02394nas 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<p>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.</p>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.7003502254nas a2200217   4500008004100000245009400041210006900135260001200204300000600216490000700222520158800229653002601817653002401843653001901867653002401886653001801910100002301928700002101951700002201972856004201994       2025                        eng d00aRethinking the lake history of Taylor Valley, Antarctica during the Ross Sea I glaciation0 aRethinking the lake history of Taylor Valley Antarctica during t  c01/2025  a90 v153 a<p>The Ross Sea I glaciation, marked by the northward advance of the Ross Ice Sheet (RIS) in the Ross Sea, east Antarctica, corresponds with the last major expansion of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet during the last glacial period. During its advance, the RIS was grounded along the southern Victoria Land coast, completely blocking the mouths of several of the McMurdo Dry Valleys (MDVs). Several authors have proposed that very large paleolakes, proglacial to the RIS, existed in many of the MDVs. Studies of these large paleolakes have been key in the interpretation of the regional landscape, climate, hydrology, and glacier and ice sheet movements. By far the most studied of these large paleolakes is Glacial Lake Washburn (GLW) in Taylor Valley. Here, we present a comprehensive review of literature related to GLW, focusing on the waters supplying the paleolake, signatures of the paleolake itself, and signatures of past glacial movements that controlled the spatial extent of GLW. We find that while a valley-wide proglacial lake likely did exist in Taylor Valley during the early stages of the Ross Sea I glaciation, during later stages two isolated lakes occupied the eastern and western sections of the valley, confined by an expansion of local alpine glaciers. Lake levels above ~140 m asl were confined to western Taylor Valley, and major lake level changes were likely driven by RIS movements, with climate variables playing a more minor role. These results may have major implications for our understanding of the MDVs and the RIS during the Ross Sea I glaciation.</p>10aGlacial Lake Washburn10aMcMurdo Dry Valleys10aRoss Ice Sheet10aRoss Sea glaciation10aTaylor Valley1 aStone, Michael, S.1 aDoran, Peter, T.1 aMyers, Krista, F.  uhttps://www.mdpi.com/2076-3263/15/1/902267nas 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<p>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&ndash;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&ndash;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 &lt;&nbsp;.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.</p>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/10.1080/15230430.2025.248528304374nas a2200193   4500008004100000245011900041210006900160260005800229490000900287520367400296653002603970653002403996653002904020653001604049653001904065100002704084700002204111856004704133       2025                        eng d00aThe temporal and spatial dynamics of surface sediment on the permanently frozen lakes of Taylor Valley, Antarctica0 atemporal and spatial dynamics of surface sediment on the permane  aMadison, WIbUniversity of Wisconsin-Madisonc05/20250 vM.S.3 a<p>The McMurdo Dry Valleys are the largest unglaciated region of Antarctica and are home to some of the only perennially frozen lakes in the world. The ice covers of the Taylor Valley lakes are subject to decadal-length fluctuations in thickness, largely ranging between three and five meters thick. It has been hypothesized that the changes in ice cover thickness are due to a combination of climate factors and lake ice surface characteristics, but as of yet there have been no studies focusing on interannual dynamics of lake ice albedo by leveraging remote sensing datasets. Landsat 8 imagery was manipulated using spectral mixture analysis to find the abundance of sediment cover across three different Taylor Valley lakes from 2016-2024 during the sunlit period of the year. Peak sediment coverage was not synchronous across years, with Lake Hoare peaking the earliest in 2021, followed by East Lake Bonney and Lake Fryxell in 2023. West Lake Bonney had no apparent peak, although concentrations have declined since 2021. Overall sediment abundance values across all lakes ranged from near 0% to over 75%, though each lake has a different level of sediment coverage. Lake Fryxell and Lake Hoare had the highest mean sediment concentrations, followed by East Lake Bonney, then West Lake Bonney. The relationship between ice thickness and sediment coverage was strongest at Lake Fryxell, followed by East Lake Bonney. Lake Hoare and West Lake Bonney appear to have weaker links between ice thickness and surface sediment, likely driven by differences in overall sediment cover and shading from the surrounding landscape. Ice surface albedo is a historically understudied component of ice physical structure and thermal mechanics and should be more closely considered in future studies predicting ice thickness in the McMurdo Dry Valleys, especially in cases to predict total ice loss. Permanently frozen lakes exhibit unique ice dynamics compared to seasonally freezing lakes, due to their consistent lake ice, where previous years ice conditions have a large effect on ice into the future. The McMurdo Dry Valleys (MDVs), a large unglaciated region in Antarctica, contain many of the few permanently frozen lakes that exist globally. Albedo is a critical factor influencing lake ice mass balance and may strongly govern lake ice thickness. Changes in surface albedo on MDVs lakes occur as a result of aeolian sediment deposition from the surrounding bare soil landscape or physical changes in ice quality throughout the summer, like ice whitening. To investigate the importance of surface characteristics of Taylor Valley lake ice, a one-dimensional thermal diffusion model was developed using in situ meteorological data and a satellite derived ice albedo estimates to simulate ice thickness on East Lake Bonney, Antarctica. Ice thickness was modeled from late 2016 through 2024 using a novel ice albedo dataset, derived from Landsat 8 imagery using linear spectral mixture analysis. Estimated albedo values ranged from 0.5-0.85, covering years when sediment cover was very heavy to very low. Modeled ice thickness was strongly correlated with measured thicknesses. For the period of the year where manual ice thickness measurements are made, modeled ice thicknesses ranged between 2.92-4.16 m, where measured values for that same time span ranged between 3.06-4.19 m. When either increasing or decreasing albedo by 5-10%, mean ice thicknesses diverged by up to 0.8 m. Ice thicknesses are strongly influenced by surface sediment concentrations, and the contribution of a tailored albedo dataset was a valuable input that has historically been over-simplified.</p>10aaeolian geomorphology10aMcMurdo Dry Valleys10apermanently frozen lakes10apolar lakes10aremote sensing1 aDougherty, Charles, E.1 aDugan, Hilary, A.  uhttp://digital.library.wisc.edu/1793/9519402022nas a2200217   4500008004100000022001400041245004800055210004800103260001200151300000900163520139500172653001501567653001501582653001901597653002401616653001701640653001501657100001801672700002101690856009301711       2025                        eng d  a0954-102000aWinter warming of McMurdo Dry Valleys soils0 aWinter warming of McMurdo Dry Valleys soils  c01/2025  a1-183 a<p>Continuous permafrost is present across the McMurdo Dry Valleys of southern Victoria Land, Antarctica. While summer active-layer thaw is common in the low-elevation portions of the Dry Valleys, active layers have not significantly thickened over time. However, in some locations, coastal Antarctic permafrost has begun to warm. Here, based on soil and meteorological measurements from 1993 to 2023, we show that wintertime soil temperatures have increased across multiple sites in the Dry Valleys, at rates exceeding the pace of summer soil warming. Linear warming trends over time are significant (P &lt; 0.05) at six of seven soil monitoring sites. Winter warming is strongly correlated with increased numbers of down-valley wind events (Foehn/katabatics), but it may also be driven by increased incident longwave radiation at some stations (although winter longwave increase is not significant over time). While down-valley wind events increase winter warming, when down-valley wind events are excluded from the record, winter soil warming remains persistent and significant, suggesting that Antarctic soils are experiencing less cold winters over time in response to regional warming. Together, these observations suggest that some Antarctic permafrost may be approaching a transition to discontinuous permafrost in some regions as winter freezing intensity is reduced over time.</p>10aAntarctica10aFoehn wind10akatabatic wind10aMcMurdo Dry Valleys10amicroclimate10apermafrost1 aFowler, Gavin1 aLevy, Joseph, S.  uhttps://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0954102024000488/type/journal_article01966nas a2200253   4500008004100000022001400041245010100055210006900156260001200225490000700237520119400244653001701438653001301455653002401468653000901492653000901501653002101510100002301531700002401554700002201578700002001600700002101620856007101641       2024                        eng d  a1523-043000aMeasuring and modelling functional moat area in perennially ice-covered Lake Fryxell, Antarctica0 aMeasuring and modelling functional moat area in perennially icec  c10/20240 v563 a<p>The perennially ice-covered lakes of the McMurdo Dry Valleys (MDVs), Antarctica, are an important reservoir of liquid water in an arid and largely frozen environment. During the austral summer, the margins of these ice covers melt, forming a &ldquo;moat&rdquo; of liquid water and thin ice, allowing exchange between lake waters and the atmosphere to occur and serving as an interface between lake, soil, and stream ecosystems. The size of these moats varies from year to year. Here, we have established the first published record of moat area changes at MDVs&rsquo; Lake Fryxell through time using manual traces of the moat as observed via satellite imagery. We have also tested a semi-automated approach for measuring moat area and found that it consistently underestimated the manual record, which we suspect may be due to the lower spatial resolution of images used in this versus the manual approach. Finally, we developed a predictive model based on readily available climate data, allowing moat area to be predicted beyond the limits of the satellite-based records. We found that functional moat area varies annually, potentially influencing ecosystem processes in the moats.</p>10aLake Fryxell10alake ice10aMcMurdo Dry Valleys10amoat10aNDWI10apredictive model1 aStone, Michael, S.1 aSalvatore, Mark, R.1 aDugan, Hilary, A.1 aMyers, Madeline1 aDoran, Peter, T.  uhttps://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/15230430.2024.240662602505nas 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<p>Airborne electromagnetic surveys collected in December 2011 and November 2018 and three soil sampling transects were used to analyze the spatial heterogeneity of shallow (&lt;4 m) soil properties in lower Taylor Valley (TV), East Antarctica. Soil resistivities from 2011 to 2018 ranged from &sim;33 Ωm to &sim;3,500 Ωm with 200 Ωm assigned as an upper boundary for brine-saturated sediments. Elevations below &sim;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&#39;s Law and range from &sim;&lt;1% to &sim;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.