02706nas a2200481 4500008004100000245003700041210003700078260001200115520135400127100002401481700002001505700002801525700002001553700002001573700002201593700002501615700001601640700001901656700002001675700002601695700001901721700002001740700002601760700002901786700001901815700002401834700001801858700002401876700002401900700002801924700002401952700001101976700001901987700003402006700002702040700001602067700002402083700001402107700001302121700001602134700001902150856005502169 2025 eng d00aAtmospheric rivers in Antarctica0 aAtmospheric rivers in Antarctica c02/20253 a

Antarctic atmospheric rivers (ARs) are a form of extreme weather that transport heat and moisture from the Southern Hemisphere subtropics and/or mid-latitudes to the Antarctic continent. Present-day AR events generally have a positive influence on the Antarctic ice-sheet mass balance by producing heavy snowfall, yet they also cause melt of sea ice and coastal ice sheet areas, as well as ice shelf destabilization. In this Review, we explore the atmospheric dynamics and impacts of Antarctic ARs over their life cycle to better understand their net contributions to ice-sheet mass balance. ARs occur in high-amplitude pressure couplets, and those strong enough to reach the Antarctic are often formed within Rossby waves initiated by tropical convection. Antarctic ARs are rare events (~3 days per year per location) but have been responsible for 50–70% of extreme snowfall events in East Antarctica since the 1980s. However, they can also trigger extensive surface melting events, such as the final ice shelf collapse of Larsen A in 1995 and Larsen B in 2002. Climate change will likely cause stronger ARs as anthropogenic warming increases atmospheric water vapour. Future research must determine how these climate change impacts will alter the relationship among Antarctic ARs, net ice-sheet mass balance and future sea-level rise.

1 aWille, Jonathan, D.1 aFavier, Vincent1 aGorodetskaya, Irina, V.1 aAgosta, Cécile1 aBaiman, Rebecca1 aBarrett, John, E.1 aBarthelemy, Léonard1 aBoza, Burcu1 aBozkurt, Deniz1 aCasado, Mathieu1 aChyhareva, Anastasiia1 aClem, Kyle, R.1 aCodron, Francis1 aDatta, Rajashree, Tri1 aDurán-Alarcón, Claudio1 aFrancis, Diana1 aHoffman, Andrew, O.1 aKolbe, Marlen1 aKrakovska, Svitlana1 aLinscott, Gabrielle1 aMaclennan, Michelle, L.1 aMattingly, Kyle, S.1 aMu, Ye1 aPohl, Benjamin1 aSantos, Christophe, Leroy-Dos1 aShields, Christine, A.1 aToker, Emir1 aWinters, Andrew, C.1 aYin, Ziqi1 aZou, Xun1 aZhang, Chen1 aZhang, Zhenhai uhttps://www.nature.com/articles/s43017-024-00638-702735nas a2200325 4500008004100000022001400041245008600055210006900141260001200210490000700222520179000229653001502019653001302034653001002047653002202057653001002079100002602089700002402115700002502139700002102164700001802185700002502203700002102228700002202249700001902271700002402290700002102314700001702335856005702352 2025 eng d a0722-406000aA comprehensive survey of soil microbial diversity across the Antarctic continent0 acomprehensive survey of soil microbial diversity across the Anta c02/20250 v483 a

Antarctic soils are unique from those found nearly anywhere else on Earth yet can still harbor a broad diversity of microorganisms able to tolerate the challenging conditions typical of the continent. For these reasons, microbiologists have been drawn to Antarctica for decades. However, our understanding of which microbes thrive in Antarctic soils and how they to do so remains limited. To help resolve these knowledge gaps, we analyzed a collection of 200 archived Antarctic soils—from Livingston Island on the Antarctic Peninsula to Cape Hallett in northern Victoria Land. We analyzed the prokaryotic and fungal communities in these soils using both cultivation-independent marker gene sequencing and cultivation-dependent approaches (microbial isolation), paired with extensive soil geochemical analyses. Our cultivation-independent analyses indicate that colder, saltier, and drier soils harbor less diverse communities of bacteria and fungi, distinct from those found in soils with less challenging conditions. We also built a culture collection from a subset of these soils that encompasses more than 50 bacterial and fungal genera, including cold-tolerant organisms, such as <i>Cryobacterium</i> and <i>Cryomyces</i>. By directly comparing the diversity of our cultured isolates against our cultivation-independent data, we show that many of the more abundant Antarctic taxa are not readily cultivated and highlight bacterial and fungal taxa that should be the focus of future cultivation efforts. Together, we hope that our collection of isolates, the comprehensive data compiled from the cultivation-independent analyses, and our geochemical analyses will serve as a community resource to accelerate the study of Antarctic soil microbes.

10aAntarctica10abacteria10afungi10amicrobial ecology10asoils1 aDragone, Nicholas, B.1 aChildress, Mary, K.1 aVanderburgh, Caihong1 aWillmore, Rachel1 aHogg, Ian, D.1 aSancho, Leopoldo, G.1 aLee, Charles, K.1 aBarrett, John, E.1 aQuandt, Alisha1 aLeMonte, Joshua, J.1 aAdams, Byron, J.1 aFierer, Noah uhttps://link.springer.com/10.1007/s00300-025-03372-y02348nas a2200217 4500008004100000022001400041245012100055210006900176260001200245520149200257653001101749653001801760653002201778653001501800653001301815653001701828100002101845700002301866700002201889856021901911 2025 eng d a0954-102000aMicrobial mat activity and soil biogeochemistry across variable phosphorus availability in Taylor Valley, Antarctica0 aMicrobial mat activity and soil biogeochemistry across variable  c05/20253 a

Primary production is fundamental to ecosystems, and in many extreme environments production is facilitated by microbial mats. Microbial mats are complex assemblages of photo- and heterotrophic microorganisms colonizing sediment and soil surfaces. These communities are the dominant producers of the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica, where they occupy lentic and lotic environments as well as intermittently wet soils. While the influence of microbial mats on stream nutrient dynamics and lake organic matter cycling is well documented, the influence of microbial mats on underlying soil is less well understood, particularly the effects of microbial mat nitrogen and carbon fixation. Taylor Valley soils occur across variable levels of inorganic phosphorus availability, with the Ross Sea drift containing four times that of the Taylor drifts, providing opportunities to examine how soil geochemistry influences microbial mats and the ecological functions they regulate. We found that inorganic phosphorus availability is positively correlated with microbial mat biomass, pigment concentration and nitrogen fixation potential. Additionally, our results demonstrate that dense microbial mats influence the ecological functioning of underlying soils by enriching organic carbon and total nitrogen stocks (two times higher). This work contributes to ongoing questions regarding the sources of energy fuelling soil food webs and the regional carbon balance in the McMurdo Dry Valleys.

10acarbon10acyanobacteria10anitrogen fixation10aphosphorus10apigments10asoil ecology1 aPower, Sarah, N.1 aOsburn, Ernest, D.1 aBarrett, John, E. uhttps://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/antarctic-science/article/microbial-mat-activity-and-soil-biogeochemistry-across-variable-phosphorus-availability-in-taylor-valley-antarctica/0655E2F09B8D6961618B8F396BA692F202394nas a2200301 4500008004100000022001400041245012200055210006900177260001200246300001100258490000800269520142600277653001501703653002401718653001901742653001901761653003401780653002301814100002801837700002001865700002501885700002401910700002201934700002101956700001901977700002101996856007502017 2025 eng d a0012-965800aRemote sensing for species distribution models: An illustration from a sentinel taxon of the world's driest ecosystem0 aRemote sensing for species distribution models An illustration f c02/2025 ae700350 v1063 a

In situ observed data are commonly used as species occurrence response variables in species distribution models. However, the use of remotely observed data from high-resolution multispectral remote-sensing images as a source of presence/absence data for species distribution models remains under-developed. Here, we describe an ensemble species distribution model of black microbial mats (Nostoc spp.) using presence/absence points derived from the unmixing of 4-m resolution WorldView-2 and WorldView-3 images in the Lake Fryxell basin region of Taylor Valley, Antarctica. Environmental and topographical characteristics such as soil moisture, snow, elevation, slope, and aspect were used as predictor variables in our models. We demonstrate that we can build and run ensemble species distribution models using both dependent and independent variables derived from remote-sensing data to generate spatially explicit habitat suitability maps. Snow and soil moisture were found to be the most important variables accounting for about 80% of the variation in the distribution of black mats throughout the Fryxell basin. This study highlights the potential contribution of high-resolution remote-sensing to species distribution modeling and informs new studies incorporating remotely derived species occurrences in species distribution models, especially in remote areas where access to in situ data is often limited.

10aAntarctica10aMcMurdo Dry Valleys10amicrobial mats10aremote sensing10aspecies distribution modeling10aspecies occurrence1 aThapa‐Magar, Khum, B.1 aSokol, Eric, R.1 aGooseff, Michael, N.1 aSalvatore, Mark, R.1 aBarrett, John, E.1 aLevy, Joseph, S.1 aKnightly, Paul1 aPower, Sarah, N. uhttps://esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/ecy.7003502267nas a2200265 4500008004100000022001400041245008300055210006900138260001200207490000700219520143800226653002201664653002001686653002401706653002401730653002301754100002501777700002101802700002301823700001701846700002101863700002401884700002201908856007101930 2025 eng d a1523-043000aSoil biota sensitivity to hydroclimate variability in a polar desert ecosystem0 aSoil biota sensitivity to hydroclimate variability in a polar de c05/20250 v573 a

An anomalous warm weather event in the Antarctic McMurdo Dry Valleys on 18 March 2022 created an opportunity to characterize soil biota communities most sensitive to freeze–thaw stress. This event caused unseasonal melt within Taylor Valley, activating stream water and microbial mats around Canada Stream. Liquid water availability in this polar desert is a driver of soil biota distribution and activity. Because climate change impacts hydrological regimes, we aimed to determine the effect on soil communities. We sampled soils identified from this event that experienced thaw, nearby hyper-arid areas, and wetted areas that did not experience thaw to compare soil bacterial and invertebrate communities. Areas that exhibited evidence of freeze–thaw supported the highest live and dead nematode counts and were composed of soil taxa from hyper-arid landscapes and wetted areas. They received water inputs from snowpacks, hyporheic water, or glacial melt, contributing to community differences associated with organic matter and salinity gradients. Inundated soils had higher organic matter and lower conductivity (p < .02) and hosted the most diverse microbial and invertebrate communities on average. Our findings suggest that as liquid water becomes more available under predicted climate change, soil communities adapted to the hyper-arid landscape will shift toward diverse, wetted soil communities.

10aclimate variation10aextreme weather10aMcMurdo Dry Valleys10amicrobial community10asoil invertebrates1 aSnyder, Meredith, D.1 aAdams, Byron, J.1 aBorgmeier, Abigail1 aJorna, Jesse1 aPower, Sarah, N.1 aSalvatore, Mark, R.1 aBarrett, John, E. uhttps://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/15230430.2025.248528302546nas a2200241 4500008004100000022001400041245007500055210006900130260001200199490000700211520184500218653001302063653001102076653001202087653002402099653001902123653001702142100002102159700002402180700002402204700002202228856005402250 2024 eng d a2045-775800aHabitat suitability of biocrust communities in a cold desert ecosystem0 aHabitat suitability of biocrust communities in a cold desert eco c07/20240 v143 a

Drylands are unique among terrestrial ecosystems in that they have a significant proportion of primary production facilitated by non-vascular plants such as colonial cyanobacteria, moss, and lichens, i.e., biocrusts, which occur on and in the surface soil. Biocrusts inhabit all continents, including Antarctica, an increasingly dynamic continent on the precipice of change. Here, we describe in-situ field surveying and sampling, remote sensing, and modeling approaches to assess the habitat suitability of biocrusts in the Lake Fryxell basin of Taylor Valley, Antarctica, which is the main site of the McMurdo Dry Valleys Long-Term Ecological Research Program. Soils suitable for the development of biocrusts are typically wetter, less alkaline, and less saline compared to unvegetated soils. Using random forest models, we show that gravimetric water content, electrical conductivity, and snow frequency are the top predictors of biocrust presence and biomass. Areas most suitable for the growth of dense biocrusts are soils associated with seasonal snow patches. Using geospatial data to extrapolate our habitat suitability model to the whole basin predicts that biocrusts are present in 2.7 × 105 m2 and contain 11–72 Mg of aboveground carbon, based on the 90% probability of occurrence. Our study illustrates the synergistic effect of combining field and remote sensing data for understanding the distribution and biomass of biocrusts, a foundational community in the carbon balance of this region. Extreme weather events and changing climate conditions in this region, especially those influencing snow accumulation and persistence, could have significant effects on the future distribution and abundance of biocrusts and therefore soil organic carbon storage in the McMurdo Dry Valleys.

