Microbial life in permafrost: A historical review
Abstract This paper reviews the literature on cold‐adapted micro‐organisms which might exist in ice and permafrost. Properly identified, microbial markers in the cryolithozone could be used in palaeoenvironmental reconstructions, in distinguishing between epigenetic and syngenetic depositional seque...
| Published in: | Permafrost and Periglacial Processes |
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| Main Authors: | , |
| Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wiley
1995
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ppp.3430060305 https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1002%2Fppp.3430060305 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/ppp.3430060305 |
| Summary: | Abstract This paper reviews the literature on cold‐adapted micro‐organisms which might exist in ice and permafrost. Properly identified, microbial markers in the cryolithozone could be used in palaeoenvironmental reconstructions, in distinguishing between epigenetic and syngenetic depositional sequences, and in the recognition of secondary thaw unconformities. Cryobiological problems include (1) whether the bacteria are dead, dormant or in the active state, and (2) what factors determine the preservation of cell structures. A possible consequence of permafrost thawing, based upon predicted global warming scenarios, is that there may be an increase in microbial activity and an increase in active layer thickness. |
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