</p>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/10.1029/2022JF00669602399nas a2200217   4500008004100000245008500041210006900126260005400195490000700249520171000256653001501966653001701981653002401998653001402022653002402036653001002060653002402070100002502094700002102119856004102140       2022                        eng d00aEffect of climate history on the genetic structure of an Antarctic soil nematode0 aEffect of climate history on the genetic structure of an Antarct  aProvo, UT, USAbBrigham Young Universityc12/20220 vMS3 a<p>Historical climate disturbances such as glacial cycling and fluctuating stream, lake, and sea levels strongly influence the distribution and evolutionary trajectories of Antarctic terrestrial species. Antarctic invertebrates, with limited long-range mobility, including the ubiquitous sentinel nematode species <i>Scottnema lindsayae</i>, are especially sensitive to climate disturbances. We tested hypotheses associated with the historical geographic and population genetic structure of this species as it occurs across the McMurdo Dry Valleys (MDVs) of Antarctica. In order to reconstruct the influence of climate disturbance and ecological conditions on this species, partial mitochondrial COI gene sequences were sequenced and analyzed from individual <i>S. lindsayae</i> collected from sites across the MDVs reflecting a opposing gradients of climate disturbance during the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM). We found that populations were strongly geomorphic barriers with distinct haplotypes associated with valleys except among valleys that experienced glacial advance and retreat during the LGM. One monophyletic clade corresponds with valley systems that were undisturbed during the LGM indicating putative refugia areas. A second monophyletic clade corresponds to recent dispersal and expansion of evolutionarily younger populations into valleys that were strongly reworked by glacial activity during the LGM. Our work shows that contemporary populations of these animals are strongly structured by prior climate history. Such findings can be useful for interpreting long-term monitoring of demographic shifts of soil organisms in response to changing climate trends in the McMurdo Dry Valleys.</p>10aAntarctica10abiogeography10aclimate disturbance10aevolution10aMcMurdo Dry Valleys10apolar10apopulation genetics1 aJackson, Abigail, C.1 aAdams, Byron, J.  uhttp://hdl.lib.byu.edu/1877/etd1262202236nas a2200241   4500008004100000245006500041210006400106260001200170300000900182490000700191520155500198653001501753653002401768653001801792653002601810653001201836653002201848100002501870700001701895700001501912700002101927856004601948       2022                        eng d00aGlacial legacies: Microbial communities of Antarctic refugia0 aGlacial legacies Microbial communities of Antarctic refugia  c10/2022  a14400 v113 a<p>In the cold deserts of the McMurdo Dry Valleys (MDV) the suitability of soil for microbial life is determined by both contemporary processes and legacy effects. Climatic changes and accompanying glacial activity have caused local extinctions and lasting geochemical changes to parts of these soil ecosystems over several million years, while areas of refugia may have escaped these disturbances and existed under relatively stable conditions. This study describes the impact of historical glacial and lacustrine disturbance events on microbial communities across the MDV to investigate how this divergent disturbance history influenced the structuring of microbial communities across this otherwise very stable ecosystem. Soil bacterial communities from 17 sites representing either putative refugia or sites disturbed during the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) (22&ndash;17 kya) were characterized using 16 S metabarcoding. Regardless of geographic distance, several putative refugia sites at elevations above 600 m displayed highly similar microbial communities. At a regional scale, community composition was found to be influenced by elevation and geographic proximity more so than soil geochemical properties. These results suggest that despite the extreme conditions, diverse microbial communities exist in these putative refugia that have presumably remained undisturbed at least through the LGM. We suggest that similarities in microbial communities can be interpreted as evidence for historical climate legacies on an ecosystem-wide scale.</p>10aAntarctica10aMcMurdo Dry Valleys10ametabarcoding10amicrobial communities10arefugia10asoil biodiversity1 aJackson, Abigail, C.1 aJorna, Jesse1 aChaston, J1 aAdams, Byron, J.  uhttps://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/11/10/144002435nas a2200277   4500008004100000245011000041210006900151260001200220300000700232490000700239520155100246653001501797653002601812653002401838653001301862653003001875100001901905700002401924700002101948700002401969700002101993700002302014700002202037700003302059856006502092       2022                        eng d00aLimits to the three domains of life: Lessons from community assembly along an Antarctic salinity gradient0 aLimits to the three domains of life Lessons from community assem  c04/2022  a150 v263 a<p>Extremophiles exist among all three domains of life; however, physiological mechanisms for surviving harsh environmental conditions differ among Bacteria, Archaea and Eukarya. Consequently, we expect that domain-specific variation of diversity and community assembly patterns exist along environmental gradients in extreme environments. We investigated inter-domain community compositional differences along a high-elevation salinity gradient in the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica. Conductivity for 24 soil samples collected along the gradient ranged widely from 50 to 8355 &micro;S cm<sup>-1</sup>. Taxonomic richness varied among domains, with a total of 359 bacterial, 2 archaeal, 56 fungal, and 69 non-fungal eukaryotic operational taxonomic units (OTUs). Richness for bacteria, archaea, fungi, and non-fungal eukaryotes declined with increasing conductivity (all <em>P</em>&thinsp;&lt;&thinsp;0.05). Principal coordinate ordination analysis (PCoA) revealed significant (ANOSIM <em>R</em>&thinsp;=&thinsp;0.97) groupings of low/high salinity bacterial OTUs, while OTUs from other domains were not significantly clustered. Bacterial beta diversity was unimodally distributed along the gradient and had a nested structure driven by species losses, whereas in fungi and non-fungal eukaryotes beta diversity declined monotonically without strong evidence of nestedness. Thus, while increased salinity acts as a stressor in all domains, the mechanisms driving community assembly along the gradient differ substantially between the domains.</p>10aAntarctica10ainter-domain response10aMcMurdo Dry Valleys10asalinity10aspecies richness patterns1 aJiang, Xiaoben1 aVan Horn, David, J.1 aOkie, Jordan, G.1 aBuelow, Heather, N.1 aSchwartz, Egbert1 aColman, Daniel, R.1 aFeeser, Kelli, L.1 aTakacs-Vesbach, Cristina, D.  uhttps://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00792-022-01262-301993nas a2200253   4500008004100000022001400041245010200055210006900157260001200226300001100238490000700249520122000256653001501476653000901491653002401500653002201524653001701546653002301563100002501586700002401611700002101635700002101656856006201677       2022                        eng d  a0885-608700aLong-term stream hydrology and meteorology of a polar desert, the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica0 aLongterm stream hydrology and meteorology of a polar desert the   c06/2022  ae146230 v363 a<p>The McMurdo Dry Valleys (MDVs; 77.50&deg;S, 162.25&deg;E) make up the largest ice-free region of Antarctica at 3500 km<sup>2</sup>. Their position near the coast of the Ross Sea provides for a milder climate than much of the rest of the continent. Alpine and piedmont glaciers in the MDVs melt during the austral summer providing water to down gradient streams and terminal lakes on valley floors. There are currently 14 meteorological stations and 17 stream gauges operating across the MDVs, some with continuous records that go back to 1969. This relatively high density of monitoring stations reflects the fact that glaciers of different sizes and elevation ranges are the main source of water to streams. Thus, each glacier represents a different watershed. The bulk of these records start in the late 1980s/early 1990s. These data collection activities directly support research endeavors of the McMurdo Dry Valleys Long Term Ecological Research project, as well as a host of other science groups working in the MDVs. As such, both real time data and archived data from these sites is available through the online database interface of the project (<a href="http://mcmlter.org">https://mcmlter.org</a>).</p>10aAntarctica10aLTER10aMcMurdo Dry Valleys10ameltwater streams10apolar desert10aresearch catchment1 aGooseff, Michael, N.1 aMcKnight, Diane, M.1 aDoran, Peter, T.1 aFountain, Andrew  uhttps://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/hyp.1462301961nas a2200217   4500008004100000245010100041210006900142260001200211300001200223490000700235520124400242653003001486653001101516653002401527653001501551653002101566100002001587700002101607700002201628856009301650       2022                        eng d00aValley-floor snowfall in Taylor Valley, Antarctica, from 1995 to 2017: Spring, summer and autumn0 aValleyfloor snowfall in Taylor Valley Antarctica from 1995 to 20  c08/2022  a325-3350 v343 a<p>We present an analysis of the 20 year snowfall dataset in Taylor Valley and the results of a new snow cover monitoring study. Snowfall has been measured at four sites in Taylor Valley from 1995 to 2017. We focus on valley-floor snowfall when wind does not exceed 5 m s<sup>-1</sup>, and we exclude winter from our analysis due to poor data quality. Snowfall averaged 11 mm water equivalent (w.e.) from 1995 to 2017 across all stations and ranged from 1 to 58 mm w.e. Standard deviations ranged from 3 to 17 mm w.e., highlighting the strong interannual variability of snowfall in Taylor Valley. During spring and autumn there is a spatial gradient in snowfall such that the coast received twice as much snowfall as more central and inland stations. We identified a changepoint in 2007 from increasing snowfall (3 mm w.e. yr<sup>-1</sup>) to decreasing snowfall (1 mm w.e. yr<sup>-1</sup>), which coincides with a shift from decreasing temperature to no detectable temperature trend. Daily camera imagery from 2007 to 2017 augments the snowfall measurements. The camera imagery revealed a near tripling of the average number of days with snow cover from 37 days between 2006 and 2012 to 106 days with snow cover between 2012 and 2017.</p>10aautomated weather station10acamera10aMcMurdo Dry Valleys10asnow cover10asnow persistence1 aMyers, Madeline1 aDoran, Peter, T.1 aMyers, Krista, F.  uhttps://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0954102022000256/type/journal_article02885nas a2200241   4500008004100000245006300041210006200104260004100166300001200207520209300219653003102312653003602343653002402379653001902403653002402422100001602446700001702462700002302479700001702502700002402519700002502543856007502568       2021                        eng d00aChemical weathering in the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica0 aChemical weathering in the McMurdo Dry Valleys Antarctica  aHoboken, NJbJohn Wiley & Sons, Inc.  a205-2163 a<p>While chemical weathering has not always been considered an active process in the McMurdo Dry Valleys (MDV), Antarctica, long‐term geochemical and hydrological investigations have provided an overall better understanding of chemical weathering in this polar desert environment. Liquid water on the landscape is limited to stream channels as well as shallow subsurface melt features, as there is no overland flow. Stream total suspended sediment loads are low, with the sources of sediment from stream channels, aeolian input, and/or from the surfaces of glaciers. MDV soils contain high concentrations of soluble salts with little clay material, but since absent of water, these soils are a minimal location of chemical weathering. Hyporheic zones exchange water during streamflow, and these areas control the stream geochemistry over various temporal scales. Hyporheic zones promote rapid aluminosilicate weathering by moving dilute glacial meltwater into intimate contact with sediment surfaces. Rapid weathering of the aluminosilicates in the streambed and hyporheic zones is the most plausible explanation for chemostasis observed in these streams, indicating that little to no catchment processes are necessary to explain the observed chemostasis in the MDV. Shallow subsurface waters with distinct geochemical signatures have much higher dissolved Si concentrations than the stream waters and indicate that they are responsible for enhanced aluminosilicate weathering in this polar desert environment. The dissolution of CaCO<sub>3</sub> is also a major process in the hyporheic zones as generally the streams are unsaturated with respect to calcite. Cation‐exchange reactions are also important in the evolution from Na‐Cl brines to Ca‐Cl brines within the soil column, while authigenic CaCO<sub>3</sub> can both dissolve and precipitate depending on the condition of the system. Recently, stream channel landscapes are changing due to the melting of buried ice, creating thermokarst and water track features, resulting in a sediment and solute influx to the stream.