10abiocrust10acarbon10adryland10ahabitat suitability10aremote sensing10asoil ecology1 aPower, Sarah, N.1 aThomas, Valerie, A.1 aSalvatore, Mark, R.1 aBarrett, John, E. uhttps://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/toc/20457758/14/702587nas a2200313 4500008004100000022001400041245012700055210006900182260001200251300001100263520145800274653001701732653001401749653000801763653001901771653001501790100002301805700001801828700001501846700002401861700002501885700003301910700002901943700001701972700002201989700002102011700002102032856022002053 2024 eng d a0954-102000aMcMurdo Dry Valley lake edge ‘moats’: The ecological intersection between terrestrial and aquatic polar desert habitat0 aMcMurdo Dry Valley lake edge moats The ecological intersection b c04/2024 a1 - 173 a

Aquatic ecosystems - lakes, ponds and streams - are hotspots of biodiversity in the cold and arid environment of Continental Antarctica. Environmental change is expected to increasingly alter Antarctic aquatic ecosystems and modify the physical characteristics and interactions within the habitats that they support. Here, we describe physical and biological features of the peripheral ‘moat’ of a closed-basin Antarctic lake. These moats mediate connectivity amongst streams, lake and soils. We highlight the cyclical moat transition from a frozen winter state to an active open-water summer system, through refreeze as winter returns. Summer melting begins at the lakebed, initially creating an ice-constrained lens of liquid water in November, which swiftly progresses upwards, creating open water in December. Conversely, freezing progresses slowly from the water surface downwards, with water at 1 m bottom depth remaining liquid until May. Moats support productive, diverse benthic communities that are taxonomically distinct from those under the adjacent permanent lake ice. We show how ion ratios suggest that summer exchange occurs amongst moats, streams, soils and sub-ice lake water, perhaps facilitated by within-moat density-driven convection. Moats occupy a small but dynamic area of lake habitat, are disproportionately affected by recent lake-level rises and may thus be particularly vulnerable to hydrological change.

10aconnectivity10aecosystem10aice10amicrobial mats10atransition1 aStone, Michael, S.1 aDevlin, Shawn1 aHawes, Ian1 aWelch, Kathleen, A.1 aGooseff, Michael, N.1 aTakacs-Vesbach, Cristina, D.1 aMorgan-Kiss, Rachael, M.1 aAdams, Byron1 aBarrett, John, E.1 aPriscu, John, C.1 aDoran, Peter, T. uhttps://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/antarctic-science/article/mcmurdo-dry-valley-lake-edge-moats-the-ecological-intersection-between-terrestrial-and-aquatic-polar-desert-habitats/31D94DD51E651603482A3AE6E8A52A5703255nas a2200277 4500008004100000022001300041245011100054210006900165260001200234300001100246520240400257653001502661653001302676653001102689653002902700653000902729653001702738100002102755700002402776700002002800700002102820700002502841700001702866700002202883856007202905 2024 eng d a2666017200aRemotely characterizing photosynthetic biocrust in snowpack-fed microhabitats of Taylor Valley, Antarctica0 aRemotely characterizing photosynthetic biocrust in snowpackfed m c02/2024 a1001203 a

Microbial communities are the primary drivers of carbon cycling in the McMurdo Dry Valleys of Antarctica. Dense microbial mats, consisting mainly of photosynthetic cyanobacteria, occupy aquatic areas associated with streams and lakes. Other microbial communities also occur at lower densities as patchy surface biological soil crusts (hereafter, biocrusts) across the terrestrial landscape. Multispectral satellite data have been used to model microbial mat abundance in high-density areas like stream and lake margins, but no previous studies have investigated the lower detection limits of biocrusts. Here, we describe remote sensing and field-based survey and sampling approaches to study the detectability and distribution of biocrusts in the McMurdo Dry Valleys. Using a combination of multi- and hyperspectral tools and spectral linear unmixing, we modeled the abundances of biocrust in eastern Taylor Valley. Our spectral approaches can detect low masses of biocrust material in laboratory microcosms down to biocrust concentrations of 1% by mass. These techniques also distinguish the spectra of biocrust from both surface rock and mineral signatures from orbit. We found that biocrusts are present throughout the soils of eastern Taylor Valley and are associated with diverse underlying soil communities. The densest biocrust communities identified in this study had total organic carbon 5x greater than the content of typical arid soils. The most productive biocrusts were located downslope of melting snowpacks in unique soil ecosystems that are distinct from the surrounding arid landscape. There are similarities between the snowpack and stream sediment communities (high diversity of soil invertebrates) as well as their ecosystem properties (e.g., persistence of liquid water, high transfer of available nutrients, lower salinity from flushing) compared to the typical arid terrestrial ecosystem of the dry valleys. Our approach extends the capability of orbital remote sensing of photosynthetic communities out of the aquatic margins and into the drier soils which comprise most of this landscape. This interdisciplinary work is critical for measuring and monitoring terrestrial carbon stocks and predicting future ecosystem dynamics in this currently water-limited but increasingly dynamic Antarctic landscape, which is particularly climate-sensitive and difficult to access.

10aAntarctica10abiocrust10acarbon10areflectance spectroscopy10asnow10asoil ecology1 aPower, Sarah, N.1 aSalvatore, Mark, R.1 aSokol, Eric, R.1 aStanish, Lee, F.1 aBorges, Schuyler, R.1 aAdams, Byron1 aBarrett, John, E. uhttps://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S266601722400004X02186nas a2200313 4500008004100000022001400041245009000055210006900145260001200214300001800226490000700244520123000251653002201481653002401503653002001527653001701547653001501564100002201579700002101601700002101622700002201643700002201665700002401687700002101711700002501732700002101757700002501778856006901803 2024 eng d a2328-427700aResponse of a terrestrial polar ecosystem to the March 2022 Antarctic weather anomaly0 aResponse of a terrestrial polar ecosystem to the March 2022 Anta c08/2024 ae2023EF0043060 v123 a

Record high temperatures were documented in the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica, on 18 March 2022, exceeding average temperatures for that day by nearly 30°C. Satellite imagery and stream gage measurements indicate that surface wetting coincided with this warming more than 2 months after peak summer thaw and likely exceeded thresholds for rehydration and activation of resident organisms that typically survive the cold and dry conditions of the polar fall in a freeze-dried state. This weather event is notable in both the timing and magnitude of the warming and wetting when temperatures exceeded 0°C at a time when biological communities and streams have typically entered a persistent frozen state. Such events may be a harbinger of future climate conditions characterized by warmer temperatures and greater thaw in this region of Antarctica, which could influence the distribution, activity, and abundance of sentinel taxa. Here we describe the ecosystem responses to this weather anomaly reporting on meteorological and hydrological measurements across the region and on later biological observations from Canada Stream, one of the most diverse and productive ecosystems within the McMurdo Dry Valleys.

10aatmospheric river10aclimate variability10aextreme weather10apolar desert10asoil biota1 aBarrett, John, E.1 aAdams, Byron, J.1 aDoran, Peter, T.1 aDugan, Hilary, A.1 aMyers, Krista, F.1 aSalvatore, Mark, R.1 aPower, Sarah, N.1 aSnyder, Meredith, D.1 aWright, Anna, T.1 aGooseff, Michael, N. uhttps://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2023EF00430602505nas a2200325 4500008004100000022001400041245012700055210006900182260001200251300001800263490000800281520146500289653001701754653003701771653002401808653002401832100002701856700002101883700002301904700002201927700002201949700002501971700002001996700002202016700002202038700002202060700002202082700001402104856006102118 2023 eng d a2169-900300aCauses and characteristics of electrical resistivity variability in shallow (<4 m) soils in Taylor Valley, East Antarctica0 aCauses and characteristics of electrical resistivity variability c02/2023 ae2022JF0066960 v1283 a

Airborne electromagnetic surveys collected in December 2011 and November 2018 and three soil sampling transects were used to analyze the spatial heterogeneity of shallow (<4 m) soil properties in lower Taylor Valley (TV), East Antarctica. Soil resistivities from 2011 to 2018 ranged from ∼33 Ωm to ∼3,500 Ωm with 200 Ωm assigned as an upper boundary for brine-saturated sediments. Elevations below ∼50 m above sea level (masl) typically exhibit the lowest resistivities with resistivity increasing at high elevations on steeper slopes. Soil water content was empirically estimated from electrical resistivities using Archie's Law and range from ∼<1% to ∼68% by volume. An increase in silt- and clay-sized particles at low elevations increases soil porosity but decreases hydraulic conductivity, promoting greater residence times of soil water at low elevations near Lake Fryxell. Soil resistivity variability between 2011 and 2018 shows soils at different stages of soil freeze-thaw cycles, which are caused predominantly by solar warming of soils as opposed to air temperature. This study furthers the understanding of the hydrogeologic structure of the shallow subsurface in TV and identifies locations of soils that are potentially prone to greater rates of thaw and resulting ecosystem homogenization of soil properties from projected increases in hydrological connectivity across the region over the coming decades.

10aactive layer10aairborne electromagnetic surveys10aMcMurdo Dry Valleys10apermafrost dynamics1 aGutterman, William, S.1 aDoran, Peter, T.1 aVirginia, Ross, A.1 aBarrett, John, E.1 aMyers, Krista, F.1 aTulaczyk, Slawek, M.1 aFoley, Neil, T.1 aMikucki, Jill, A.1 aDugan, Hilary, A.1 aGrombacher, Denys1 aBording, Thue, S.1 aAuken, E. uhttps://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2022JF00669602076nas a2200313 4500008004100000245008700041210006900128260001200197300001100209490000800220520114900228653002801377653002701405653002401432653002401456653001301480653000901493100001301502700002501515700001601540700002201556700001701578700001801595700001601613700002401629700002001653700001701673856007201690 2023 eng d00aEcological stoichiometry drives the evolution of soil nematode life history traits0 aEcological stoichiometry drives the evolution of soil nematode l c02/2023 a1088910 v1773 a

Ecological stoichiometry is a useful theoretical framework for understanding the sources and controls on nutrient availability that structure the composition and diversity of biotic communities. One such relationship is that organismal development rate is positively linked to cellular Phosphorus (P). We hypothesized that P availability, relative to other nutrients, e.g., nitrogen and carbon, would drive the evolution of traits associated with organismal growth and development. We examined the effects of P availability both in situ and in vitro, on free-living soil nematodes. We found that P-deficient environments produce predictable changes in the ecology and evolution of important life history traits. Our results identify altered rRNA gene copy number and subsequent changes in gene expression and protein synthesis as mechanisms by which P-deficiency influences these traits. These findings have important implications for explaining soil ecological and evolutionary patterns across multiple levels of organization, including the structure and functioning of organisms, populations, communities, and ecosystems.

10aelemental stoichiometry10agrowth rate hypothesis10alife history theory10amolecular evolution10anematoda10arRNA1 aXue, Xia1 aAdhikari, Bishwo, N.1 aBall, Becky1 aBarrett, John, E.1 aMiao, Jinxin1 aPerkes, Ammon1 aMartin, Mac1 aSimmons, Breana, L.1 aWall, Diana, H.1 aAdams, Byron uhttps://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S003807172200348002739nas a2200217 4500008004100000245016100041210006900202260003400271490000900305520201700314653001102331653002402342653001802366653001302384653001502397653001702412653000902429100002202438700002202460856003902482 2023 eng d00aInfluence of landscape-variation in geochemistry on taxonomic and functional composition of microbial mat communities in the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica0 aInfluence of landscapevariation in geochemistry on taxonomic and aBlacksburg, VAbVirginia Tech0 vM.S.3 a

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.

