was three times greater than active (live) nematodes. Anhydrobiosis constitutes a survival mechanism that allows wind dispersal of nematodes in the McMurdo Dry Valleys. Our results show that soil invertebrates are dispersed by wind in the Dry Valleys and are viable in ice communities on lake surfaces and glaciers.

10aBiggie1 aNkem, Johnson, N.1 aWall, Diana, H.1 aVirginia, Ross, A.1 aBarrett, John, E.1 aBroos, E1 aPorazinska, D1 aAdams, Byron uhttp://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007%2Fs00300-005-0061-x02635nas a2200181 4500008004100000245007200041210006900113260001200182300001200194490000700206520208100213653001102294100002202305700002302327700002402350700002002374856005902394 2005 eng d00aPotential soil organic matter turnover in Taylor Valley, Antarctica0 aPotential soil organic matter turnover in Taylor Valley Antarcti c02/2005 a108-1170 v373 a

Antarctic Dry Valley ecosystems are among the most inhospitable soil ecosystems on earth with simple food webs and nearly undetectable fluxes of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N). Due to the lack of vascular plants, soil organic matter concentrations are extremely low, and it is unclear how much of the contemporary soil C budget is actively cycling or a legacy of paleolake production and sedimentation. While recent work indicates multiple sources of organic matter for dry valley soils, the composition and kinetics of organic pools remain poorly characterized. We examined soil organic matter pools and potential C and N turnover in soils from within six sites located across three hydrological basins of Taylor Valley, Antarctica that differed in surface age, microclimate and proximity to legacy (paleolake) sources of organic matter. We estimated potential C and N mineralization, and rate kinetics using gas exchange and repeated leaching techniques during 90-d incubations of surface soils collected from valley basin and valley slope positions in three basins of Taylor Valley. Soil organic C content was negatively correlated with the ages of underlying tills, supporting previous descriptions of legacy organic matter. Carbon and N mineralization generally followed 1st order kinetics and were well described by exponential models. Labile pools of C (90 d) were 10% of the total organic C in the upper 5 cm of the soil profile. Labile N was 50% of the total N in surface soils of Taylor Valley. These results show that a large proportion of soil C and particularly N are mineralizable under suitable conditions and suggest that a kinetically defined labile pool of organic matter is potentially active in the field during brief intervals of favorable microclimate. Climate variation changing the duration of these conditions may have potentially large effects on the small pools of C and N in these soils.

10aBiggie1 aBarrett, John, E.1 aVirginia, Ross, A.1 aParsons, Andrew, N.1 aWall, Diana, H. uhttp://instaar.metapress.com/content/e653225425230175/00760nas a2200229 4500008004100000245012700041210006900168260001200237300001000249490000700259653001100266100002500277700002200302700002100324700002400345700001700369700002400386700001800410700002300428700002000451856005900471 2002 eng d00aSnow patch influence on soil biogeochemical processes and invertebrate distribution in the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica0 aSnow patch influence on soil biogeochemical processes and invert c02/2003 a91-990 v3510aBiggie1 aGooseff, Michael, N.1 aBarrett, John, E.1 aDoran, Peter, T.1 aFountain, Andrew, G1 aLyons, Berry1 aParsons, Andrew, N.1 aPorazinska, D1 aVirginia, Ross, A.1 aWall, Diana, H. uhttp://instaar.metapress.com/content/r086455ju7213711/00562nas a2200169 4500008004100000245007600041210006900117260001200186300001200198490000700210653001100217653002400228100002000252700002000272700002300292856007700315 2000 eng d00aThe use of anhydrobiosis by soil nematodes in the Antarctic Dry Valleys0 ause of anhydrobiosis by soil nematodes in the Antarctic Dry Vall c08/2000 a460-4670 v1410aBiggie10asurvival strategies1 aTreonis, Amy, M1 aWall, Diana, H.1 aVirginia, Ross, A. uhttp://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1046/j.1365-2435.2000.00442.x/full