</p>10aaluminosilicate weathering10aCaCO3 dissolution/precipitation10achemical weathering10ahyporheic zone10aMcMurdo Dry Valleys1 aHunt, Allen1 aEgli, Markus1 aFaybishenko, Boris1 aLyons, Berry1 aLeslie, Deborah, L.1 aGooseff, Michael, N.  uhttps://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/9781119563952.ch1102809nas a2200337   4500008004100000245012000041210006900161260001200230300001800242490000800260520168500268653002201953653002001975653004901995653001902044653001202063653004302075653001902118653002402137653002102161653003102182100002102213700002402234700002202258700002402280700002402304700002502328700002402353700002502377856006902402       2021                        eng d00aDiatoms in hyporheic sediments trace organic matter retention and processing in the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica0 aDiatoms in hyporheic sediments trace organic matter retention an  c02/2021  ae2020JG0060970 v1263 a<p>In low‐nutrient streams in cold and arid ecosystems, the spiraling of autochthonous particulate organic matter (POM) may provide important nutrient subsidies downstream. Because of its lability and the spatial heterogeneity of processing in hyporheic sediments, the downstream transport and fate of autochthonous POM can be difficult to trace. In Antarctic McMurdo Dry Valley (MDV) streams, any POM retained in the hyporheic zone is expected to be derived from surface microbial mats that contain diatoms with long‐lasting silica frustules. We tested whether diatom frustules can be used to trace the retention of autochthonous POM in the hyporheic zone and whether certain geomorphic locations promote this process. The accumulation of diatom frustules in hyporheic sediments, measured as biogenic silica, was correlated with loss‐on‐ignition organic matter and sorbed ammonium, suggesting that diatoms can be used to identify locations where POM has been retained and processed over long timescales, regardless of whether the POM remains intact. In addition, by modeling the upstream sources of hyporheic diatom assemblages, we found that POM was predominantly derived from N‐fixing microbial mats of the genus Nostoc. In terms of spatial variability, we conclude that the hyporheic sediments adjacent to the stream channel that are regularly inundated by daily flood pulses are where the most POM has been retained over long timescales. Autochthonous POM is retained in hyporheic zones of low‐nutrient streams beyond the MDVs, and we suggest that biogenic silica and diatom composition can be used to identify locations where this transfer is most prevalent.</p>10abenthic processes10abiogenic silica10abiogeochemical cycles processes and modeling10acarbon cycling10adiatoms10agroundwater/surface water interactions10ahyporheic zone10aMcMurdo Dry Valleys10anitrogen cycling10aparticulate organic matter1 aHeindel, Ruth, C1 aDarling, Joshua, P.1 aSingley, Joel, G.1 aBergstrom, Anna, J.1 aMcKnight, Diane, M.1 aLukkari, Braeden, M.1 aWelch, Kathleen, A.1 aGooseff, Michael, N.  uhttps://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2020JG00609702380nas a2200253   4500008004100000245012200041210006900163260001200232300000900244490000600253520157500259653001501834653002701849653002401876653001901900653001601919653001901935653002701954100002501981700002902006700002602035700002102061856004402082       2021                        eng d00aPhagotrophic protists and their associates: Evidence for preferential grazing in an abiotically driven soil ecosystem0 aPhagotrophic protists and their associates Evidence for preferen  c08/2021  a15550 v93 a<p>The complex relationship between ecosystem function and soil food web structure is governed by species interactions, many of which remain unmapped. Phagotrophic protists structure soil food webs by grazing the microbiome, yet their involvement in intraguild competition, susceptibility to predator diversity, and grazing preferences are only vaguely known. These species-dependent interactions are contextualized by adjacent biotic and abiotic processes, and thus obfuscated by typically high soil biodiversity. Such questions may be investigated in the McMurdo Dry Valleys (MDV) of Antarctica because the physical environment strongly filters biodiversity and simplifies the influence of abiotic factors. To detect the potential interactions in the MDV, we analyzed the co-occurrence among shotgun metagenome sequences for associations suggestive of intraguild competition, predation, and preferential grazing. In order to control for confounding abiotic drivers, we tested co-occurrence patterns against various climatic and edaphic factors. Non-random co-occurrence between phagotrophic protists and other soil fauna was biotically driven, but we found no support for competition or predation. However, protists predominately associated with Proteobacteria and avoided Actinobacteria, suggesting grazing preferences were modulated by bacterial cell-wall structure and growth rate. Our study provides a critical starting-point for mapping protist interactions in native soils and highlights key trends for future targeted molecular and culture-based approaches.</p>10aAntarctica10aco-occurrence networks10aMcMurdo Dry Valleys10aRhogostoma sp.10aSandona sp.10asoil food webs10avariation partitioning1 aThompson, Andrew, R.1 aRoth-Monzón, Andrea, J.1 aAanderud, Zachary, T.1 aAdams, Byron, J.  uhttps://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/9/8/155503499nas a2200229   4500008004100000245016600041210006900207260001200276300001100288490000700299520269000306653002302996653001503019653004103034653001603075653002403091653002003115100002203135700002203157700002403179856006603203       2021                        eng d00aSupporting simultaneous air revitalization and thermal control in a crewed habitat with temperate <i>Chlorella vulgaris</i> and eurythermic Antarctic Chlorophyta0 aSupporting simultaneous air revitalization and thermal control i  c08/2021  a7097460 v123 a<p>Including a multifunctional, bioregenerative algal photobioreactor for simultaneous air revitalization and thermal control may aid in carbon loop closure for long-duration surface habitats. However, using water-based algal media as a cabin heat sink may expose the contained culture to a dynamic, low temperature environment. Including psychrotolerant microalgae, native to these temperature regimes, in the photobioreactor may contribute to system stability. This paper assesses the impact of a cycled temperature environment, reflective of spacecraft thermal loops, to the oxygen provision capability of temperate <i>Chlorella vulgaris</i> and eurythermic Antarctic Chlorophyta. The tested 28-min temperature cycles reflected the internal thermal control loops of the International Space Station (<i>C. vulgaris</i>, 9&ndash;27&deg;C; Chlorophyta-Ant, 4&ndash;14&deg;C) and included a constant temperature control (10&deg;C). Both sample types of the cycled temperature condition concluded with increased oxygen production rates (<i>C. vulgaris</i>; initial: 0.013 mgO<sub>2</sub> L<sup>-1</sup>, final: 3.15 mgO<sub>2</sub> L<sup>&ndash;1</sup> and Chlorophyta-Ant; initial: 0.653 mgO<sub>2</sub> L<sup>&ndash;1</sup>, final: 1.03 mgO<sub>2</sub> L<sup>&ndash;1</sup>) and culture growth, suggesting environmental acclimation. Antarctic sample conditions exhibited increases or sustainment of oxygen production rates normalized by biomass dry weight, while both <i>C. vulgaris</i> sample conditions decreased oxygen production per biomass. However, even with the temperature-induced reduction, cycled temperature <i>C. vulgaris</i> had a significantly higher normalized oxygen production rate than Antarctic Chlorophyta. Chlorophyll fluorometry measurements showed that the cycled temperature conditions did not overly stress both sample types (F<sub>V</sub>/F<sub>M</sub>: 0.6&ndash;0.75), but the Antarctic Chlorophyta sample had significantly higher fluorometry readings than its <i>C. vulgaris</i> counterpart (<i>F</i> = 6.26, <i>P</i> &lt; 0.05). The steady state <i>C. vulgaris</i> condition had significantly lower fluorometry readings than all other conditions (F<sub>V</sub>/F<sub>M</sub>: 0.34), suggesting a stressed culture. This study compares the results to similar experiments conducted in steady state or diurnally cycled temperature conditions. Recommendations for surface system implementation are based off the presented results. The preliminary findings imply that both <i>C. vulgaris</i> and Antarctic Chlorophyta can withstand the dynamic temperature environment reflective of a thermal control loop and these data can be used for future design models.</p>10aair revitalization10aAntarctica10abioregenerative life support systems10aChlorophyta10aMcMurdo Dry Valleys10athermal control1 aMatula, Emily, E.1 aNabity, James, A.1 aMcKnight, Diane, M.  uhttps://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fmicb.2021.70974602509nas a2200205   4500008004100000245012600041210006900167260005300236490000900289520180200298653002502100653001502125653001702140653002402157653002002181653002302201100002502224700001702249856003702266       2020                        eng d00aAnalysis of acid-leachable barium, copper, iron, lead, & zinc concentrations in Taylor Valley, Antarctic stream sediments0 aAnalysis of acidleachable barium copper iron lead zinc concentra  aColumbus, OHbThe Ohio State Universityc05/20200 vB.S.3 a<p>The purpose of this study is to assess the concentrations of Barium (Ba), Copper (Cu), Iron (Fe), Lead (Pb), and Zinc (Zn) in sediment samples obtained from the Wales and Commonwealth streams located in Taylor Valley, Antarctica. These samples were collected at seven sample sites (three in Wales Glacier and four in Commonwealth Glacier) in 0 to 2 cm, 2 to 4 cm, 4 to 6 cm, and 6 to 8 cm depth increments which resulted in 28 total samples. After the collection process, these samples underwent a volumetric 1:5 sediment: 10% HCl leach for 48 hours, filtration through 4-&micro;m pore-size, cellulose acetate membrane filters, and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) analyses in the Trace Element Research Laboratory at The Ohio State University. Upon completion of the analyses, results showed that the Wales samples had a higher average concentration of every metal element overall and at each depth increment when compared to the Commonwealth samples. In addition to the weak-acid leachate metal analyses, a second aliquot of one sediment profile from each stream was analyzed at Villanova University for the 210Pb activity via gamma spectroscopy. This was done to estimate the sedimentation rates at each of these sites. From the sedimentation rates, sedimentation fluxes were calculated for each element for each sediment profile at each of these sites. The data demonstrated that Fe is the most abundant element while Pb is the least abundant. Lastly, upon examination of results, it was found that the concentrations of these metals are often higher in samples collected closer to the surface. These findings suggest these streams, and their sources, have had little, if any, impact by anthropogenic input of metals, and that metal fluxes to the sediments are low.</p>10aacid-leachable metal10aAntarctica10ageochemistry10aMcMurdo Dry Valleys10apolar sediments10asedimentation rate1 aPiergallini, Brianna1 aLyons, Berry  uhttp://hdl.handle.net/1811/9177201864nas a2200193   4500008004100000245012800041210006900169260001200238520119500250653002401445653001801469653002501487100001801512700001801530700002101548700001401569700001801583856006901601       2020                        eng d00aClimate from the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica, 1986 – 2017: Surface air temperature trends and redefined summer season0 aClimate from the McMurdo Dry Valleys Antarctica 1986 2017 Surfac  c05/20203 a<p>The weather of the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica, the largest ice‐free region of the Antarctica, has been continuously monitored since 1985 with currently 14 operational meteorological stations distributed throughout the valleys. Because climate is based on a 30‐year record of weather, this is the first study to truly define the contemporary climate of the McMurdo Dry Valleys. Mean air temperature and solar radiation based on all stations were ‐20&deg;C and 102 W m<sup>‐2</sup>, respectively. Depending on the site location, the mean annual air temperatures on the valleys floors ranged between ‐15&deg;C and ‐30&deg;C, and mean annual solar radiation varied between 72 W m<sup>‐2</sup> and 122 W m<sup>‐2</sup>. Surface air temperature decreased by 0.7&deg;C per decade from 1986 to 2006 at Lake Hoare station (longest continuous record), after which the record is highly variable with no trend. All stations with sufficiently long records showed similar trend shifts in 2005 &plusmn;1 year. Summer is defined as November through February, using a physically based process: up‐valley warming from the coast associated with a change in atmospheric stability.