10acarbon10amicrobial community10amicrobial mat10anitrogen10aphosphorus10apolar desert10asoil1 aRisteca, Paul, J.1 aBarrett, John, E. uhttp://hdl.handle.net/10919/11538404166nas a2200565 4500008004100000022001400041245007900055210006900134260001200203300001100215490000700226520245300233653001802686653002702704653001902731653001902750653001202769653001202781653001502793653008902808653002002897100002302917700002502940700002602965700002702991700002103018700002503039700001703064700002203081700002903103700002603132700002403158700002603182700002403208700002103232700001603253700002703269700002403296700002303320700002203343700002403365700002303389700001503412700002203427700002103449700002203470700002603492700002403518856005803542 2021 eng d a2150-892500aConnectivity: Insights from the U.S. Long Term Ecological Research Network0 aConnectivity Insights from the US Long Term Ecological Research  c05/2021 ae034320 v123 a

Ecosystems across the United States are changing in complex and surprising ways. Ongoing demand for critical ecosystem services requires an understanding of the populations and communities in these ecosystems in the future. This paper represents a synthesis effort of the U.S. National Science Foundation-funded Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) network addressing the core research area of “populations and communities.” The objective of this effort was to show the importance of long-term data collection and experiments for addressing the hardest questions in scientific ecology that have significant implications for environmental policy and management. Each LTER site developed at least one compelling case study about what their site could look like in 50–100 yr as human and environmental drivers influencing specific ecosystems change. As the case studies were prepared, five themes emerged, and the studies were grouped into papers in this LTER Futures Special Feature addressing state change, connectivity, resilience, time lags, and cascading effects. This paper addresses the “connectivity” theme and has examples from the Phoenix (urban), Niwot Ridge (alpine tundra), McMurdo Dry Valleys (polar desert), Plum Island (coastal), Santa Barbara Coastal (coastal), and Jornada (arid grassland and shrubland) sites. Connectivity has multiple dimensions, ranging from multi-scalar interactions in space to complex interactions over time that govern the transport of materials and the distribution and movement of organisms. The case studies presented here range widely, showing how land-use legacies interact with climate to alter the structure and function of arid ecosystems and flows of resources and organisms in Antarctic polar desert, alpine, urban, and coastal marine ecosystems. Long-term ecological research demonstrates that connectivity can, in some circumstances, sustain valuable ecosystem functions, such as the persistence of foundation species and their associated biodiversity or, it can be an agent of state change, as when it increases wind and water erosion. Increased connectivity due to warming can also lead to species range expansions or contractions and the introduction of undesirable species. Continued long-term studies are essential for addressing the complexities of connectivity. The diversity of ecosystems within the LTER network is a strong platform for these studies.

10aalpine tundra10aAntarctic polar desert10aarid grassland10aarid shrubland10acoastal10aestuary10asalt marsh10aSpecial Feature: Forecasting Earth’s Ecosystems with Long-Term Ecological Research10aurban ecosystem1 aIwaniec, David, M.1 aGooseff, Michael, N.1 aSuding, Katharine, N.1 aJohnson, David, Samuel1 aReed, Daniel, C.1 aPeters, Debra, P. C.1 aAdams, Byron1 aBarrett, John, E.1 aBestelmeyer, Brandon, T.1 aCastorani, Max, C. N.1 aCook, Elizabeth, M.1 aDavidson, Melissa, J.1 aGroffman, Peter, M.1 aHanan, Niall, P.1 aHuenneke, L1 aJohnson, Pieter, T. J.1 aMcKnight, Diane, M.1 aMiller, Robert, J.1 aOkin, Gregory, S.1 aPreston, Daniel, L.1 aRassweiler, Andrew1 aRay, Chris1 aSala, Osvaldo, E.1 aSchooley, Robert1 aSeastedt, Timothy1 aSpasojevic, Marko, J.1 aVivoni, Enrique, R. uhttps://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ecs2.343202111nas a2200205 4500008004100000245010700041210006900148260001200217300001600229490000700245520142400252100002401676700002201700700002501722700002101747700002101768700002001789700002501809856007101834 2021 eng d00aCounting carbon: Quantifying biomass in the McMurdo Dry Valleys through orbital and field observations0 aCounting carbon Quantifying biomass in the McMurdo Dry Valleys t c10/2021 a8597 - 86230 v423 a

We use correlative field studies and high-resolution multispectral remote sensing data from the WorldView-2 instrument to estimate the abundance of photosynthetically active biomass (photoautotrophs consisting primarily of microbial mats and mosses) in Canada Stream in Taylor Valley, McMurdo Dry Valleys (MDV), Antarctica. In situ field investigations were performed to (1) acquire ground validation targets for atmospherically correcting satellite imagery, (2) derive spectra of “pure” geologic and biological endmembers, (3) estimate photoautotroph cover from remote sensing data, and (4) convert these coverage estimates to biomass using data collected in the field. Our results suggest that, on the morning of 12 December 2018, the Canada Stream system contained more than 3,800 kg of photosynthetically active carbon. Extrapolating our unmixing results to the entirety of the Fryxell basin of Taylor Valley, Antarctica, we model the presence of more than 750,000 kg of photosynthetically active carbon across the landscape and carbon fixation rates roughly equivalent to five hectares of tropical rainforest. The ability to spatially and temporally quantify the amount of photosynthetically active biomass using remote sensing data in the MDV of Antarctica is a revolutionary development that will help elucidate the ecological drivers and environmental responses in this cold desert landscape.

1 aSalvatore, Mark, R.1 aBarrett, John, E.1 aBorges, Schuyler, R.1 aPower, Sarah, N.1 aStanish, Lee, F.1 aSokol, Eric, R.1 aGooseff, Michael, N. uhttps://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/01431161.2021.198155902579nas a2200397 4500008004100000022001300041245012700054210006900181260001200250300001100262490000600273520134500279653003401624653002501658653003101683653002701714653001801741653001401759100002201773700002401795700002201819700002301841700002301864700001401887700001901901700001601920700002101936700002701957700002601984700001602010700002402026700001602050700002102066700002202087856007202109 2021 eng d a2666900500aPatterns and trends of organic matter processing and transport: Insights from the US Long-term Ecological Research Network0 aPatterns and trends of organic matter processing and transport I c12/2021 a1000250 v23 a

Organic matter (OM) dynamics determine how much carbon is stored in ecosystems, a service that modulates climate. We synthesized research from across the US Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) Network to assemble a conceptual model of OM dynamics that is consistent with inter-disciplinary perspectives and emphasizes vulnerability of OM pools to disturbance. Guided by this conceptual model, we identified unanticipated patterns and long-term trends in processing and transport of OM emerging from terrestrial, freshwater, wetland, and marine ecosystems. Cross-ecosystem synthesis combined with a survey of researchers revealed several themes: 1) strong effects of climate change on OM dynamics, 2) surprising patterns in OM storage and dynamics resulting from coupling with nutrients, 3) characteristic and often complex legacies of land use and disturbance, 4) a significant role of OM transport that is often overlooked in terrestrial ecosystems, and 5) prospects for reducing uncertainty in forecasting OM dynamics by incorporating the chemical composition of OM. Cross-fertilization of perspectives and approaches across LTER sites and other research networks can stimulate the comprehensive understanding required to support large-scale characterizations of OM budgets and the role of ecosystems in regulating global climate.

10acoupled biogeochemical cycles10across-site synthesis10aorganic matter composition10aorganic matter storage10astabilization10atransport1 aHarms, Tamara, K.1 aGroffman, Peter, M.1 aAluwihare, Lihini1 aCraft, Christopher1 aWieder, William, R1 aHobbie, S1 aBaer, Sara, G.1 aBlair, J.M.1 aFrey, Serita, D.1 aRemucal, Christina, K.1 aRudgers, Jennifer, A.1 aCollins, SL1 aKominoski, John, S.1 aBall, Becky1 aPriscu, John, C.1 aBarrett, John, E. uhttps://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S266690052100025302597nas 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

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 m2 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 (R2 = 0.84), biomass (R2 = 0.74), chlorophyll-a content (R2 = 0.65), and scytonemin content (R2 = 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—biomass correlation we developed, we estimate carbon (C) stocks of 21,715 kg (14.7 g C m−2) in the Canada Glacier Antarctic Specially Protected Area, with an upper and lower limit of 74,871 and 6312 kg of C, respectively.

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-y03261nas a2200241 4500008004100000245013300041210006900174260001200243490000600255520247400261653001502735653002202750653001402772653001102786653001902797100002002816700002202836700002202858700002402880700002402904700002102928856007002949 2020 eng d00aEvaluating alternative metacommunity hypotheses for diatoms in the McMurdo Dry Valleys using simulations and remote sensing data0 aEvaluating alternative metacommunity hypotheses for diatoms in t c09/20200 v83 a

Diatoms are diverse and widespread freshwater Eukaryotes that make excellent microbial subjects for addressing questions in metacommunity ecology. In the McMurdo Dry Valleys of Antarctica, the simple trophic structure of glacier-fed streams provides an ideal outdoor laboratory where well-described diatom assemblages are found within two cyanobacterial mat types, which occupy different habitats and vary in coverage within and among streams. Specifically, black mats of Nostoc spp. occur in marginal wetted habitats, and orange mats (Oscillatoria spp. and Phormidium spp.) occur in areas of consistent stream flow. Despite their importance as bioindicators for changing environmental conditions, the role of dispersal in structuring dry valley diatom metacommunities remains unclear. Here, we use MCSim, a spatially explicit metacommunity simulation package for R, to test alternative hypotheses about the roles of dispersal and species sorting in maintaining the biodiversity of diatom assemblages residing in black and orange mats. The spatial distribution and patchiness of cyanobacterial mat habitats was characterized by remote imagery of the Lake Fryxell sub-catchment in Taylor Valley. The available species pool for diatom metacommunity simulation scenarios was informed by the Antarctic Freshwater Diatoms Database, maintained by the McMurdo Dry Valleys Long Term Ecological Research program. We used simulation outcomes to test the plausibility of alternative community assembly hypotheses to explain empirically observed patterns of freshwater diatom biodiversity in the long-term record. The most plausible simulation scenarios suggest species sorting by environmental filters, alone, was not sufficient to maintain biodiversity in the Fryxell Basin diatom metacommunity. The most plausible scenarios included either (1) neutral models with different immigration rates for diatoms in orange and black mats or (2) species sorting by a relatively weak environmental filter, such that dispersal dynamics also influenced diatom community assembly, but there was not such a strong disparity in immigration rates between mat types. The results point to the importance of dispersal for understanding current and future biodiversity patterns for diatoms in this ecosystem, and more generally, provide further evidence that metacommunity theory is a useful framework for testing hypotheses about microbial community assembly.

10aAntarctica10aBacillariophyceae10adispersal10aNostoc10astream ecology1 aSokol, Eric, R.1 aBarrett, John, E.1 aKohler, Tyler, J.1 aMcKnight, Diane, M.1 aSalvatore, Mark, R.1 aStanish, Lee, F. uhttps://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fevo.2020.521668/full02051nas 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

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.

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/8576F6BB1BCFDCA8409F5EA96CA00C6F02353nas a2200397 4500008004100000245012200041210006900163260001200232490000600244520115100250100002101401700002501422700002101447700002101468700001401489700002201503700001701525700002201542700001701564700002001581700002001601700002401621700002201645700001901667700002401686700002401710700001701734700002301751700002001774700001801794700002401812700002201836700002401858700001901882856005401901 2019 eng d00aBiotic interactions are an unexpected yet critical control on the complexity of an abiotically driven polar ecosystem0 aBiotic interactions are an unexpected yet critical control on th c02/20190 v23 a

Abiotic and biotic factors control ecosystem biodiversity, but their relative contributions remain unclear. The ultraoligotrophic ecosystem of the Antarctic Dry Valleys, a simple yet highly heterogeneous ecosystem, is a natural laboratory well-suited for resolving the abiotic and biotic controls of community structure. We undertook a multidisciplinary investigation to capture ecologically relevant biotic and abiotic attributes of more than 500 sites in the Dry Valleys, encompassing observed landscape heterogeneities across more than 200 km2. Using richness of autotrophic and heterotrophic taxa as a proxy for functional complexity, we linked measured variables in a parsimonious yet comprehensive structural equation model that explained significant variations in biological complexity and identified landscape-scale and fine-scale abiotic factors as the primary drivers of diversity. However, the inclusion of linkages among functional groups was essential for constructing the best-fitting model. Our findings support the notion that biotic interactions make crucial contributions even in an extremely simple ecosystem.

1 aLee, Charles, K.1 aLaughlin, Daniel, C.1 aBottos, Eric, M.1 aCaruso, Tancredi1 aJoy, Kurt1 aBarrett, John, E.1 aBrabyn, Lars1 aNielsen, Uffe, N.1 aAdams, Byron1 aWall, Diana, H.1 aHopkins, D., W.1 aPointing, Steve, B.1 aMcDonald, Ian, R.1 aCowan, Don, A.1 aBanks, Jonathan, C.1 aStichbury, Glen, A.1 aJones, Irfon1 aZawar-Reza, Peyman1 aKaturji, Marwan1 aHogg, Ian, D.1 aSparrow, Ashley, D.1 aStorey, Bryan, C.1 aGreen, T., G. Allan1 aCary, Craig, S uhttps://www.nature.com/articles/s42003-018-0274-501860nas a2200253 4500008004100000245011500041210006900156260001200225490000600237520106300243100002101306700001801327700002201345700002101367700002101388700002001409700001901429700002201448700002401470700002201494700002001516700001701536856005301553 2019 eng d00aNematodes in a polar desert reveal the relative role of biotic interactions in the coexistence of soil animals0 aNematodes in a polar desert reveal the relative role of biotic i c02/20190 v23 a

Abiotic factors are major determinants of soil animal distributions and their dominant role is pronounced in extreme ecosystems, with biotic interactions seemingly playing a minor role. We modelled co-occurrence and distribution of the three nematode species that dominate the soil food web of the McMurdo Dry Valleys (Antarctica). Abiotic factors, other biotic groups, and autocorrelation all contributed to structuring nematode species distributions. However, after removing their effects, we found that the presence of the most abundant nematode species greatly, and negatively, affected the probability of detecting one of the other two species. We observed similar patterns in relative abundances for two out of three pairs of species. Harsh abiotic conditions alone are insufficient to explain contemporary nematode distributions whereas the role of negative biotic interactions has been largely underestimated in soil. The future challenge is to understand how the effects of global change on biotic interactions will alter species coexistence.

