Determining habitat suitability for soil invertebrates in an extreme environment: the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica
We sampled soils in the McMurdo Dry Valleys to determine the habitats that were suitable for extreme for soil invertebrates. Suitability was assessed by comparing nematode species diversity and abundance, and tardigrade and rotifer abundance as related to soil properties at three spatial scales: lan...
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Cambridge University Press (CUP)
2001
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Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0954102001000037 https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0954102001000037 |
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crcambridgeupr:10.1017/s0954102001000037 2024-05-19T07:32:20+00:00 Determining habitat suitability for soil invertebrates in an extreme environment: the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica Courtright, Ericha M. Wall, Diana H. Virginia, Ross A. 2001 http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0954102001000037 https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0954102001000037 en eng Cambridge University Press (CUP) https://www.cambridge.org/core/terms Antarctic Science volume 13, issue 1, page 9-17 ISSN 0954-1020 1365-2079 journal-article 2001 crcambridgeupr https://doi.org/10.1017/s0954102001000037 2024-04-25T06:51:19Z We sampled soils in the McMurdo Dry Valleys to determine the habitats that were suitable for extreme for soil invertebrates. Suitability was assessed by comparing nematode species diversity and abundance, and tardigrade and rotifer abundance as related to soil properties at three spatial scales: landscape (across Taylor, Wright and Victoria valleys), at three distant locations within valleys, and within small plots (1 m 2 ). Extreme environments were characterized by the lack of nematode abundance and diversity, high salinity, low soil moisture and organic carbon, and higher elevation or a geographic location less accessible for dispersing organisms. Suitable habitats were more frequent near the coast and at lower elevations. Extreme habitats could be defined based on one environmental factor, but more typically a set of interrelated soil and environmental factors appear to determine the abundance and composition of the soil community. The three Dry Valley nematode species occupied distinct regions of a multivariate biplot relating soil chemistry and moisture. Scottnema lindsayae is unusual for its ability to live in a wide range of extreme soil habitats. Our research shows that in the McMurdo Dry Valleys, life flourishes in suitable soil habitats and that extreme habitats (“no invertebrates”) can be defined. Article in Journal/Newspaper Antarc* Antarctic Science Antarctica McMurdo Dry Valleys Rotifer Tardigrade Cambridge University Press Antarctic Science 13 1 9 17 |
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Open Polar |
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Cambridge University Press |
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crcambridgeupr |
language |
English |
description |
We sampled soils in the McMurdo Dry Valleys to determine the habitats that were suitable for extreme for soil invertebrates. Suitability was assessed by comparing nematode species diversity and abundance, and tardigrade and rotifer abundance as related to soil properties at three spatial scales: landscape (across Taylor, Wright and Victoria valleys), at three distant locations within valleys, and within small plots (1 m 2 ). Extreme environments were characterized by the lack of nematode abundance and diversity, high salinity, low soil moisture and organic carbon, and higher elevation or a geographic location less accessible for dispersing organisms. Suitable habitats were more frequent near the coast and at lower elevations. Extreme habitats could be defined based on one environmental factor, but more typically a set of interrelated soil and environmental factors appear to determine the abundance and composition of the soil community. The three Dry Valley nematode species occupied distinct regions of a multivariate biplot relating soil chemistry and moisture. Scottnema lindsayae is unusual for its ability to live in a wide range of extreme soil habitats. Our research shows that in the McMurdo Dry Valleys, life flourishes in suitable soil habitats and that extreme habitats (“no invertebrates”) can be defined. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Courtright, Ericha M. Wall, Diana H. Virginia, Ross A. |
spellingShingle |
Courtright, Ericha M. Wall, Diana H. Virginia, Ross A. Determining habitat suitability for soil invertebrates in an extreme environment: the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica |
author_facet |
Courtright, Ericha M. Wall, Diana H. Virginia, Ross A. |
author_sort |
Courtright, Ericha M. |
title |
Determining habitat suitability for soil invertebrates in an extreme environment: the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica |
title_short |
Determining habitat suitability for soil invertebrates in an extreme environment: the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica |
title_full |
Determining habitat suitability for soil invertebrates in an extreme environment: the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica |
title_fullStr |
Determining habitat suitability for soil invertebrates in an extreme environment: the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica |
title_full_unstemmed |
Determining habitat suitability for soil invertebrates in an extreme environment: the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica |
title_sort |
determining habitat suitability for soil invertebrates in an extreme environment: the mcmurdo dry valleys, antarctica |
publisher |
Cambridge University Press (CUP) |
publishDate |
2001 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0954102001000037 https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0954102001000037 |
genre |
Antarc* Antarctic Science Antarctica McMurdo Dry Valleys Rotifer Tardigrade |
genre_facet |
Antarc* Antarctic Science Antarctica McMurdo Dry Valleys Rotifer Tardigrade |
op_source |
Antarctic Science volume 13, issue 1, page 9-17 ISSN 0954-1020 1365-2079 |
op_rights |
https://www.cambridge.org/core/terms |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1017/s0954102001000037 |
container_title |
Antarctic Science |
container_volume |
13 |
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1 |
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9 |
op_container_end_page |
17 |
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1799470352476143616 |