</p>10aMcMurdo Dry Valleys10asummer season10aweather observations1 aObryk, M., K.1 aDoran, P., T.1 aFountain, A., G.1 aMyers, M.1 aMcKay, C., P.  uhttps://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2019JD03218003399nas a2200193   4500008004100000245013900041210006900180260005400249490001000303520272200313653001303035653000903048653002403057653001403081653001303095100002403108700002503132856004803157       2020                        eng d00aThe effect of sediment on hydrological and biogeochemical connectivity of glaciers within the McMurdo Dry Valley ecosystem, Antarctica0 aeffect of sediment on hydrological and biogeochemical connectivi  aBoulder, CObUniversity of Colorado Boulderc20200 vPh.D.3 a<p>Glaciers are an integral part of polar and alpine landscapes, providing water, inorganic, and organic material subsidies to downstream ecosystems. These subsides regulate downstream temperature, streamflow, and sediment supplies. Warming in high altitude and high latitude environments due to climate change is resulting in rapid and substantial mass loss of glaciers. In order to better predict impacts and future change to glaciers and downstream environments, we endeavor to better understand glacier physical and biogeochemical processes. Glaciers in the McMurdo Dry Valleys (MDVs) of Antarctica are very sensitive to slight changes in the energy balance. Small temperature or solar radiation increases can result in outsize increases in glacier melt, which is the main source of water for the MDV ecosystem. Sediment on the glacier surface is thought to be a key factor driving both melt and biogeochemical cycling on glaciers. This dissertation examines the distribution of sediment on the MDVs glacier surfaces, how it may have driven recent glacier morphological change, and identifies sediment-driven biogeochemical processes on the MDV glaciers. To do so, we carried out field data collection, field- and lab-based nutrient uptake experiments, geospatial analysis, and coupled sediment and energy balance modeling. We find that the glacier surfaces have changed in response to recent warm events by increasing roughness and the density of meltwater channels on the glacier surface. The increase in roughness occurred in already rough areas that serve as collection points for wind- and water-transported sediment. The rough surfaces and sediment have low albedo and can absorb a higher amount of energy, spurring additional melt. The distribution of sediment on the surface and in the top meter of ice is a reflection of patterns of wind deposition and seasonal melt on the glacier. The total amount of sediment in the top meter of ice agrees with previously measured rates of sediment deposition and follows a valley-wide pattern. The depth of the peak sediment concentration in the top meter of ice is a function of the thermal history of the glacier&ndash; both summer energy balance and winter sublimation rates. We also find that the biota living in the sediment is capable of removing nutrients from glacier melt water, modulating the amount and form of nutrients delivered to downstream ecosystems. This research clarifies the role of glaciers within the larger MDV ecosystem. It also advances our understanding of surficial glacier melt and biogeochemistry, which can improve predictions of how the functional role of glaciers within their larger ecosystems will evolve due to climate change.</p>10aglaciers10aLTER10aMcMurdo Dry Valleys10ameltwater10asediment1 aBergstrom, Anna, J.1 aGooseff, Michael, N.  uhttps://www.proquest.com/docview/240827383902119nas a2200217   4500008004100000245007600041210006900117260001200186520131800198653001101516653003001527653002801557653002201585653002401607653001201631653001801643100002401661700002101685700002001706856017501726       2020                        eng d00aGIS tool to predict photosynthetically active radiation in a Dry Valley0 aGIS tool to predict photosynthetically active radiation in a Dry  c04/20203 a<p>Understanding primary productivity is a core research area of the National Science Foundation&#39;s Long-Term Ecological Research Network. This study presents the development of the GIS-based Topographic Solar Photosynthetically Active Radiation (T-sPAR) toolbox for Taylor Valley. It maps surface photosynthetically active radiation using four meteorological stations with ~20 years of data. T-sPAR estimates were validated with ground-truth data collected at Taylor Valley&#39;s major lakes during the 2014&ndash;15 and 2015&ndash;16 field seasons. The average daily error ranges from 0.13 mol photons m<sup>-2</sup> day<sup>-1</sup> (0.6%) at Lake Fryxell to 3.8 mol photons m<sup>-2</sup> day<sup>-1</sup> (5.8%) at Lake Hoare. We attribute error to variability in terrain and sun position. Finally, a user interface was developed in order to estimate total daily surface photosynthetically active radiation for any location and date within the basin. T-sPAR improves upon existing toolboxes and models by allowing for the inclusion of a statistical treatment of light attenuation due to cloud cover. The T-sPAR toolbox could be used to inform biological sampling sites based on radiation distribution, which could collectively improve estimates of net primary productivity, in some cases by up to 25%.</p>10aArcMap10aautomated weather station10adigital elevation model10aice-covered lakes10aMcMurdo Dry Valleys10aR model10aTaylor Valley1 aAcosta, Dimitri, R.1 aDoran, Peter, T.1 aMyers, Madeline  uhttps://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/antarctic-science/article/gis-tool-to-predict-photosynthetically-active-radiation-in-a-dry-valley/BD0BE4FF6A8F3DAAF32D69879728707802368nas a2200229   4500008004100000245007900041210006900120260001200189520162900201653002401830653001301854653002101867653002001888653001401908653002501922100002401947700002501971700002201996700002302018700002402041856007302065       2020                        eng d00aNutrient uptake in the supraglacial stream network of an Antarctic glacier0 aNutrient uptake in the supraglacial stream network of an Antarct  c08/20203 a<p>In polar regions, where many glaciers are cold‐based (frozen to their beds), biological communities on the glacier surface can modulate and transform nutrients, controlling downstream delivery. However, it remains unclear whether supraglacial streams are nutrient sinks or sources and the rates of nutrient processing. In order to test this, we conducted tracer‐injections in three supraglacial streams (62 to 123 m long) on Canada Glacier in the Taylor Valley, of the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica. We conducted a series of additions including: nitrate (N), N + phosphate (P), N+ P + glucose (C), and N+C. In two reaches, N‐only additions resulted in N uptake. The third reach showed net N release during the N‐only addition, but high N uptake in the N+P addition, indicating P‐limitation or N+P co‐limitation. Co‐injecting C did not increase N‐uptake. Additionally, in these systems at low N concentrations the streams can be a net source of nitrogen. We confirmed these findings using laboratory‐based nutrient incubation experiments on sediment collected from stream channels on Canada Glacier and two other glaciers in the Taylor Valley. Together, these results suggest there is active biological processing of nutrients occurring in these supraglacial streams despite low sediment cover, high flow velocities and cold temperatures, modifying the input signals to proglacial streams. As glaciers world‐wide undergo rapid change, these findings further our understanding of how melt generated on glacier surfaces set the initial nutrient signature for subglacial and downstream environments.</p>10aMcMurdo Dry Valleys10anitrogen10anutrient tracers10anutrient uptake10asediments10asupraglacial streams1 aBergstrom, Anna, J.1 aGooseff, Michael, N.1 aSingley, Joel, G.1 aCohen, Matthew, J.1 aWelch, Kathleen, A.  uhttps://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1029/2020JG00567902051nas a2200253   4500008004100000245010800041210006900149260001200218520110900230653001201339653001401351653002401365653001701389653001901406653001701425100002401442700002501466700002201491700002001513700002101533700002101554700001601575856020601591       2020                        eng d00aRemote characterization of photosynthetic communities in the Fryxell basin of Taylor Valley, Antarctica0 aRemote characterization of photosynthetic communities in the Fry  c03/20203 a<p>We investigate the spatial distribution, spectral properties and temporal variability of primary producers (e.g. communities of microbial mats and mosses) throughout the Fryxell basin of Taylor Valley, Antarctica, using high-resolution multispectral remote-sensing data. Our results suggest that photosynthetic communities can be readily detected throughout the Fryxell basin based on their unique near-infrared spectral signatures. Observed intra- and inter-annual variability in spectral signatures are consistent with short-term variations in mat distribution, hydration and photosynthetic activity. Spectral unmixing is also implemented in order to estimate mat abundance, with the most densely vegetated regions observed from orbit correlating spatially with some of the most productive regions of the Fryxell basin. Our work establishes remote sensing as a valuable tool in the study of these ecological communities in the McMurdo Dry Valleys and demonstrates how future scientific investigations and the management of specially protected areas could benefit from these tools and techniques.</p>10aecology10ahydrology10aMcMurdo Dry Valleys10amicrobiology10aremote sensing10aspectroscopy1 aSalvatore, Mark, R.1 aBorges, Schuyler, R.1 aBarrett, John, E.1 aSokol, Eric, R.1 aStanish, Lee, F.1 aPower, Sarah, N.1 aMorin, Paul  uhttps://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/antarctic-science/article/remote-characterization-of-photosynthetic-communities-in-the-fryxell-basin-of-taylor-valley-antarctica/8576F6BB1BCFDCA8409F5EA96CA00C6F01902nas a2200181   4500008004100000245011100041210006900152260003900221490000900260520124000269653001901509653002401528653002601552653001801578100002601596700002901622856006901651       2020                        eng d00aResponse of microbial communities to climatic disturbances in Lake Bonney, McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica0 aResponse of microbial communities to climatic disturbances in La  aOxford, OHbMiami Universityc20200 vM.S.3 a<p>The McMurdo Dry Valleys is a polar desert ecosystem which composes the largest ice-free area in Antarctica, with the exception of perennially ice-covered lakes and ponds. The lakes in the valleys are the only landscape unit that support metabolic activity year-round. Recent increases in air temperature and solar radiation have led to a chain of disturbances altering the environmental conditions of these lakes. In this study, we test the impact of climatic disturbances on microbial communities in Lake Bonney, one of the lakes in the MDV. Through an integrated approach of combining field studies on natural communities in the lake (in situ) and laboratory experiments on algal isolates (ex situ), this study will attempt to understand how phytoplankton, eukaryal and bacterial communities respond to simulated disturbances. Results from the in situ experiments showed that the moat is a unique and stressful environment for under-ice communities and that under-ice shallow communities are highly sensitive to climatic disturbances. The ex situ experiments showed that certain phytoplankton species, like the chlorophytes, are more resistant to environmental alterations and thus will outcompete other phytoplankton species.