1 aCaruso, Tancredi1 aHogg, Ian, D.1 aNielsen, Uffe, N.1 aBottos, Eric, M.1 aLee, Charles, K.1 aHopkins, D., W.1 aCary, Craig, S1 aBarrett, John, E.1 aGreen, T., G. Allan1 aStorey, Bryan, C.1 aWall, Diana, H.1 aAdams, Byron uhttp://www.nature.com/articles/s42003-018-0260-y01983nas a2200133 4500008004100000245011300041210007100154260001200225490000700237520149300244100002101737700002201758856006901780 2019 eng d00aUnimodal productivity–diversity relationships among bacterial communities in a simple polar soil ecosystem0 aUnimodal productivity–diversity relationships among bacterial co c07/20190 v213 a

Unlike other macroecological principles, relationships between productivity and diversity have not been effectively tested for microbial communities. Here we describe an experiment in which the availability of resources to soil bacterial communities was manipulated in a model system, the McMurdo Dry Valleys of Antarctica. Mannitol additions were used to simulate a productivity gradient such that a response in bacterial biomass production, taxonomic diversity and functioning (e.g., enzyme activity) were induced. Resource amendment induced a positive linear response in microbial productivity (P < 0.001) but a unimodal (hump‐shaped) response in microbial diversity at multiple taxonomic scales (P = 0.035). Putative oligotrophic (e.g., phyla Nitrospirae and Cyanobacteria) and copiotrophic (e.g., phylum Proteobacteria) taxa were apparent through substantial community turnover along the resource gradient. Soil enzyme activity was inversely related to bacterial biomass but positively related to diversity, suggesting the latter may be a stronger control over enzyme‐mediated decomposition. The mechanisms behind this pattern are consistent with macroecological theory of a shift from environmental (e.g., stress tolerance) to biotic (e.g., competition) drivers with increasing resource availability. This evidence is among the first of its kind to document a significant unimodal productivity–diversity relationship for soil bacteria.

1 aGeyer, Kevin, M.1 aBarrett, John, E. uhttps://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/1462-2920.1463901794nas a2200181 4500008004100000245015800041210006900199260001200268300001400280490000600294520113500300100002201435700002101457700001601478700002201494700002401516856007201540 2018 eng d00aCatch and release: Hyporheic retention and mineralization of N-fixing Nostoc sustains downstream microbial mat biomass in two polar desert streams0 aCatch and release Hyporheic retention and mineralization of Nfix c07/2018 a357 - 3640 v33 a

 

Much work has been performed to investigate controls on nitrogen (N) uptake in streams, yet the fate of assimilated N is comparatively poorly resolved. Here, we use in-stream fixed N as an isotopic tracer to study the fate of assimilated N in glacial meltwater streams. We characterized d15N signatures of Oscillatorean, Chlorophyte, and N-fixing Nostoc mats over the lengths of two streams, and transported particulate organic matter (POM) in one. POM was isotopically most similar to Nostoc, which always had values near the atmospheric standard, suggesting N-fixation. Other mat types were depleted upstream, and became progressively enriched downstream, indicating a shift in N source. These results collectively show that Nostoc-derived N is mobilized, mineralized, and increasingly assimilated downstream as more depleted glacier-derived N is exhausted, demonstrating the importance of organic matter processing to balancing elemental budgets, and improving our understanding of nutrient cycling in lotic environments.

 

1 aKohler, Tyler, J.1 aStanish, Lee, F.1 aLiptzin, D.1 aBarrett, John, E.1 aMcKnight, Diane, M. uhttps://aslopubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/lol2.1008702670nas a2200181 4500008004100000245011700041210006900158260001200227300001400239490000700253520207300260100002602333700001702359700002202376700002302398700002002421856004702441 2018 eng d00aObserved trends of soil fauna in the Antarctic Dry Valleys: early signs of shifts predicted under climate change0 aObserved trends of soil fauna in the Antarctic Dry Valleys early c02/2018 a312 - 3210 v993 a

Long-term observations of ecological communities are necessary for generating and testing predictions of ecosystem responses to climate change. We investigated temporal trends and spatial patterns of soil fauna along similar environmental gradients in three sites of the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica, spanning two distinct climatic phases: a decadal cool- ing trend from the early 1990s through the austral summer of February 2001, followed by a shift to the current trend of warming summers and more frequent discrete warming events. After February 2001, we observed a decline in the dominant species (the nematode Scottnema lindsayae) and increased abundance and expanded distribution of less common taxa (rotifers, tardigrades, and other nematode species). Such diverging responses have resulted in slightly greater evenness and spatial homogeneity of taxa. However, total abundance of soil fauna appears to be declining, as positive trends of the less common species so far have not compen- sated for the declining numbers of the dominant species. Interannual variation in the propor- tion of juveniles in the dominant species was consistent across sites, whereas trends in abundance varied more. Structural equation modeling supports the hypothesis that the observed biological trends arose from dissimilar responses by dominant and less common spe- cies to pulses of water availability resulting from enhanced ice melt. No direct effects of mean summer temperature were found, but there is evidence of indirect effects via its weak but signif- icant positive relationship with soil moisture. Our findings show that combining an under- standing of species responses to environmental change with long-term observations in the field can provide a context for validating and refining predictions of ecological trends in the abun- dance and diversity of soil fauna. 

1 aAndriuzzi, Walter, S.1 aAdams, Byron1 aBarrett, John, E.1 aVirginia, Ross, A.1 aWall, Diana, H. uhttp://doi.wiley.com/10.1002/ecy.2090/full02340nas a2200181 4500008004100000022001300041245009000054210006900144260001200213490000800225520176100233100001601994700001702010700002202027700002002049700002302069856006602092 2018 eng d a0038071700aSoil biological responses to C, N and P fertilization in a polar desert of Antarctica0 aSoil biological responses to C N and P fertilization in a polar  c07/20180 v1223 a

 

In the polar desert ecosystem of the McMurdo Dry Valleys of Antarctica, biology is constrained by available liquid water, low temperatures, as well as the availability of organic matter and nutrient elements. These soil ecosystems are climate-sensitive, where projected future warming may have profound effects on biological communities and biogeochemical cycling. Warmer temperatures will mobilize meltwater from permafrost and glaciers, may increase precipitation and may be accompanied by pulses of nutrient availability. Enhanced water and nutrient availability have the potential to greatly influence desert soil biology and ecosystem processes. The objectives of this 5-year study were to determine which nutrient elements (C, N, P) are most limiting to dry valley soil communities and whether landscape history (i.e., in situ soil type and stoichiometry) influences soil community response to nutrient additions. After 3 years of no noticeable response, soil CO2 flux was significantly higher under addition of C+ N than the other treatments, regardless of in situ soil stoichiometry, but microbial biomass and invertebrate abundance were variable and not influenced in the same manner. A stable isotope incubation suggests that fertilization increases C and N mineralization from organic matter via stimulating microbial activity, with loss of both the applied treatments as well in situ C and N. However, these responses are relatively short-lived, suggesting long-term impacts on C and N cycling would only occur if meltwater and nutrient pulses are sustained over time, a scenario that is increasingly likely for the dry valleys.

 

1 aBall, Becky1 aAdams, Byron1 aBarrett, John, E.1 aWall, Diana, H.1 aVirginia, Ross, A. uhttp://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S003807171830108102332nas a2200193 4500008004100000245017900041210006900220260001200289300001600301490000700317520164300324100001701967700001701984700002202001700001702023700002302040700002002063856005502083 2018 eng d00aStable C and N isotope ratios reveal soil food web structure and identify the nematode Eudorylaimus antarcticus as an omnivore–predator in Taylor Valley, Antarctica0 aStable C and N isotope ratios reveal soil food web structure and c05/2018 a1013–10180 v413 a

Soil food webs of the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica are simple. These include primary trophic levels of mosses, algae, cyanobacteria, bacteria, archaea, and fungi, and their protozoan and metazoan consumers (including relatively few species of nematodes, tardigrades, rotifers, and microarthropods). These biota are patchily distributed across the landscape, with greatest faunal biodiversity associated with wet soil. Understanding trophic structure is critical to studies of biotic interactions and distribution; yet, McMurdo Dry Valley soil food web structure has been inferred from limited laboratory culturing and micro- scopic observations. To address this, we measured stable isotope natural abundance ratios of C (13C/12C) and N (15N/14N) for di erent metazoan taxa (using whole body biomass) to determine soil food web structure in Taylor Valley, Antarctica. Nitrogen isotopes were most useful in di erentiating trophic levels because they fractionated predictably at higher trophic levels. Using 15N/14N, we found that three trophic levels were present in wet soil habitats. While cyanobacterial mats were the primary trophic level, the nematode Plectus murrayi, tardigrade Acutuncus antarcticus, and rotifers composed a secondary trophic level of grazers. Eudorylaimus antarcticus had a 15N/14N ratio that was 2–4‰ higher than that of grazers, indicating that this species is the sole member of a tertiary trophic level. Understanding the trophic positions of soil fauna is critical to predictions of current and future species interactions and their distributions for the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica.

1 aShaw, Ashley1 aAdams, Byron1 aBarrett, John, E.1 aLyons, Berry1 aVirginia, Ross, A.1 aWall, Diana, H. uhttp://link.springer.com/10.1007/s00300-017-2243-802975nas a2200289 4500008004100000245013500041210006900176260001200245490000600257520199400263653002902257653002302286653002402309653003102333653002602364653002602390100002602416700002402442700001602466700002002482700002202502700002602524700002502550700002302575700001702598856007002615 2018 eng d00aStoichiometric Shifts in Soil C:N:P Promote Bacterial Taxa Dominance, Maintain Biodiversity, and Deconstruct Community Assemblages0 aStoichiometric Shifts in Soil CNP Promote Bacterial Taxa Dominan c07/20180 v93 a

Imbalances in C:N:P supply ratios may cause bacterial resource limitations and constrain biogeochemical processes, but the importance of shifts in soil stoichiometry are complicated by the nearly limitless interactions between an immensely rich species pool and a multiple chemical resource forms. To more clearly identify the impact of soil C:N:P on bacteria, we evaluated the cumulative effects of single and coupled long-term nutrient additions (i.e., C as mannitol, N as equal concentrations NH4 + and NO3 − , and P as Na3PO4) and water on communities in an Antarctic polar desert, Taylor Valley. Untreated soils possessed relatively low bacterial diversity, simplified organic C sources due to the absence of plants, limited inorganic N, and excess soil P potentially attenuating links between C:N:P. After 6 years of adding resources, an alleviation of C and N colimitation allowed one rare Micrococcaceae, an Arthrobacter species, to dominate, comprising 47% of the total community abundance and elevating soil respiration by 136% relative to untreated soils. The addition of N alone reduced C:N ratios, elevated bacterial richness and diversity, and allowed rare taxa relying on ammonium and nitrite for metabolism to become more abundant [e.g., nitrite oxidizing Nitrospira species (Nitrosomonadaceae), denitrifiers utilizing nitrite (Gemmatimonadaceae) and members of Rhodobacteraceae with a high affinity for ammonium]. Based on community co-occurrence networks, lower C:P ratios in soils following P and CP additions created more diffuse and less connected communities by disrupting 73% of species interactions and selecting for taxa potentially exploiting abundant P. Unlike amended nutrients, water additions alone elicited no lasting impact on communities. Our results suggest that as soils become nutrient rich a wide array of outcomes are possible from species dominance and the deconstruction of species interconnectedness to the maintenance of biodiversity.