</p>10aclimate change10aMcMurdo Dry Valleys10amicrobial communities10aphytoplankton1 aSherwell, Shasten, S.1 aMorgan-Kiss, Rachael, M.  uhttp://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami159595868836487702573nas a2200265   4500008004100000022001400041245010400055210006900159260001200228300001400240490000700254520177600261653002002037653002102057653001502078653001702093653002402110653001202134653002502146100001202171700002002183700001602203700002902219856005902248       2019                        eng d  a0948-305500aDrivers of protistan community autotrophy and heterotrophy in chemically stratified Antarctic lakes0 aDrivers of protistan community autotrophy and heterotrophy in ch  c01/2019  a225 - 2390 v823 a<p>Single-celled, eukaryotic microorganisms, known as protists, are responsible for 2 important, yet opposing, metabolic activities within aquatic food webs. They are major primary producers and highly active predators in marine and fresh water systems. While genomics has accelerated in recent years for this taxonomically diverse group, our understanding of the metabolic capabilities of most protists remains limited. It is also poorly understood how protist trophic mode is affected by biotic and abiotic factors, and therefore it is difficult to predict how events such as global climate change will affect the balance between autotrophic and heterotrophic activities in protist communities. To address open questions regarding how protist metabolic versatility is influenced by their environment, we characterized the potential for carbon fixation versus organic carbon degradation using enzymatic assays (RubisCO and β-D-glucosaminidase, respectively) within the water columns of ice-covered lakes in McMurdo Dry Valleys (MDV), Antarctica. Steep physical and chemical gradients in the water columns, microorganism domination and minimal allochthonous inputs makes the MDV lakes uniquely suited to investigate environment-microbe interactions. Spatial trends in RubisCO and β-D-glucosaminidase activities were lake-specific and vertically stratified within the water columns. Moreover, bottom-up drivers controlling the activity of C-fixation vs. organic C-degradation among the MDV protist communities were distinct between the upper photic vs. the deep, aphotic zones. We conclude that differential controls over major C-cycling enzymes have important implications on the influence of environmental change on the carbon and nutrient cycles in the MDV lakes.</p>10aAntarctic lakes10aAquatic protists10aAutotrophy10aHeterotrophy10aMcMurdo Dry Valleys10aRubisCO10aβ-D-glucosaminidase1 aLi, Wei1 aDolhi-Binder, J1 aCariani, ZE1 aMorgan-Kiss, Rachael, M.  uhttps://www.int-res.com/abstracts/ame/v82/n3/p225-239/02611nas a2200253   4500008004100000245011600041210006900157260001200226520177500238653001202013653002502025653003202050653001402082653002402096100002102120700002202141700002802163700002102191700002302212700002102235700001502256700002302271856006302294       2019                        eng d00aEnvironmental controls on bacteriohopanepolyol profiles of benthic microbial mats from Lake Fryxell, Antarctica0 aEnvironmental controls on bacteriohopanepolyol profiles of benth  c07/20193 a<p>Bacteriohopanepolyols (BHPs) are pentacyclic triterpenoid lipids that contribute to the structural integrity and physiology of some bacteria. Because some BHPs originate from specific classes of bacteria, BHPs have potential as taxonomically and environmentally diagnostic biomarkers. For example, a stereoisomer of bacteriohopanetetrol (informally BHT II) has been associated with anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox) bacteria and suboxic to anoxic marine environments where anammox is active. As a result, the detection of BHT II in the sedimentary record and fluctuations in the relative abundance of BHT II may inform reconstructions of nitrogen cycling and ocean redox changes through the geological record. However, there are uncertainties concerning the sources of BHT II and whether or not BHT II is produced in abundance in non‐marine environments, both of which are pertinent to interpretations of BHT II signatures in sediments. To address these questions, we investigate the BHP composition of benthic microbial mats from Lake Fryxell, Antarctica. Lake Fryxell is a perennially ice‐covered lake with a sharp oxycline in a density‐stabilized water column. We describe the diversity and abundance of BHPs in benthic microbial mats across a transect from oxic to anoxic conditions. Generally, BHP abundances and diversity vary with the morphologies of microbial mats, which were previously shown to reflect local environmental conditions, such as irradiance and oxygen and sulfide concentrations. BHT II was identified in mats that exist within oxic to anoxic portions of the lake. However, anammox bacteria have yet to be identified in Lake Fryxell. We examine our results in the context of BHPs as biomarkers in modern and ancient environments.</p>10aanammox10abacteriohopanepolyol10abacteriohopanetetrol isomer10abiomarker10aMcMurdo Dry Valleys1 aMatys, Emily, D.1 aMackey, Tyler, J.1 aGrettenberger, Christen1 aMueller, Elliott1 aJungblut, Anne, D.1 aSumner, Dawn, Y.1 aHawes, Ian1 aSummons, Roger, E.  uhttps://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/gbi.1235303820nas a2200217   4500008004100000245015200041210006900193260004000262490000800302520300700310653003203317653003303349653001703382653002403399653002103423653002503444653003903469100002503508700002103533856004803554       2019                        eng d00aHeterotrophic protists as useful models for studying microbial food webs in a model soil ecosystem and the universality of complex unicellular life0 aHeterotrophic protists as useful models for studying microbial f  aProvo, UTbBrigham Young University0 vPhD3 a<p>Heterotrophic protists, consisting largely of the Cercozoa, Amoebozoa, Ciliophora, Discoba and some Stramenopiles, are a poorly characterized component of life on Earth. They play an important ecological role in soil communities and provide key insights into the nature of one of life&rsquo;s most enigmatic evolutionary transitions: the development of the complex unicell. Soil ecosystems are crucial to the functioning of global biogeochemical cycles (e.g. carbon and nitrogen) but are at risk of drastic change from anthropogenic climate change. Heterotrophic protists are the primary regulators of bacterial diversity in soils and as such play integral roles in biogeochemical cycling, nutrient mobilization, and trophic cascades in food webs under stress. Understanding the nature of these changes requires examining the rates, diversity, and resiliency of interactions that occur between soil organisms. However, soils are the most taxonomically diverse ecosystems on Earth and disentangling the complexities of dynamic and varied biotic interactions in them requires a unique model system. The McMurdo Dry Valleys of Antarctica, one of the harshest terrestrial environments on Earth, serve as a model soil ecosystem owing to their highly reduced biological diversity. Exploring the functioning of heterotrophic protists in these valleys provides a way to test the applicability of this model system to other soil food webs. However, very little is known about their taxonomic diversity, which is a strong predictor of function. Therefore, I reviewed the Antarctic literature to compile a checklist of all known terrestrial heterotrophic protists in Antarctica. I found significant geographical, methodological, and taxonomic biases and outlined how to address these in future research programs. I also conducted a molecular survey of whole soil communities using 18 shotgun metagenomes representing major landscape features of the McMurdo Dry Valleys. The results revealed the dominance of Cercozoa and point to an Antarctic heterotrophic protist soil community that is taxonomically diverse and reflects the structure and composition of communities at lower latitudes. To investigate whether biotic interactions or abiotic factors were a larger driver for Antarctic heterotrophic protists, I conducted variation partitioning using environmental data (e.g. moisture, pH and electrical conductivity). Biotic variables were more significant and accounted for more of the variation than environmental variables. Taken together, it is clear that heterotrophic protists play key ecological roles in this ecosystem. Deeper insights into the ecology of these organisms in the McMurdo Dry Valleys also have implications for the search for complex unicellular life in our universe. I discuss the theoretical underpinnings of searching for these forms of life outside of Earth, conclude that they are likely to occur, and postulate how future missions could practically search for complex unicells.</p>10aheterotrophic soil protists10akey evolutionary innovations10alife on Mars10aMcMurdo Dry Valleys10anetwork analysis10ashotgun metagenomics10auniversal complex unicellular life1 aThompson, Andrew, R.1 aAdams, Byron, J.  uhttps://www.proquest.com/docview/231063197702158nas a2200229   4500008004100000245010300041210006900144260003900213490000900252520137700261653001001638653002801648653003801676653002401714653001901738653001801757653002301775653001601798100001601814700002901830856006901859       2019                        eng d00aImpact of simulated polar night on Antarctic mixotrophic and strict photoautotrophic phytoplankton0 aImpact of simulated polar night on Antarctic mixotrophic and str  aOxford, OHbMiami Universityc20180 vM.S.3 a<p>Phytoplankton in polar regions experience long periods of continuous darkness annually during the polar night. Due to difficulties in performing field work during this period, it is largely unknown how phytoplankton endure this extreme transition from 24-hour daylight in the fall to several months of total darkness in the austral winter. The primary goal of this study was to compare physiological and photosynthetic responses of several Antarctic phytoplankton of variable trophic abilities (pure photosynthetic vs. mixotrophic) to simulated polar night conditions, including the transition seasons before and after winter. Two distinct responses were observed to extended darkness: (1) strict photoautotrophs (<em>Chlamydomonas</em> sp. ICE-MDV and <em>Chlamydomonas</em> sp. UWO241) exhibited functional downregulation their photosynthetic processes in the winter, followed by a lag phase of several days during mimicked spring, and (2) mixotrophs (<em>Isochrysis</em> sp. MDV and <em>Geminigera cryophila</em>) maintained functional photosynthetic apparatus, increased heterotrophy through the winter, and exhibited immediate growth upon return to light incubation. These differing responses to mimicked polar night conditions could represent two different strategies for surviving the long period of darkness in the phytoplankton&rsquo;s natural environment.</p>10aalgae10aAntarctic phytoplankton10achlorophyll fluorescence analysis10aMcMurdo Dry Valleys10aPhotosynthesis10aphytoplankton10apolar microbiology10apolar night1 aCariani, ZE1 aMorgan-Kiss, Rachael, M.  uhttp://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami154720459996908102300nas a2200289   4500008004100000245009400041210006900135260001200204490000800216520140200224653002001626653001501646653002001661653002401681653001401705653001901719100001901738700002501757700002401782700002601806700002201832700001901854700002501873700002401898700002401922856006401946       2019                        eng d00a<i>Sabbea gen. nov.</i>, a new diatom genus (Bacillariophyta) from continental Antarctica0 aiSabbea gen novi a new diatom genus Bacillariophyta from contine  c09/20190 v4183 a<p>The non-marine diatom flora of the Antarctic Continent includes several endemic taxa recorded over the past 100 years. One of these taxa, <em>Navicula adminensis</em> D.Roberts &amp; McMinn, was described from the Vestfold Hills, East Antarctica. Detailed light and scanning electron microscopy observations have shown that based on its morphological features, the species does not belong to the genus <em>Navicula sensu stricto</em>. To determine the most closely related genera to <em>N. adminensis</em>, the morpho- logical features of <em>Adlafia</em>, <em>Kobayasiella</em>, <em>Envekadea</em>, <em>Stenoneis</em>, <em>Berkeleya</em>, <em>Climaconeis</em>, and <em>Parlibellus</em> were compared with those of <em>N. adminensis</em>. Although each of these genera shows one or more similar features, none of them accommodates the salient morphological characteristics of N. adminensis. Therefore, a new genus, <em>Sabbea gen. nov.</em>, is herein described, and <em>Navicula adminensis</em> is formally transferred to the new genus as <em>Sabbea adminensis comb. nov.</em> The genus <em>Sabbea</em> is characterized by uniseriate striae composed of small, rounded areolae occluded externally by individual hymenes, a rather simple raphe structure with straight, short proximal ends and short terminal raphe fissures, open girdle bands with double perforation and a very shallow mantle.