10aecological stoichiometry10aLake Fryxell Basin10aMcMurdo Dry Valleys10anetwork community modeling10anutrient colimitation10aSolirubrobacteriaceae1 aAanderud, Zachary, T.1 aSaurey, Sabrina, D.1 aBall, Becky1 aWall, Diana, H.1 aBarrett, John, E.1 aMuscarella, Mario, E.1 aGriffin, Natasha, A.1 aVirginia, Ross, A.1 aAdams, Byron uhttps://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fmicb.2018.01401/full00851nas a2200265 4500008004100000245009100041210006900132260001200201300001400213490000600227100002500233700002200258700001700280700002100297700002400318700001700342700002400359700002100383700002000404700003300424700003100457700002300488700002000511856005400531 2017 eng d00aDecadal ecosystem response to an anomalous melt season in a polar desert in Antarctica0 aDecadal ecosystem response to an anomalous melt season in a pola c09/2017 a1334-13380 v11 aGooseff, Michael, N.1 aBarrett, John, E.1 aAdams, Byron1 aDoran, Peter, T.1 aFountain, Andrew, G1 aLyons, Berry1 aMcKnight, Diane, M.1 aPriscu, John, C.1 aSokol, Eric, R.1 aTakacs-Vesbach, Cristina, D.1 aVandegehuchte, Martijn, L.1 aVirginia, Ross, A.1 aWall, Diana, H. uhttps://www.nature.com/articles/s41559-017-0253-003232nas a2200169 4500008004100000245012600041210006900167260001200236300001000248490000600258520266000264100002102924700003302945700002502978700002203003856003703025 2017 eng d00aPrimary productivity as a control over soil microbial diversity along environmental gradients in a polar desert ecosystem0 aPrimary productivity as a control over soil microbial diversity  c07/2017 ae33770 v53 a

Primary production is the fundamental source of energy to foodwebs and ecosystems, and is thus an important constraint on soil communities. This coupling is particularly evident in polar terrestrial ecosystems where biological diversity and activity is tightly constrained by edaphic gradients of productivity (e.g., soil moisture, organic carbon availability) and geochemical severity (e.g., pH, electrical conductivity). In the McMurdo Dry Valleys of Antarctica, environmental gradients determine numerous properties of soil communities and yet relatively few estimates of gross or net primary productivity (GPP, NPP) exist for this region. Here we describe a survey utilizing pulse amplitude modulation (PAM) fluorometry to estimate rates of GPP across a broad environmental gradient along with belowground microbial diversity and decomposition. PAM estimates of GPP ranged from an average of 0.27 mmol O2/m2/s in the most arid soils to an average of 6.97 mmol O2/m2/s in the most productive soils, the latter equivalent to 217 g C/m2/y in annual NPP assuming a 60 day growing season. A diversity index of four carbon-acquiring enzyme activities also increased with soil productivity, suggesting that the diversity of organic substrates in mesic environments may be an additional driver of microbial diversity. Overall, soil productivity was a stronger predictor of microbial diversity and enzymatic activity than any estimate of geochemical severity. These results highlight the fundamental role of environmental gradients to control community diversity and the dynamics of ecosystem-scale carbon pools in arid systems. 

1 aGeyer, Kevin, M.1 aTakacs-Vesbach, Cristina, D.1 aGooseff, Michael, N.1 aBarrett, John, E. uhttps://peerj.com/articles/3377/02500nas a2200157 4500008004100000245012100041210006900162260001200231300001200243490000800255520197300263100002002236700002102256700002202277856004302299 2017 eng d00aA simulation-based approach to understand how metacommunity characteristics influence emergent biodiversity patterns0 asimulationbased approach to understand how metacommunity charact c05/2017 a723-7370 v1263 a

To understand controls over biodiversity, it is necessary to take a multi-scale approach to understand how local and regional factors a ect the community assembly processes that drive emergent patterns.  is need is re ected in the growing use of the metacommunity concept to interpret multi-scale measures of biodiversity, including metrics derived from diversity partitioning (e.g. a, b and g diversity) and variation partitioning (e.g. spatial and environmental components of compositional turnover) techniques. However, studies have shown limited success using these metrics to characterize underlying community assembly dynamics. Here we demonstrate how a metacommunity simulation package (MCSim) can be used to evaluate when and how biodiversity metrics can be used to make inferences about metacommunity characteristics. We examined a wide range of parameter settings representing ecologically relevant scenarios. We used artificial neural networks (ANNs) to assess the sensitivity of diversity and variation partitioning metrics (calculated from simulation outcomes) to metacommunity parameter settings. In the scenarios examined in this study, the niche-neutral gradient strongly in uenced most biodiversity metrics, metacommunity size exhibited a marginal influence over some metrics, and dispersal dynamics only a ected a subset of variation partitioning outcomes. Variation partitioning response curves along the niche-neutral gradient were not monotonic; however, simulation outcomes suggest other biodiversity metrics (e.g. dissimilarity saturation) can be used in combination with variation partitioning metrics to make inferences about metacommunity properties. With the growing availability of archived ecological data, we expect future work will apply simulation-based techniques to better understand links between biodiversity and the metacommunity characteristics that are presumed to control the underlying community assembly processes.

1 aSokol, Eric, R.1 aBrown, Bryan, L.1 aBarrett, John, E. uhttp://doi.wiley.com/10.1111/oik.0369000939nas a2200217 4500008004100000022001400041245011900055210006900174260001200243100001600255700002000271700002200291700002100313700002500334700002000359700002400379700001700403700002200420700002400442856025500466 2016 eng d a0722-406000aEvidence for dispersal and habitat controls on pond diatom communities from the McMurdo Sound Region of Antarctica0 aEvidence for dispersal and habitat controls on pond diatom commu c02/20161 aSakaeva, A.1 aSokol, Eric, R.1 aKohler, Tyler, J.1 aStanish, Lee, F.1 aSpaulding, Sarah, A.1 aHowkins, Adrian1 aWelch, Kathleen, A.1 aLyons, Berry1 aBarrett, John, E.1 aMcKnight, Diane, M. uhttp://link.springer.com/10.1007/s00300-016-1901-6http://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s00300-016-1901-6http://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s00300-016-1901-6.pdfhttp://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00300-016-1901-6/fulltext.html00676nas a2200181 4500008004100000245012900041210006900170260001200239490000600251100002400257700002000281700002400301700002200325700002500347700002100372700003300393856006800426 2016 eng d00aMicrobial Community Responses to Increased Water and Organic Matter in the Arid Soils of the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica0 aMicrobial Community Responses to Increased Water and Organic Mat c07/20160 v71 aBuelow, Heather, N.1 aWinter, Ara, S.1 aVan Horn, David, J.1 aBarrett, John, E.1 aGooseff, Michael, N.1 aSchwartz, Egbert1 aTakacs-Vesbach, Cristina, D. uhttp://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fmicb.2016.0104000932nas a2200265 4500008004100000022001400041245013400055210006900189260001200258300001400270490000800284100002300292700002800315700001600343700002000359700002500379700002200404700002100426700001700447700002300464700002200487700002400509700001600533856011700549 2015 eng d a0029-854900aGlobal environmental change and the nature of aboveground net primary productivity responses: insights from long-term experiments0 aGlobal environmental change and the nature of aboveground net pr c04/2015 a935 - 9470 v1771 aSmith, Melinda, D.1 aLa Pierre, Kimberly, J.1 aCollins, SL1 aKnapp, Alan, K.1 aGross, Katherine, L.1 aBarrett, John, E.1 aFrey, Serita, D.1 aGough, Laura1 aMiller, Robert, J.1 aMorris, James, T.1 aRustad, Lindsey, E.1 aYarie, John uhttp://link.springer.com/10.1007/s00442-015-3230-9http://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s00442-015-3230-900637nas a2200193 4500008004100000022001300041245008600054210006900140260001200209300001200221490000800233100002000241700002100261700002300282700002400305700002600329700002200355856006600377 2015 eng d a0304380000aLinking management to biodiversity in built ponds using metacommunity simulations0 aLinking management to biodiversity in built ponds using metacomm c01/2015 a36 - 450 v2961 aSokol, Eric, R.1 aBrown, Bryan, L.1 aCarey, Cayelan, C.1 aTornwall, Brett, M.1 aSwan, Christopher, M.1 aBarrett, John, E. uhttp://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S030438001400491802696nas a2200217 4500008004100000022001400041245013900055210006900194260001200263300000900275490000800284520194700292100002102239700002402260700001802284700002202302700002502324700001902349700003302368856007702401 2015 eng d a0962-845200aNiche and metabolic principles explain patterns of diversity and distribution: theory and a case study with soil bacterial communities0 aNiche and metabolic principles explain patterns of diversity and c05/2015 a26300 v2823 a

The causes of biodiversity patterns are controversial and elusive due to complex environmental variation, covarying changes in communities, and lack of baseline and null theories to differentiate straightforward causes from more complex mechanisms. To address these limitations, we developed general diversity theory integrating metabolic principles with niche-based community assembly. We evaluated this theory by investigating patterns in the diversity and distribution of soil bacteria taxa across four orders of magnitude variation in spatial scale on an Antarctic mountainside in low complexity, highly oligotrophic soils. Our theory predicts that lower temperatures should reduce taxon niche widths along environmental gradients due to decreasing growth rates, and the changing niche widths should lead to contrasting α- and β-diversity patterns. In accord with the predictions, α-diversity, niche widths and occupancies decreased while β-diversity increased with increasing elevation and decreasing temperature. The theory also successfully predicts a hump-shaped relationship between α-diversity and pH and a negative relationship between α-diversity and salinity. Thus, a few simple principles explained systematic microbial diversity variation along multiple gradients. Such general theory can be used to disentangle baseline effects from more complex effects of temperature and other variables on biodiversity patterns in a variety of ecosystems and organisms.

 

 

1 aOkie, Jordan, G.1 aVan Horn, David, J.1 aStorch, David1 aBarrett, John, E.1 aGooseff, Michael, N.1 aKopsova, Lenka1 aTakacs-Vesbach, Cristina, D. uhttp://rspb.royalsocietypublishing.org/lookup/doi/10.1098/rspb.2014.263004273nas a2200193 4500008004100000022001400041245007400055210006900129260001600198300001400214490000700228520366500235100002203900700002103922700002503943700002203968700002403990856006504014 2015 eng d a0954-102000aRecovery of Antarctic stream epilithon from simulated scouring events0 aRecovery of Antarctic stream epilithon from simulated scouring e cJan-08-2015 a341 - 3540 v273 a

Microbial mats are common in polar streams and often dominate benthic biomass. Climate change may be enhancing the variability of stream flows in the Antarctic, but so far studies investigating mat responses to disturbance have been limited in this region. Mat regrowth was evaluated following disturbance by experimentally scouring rocks from an ephemeral McMurdo Dry Valley stream over two summers (2001–02 and 2012–13). Mats were sampled at the beginning and resampled at the end of the flow season. In 2012–13, mats were additionally resampled mid-season along with previously undisturbed controls. In 2001–02 rocks regained 47% of chlorophyll aand 40% of ash-free dry mass by the end of the summer, while in 2012–13 rocks regrew 18% and 27%, respectively. Mat stoichiometry differed between summers, and reflected differences in biomass and discharge. Oscillatoria spp. were greatest on scoured rocks and Phormidium spp. on undisturbed rocks. Small diatoms Humidophila andFistulifera spp. increased throughout the summer in all mats, with the latter more abundant in scoured communities. Collectively, these data suggest that mats are variable intra-annually, responsive to hydrology and require multiple summers to regrow initial biomass once lost. These results will aid the interpretation of long-term data, as well as inform Antarctic Specially Managed Area protocols.

1 aKohler, Tyler, J.1 aChatfield, Ethan1 aGooseff, Michael, N.1 aBarrett, John, E.1 aMcKnight, Diane, M. uhttp://www.journals.cambridge.org/abstract_S095410201500002401816nas a2200181 4500008004100000245008400041210006900125260001200194300001200206490000700218520117800225100002101403700002501424700003301449700002501482700002201507856010501529 2014 eng d00aBacterial community composition of divergent soil habitats from a polar desert.0 aBacterial community composition of divergent soil habitats from  c08/2014 a490-4940 v893 aEdaphic factors such as pH, organic matter, and salinity are often the most significant drivers of diversity patterns in soil bacterial communities. Desert ecosystems in particular are model locations for examining such relationships as food web complexity is low and the soil environment is biogeochemically heterogeneous. Here, we present the findings from a 16S rRNA gene sequencing approach used to observe the differences in diversity and community composition among three divergent soil habitats of the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica. Results show that alpha diversity is significantly lowered in high pH soils, which contain higher proportions of the phyla Acidobacteria and Actinobacteria, while mesic soils with higher soil organic carbon (and ammonium) content contain high proportions of Nitrospira, a nitrite-oxidizing bacteria. Taxonomic community resolution also had a significant impact on our conclusions, as pH was the primary predictor of phylum-level diversity, while moisture was the most significant predictor of diversity at the genus level. Predictive power also increased with increasing taxonomic resolution, suggesting a potential increase in nic1 aGeyer, Kevin, M.1 aAltrichter, Adam, E.1 aTakacs-Vesbach, Cristina, D.1 aGooseff, Michael, N.1 aBarrett, John, E. uhttps://mcm.lternet.edu/content/bacterial-community-composition-divergent-soil-habitats-polar-desert02223nas a2200205 4500008004100000245012900041210006900170260001200239300001200251490000700263520146400270100001701734700002401751700002401775700002501799700002201824700003301846700001501879856012301894 2014 eng d00aCharacterization of Growing Bacterial Populations in McMurdo Dry Valley Soils through Stable Isotope Probing with 18O-water.0 aCharacterization of Growing Bacterial Populations in McMurdo Dry c08/2014 a415-4250 v893 aSoil microbial communities of the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica (MDV) contain representatives from at least fourteen bacterial phyla. However, given low rates of microbial activity, it is unclear whether this richness represents functioning rather than dormant members of the community. We used stable isotope probing (SIP) with (18) O-water to determine if microbial populations grow in MDV soils. Changes in the microbial community were characterized in soils amended with H2 (18) O and H2 (18) O-organic matter. Sequencing the 16S rRNA genes of the heavy and light fractions of the bacterial community DNA shows that DNA of microbial populations was labeled with (18) O-water, indicating these micro-organisms grew in the MDV soils. Significant differences existed in the community composition of the heavy and light fractions of the H2 (18) O and H2 (18) O-organic matter amended samples (Anosim P < 0.05 of weighted Unifrac distance). Control samples and the light DNA fraction of the H2 (18) O amended samples were dominated by representatives of the phyla Deinococcus-Thermus, Proteobacteria, Planctomyces, Gemmatimonadetes, Actinobacteria and Acidobacteria, whereas Proteobacteria were more prevalent in the heavy DNA fractions from the H2 (18) O-water and the H2 (18) O-water-organic matter treatments. Our results indicate that SIP with H2 (18) O can be used to distinguish active bacterial populations even in this low organic matter environment.1 aSchwartz, E.1 aVan Horn, David, J.1 aBuelow, Heather, N.1 aGooseff, Michael, N.1 aBarrett, John, E.1 aTakacs-Vesbach, Cristina, D.1 aOkie, J.G. uhttps://mcm.lternet.edu/content/characterization-growing-bacterial-populations-mcmurdo-dry-valley-soils-through-stable04232nas a2200193 4500008004100000245010200041210006900143260003400212490001000246520358400256653002003840653001703860653002403877653002203901653003403923100002103957700002203978856003804000 2014 eng d00aEnvironmental Controls Over the Distribution and Function of Antarctic Soil Bacterial Communities0 aEnvironmental Controls Over the Distribution and Function of Ant aBlacksburg, VAbVirginia Tech0 vPh.D.3 a

Microbial community composition plays a vital role in soil biogeochemical cycling. Information that explains the biogeography of microorganisms is consequently necessary for predicting the timing and magnitude of important ecosystem services mediated by soil biota, such as decomposition and nutrient cycling. Theory developed to explain patterns in plant and animal distributions such as the prevalent relationship between ecosystem productivity and diversity may be successfully extended to microbial systems and accelerate an emerging ecological understanding of the "unseen majority." These considerations suggest a need to define the important mechanisms which affect microbial biogeography as well as the sensitivity of community structure/function to changing climatic or environmental conditions. To this end, my dissertation covers three data chapters in which I have 1) examined patterns in bacterial biogeography using gradients of environmental severity and productivity to identify changes in community diversity (e.g. taxonomic richness) and structure (e.g. similarity); 2) detected potential bacterial ecotypes associated with distinct soil habitats such as those of high alkalinity or electrical conductivity and; 3) measured environmental controls over the function (e.g. primary production, exoenzyme activity) of soil organisms in an environment of severe environmental limitations. Sampling was performed in the polar desert of Antarctica's McMurdo Dry Valleys, a model ecosystem which hosts microbially-dominated soil foodwebs and displays heterogeneously distributed soil properties across the landscape. Results for Chapter 2 indicate differential effects of resource availability and geochemical severity on bacterial communities, with a significant productivity-diversity relationship that plateaus near the highest observed concentrations of the limiting resource organic carbon (0.30mg C/g soil). Geochemical severity (e.g. pH, electrical conductivity) primarily affected bacterial community similarity and successfully explained the divergent structure of a subset of samples. 16S rRNA amplicon pyrosequencing further revealed in Chapter 3 the identity of specific phyla that preferentially exist within certain habitats (i.e. Acidobacteria in alkaline soils, Nitrospira in mesic soils) suggesting the presence of niche specialists and spatial heterogeneity of taxa-specific functions (i.e. nitrite oxidation). Additionally, environmental parameters had different explanatory power towards predicting bacterial richness at varying taxonomic scales, from 57% of phylum-level richness with pH to 91% of order- and genus-level richness with moisture. Finally, Chapter 4 details a simultaneous sampling of soil communities and their associated ecosystem functions (primary productivity, enzymatic decomposition) and indicates that the overall organic substrate diversity may be greater in mesic soils where bacterial diversity is also highest, thus a potentially unforeseen driver of community dynamics. I also quantified annual rates of soil production which range between 0.7 - 18.1g C/m2/yr from the more arid to productive soils, respectively. In conclusion, the extension of biogeographical theory for macroorganisms has proven successful and both environmental severity and resource availability have obvious (although different) effects on the diversity and composition of soil microbial communities.

 

10abiogeochemistry10abiogeography10aMcMurdo Dry Valleys10amicrobial ecology10aproductivity/diversity theory1 aGeyer, Kevin, M.1 aBarrett, John, E. uhttp://hdl.handle.net/10919/6441702505nas a2200193 4500008004100000245011800041210006900159260001200228300001400240490000700254520178100261100002402042700001502066700002402081700002502105700002202130700003302152856012602185 2014 eng d00aSoil microbial responses to increased moisture and organic resources along a salinity gradient in a polar desert.0 aSoil microbial responses to increased moisture and organic resou c05/2014 a3034-30430 v803 aMicrobial communities in extreme environments often have low diversity and specialized physiologies suggesting a limited resistance to change. The McMurdo Dry Valleys (MDV) are a microbially dominated, extreme ecosystem currently undergoing climate change-induced disturbances, including the melting of massive buried ice, cutting through of permafrost by streams, and warming events. These processes are increasing moisture across the landscape, altering conditions for soil communities by mobilizing nutrients and salts and stimulating autotrophic carbon inputs to soils. The goal of this study was to determine the effects of resource addition (water/organic matter) on the composition and function of microbial communities in the MDV along a natural salinity gradient representing an additional gradient of stress in an already extreme environment. Soil respiration and the activity of carbon-acquiring extracellular enzymes increased significantly (P < 0.05) with the addition of resources at the low- and moderate-salinity sites but not the high-salinity site. The bacterial community composition was altered, with an increase in Proteobacteria and Firmicutes with water and organic matter additions at the low- and moderate-salinity sites and a near dominance of Firmicutes at the high-salinity site. Principal coordinate analyses of all samples using a phylogenetically informed distance matrix (UniFrac) demonstrated discrete clustering among sites (analysis of similarity [ANOSIM], P < 0.05 and R > 0.40) and among most treatments within sites. The results from this experimental work suggest that microbial communities in this environment will undergo rapid change in response to the altered resources resulting from climate change impacts occurring in this region.1 aVan Horn, David, J.1 aOkie, J.G.1 aBuelow, Heather, N.1 aGooseff, Michael, N.1 aBarrett, John, E.1 aTakacs-Vesbach, Cristina, D. uhttps://mcm.lternet.edu/content/soil-microbial-responses-increased-moisture-and-organic-resources-along-salinity-gradient00652nas a2200181 4500008004100000245007600041210006900117260001200186300001100198490000600209100002100215700002500236700002400261700003300285700002500318700002200343856010500365 2013 eng d00aEnvironmental controls over bacterial communities in polar desert soils0 aEnvironmental controls over bacterial communities in polar deser c10/2013 aart1270 v41 aGeyer, Kevin, M.1 aAltrichter, Adam, E.1 aVan Horn, David, J.1 aTakacs-Vesbach, Cristina, D.1 aGooseff, Michael, N.1 aBarrett, John, E. uhttps://mcm.lternet.edu/content/environmental-controls-over-bacterial-communities-polar-desert-soils00764nas a2200205 4500008004100000245015000041210006900191260001200260300001100272490000600283100002400289700001800313700002200331700002500353700002500378700002100403700002200424700003300446856007900479 2013 eng d00aFactors Controlling Soil Microbial Biomass and Bacterial Diversity and Community Composition in a Cold Desert Ecosystem: Role of Geographic Scale0 aFactors Controlling Soil Microbial Biomass and Bacterial Diversi c06/2013 ae661030 v81 aVan Horn, David, J.1 aVan Horn, Lee1 aBarrett, John, E.1 aGooseff, Michael, N.1 aAltrichter, Adam, E.1 aGeyer, Kevin, M.1 aZeglin, Lydia, H.1 aTakacs-Vesbach, Cristina, D. uhttp://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.006610300643nas a2200169 4500008004100000245010200041210006900143260001200212300001100224490000600235100002000241700002300261700002100284700001900305700002200324856012700346 2013 eng d00aLocal and regional influences over soil microbial metacommunities in the Transantarctic Mountains0 aLocal and regional influences over soil microbial metacommunitie c11/2013 aart1360 v41 aSokol, Eric, R.1 aHerbold, Craig, W.1 aLee, Charles, K.1 aCary, Craig, S1 aBarrett, John, E. uhttps://mcm.lternet.edu/content/local-and-regional-influences-over-soil-microbial-metacommunities-transantarctic-mountains00637nas a2200169 4500008004100000245013500041210006900176260001200245300001400257490000600271100002100277700002500298700002500323700002200348700003300370856006400403 2013 eng d00aSeasonal controls on snow distribution and aerial ablation at the snow-patch and landscape scales, McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica0 aSeasonal controls on snow distribution and aerial ablation at th c09/2013 a917 - 9310 v71 aEveland, Jeffery1 aGooseff, Michael, N.1 aLampkin, Derrick, J.1 aBarrett, John, E.1 aTakacs-Vesbach, Cristina, D. uhttp://www.the-cryosphere.net/7/917/2013/tc-7-917-2013.html00493nas a2200145 4500008004100000245007100041210006900112260001200181300001400193490000700207100002500214700002200239700002100261856006500282 2013 eng d00aShallow groundwater systems in a polar desert, McMurdo Dry Valleys0 aShallow groundwater systems in a polar desert McMurdo Dry Valley c02/2013 a171 - 1830 v211 aGooseff, Michael, N.1 aBarrett, John, E.1 aLevy, Joseph, S. uhttp://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs10040-012-0926-300619nas a2200169 4500008004100000245011800041210006900159260001200228300001600240490000700256100002100263700002500284700002500309700002200334700003300356856006000389 2013 eng d00aSpatial and temporal patterns of snow accumulation and aerial ablation across the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica0 aSpatial and temporal patterns of snow accumulation and aerial ab c09/2013 a2864 - 28750 v271 aEveland, Jeffery1 aGooseff, Michael, N.1 aLampkin, Derrick, J.1 aBarrett, John, E.1 aTakacs-Vesbach, Cristina, D. uhttp://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/hyp.9407/pdf00730nas a2200193 4500008004100000245009900041210006900140300001100209100002100220700002400241700002500265700002200290700002200312700002400334700001700358700002200375700002000397856011900417 2013 eng d00aWater track modification of soil ecosystems in the Lake Hoare basin, Taylor Valley, Antarctica0 aWater track modification of soil ecosystems in the Lake Hoare ba a1 - 101 aLevy, Joseph, S.1 aFountain, Andrew, G1 aGooseff, Michael, N.1 aBarrett, John, E.1 aVantreese, Robert1 aWelch, Kathleen, A.1 aLyons, Berry1 aNielsen, Uffe, N.1 aWall, Diana, H. uhttps://mcm.lternet.edu/content/water-track-modification-soil-ecosystems-lake-hoare-basin-taylor-valley-antarctica00655nas a2200181 4500008004100000245012000041210006900161260001100230300001400241490000700255100002200262700002300284700002200307700002500329700002800354700003300382856005800415 2011 eng d00aBacterial Community Structure Along Moisture Gradients in the Parafluvial Sediments of Two Ephemeral Desert Streams0 aBacterial Community Structure Along Moisture Gradients in the Pa c4/2011 a543 - 5560 v611 aZeglin, Lydia, H.1 aDahm, Clifford, N.1 aBarrett, John, E.1 aGooseff, Michael, N.1 aFitpatrick, Shannon, K.1 aTakacs-Vesbach, Cristina, D. uhttp://www.springerlink.com/content/r83j53334v5n505w/00609nas a2200169 4500008004100000022001400041245010500055210006900160260001200229490002400241100001600265700002200281700002500303700002300328700002000351856006800371 2011 eng d a0800-039500aImplications of meltwater pulse events for soil biology and biogeochemical cycling in a polar desert0 aImplications of meltwater pulse events for soil biology and biog c12/20110 v30812810303525113401 aBall, Becky1 aBarrett, John, E.1 aGooseff, Michael, N.1 aVirginia, Ross, A.1 aWall, Diana, H. uhttp://www.polarresearch.net/index.php/polar/article/view/1455500756nas a2200205 4500008004100000245011700041210006900158260001100227300001400238490000700252100001800259700002200277700002000299700001700319700002200336700002400358700002300382700002400405856012100429 2010 eng d00aExperimentally increased snow accumulation alters soil moisture and animal community structure in a polar desert0 aExperimentally increased snow accumulation alters soil moisture  c7/2010 a897 - 9070 v331 aAyres, Edward1 aNkem, Johnson, N.1 aWall, Diana, H.1 aAdams, Byron1 aBarrett, John, E.1 aSimmons, Breana, L.1 aVirginia, Ross, A.1 aFountain, Andrew, G uhttps://mcm.lternet.edu/content/experimentally-increased-snow-accumulation-alters-soil-moisture-and-animal-community00641nas a2200181 4500008004100000020001800041245006900059210006900128260003100197300001200228490000600240100003300246700002200279700002500301700002200326700002100348856009000369 2010 eng d a978052188919300aFactors promoting microbial diversity in the McMurdo Dry Valleys0 aFactors promoting microbial diversity in the McMurdo Dry Valleys bCambridge University Press a221-2570 v51 aTakacs-Vesbach, Cristina, D.1 aZeglin, Lydia, H.1 aGooseff, Michael, N.1 aBarrett, John, E.1 aPriscu, John, C. uhttp://ebooks.cambridge.org/chapter.jsf?bid=CBO9780511712258&cid=CBO9780511712258A01502518nas a2200205 4500008004100000245010700041210006900148260003400217490000700251520182600258653002502084653003402109653002402143653002702167653002202194653001102216100002502227700002202252856003802274 2010 eng d00aLandscape history and contemporary environmental drivers of microbial community structure and function0 aLandscape history and contemporary environmental drivers of micr aBlacksburg, VAbVirginia Tech0 vMS3 a