</p>10aBacillariophyta10aCape Royds10aEast Antarctica10aMcMurdo Dry Valleys10anew genus10aVestfold Hills1 aBishop, Jordan1 aKopalová, Kateřina1 aDarling, Joshua, P.1 aSchulte, Nicholas, O.1 aKohler, Tyler, J.1 aMcMinn, Andrew1 aSpaulding, Sarah, A.1 aMcKnight, Diane, M.1 aVan de Vijver, Bart  uhttps://www.mapress.com/j/pt/article/view/phytotaxa.418.1.202094nas a2200241   4500008004100000245014400041210006900185260001200254490000600266520131100272653002001583653001401603653001701617653001501634653001501649653002401664653001301688653002201701100001701723700002201740700002401762856006601786       2018                        eng d00aThe impact of fossil fuel burning related to scientific activities in the                        McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica: Revisited0 aimpact of fossil fuel burning related to scientific activities i  c04/20180 v63 a<p>&nbsp;</p><div title="Page 1"><div><div><p>Fossil fuel use associated with scienti c activities in the Taylor Valley, Antarctic has been examined to determine the fluxes of particulate organic and elemental carbon and nitrogen as well as NOx&nbsp;for the 2015&ndash;2016 austral summer field season. These carbon and nitrogen fluxes are compared to our previously published calculations for the 1997&ndash;1998 austral summer. In addition, we compile fossil fuel usage and resulting C and N fluxes from the major field camp in Taylor Valley, Lake Hoare Camp (LHC) from the late 1990&rsquo;s through 2017. In general, the annual fluxes do vary from year to year, but there is no significant trend, at least during the primary summer field season. There is indication that increasing the length of scientific operations does increase the C and N inputs via fossil fuel burning. This works supports our original results demonstrating that over long periods of time the anthropogenic flux of N from local fossil fuel burning could become quantitatively important in the region. Although the particulate C fluxes remain very low, the recent finding of black carbon in the Taylor Valley landscape indicates more on-going monitoring of the source of this material is merited.</p></div></div></div><p>&nbsp;</p>10acarbon dynamics10aemissions10afossil fuels10ahelicopter10amanagement10aMcMurdo Dry Valleys10anitrogen10ascience activites1 aLyons, Berry1 aSaelens, Elsa, D.1 aWelch, Kathleen, A.  uhttps://www.elementascience.org/article/10.1525/elementa.288/02975nas 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<p>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 &minus; , 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.</p>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/full02691nas a2200229   4500008004100000022001400041245015500055210006900210260001200279490000700291520189400298653003402192653001902226653002402245653002202269653002302291100002202314700001202336700002002348700002902368856006402397       2017                        eng d  a0722-406000aImpact of nitrogen and phosphorus on phytoplankton production and bacterial community structure in two stratified Antarctic lakes: a bioassay approach0 aImpact of nitrogen and phosphorus on phytoplankton production an  c05/20170 v403 a<p>Arctic, Antarctic, and alpine ecosystems are recognized as sensors and sentinels of global change. As a consequence of their high sensitivity to minor climatic perturbations, permanently ice-covered lakes located in the McMurdo Dry Valleys (MDV), Antarctica, represent end members in the global network of inland bodies of water. Episodic climatic events in the form of increased summer glacial melt result in inputs of organic sediment and nutrients from glacial streams to these closed basins. Phytoplankton communities residing in the oligotrophic water columns are highly responsive to pulses in nutrient availability; however, there is a lack of understanding on whether specific phytoplankton groups are more competitive during a summer flood event and how shifts in the phytoplankton community may influence heterotrophic bacteria. A bioassay approach in 3-l bottles was used to investigate the influence of inorganic nitrogen and phosphorus availability on planktonic communities from the oligotrophic upper waters of two chemically distinct MDV lakes (Lakes Bonney and Fryxell) which differ in their external inputs and water column N/P stoichiometry. While microbial community responses varied between lakes and were nutrient-dependent, stimulation of phytoplankton biomass and productivity across all treatments was strongly linked with increased abundance of a single phytoplankton phylum (Chlorophyta). Despite stimulation of phytoplankton growth, primary and bacterial productivity was generally uncoupled; however, shifts in bacterial community diversity were observed in bioassays amended with either P or NP. We suggest that climate-associated increases in phytoplankton production and concomitant shifts in diversity will influence MDV bacterial community structure by altering the availability and composition of autochthonous carbon for heterotrophic production.</p>10aAlgal–bacteria interactions10aclimate change10aMcMurdo Dry Valleys10aNutrient bioassay10aPrimary production1 aTeufel, Amber, G.1 aLi, Wei1 aKiss, Andor, J.1 aMorgan-Kiss, Rachael, M.  uhttps://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00300-016-2025-804197nas a2200253   4500008004100000245012900041210006900170260003900239490001000278520331600288653001503604653002503619653002903644653002903673653002103702653001903723653002403742653002303766653001703789653002303806100002203829700002903851856006303880       2016                        eng d00aInfluence of abiotic drivers (light and nutrients) on photobiology and diversity of Antarctic lake phytoplankton communities0 aInfluence of abiotic drivers light and nutrients on photobiology  aOxford, OHbMiami Universityc20160 vPh.D.3 a<p>Arctic, Antarctic, and alpine ecosystems are recognized as sensors and sentinels of global climate change. As a consequence of their high sensitivity to minor climatic perturbations, permanently ice-covered lakes located in the McMurdo Dry Valleys (MCM), Antarctica, represent end members in the global network of inland bodies of water. Episodic climatic events in the form of increased summer glacial melt result in inputs of organic sediment and nutrients from glacial streams to these closed basins. By better understanding how Antarctic lake communities respond to mimicked climate change, we can more accurately predict how they will react to further temperature changes in the future. We began by investigating the influence of inorganic nitrogen and phosphorus availability on planktonic communities residing in the oligotrophic upper waters of two chemically distinct MCM lakes (Lakes Bonney and Fryxell) which differ in their external inputs as well as water column N:P stoichiometry. Although microbial community responses varied between the lakes and were nutrient-dependent, stimulation of phytoplankton biomass and productivity across all treatments was strongly linked with increased abundance of a single phytoplankton phylum (Chlorophyta). Despite stimulation of phytoplankton growth, primary and bacterial productivity were largely uncoupled across all enrichments. We suggest that climate-associated shifts in phytoplankton diversity influence the bacterial community structure by altering the availability and composition of autochthonous carbon for heterotrophic production. To monitor the physiological adaptations that occur over time and depth, we then transplanted two dominant phytoplankton, <em>Chlamydomonas</em> sp. ICE- MDV and <em>Isochrysis</em> sp. MDV back into the Lake Bonney water column. Our results demonstrated that both organisms are specialists for surviving specific depths of the water column and are capable of acclimating to their native environment within a short period of time, and that the chlorophyte <em>Chlamydomonas</em> sp. ICE-MDV most likely makes this adjustment via photoacclimation and accumulating chlorophyll-a per cell. The final study presented here investigated whether or not the dominant chlorophyte, <em>Chlamydomonas</em> sp. ICE-MDV has retained the ability to respond to a diel 12-hour day/night cycle. Although light levels in MCM lakes remain low during the austral summers, daily irradiation varies by as much as tenfold during the course of the day, resulting in a circadian-like light cycle for organisms residing there. With decreased ice coverage on the lakes due to climate change and increased melt, it is likely that these light variations will become amplified over time. This study tested for the presence of a circadian rhythm under various light quality, light quantity, and temperature conditions and demonstrated that although a diel rhythm was maintained in terms of growth and several photochemical parameters, a true circadian rhythm was not identified. Although it is predicted that photosynthetic communities in polar regions will be more responsive to climate warming and episodic events, the complexity of these systems provides numerous challenges to understanding how these organism will adapt in the future.</p>10aAntarctica10abacterial production10aChlamydomonas sp ICE MDV10aChlorophyll fluorescence10acircadian rhythm10aclimate change10aMcMurdo Dry Valleys10anutrient amendment10aphotobiology10aPrimary production1 aTeufel, Amber, G.1 aMorgan-Kiss, Rachael, M.  uhttp://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami146841156403401nas a2200241   4500008004100000245013400041210006900175260004000244300000800284490001000292520259800302653001002900653001502910653002402925653001902949653001602968653001902984653002403003653001903027100002203046700002403068856006703092       2015                        eng d00aPhysical and chemical controls on the abundance and composition of stream microbial mats from the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica0 aPhysical and chemical controls on the abundance and composition   aBoulder, CObUniversity of Colorado  a2720 vPh.D.3 a<p>&nbsp;</p><div title="Page 4"><div><div><p>The McMurdo Dry Valleys of Antarctica are a cold, dry desert, yet perennial microbial mats are abundant in the ephemeral glacial meltwater streams that flow during austral summers. Three types of mats are present (orange, black, and green), and are primarily comprised of filamentous cyanobacteria,&nbsp;Nostoc, and chlorophytes, respectively. Mat types furthermore occupy distinct habitats within streams, utilizing the benthos, hyporheic zone, and water column, which expose them to different environmental conditions. Due to a lack of lateral inflows, allochthonous organic inputs, and negligible grazing activity, these streams are ideal for the controlled ecological study of microbial mats. Here, I investigated how mats will respond to physical disturbance, alterations in the hydrologic regime, and nutrient liberation from permafrost melt in the future. Specifically, I: 1) quantified and characterized the regrowth of mat biomass, community structure, and elemental stoichiometry after a scouring disturbance, 2) investigated how geomorphology and taxonomic identity influences the response of mat biomass to hydrologic regime in transects monitored over two decades, and 3) evaluated relationships between water chemistry and the elemental and isotopic composition of mat types over longitudinal and valley-wide gradients in Taylor Valley. I found that mats recovered ~20-50% of their biomass over the course of an austral summer following scour. Algal communities were significantly different in composition between disturbed and control treatments, but all samples naturally varied in species and elemental stoichiometry over the study period. When the long- term record of mat biomass was compared with hydrologic variables, stream channel mats (orange and green) had the greatest correlations, while marginal mats (black) showed weaker relationships with flow regime. Relationships also differed as a function of stream geomorphology, indicating the importance of substrata and gradient in conjunction with discharge. Lastly, mats showed unique elemental and isotopic compositions. Green and orange mats within the stream channel most reflected water column nutrient concentrations, while black mats showed significant nitrogen fixation. These results highlight the importance of taxonomic identity and habitat to modeling primary production here and elsewhere, and provide insight to how stream microbial mat communities are formed, maintained, and ultimately persist in an isolated polar desert.