Recent work in microbial ecology has focused on elucidating controls over biogeographic patterns and connecting microbial community composition to ecosystem function. My objective was to investigate the relative influences of landscape legacies and contemporary environmental factors on the distribution of soil microbial communities and their contribution to ecosystem processes across a glacial till sequence in Taylor Valley, Antarctica. Within each till unit, I sampled from dry areas and areas with visible evidence of recent surface water movement generated by seasonal melting of ephemeral snow packs and hillslope ground ice. Using T-RFLP 16S rRNA gene profiles of microbial communities, I analyzed the contribution of till and environmental factors to community similarity, and assessed the functional potential of the microbial community using extracellular enzyme activity assays. Microbial communities were influenced by geochemical differences among both tills and local environments, but especially organized by variables associated with water availability as the first axis of an NMDS ordination was strongly related to shifts in soil moisture content. CCA revealed that tills explained only 3.4% of the variability in community similarity among sites, while geochemical variables explained 18.5%. Extracellular enzyme activity was correlated with relevant geochemical variables reflecting the influence of nutrient limitation on microbial activity. In addition, enzyme activity was related to changes in community similarity, particularly in wet environments with a partial Mantel correlation of 0.32. These results demonstrate how landscape history and environmental conditions can shape the functional potential of a microbial community mediated through shifts in microbial community composition.

10acommunity similarity10aextracellular enzyme activity10aMcMurdo Dry Valleys10amicrobial biogeography10asoil geochemistry10aT-RFLP1 aAltrichter, Adam, E.1 aBarrett, John, E. uhttp://hdl.handle.net/10919/3188300667nas a2200169 4500008004100000020001800041245012500059210006900184260004200253300001300295490000600308100002200314700001300336700002500349700003300374856009000407 2010 eng d a978052188919300aThe legacy of aqueous environments on soils of the McMurdo Dry Valleys: contexts for future exploration of martian soils0 alegacy of aqueous environments on soils of the McMurdo Dry Valle aCambridgebCambridge University Press a78 - 1090 v51 aBarrett, John, E.1 aPoage, M1 aGooseff, Michael, N.1 aTakacs-Vesbach, Cristina, D. uhttp://ebooks.cambridge.org/chapter.jsf?bid=CBO9780511712258&cid=CBO9780511712258A01000683nas a2200169 4500008004100000245011900041210006900160300001400229490000700243100001700250700002500267700002200292700002200314700003300336700001600369856012800385 2009 eng d00aHydrologic characteristics of lake- and stream-side riparian wetted margins in the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica0 aHydrologic characteristics of lake and streamside riparian wette a1255-12670 v231 aNorthcott, M1 aGooseff, Michael, N.1 aBarrett, John, E.1 aZeglin, Lydia, H.1 aTakacs-Vesbach, Cristina, D.1 aHumphrey, J uhttps://mcm.lternet.edu/content/hydrologic-characteristics-lake-and-stream-side-riparian-wetted-margins-mcmurdo-dry-valleys00622nas a2200157 4500008004100000245010300041210006900144300001400213490000700227100001600234700002300250700002200273700002400295700002000319856012500339 2009 eng d00aInteractions between physical and biotic factors influence CO_2 flux in Antarctic dry valley soils0 aInteractions between physical and biotic factors influence CO2 f a1510-15170 v411 aBall, Becky1 aVirginia, Ross, A.1 aBarrett, John, E.1 aParsons, Andrew, N.1 aWall, Diana, H. uhttps://mcm.lternet.edu/content/interactions-between-physical-and-biotic-factors-influence-co2-flux-antarctic-dry-valley00686nas a2200157 4500008004100000245015700041210006900198300001200267490000700279100002200286700001800308700002200326700002500348700003300373856012200406 2009 eng d00aLandscape Distribution of Microbial Activity in the McMurdo Dry Valleys: Linked Biotic Processes, Hydrology, and Geochemistry in a Cold Desert Ecosystem0 aLandscape Distribution of Microbial Activity in the McMurdo Dry  a562-5730 v121 aZeglin, Lydia, H.1 aSinsabaugh, R1 aBarrett, John, E.1 aGooseff, Michael, N.1 aTakacs-Vesbach, Cristina, D. uhttps://mcm.lternet.edu/content/landscape-distribution-microbial-activity-mcmurdo-dry-valleys-linked-biotic-processes00654nas a2200169 4500008004100000245010800041210006900149300001400218490000700232100002400239700002000263700001700283700001800300700002200318700002300340856012100363 2009 eng d00aLong-term experimental warming reduces soil nematode populations in the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica0 aLongterm experimental warming reduces soil nematode populations  a2052-20600 v411 aSimmons, Breana, L.1 aWall, Diana, H.1 aAdams, Byron1 aAyres, Edward1 aBarrett, John, E.1 aVirginia, Ross, A. uhttps://mcm.lternet.edu/content/long-term-experimental-warming-reduces-soil-nematode-populations-mcmurdo-dry-valleys00579nas a2200133 4500008004100000245011000041210006900151300001400220490000700234100002200241700002500263700003300288856012400321 2009 eng d00aSpatial variation in soil active-layer geochemistry across hydrologic margins in polar desert ecosystems.0 aSpatial variation in soil activelayer geochemistry across hydrol a2349-23580 v131 aBarrett, John, E.1 aGooseff, Michael, N.1 aTakacs-Vesbach, Cristina, D. uhttps://mcm.lternet.edu/content/spatial-variation-soil-active-layer-geochemistry-across-hydrologic-margins-polar-desert00835nas a2200289 4500008004100000245006600041210006500107490000700172100002300179700002000202700001600222700001600238700001700254700001400271700001200285700001200297700001700309700001600326700001900342700001400361700001300375700002200388700001500410700001500425700001900440856008600459 2009 eng d00aState of the Antarctic and the Southern Ocean climate system,0 aState of the Antarctic and the Southern Ocean climate system0 v471 aMayewski, Paul, A.1 aBromwich, David1 aCampbell, H1 aHamilton, G1 aLyons, Berry1 aMaasch, K1 aAoki, S1 aXiao, C1 avan Ommen, T1 aMeredith, M1 aSummerhayes, C1 aTurner, J1 aWorby, A1 aBarrett, John, E.1 aCasassa, G1 aBertler, N1 aBracegirdle, T uhttps://mcm.lternet.edu/content/state-antarctic-and-southern-ocean-climate-system00629nas a2200169 4500008004100000245008900041210006900130300001400199490000700213100002400220700002000244700001700264700001800281700002200299700002300321856011500344 2009 eng d00aTerrestrial mesofauna in above- and below-ground habitats: Taylor Valley, Antarctica0 aTerrestrial mesofauna in above and belowground habitats Taylor V a1549-15580 v321 aSimmons, Breana, L.1 aWall, Diana, H.1 aAdams, Byron1 aAyres, Edward1 aBarrett, John, E.1 aVirginia, Ross, A. uhttps://mcm.lternet.edu/content/terrestrial-mesofauna-above-and-below-ground-habitats-taylor-valley-antarctica00606nas a2200145 4500008004100000245011600041210006900157300001000226490000700236100001300243700002500256700002200281700003300303856012400336 2009 eng d00aThermal Characterisation of Active Layer Across a Soil Moisture Gradient in the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica0 aThermal Characterisation of Active Layer Across a Soil Moisture  a27-390 v201 aIkard, S1 aGooseff, Michael, N.1 aBarrett, John, E.1 aTakacs-Vesbach, Cristina, D. uhttps://mcm.lternet.edu/content/thermal-characterisation-active-layer-across-soil-moisture-gradient-mcmurdo-dry-valleys00606nas a2200145 4500008004100000245011900041210006900160300001400229490000700243100002200250700002300272700002000295700001700315856012800332 2008 eng d00aDecline in a dominant invertebrate species contributes to altered carbon cycling in a low-diversity soil ecosystem0 aDecline in a dominant invertebrate species contributes to altere a1734-17440 v141 aBarrett, John, E.1 aVirginia, Ross, A.1 aWall, Diana, H.1 aAdams, Byron uhttps://mcm.lternet.edu/content/decline-dominant-invertebrate-species-contributes-altered-carbon-cycling-low-diversity-soil02709nas a2200241 4500008004100000245010000041210006900141260001200210300001400222490000700236520190500243100001802148700002202166700002002188700001702208700002202225700001302247700002402260700002202284700002402306700002302330856011402353 2008 eng d00aEffects of Human Trampling on Populations of Soil Fauna in the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica.0 aEffects of Human Trampling on Populations of Soil Fauna in the M c12/2008 a1544-15510 v223 a

Antarctic ecosystems are often considered nearly pristine because levels of anthropogenic disturbance are extremely low there. Nevertheless, over recent decades there has been a rapid increase in the number of people, researchers and tourists, visiting Antarctica. We evaluated, over 10 years, the direct impact of foot traffic on the abundance of soil animals and soil properties in Taylor Valley within the McMurdo Dry Valleys region of Antarctica. We compared soils from minimally disturbed areas with soils from nearby paths that received intermediate and high levels of human foot traffic (i.e., up to approximately 80 passes per year). The nematodes Scottnema lindsayae and Eudorylaimus sp. were the most commonly found animal species, whereas rotifers and tardigrades were found only occasionally. On the highly trampled footpaths, abundance of S. lindsayae and Eudorylaimus sp. was up to 52 and 76% lower, respectively, than in untrampled areas. Moreover, reduction in S. lindsayae abundance was more pronounced after 10 years than 2 years and in the surface soil than in the deeper soil, presumably because of the longer period of disturbance and the greater level of physical disturbance experienced by the surface soil. The ratio of living to dead Eudorylaimus sp. also declined with increased trampling intensity, which is indicative of increased mortality or reduced fecundity. At one site there was evidence that high levels of trampling reduced soil CO2 fluxes, which is related to total biological activity in the soil. Our results show that even low levels of human traffic can significantly affect soil biota in this ecosystem and may alter ecosystem processes, such as carbon cycling. Consequently, management and conservation plans for Antarctic soils should consider the high sensitivity of soil fauna to physical disturbance as human presence in this ecosystem increases.