</p></div></div></div><p>&nbsp;</p>10aalgae10aAntarctica10abiological sciences10aclimate change10aDisturbance10aearth sciences10aMcMurdo Dry Valleys10amicrobial mats1 aKohler, Tyler, J.1 aMcKnight, Diane, M.  uhttps://search.proquest.com/docview/1690497718?accountid=1450302372nas a2200193   4500008004100000245011200041210006900153260004000222490000900262520168100271653002401952653002301976653003801999653002402037653001002061100001602071700002402087856006702111       2014                        eng d00aEcology and biogeography of freshwater diatoms in ponds of McMurdo Dry Valleys and parts of the Ross Island0 aEcology and biogeography of freshwater diatoms in ponds of McMur  aBoulder, CObUniversity of Colorado0 vM.S.3 a<p>&nbsp;</p><div title="Page 4"><div><div><p>The McMurdo Dry Valleys (MDVs) and the exposed coastal areas of the nearby Ross Island in Antarctica represent some of the coldest, driest places in the world. However, during the austral summer warmer temperatures and constant sunlight allow microbial life to flourish nearly anywhere there is water. Diatoms are single-celled algae encapsulated in a silica shell and diatom communities constitute an important component of the microbial mats that grow in the streams, lakes and ponds in these regions. As part of the Long Term Ecological Research station in the McMurdo Dry Valleys diatom communities have been studied extensively in the streams over the last 20 years. Although the diatoms present in pond microbial mats at Cape Royds have been previously studied, modern-day knowledge of the characteristics of diatom communities in ponds and small lakes throughout the region is limited. This work sought to find the relationships between water chemistry and diatom community structure in ponds. Because water flow is not a factor in ponds and small lakes, influences of salinity, nutrients, pH and other factors can be more easily distinguished. This study looked at 24 separate bodies of water in the Taylor Valley, Labyrinth region in Wright Valley, Cape Royds and McMurdo Station area on Ross Island. The results suggest that geography, dispersal and historical environmental conditions play a significant role in structuring diatom communities, in addition to water chemistry. The results also expand the knowledge of habitat preferences for some of the species present in this region.</p></div></div></div><p>&nbsp;</p>10abiological sciences10afreshwater diatoms10ahealth and environmental sciences10aMcMurdo Dry Valleys10aponds1 aSakaeva, A.1 aMcKnight, Diane, M.  uhttps://search.proquest.com/docview/1655818365?accountid=1450304232nas 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<div title="Page 2"><div><div><p>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 &quot;unseen majority.&quot; 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&#39;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,&nbsp;<span style="font-size: 0.923em;">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.&nbsp;Acidobacteria&nbsp;in alkaline soils,&nbsp;Nitrospira&nbsp;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.</span></p></div></div></div><p>&nbsp;</p>10abiogeochemistry10abiogeography10aMcMurdo Dry Valleys10amicrobial ecology10aproductivity/diversity theory1 aGeyer, Kevin, M.1 aBarrett, John, E.  uhttp://hdl.handle.net/10919/6441702215nas a2200205   4500008004100000245009200041210006900133260004000202490001000242520158200252653001501834653001001849653001301859653002401872653001601896653001601912100002201928700002101950856003801971       2014                        eng d00aGeophysics, Water Balance, and History of Thick Perennial Ice Covers on Antarctic Lakes0 aGeophysics Water Balance and History of Thick Perennial Ice Cove  aChicago, ILbUniversity of Illinois0 vPh.D.3 a<p>Antarctic lakes are studied as sentinels of future change, for paleolimnological records contained in the sediments, and as habitats for the simple food webs that can exist in inhospitable environments. Understanding how lakes are formed and are sustained in response to landscape and climate conditions is critical in addressing the aforementioned research themes. This thesis is governed by the overarching hypothesis that an understanding of hydrologic and sediment transport processes associated with lake ice formation and preservation can be used to reveal past climatic changes, and further our awareness of current changes in climate and water balance in the McMurdo Dry Valleys of Antarctica. The first chapter focuses on water loss from closed basin lakes in Taylor Valley, Antarctica, and presents updated estimates of sublimation and ablation rates from long-term empirical measurements. The second and third chapters address the formation of Lake Vida, Antarctica. The former investigates the accretion of a 27 m ice cover, and considers the origin of thick sediment layers in the ice cover, and the latter uses two geophysical methods to quantify the extent and volume of the brine network in the subsurface beneath the lake. The results presented herein advance the study of hydrogeology in continuous permafrost, provide additional evidence for fluctuating climate states in the McMurdo Dry Valleys throughout the mid to late Holocene, and provide a case study for the preservation of water in a cold, desert environment analogous to neighboring planets.</p>10aAntarctica10abrine10alake ice10aMcMurdo Dry Valleys10apolar lakes10asublimation1 aDugan, Hilary, A.1 aDoran, Peter, T.  uhttp://hdl.handle.net/10027/1940703970nas a2200217   4500008004100000245011000041210007200151260004000223490001000263520322300273653001503496653001903511653001903530653002403549653003003573653003703603653001603640100001703656700001703673856006203690       2013                        eng d00aThe application of stable isotopes, δ11B, δ18O, and δD, in geochemical and hydrological investigations0 aapplication of stable isotopes δ11B δ18O and δD in geochemical a  aColumbus, OHbOhio State University0 vPh.D.3 a<p>My dissertation research utilizes stable isotopes as tracers of water and solute sources to study specific geochemical (solute origin) and hydrological (glacier meltwater source across a season comparing water contributions from hyporheic zone and/or glacier melt and residence time of precipitation within a managed water supply) problems within McMurdo Dry Valleys (MCM), Antarctica, and Central Ohio, USA. In Chapter II, δ11B isotopic and dissolved B measurements are used to infer the origin of B within MCM aquatic system. Boron stable isotopic values span the range of +12.3&permil; to +51.4&permil;, varying from glacier meltwater streams to the hypolimnion of a highly evaporated hypersaline lake. These data demonstrate that the major sources of B are chemical weathering of alumniosilicates within the stream channels, and a marine source, either currently introduced by marine-derived aerosols or from ancient seawater. In-lake processes create a more positive δ11B through adsorption or mineral precipitation. The glacier meltwater streams, Lakes Fryxell, Hoare, and upper waters of Lake Joyce display a mixture of these two sources, with Lake Joyce bottom waters primarily of marine origin. Lakes Bonney and Vanda and Blood Falls brine are interpreted as having a marine-like source changed by in-lake processes to result in a more positive δ11B, while Don Juan Pond displays a more terrestrial influence. In Chapter III, δ18O and δD are used to trace water source variation via hyporheic zone or glacier melt within two MCM streams over an entire melt season. The isotopic variation of these streams was more negative at the beginning of the season and more positive later. D-excess measurements were used to infer mixing between hyporheic storage and glacier meltwater. It was supported that Von Guerard Stream has a large, widespread hyporheic zone that changes with time and discharge amounts. The chemistry of Andersen Creek also displayed hyporheic zone influence at certain times of the year. This work adds important new information on the role of hyperheic zone-stream interactions, and supports the short term, more physically based, descriptions of hyporheic dynamics explained in the past decade. Chapter IV describes water flow and travel time within a human managed watershed-reservoir system by measuring the δ18O and δD of the precipitation source to the reservoirs and finally to the distribution system, the tap. Generally, the tap waters experienced little lag time in the managed system, having a residence time of about two months. Tap and reservoir waters preserved the precipitation signal with the reservoir morphology acting as an important control. These water supply reservoirs functioned more like a river system with a faster throughput of water and larger variations in chemical parameters. Other water supply reservoirs have a greater capacity with a larger amount of water supply usage through a more lacustrine environment, which displays more constant solute concentrations and longer flow-through times. This work provides a basic understanding of a regional water supply system in central Ohio, reservoir isotopic dynamics, and Ohio precipitation sources.</p>10aAntarctica10aboron isotopes10ahyporheic zone10aMcMurdo Dry Valleys10aOhio precipitation source10aoxygen-18 and deuterium isotopes10asaline lake1 aLeslie, D.L.1 aLyons, Berry  u http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu138600003703418nas a2200217   4500008004100000245009200041210006900133260004000202490001000242520270900252653001502961653002402976653002203000653001203022653001903034653002403053653001203077100002103089700002403110856006603134       2011                        eng d00aEcological controls on stream diatom communities in the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica0 aEcological controls on stream diatom communities in the McMurdo   aBoulder, CObUniversity of Colorado0 vPh.D.3 a<p>&nbsp;</p><div title="Page 4"><div><div><p>Diatoms are vital primary producers in aquatic ecosystems and useful indicators of environmental change. In climatically sensitive polar areas, diatoms have been used as beacons of climate change, allowing us to monitor physical, chemical, and biological changes. This research aims to improve our understanding of diatom ecology in the pristine and dynamic McMurdo Dry Valleys of Antarctica, where diatoms reside in stream microbial mats. These results aid in understanding how changes in hydrologic regime will affect stream microbial communities, biodiversity, and ecosystem function in a changing environment.</p><p>Relationships between hydrologic regime and diatom community composition were investigated using long-term data. Diatom communities were structured by stream physical features, and streams with more similar hydrologic characteristics had more similar communities. Variation in diatom community composition was best explained by hydrologic regime. Small diatoms increased in relative abundances with increasing streamflow, suggesting a role of diatom size in structuring communities. Overall, diatom communities were resistant to flood and drought-like conditions, suggesting an adaptation to frequent disturbances.</p><p>The importance of hydrologic regime on drift activity was investigated during three 24- hour experiments. Diel variations in drift could be attributed to diurnal flow peaks. Biomass and diatom cell densities followed a clockwise pattern with stream discharge and support the dominant role of hydraulic processes. The quality of source material differed between seasons and throughout the day. Drifting diatom communities were dominated by&nbsp;<em>Fistulifera pelliculosa</em>, which is rarely found in stream mats and suggests a different source. Modeling results suggest that the less firmly anchored marginal mats contribute more to the drift than channel mats in low- flow seasons, while the channel mats become more important during high-flow seasons.</p><p>The relationships between diatom and bacterial assemblages in microbial mats were assessed based on phylogenetic and functional relatedness in five Dry Valley streams. Significant relationships between diatom and bacterial communities were found, and co-occurrence analysis identified numerous correlations between individual diatom and bacterial taxa. A consistency in metabolic lifestyles of correlated taxa suggests that the relationships are ecologically relevant. Diatom and bacterial diversity showed opposite patterns, which indicate differences in environmental drivers of diversity for bacteria and eukaryotes.</p></div></div></div><p>&nbsp;</p>10aAntarctica10abiological sciences10acommunity ecology10adiatoms10aearth sciences10aMcMurdo Dry Valleys10astreams1 aStanish, Lee, F.1 aMcKnight, Diane, M.  uhttps://search.proquest.com/docview/915694114?accountid=1450303517nas a2200349   4500008004100000245015900041210006900200260003400269490000900303520243200312653001502744653002002759653002402779653001402803653002802817653001702845653001302862653001402875653001402889653001302903653002402916653002002940653001402960653001702974653002102991653002103012653001503033653002003048100002503068700002503093856004903118       2011                        eng d00aHydrologic controls of nutrient fluxes in glacial meltwater streams at inter-annual, seasonal, and daily timescales in the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica0 aHydrologic controls of nutrient fluxes in glacial meltwater stre  bPennsylvania State University0 vM.S.3 a<p>In the McMurdo Dry Valleys of Antarctica, glaciers are hydrologically linked to closed-basin lakes at the valley floor by glacial meltwater streams. Streams flow through porous, well-defined channels with extensive chemically active hyporheic zones. Temporally varying dynamics of meltwater generation and sub-stream thaw depth are thought to control the potential for the hyporheic zone and benthic communities to influence transport of nutrients and dissolved ions downstream. Using the McMurdo LTER database, patterns in stream discharge, electrical conductivity (both with 15-minute sampling intervals), and solute chemistry (weekly sampling intervals) were examined on eight MDV streams from 1990-2008. Discharge and electrical conductivity values were highly variable among streams. Discharge values were highly dependent upon glacial source area, but meteorological and topographical complexities create large variability at all time scales. The longer streams were found to have much higher electrical conductivity values than the shorter streams, suggesting that there are more opportunities for hyporheic weathering reactions along longer stream reaches. Weekly sampled water solutes from each stream&#39;s entire record were plotted against the discharge recorded at the time when the sample was taken. Silicate concentrations displayed a decreasing logarithmic relationship, while nutrient concentrations had no apparent relationship. This suggests that with the exception to bioreactive solutes, the majority of hyporheic interactions could possibly be characterized by electrical conductivity and discharge. To attain information on in-stream nutrient dynamics and nutrient fluxes, glacial source water at the upper reach of Green Creek and stream outlet water at the lower reach of Green Creek were sampled hourly for two separate diel periods during the 2008-09 austral summer. Both dates were in late January under two distinct flow conditions (~0.5 L/s and ~10 L/s). Under low flow conditions, nutrient cycling was found to be uptake dominated. High flow conditions showed both uptake and regeneration with much higher nutrient loads, but as in the low flow conditions, no apparent temporal trends were found. Nutrient concentrations could not be predicted using the two parameters of discharge and electrical conductivity with in-stream nutrient dynamics likely too complicated at the sub-daily scale.</p>10aAntarctica10abiogeochemistry10achemical weathering10adischarge10aelectrical conductivity10aglacial melt10aglaciers10ahydrology10ahyporheic10aMCM LTER10aMcMurdo Dry Valleys10anutrient fluxes10anutrients10apolar desert10asolute chemistry10astream chemistry10astreamflow10awater chemistry1 aWeaver, Mitchell, R.1 aGooseff, Michael, N.  uhttps://etda.libraries.psu.edu/catalog/1156805611nas a2200229   4500008004100000245006100041210006000102260004000162490000900202520491500211653002205126653001505148653000905163653002605172653001705198653002405215653002405239653001505263100002505278700001705303856006105320       2010                        eng d00aAeolian sediments of the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica0 aAeolian sediments of the McMurdo Dry Valleys Antarctica  aColumbus, OHbOhio State University0 vM.S.3 a<p>The role of dust has become a topic of increasing interest in the interface between climate and geological/ecological sciences. Dust emitted from major sources, the majority of which are desert regions in the Northern Hemisphere, is transported via suspension in global wind systems and incorporated into the biogeochemical cycles of the ecosystems where it is ultimately deposited. While emissions within the McMurdo Dry Valleys (MDV) region of Antarctica are small compared to other source regions, the redistribution of new, reactive material by wind may be important to sustaining life in the ecosystem.</p><p><br />The interaction of the dry, warm foehn winds and the cool, moist coastal breezes &ldquo;recycles&rdquo; soil particles throughout the landscape. The bulk of sediment movement occurs during foehn events in the winter that redistribute material throughout the MDV. To understand the source and transfer of this material samples were collected early in the austral summer (November 2008) prior to the initiation of extensive ice melt from glacial and lake surfaces, aeolian landforms, and elevated sediment traps. These were preserved and processed for grain size distribution and major element composition at the sand and silt particle sizes. Major elemental oxide analysis indicated that the silt and sand size particles are of different composition: SiO2 values for silt range from 50 to 59% by weight and for sand range from 59 to 74%. When compared to the elemental oxide composition four rock types present in the MDV, the composition of the silt indicates a mixing influenced mostly by the igneous rock types (Ferrar Dolerite and McMurdo Volcanic basanite) and sand a mixing influenced largely by the sedimentary rocks (Beacon Sandstone and the metasedimentary Basement Complex). This could imply a local source of the aeolian material that is corroborated by low CIA values at both particle sizes (44-57%) indicating low degrees of chemical weathering. In addition, comparison of 87Sr/86Sr and 143Nd/144Nd to values published for the major MDV rock types and ice core dust to values analyzed in 3 silt size glacier sample and one bulk glacier sample also indicates a local source of sediments and that it is not likely to be transferred inland.</p><p><br />During the melt season, the aeolian material is actively solubilized where it interacts with water, releasing solutes and vital bioavailable nutrients throughout the aquatic system. Differences in the chemistry of supra- and proglacial streams as well as lake surface waters may be derived from the deposition and dissolution of these aeolian sediments. To simulate these conditions, a two-step leaching method using deionized water to represent glacial melt in field conditions was employed and leachates analyzed for major ion and nutrient constituents. Leachates represent a small degree (&lt;0.7%) of dissolution of major elements, and are solubilized to a greater extent from samples closer to the coast or with increased silt content. The composition of the leachates reflects the dissolution of the major salts found in the MDV. Leach 1 (cold water) indicates that Na- and Cl-bearing salt phases are dissolved to a greater extent than seen in Leach 2 (freeze-thaw). Conversely, Leach 2 compositions indicate that carbonate mineral dissolution and Mg-bearing silicate weathering are proceeding to a greater extent than in Leach 1.</p><p><br />Inorganic N:P ratios follow the same patterns of nutrient limitations based on the Redfield Ratio found by Priscu (1995) in the terminal lakes of the Taylor Valley: N-limited in the Fryxell and Hoare basins (east) and P-limited in the Bonney basin (west). This is also consistent with the age of the tills in the area, as found by Gudding (2003). The concentration of soluble Fe in the leachates is about the same as soluble inorganic P, and thus is not a limiting nutrient in the leachates. Comparison of total dissolved N and P to their inorganic counterparts reveals increased organic nutrients in the glacier and lake leachates that may indicate the influence of biota. Nutrient fluxes based on known sediment fluxes from elevated sediment traps deployed throughout the MDV and the composition of these leachates range from 0.34-330 g a-1 for N, 0.02-8.3 g a-1 for P, and 0.03-8.6 g a-1 for Fe. These are at least two orders of magnitude less than calculated loads from streams to the lakes in the Taylor Valley and, thus, should be considered underestimations or minima.</p><p><br />This work provides the first investigation into the composition and source of aeolian transported materials in the MDV, as well of what is potentially solubilized from it during the austral summer melt season. In addition, it will contribute to the understanding of the interplay between aeolian and aquatic processes in the MDV and further the understanding of this unique ecosystem.</p>10aaeolian transport10aAntarctica10adust10aexperimental leaching10ageochemistry10aMcMurdo Dry Valleys10asediment provenance10aweathering1 aDeuerling, Kelly, M.1 aLyons, Berry  uhttp://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu129052486203656nas a2200337   4500008004100000245005700041210005600098260004900154490001000203520257600213653001802789653002302807653003202830653003002862653001602892653002402908653003402932653002402966653002402990653002003014653005103034653002403085653001803109653002003127653003003147653002403177653003003201100002503231700001703256856004503273       2010                        eng d00aGenomic analysis of nematode-environment interaction0 aGenomic analysis of nematodeenvironment interaction  aProvo, UTbBrigham Young Universityc08/20100 vPh.D.3 a<p>The natural environments of organisms present a multitude of biotic and abiotic challenges that require both short-term ecological and long-term evolutionary responses. Though most environmental response studies have focused on effects at the ecosystem, community and organismal levels, the ultimate controls of these responses are located in the genome of the organism. Soil nematodes are highly responsive to, and display a wide variety of responses to changing environmental conditions, making them ideal models for the study of organismal interactions with their environment. In an attempt to examine responses to environmental stress (desiccation and freezing), genomic level analyses of gene expression during anhydrobiosis of the Antarctic nematode <em>Plectus murrayi</em> was undertaken. An EST library representative of the desiccation induced transcripts was established and the transcripts differentially expressed during desiccation stress were identified. The expressed genome of <em>P. murrayi</em> showed that desiccation survival in nematodes involves differential expression of a suite of genes from diverse functional areas, and constitutive expression of a number of stress related genes. My study also revealed that exposure to slow desiccation and freezing plays an important role in the transcription of stress related genes, improves desiccation and freezing survival of nematodes. Deterioration of traits essential for biological control has been recognized in diverse biological control agents including insect pathogenic nematodes. I studied the genetic mechanisms behind such deterioration using expression profiling. My results showed that trait deterioration of insect pathogenic nematode induces substantial overall changes in the nematode transcriptome and exhibits a general pattern of metabolic shift causing massive changes in metabolic and other processes. Finally, through field observations and molecular laboratory experiments the validity of the growth rate hypothesis in natural populations of Antarctic nematodes was tested. My results indicated that elemental stoichiometry influences evolutionary adaptations in gene expression and genome evolution. My study, in addition to providing immediate insight into the mechanisms by which multicellular animals respond to their environment, is transformative in its potential to inform other fundamental ecological and evolutionary questions, such as the evolution of life-history patterns and the relationship between community structure and ecological function in ecosystems.</p>10aanhydrobiosis10aAntarctic nematode10acomparative transcriptomics10acomplementary DNA library10adesiccation10afunctional analysis10aHeterorhabditis bacteriophora10aMcMurdo Dry Valleys10amicroarray analysis10aPlectus murrayi10aquantative real-time polymerase chain reaction10aScottnema lindsayae10astoichiometry10astress survival10asubtractive hybridization10atrait deterioration10atranscriptional profiling1 aAdhikari, Bishwo, N.1 aAdams, Byron  uhttps://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/etd/257802518nas 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<p>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.</p>10acommunity similarity10aextracellular enzyme activity10aMcMurdo Dry Valleys10amicrobial biogeography10asoil geochemistry10aT-RFLP1 aAltrichter, Adam, E.1 aBarrett, John, E.  uhttp://hdl.handle.net/10919/31883