1 aAyres, Edward1 aNkem, Johnson, N.1 aWall, Diana, H.1 aAdams, Byron1 aBarrett, John, E.1 aBroos, E1 aParsons, Andrew, N.1 aPowers, Laura, E.1 aSimmons, Breana, L.1 aVirginia, Ross, A. uhttps://mcm.lternet.edu/content/effects-human-trampling-populations-soil-fauna-mcmurdo-dry-valleys-antarctica00775nas a2200217 4500008004100000245010100041210006900142260001500211300001200226490000700238653002100245653001200266100002100278700002700299700002400326700002200350700002400372700001700396700002200413856012200435 2008 eng d00aHydrologic response to extreme warm and cold summers in the McMurdo Dry Valleys, East Antarctica0 aHydrologic response to extreme warm and cold summers in the McMu c05/16/2008 a499-5090 v2010aClimate Response10astreams1 aDoran, Peter, T.1 aMcKay, Christopher, P.1 aFountain, Andrew, G1 aNylen, Thomas, H.1 aMcKnight, Diane, M.1 aJaros, Chris1 aBarrett, John, E. uhttps://mcm.lternet.edu/content/hydrologic-response-extreme-warm-and-cold-summers-mcmurdo-dry-valleys-east-antarctica00591nas a2200157 4500008004100000245009700041210006900138260001200207300001200219490000700231100001300238700002200251700002300273700002000296856011700316 2008 eng d00aThe influence of soil geochemistry on nematode distribution, McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica0 ainfluence of soil geochemistry on nematode distribution McMurdo  c02/2008 a119-1280 v401 aPoage, M1 aBarrett, John, E.1 aVirginia, Ross, A.1 aWall, Diana, H. uhttps://mcm.lternet.edu/content/influence-soil-geochemistry-nematode-distribution-mcmurdo-dry-valleys-antarctica00626nas a2200181 4500008004100000245008300041210006900124300001400193490000700207100002000214700001600234700001400250700001100264700002200275700002000297700001900317856010800336 2008 eng d00aMicrobial community composition in soils of Northern Victoria Land, Antarctica0 aMicrobial community composition in soils of Northern Victoria La a1713-17240 v101 aNiederberger, T1 aMcDonald, i1 aHacker, A1 aSoo, R1 aBarrett, John, E.1 aWall, Diana, H.1 aCary, Craig, S uhttps://mcm.lternet.edu/content/microbial-community-composition-soils-northern-victoria-land-antarctica00595nas a2200169 4500008004100000245008100041210006900122260001200191300001400203490000700217653002100224653001400245100002200259700002300281700002000304856010100324 2008 eng d00aPersistent effects of a discrete climate event on a polar desert ecosystem0 aPersistent effects of a discrete climate event on a polar desert c06/2008 a2249-22610 v1410aClimate Response10anematodes1 aBarrett, John, E.1 aVirginia, Ross, A.1 aWall, Diana, H. uhttps://mcm.lternet.edu/content/persistent-effects-discrete-climate-event-polar-desert-ecosystem00475nas a2200145 4500008004100000245005700041210005700098300001000155490000800165100001500173700002200188700001300210700002300223856008300246 2008 eng d00aSoil phosphorus cycling in an Antarctic polar desert0 aSoil phosphorus cycling in an Antarctic polar desert a21-320 v1441 aBate, Brad1 aBarrett, John, E.1 aPoage, M1 aVirginia, Ross, A. uhttps://mcm.lternet.edu/content/soil-phosphorus-cycling-antarctic-polar-desert03147nas 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-ecosystems00701nas a2200193 4500008004100000245009100041210006900132300001200201490000600213100002500219700002200244700002700266700001500293700002200308700002200330700001200352700003300364856011000397 2007 eng d00aControls on the spatial dimensions of wetted hydrologic margins of two antarctic lakes0 aControls on the spatial dimensions of wetted hydrologic margins  a841-8480 v61 aGooseff, Michael, N.1 aBarrett, John, E.1 aNorthcott, Melissa, L.1 aBate, Brad1 aHill, Kenneth, R.1 aZeglin, Lydia, H.1 aBobb, M1 aTakacs-Vesbach, Cristina, D. uhttps://mcm.lternet.edu/content/controls-spatial-dimensions-wetted-hydrologic-margins-two-antarctic-lakes00578nas a2200133 4500008004100000245011000041210006900151100001800220700002000238700001700258700002200275700002300297856012400320 2007 eng d00aUnique similarity of faunal communities across aquatic terrestrial interfaces in a polar desert ecosystem0 aUnique similarity of faunal communities across aquatic terrestri1 aAyres, Edward1 aWall, Diana, H.1 aAdams, Byron1 aBarrett, John, E.1 aVirginia, Ross, A. uhttps://mcm.lternet.edu/content/unique-similarity-faunal-communities-across-aquatic-terrestrial-interfaces-polar-desert00429nas a2200145 4500008004100000245003300041210003200074260003000106300001200136490000600148100002200154700002300176700002000199856006400219 2006 eng d00aBiogeochemistry, terrestrial0 aBiogeochemistry terrestrial aNew YorkbRoutledge Press a154-1550 v11 aBarrett, John, E.1 aVirginia, Ross, A.1 aRiffenburgh, B. uhttps://mcm.lternet.edu/content/biogeochemistry-terrestrial00757nas a2200181 4500008004100000245010900041210006900150300001200219490000700231100002200238700002300260700002000283700001900303700001700322700001400339700001600353856020600369 2006 eng d00aCo-variation in soil biodiversity and biogeochemistry in Northern and Southern Victoria Land, Antarctica0 aCovariation in soil biodiversity and biogeochemistry in Northern a535-5480 v181 aBarrett, John, E.1 aVirginia, Ross, A.1 aWall, Diana, H.1 aCary, Craig, S1 aAdams, Byron1 aHacker, A1 aAislabie, J uhttps://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/antarctic-science/article/covariation-in-soil-biodiversity-and-biogeochemistry-in-northern-and-southern-victoria-land-antarctica/C3514C28DB75F3A19DB5F266D4B1B56E00612nas a2200145 4500008004100000245011000041210006900151260003400220300001100254100001300265700001700278700002200295700002300317856012600340 2006 eng d00aPedogenic carbonate distribution within glacial till in Taylor Valley, Southern Victoria Land, Antarctica0 aPedogenic carbonate distribution within glacial till in Taylor V bGeological Society of America a89-1031 aFoley, K1 aLyons, Berry1 aBarrett, John, E.1 aVirginia, Ross, A. uhttps://mcm.lternet.edu/content/pedogenic-carbonate-distribution-within-glacial-till-taylor-valley-southern-victoria-land00554nas a2200169 4500008004100000245006300041210006200104300001200166490000700178100001500185700001600200700002200216700002000238700002300258700001500281856008800296 2006 eng d00aPhosphorus fractions in soils of Taylor Valley, Antarctica0 aPhosphorus fractions in soils of Taylor Valley Antarctica a806-8150 v701 aBlecker, S1 aIppolito, J1 aBarrett, John, E.1 aWall, Diana, H.1 aVirginia, Ross, A.1 aNorvell, K uhttps://mcm.lternet.edu/content/phosphorus-fractions-soils-taylor-valley-antarctica00583nas a2200157 4500008004100000245008700041210006900128300001200197490000700209100002200216700002300238700002200261700002000283700001000303856011200313 2006 eng d00aSalt tolerance and survival thresholds for two species of Antarctic soil nematodes0 aSalt tolerance and survival thresholds for two species of Antarc a643-6510 v291 aNkem, Johnson, N.1 aVirginia, Ross, A.1 aBarrett, John, E.1 aWall, Diana, H.1 aLi, G uhttps://mcm.lternet.edu/content/salt-tolerance-and-survival-thresholds-two-species-antarctic-soil-nematodes00531nas a2200145 4500008004100000245007100041210006900112300001400181490000700195100002200202700002300224700002400247700002000271856009400291 2006 eng d00aSoil carbon turnover model for the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica0 aSoil carbon turnover model for the McMurdo Dry Valleys Antarctic a3065-30820 v381 aBarrett, John, E.1 aVirginia, Ross, A.1 aParsons, Andrew, N.1 aWall, Diana, H. uhttps://mcm.lternet.edu/content/soil-carbon-turnover-model-mcmurdo-dry-valleys-antarctica00563nas a2200145 4500008004100000245009200041210006900133300001400202490000700216100002000223700001700243700002200260700002000282856011500302 2006 eng d00aA synthesis of soil biodiversity and ecosystem functioning in Victoria Land, Antarctica0 asynthesis of soil biodiversity and ecosystem functioning in Vict a3001-30020 v381 aWall, Diana, H.1 aAdams, Byron1 aBarrett, John, E.1 aHopkins, D., W. uhttps://mcm.lternet.edu/content/synthesis-soil-biodiversity-and-ecosystem-functioning-victoria-land-antarctica00812nas a2200265 4500008004100000245006500041210006400106300001400170490000700184100002200191700002200213700001500235700001600250700002000266700001900286700002300305700002000328700001600348700001600364700001600380700001600396700001700412700002400429856009300453 2006 eng d00aTerrestrial ecosystem processes of Victoria Land, Antarctica0 aTerrestrial ecosystem processes of Victoria Land Antarctica a3019-30340 v381 aBarrett, John, E.1 aNkem, Johnson, N.1 aSletten, R1 aSteltzer, H1 aWall, Diana, H.1 aWallenstein, M1 aVirginia, Ross, A.1 aHopkins, D., W.1 aAislabie, J1 aBargagli, R1 aBockheim, J1 aCampbell, I1 aLyons, Berry1 aMoorhead, Daryl, L. uhttps://mcm.lternet.edu/content/terrestrial-ecosystem-processes-victoria-land-antarctica02560nas 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/e653225425230175/00504nas a2200145 4500008004100000245006100041210006100102300001200163490000600175100002400181700002200205700002000227700002300247856008800270 2004 eng d00aSoil carbon dioxide flux from Antarctic Dry Valley soils0 aSoil carbon dioxide flux from Antarctic Dry Valley soils a286-2950 v71 aParsons, Andrew, N.1 aBarrett, John, E.1 aWall, Diana, H.1 aVirginia, Ross, A. uhttps://mcm.lternet.edu/content/soil-carbon-dioxide-flux-antarctic-dry-valley-soils02593nas a2200181 4500008004100000245009500041210006900136300001400205490000700219520193100226100002202157700002302179700002002202700002402222700002202246700002402268856011902292 2004 eng d00aVariation in biogeochemistry and soil biodiversity across spatial scales in a polar desert0 aVariation in biogeochemistry and soil biodiversity across spatia a3105-31180 v853 a
Desert ecosystems are characterized by distinct spatial patterning in soil
biogeochemistry and biodiversity. In the Antarctic Dry Valleys, soil polygons are prominent
features of the landscape and may be key units for scaling local ecological information to
the greater region. We examined polygon soils in each of the three basins of Taylor Valley,
Antarctica. Our objectives were to characterize variability in soil biogeochemistry and
biodiversity at local to regional scales, and to test the influence of soil properties upon
invertebrate communities. We found that soil biogeochemical properties and biodiversity
vary over multiple spatial scales from fine (,10 m) to broad (.10 km) scales. Differences
in biogeochemistry were most pronounced at broad scales among the major lake basins of
Taylor Valley corresponding to differences in geology and microclimate, while variation
in invertebrate biodiversity and abundance occurred at landscape scales of 10–500 m, and
within individual soil polygons. Variation in biogeochemistry and invertebrate communities
across these scales reflects the influence of physical processes and landscape development
over ecosystem structure in the dry valleys. The development of soil polygons influences
the spatial patterning of soil properties such as soil organic matter, salinity, moisture, and
invertebrate habitat suitability. Nematode abundance and life history data indicate that
polygon interiors are more suitable habitats than soils in the troughs at the edges of polygons.
These data suggest that physical processes (i.e., polygon development) and biogeochemistry
are important influences on the spatial variability of biotic communities in dry valley soil
ecosystems.
1 aBarrett, John, E.1 aVirginia, Ross, A.1 aWall, Diana, H.1 aParsons, Andrew, N.1 aPowers, Laura, E.1 aBurkins, Melody, B. uhttps://mcm.lternet.edu/content/variation-biogeochemistry-and-soil-biodiversity-across-spatial-scales-polar-desert00585nas a2200157 4500008004100000245008200041210006900123300001400192490000700206100002400213700002200237700002300259700002000282700001800302856010700320 2003 eng d00aOrganic matter and soil biota of upland wetlands in Taylor Valley, Antarctica0 aOrganic matter and soil biota of upland wetlands in Taylor Valle a1009-10190 v261 aMoorhead, Daryl, L.1 aBarrett, John, E.1 aVirginia, Ross, A.1 aWall, Diana, H.1 aPorazinska, D uhttps://mcm.lternet.edu/content/organic-matter-and-soil-biota-upland-wetlands-taylor-valley-antarctica00760nas 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/r086455ju7213711/00561nas a2200133 4500008004100000245011000041210006900151300001200220490000600232100002200238700002300260700002000283856012400303 2002 eng d00aTrends in resin and KCl-extractable soil nitrogen across landscape gradients in Taylor Valley, Antarctica0 aTrends in resin and KClextractable soil nitrogen across landscap a289-2990 v51 aBarrett, John, E.1 aVirginia, Ross, A.1 aWall, Diana, H. uhttps://mcm.lternet.edu/content/trends-resin-and-kcl-extractable-soil-nitrogen-across-landscape-gradients-taylor-valley