Gradient analysis of cryoconite ecosystems from two polar glaciers

The cylindrical meltholes present in the ablation zones of many glaciers (termed cryoconite holes) contain complex microbial communities. A canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) of community structure and environmental gradients for cryoconite holes on two glaciers was undertaken. The Canada Glaci...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Polar Biology
Main Authors: Mueller, D.R., Pollard, W.H.
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:unknown
Published: 2004
Subjects:
Nunavut
McMurdo Dry Valleys
Canada
Heiberg
Axel Heiberg Island
Canada Glacier
White Glacier
Antarc*
Antarctica
glacier*
Online Access:https://curve.carleton.ca/f9da8bf5-ae1c-400f-b83e-de2feb188b6f
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-003-0580-2
http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs00300-003-0580-2
Description
Summary:The cylindrical meltholes present in the ablation zones of many glaciers (termed cryoconite holes) contain complex microbial communities. A canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) of community structure and environmental gradients for cryoconite holes on two glaciers was undertaken. The Canada Glacier (77°37′S, 162°55′E) is located in the McMurdo Dry Valleys of Antarctica. The White Glacier (79°27′N, 90°40′W) is located on Axel Heiberg Island, Nunavut Territory, Canada. These glaciers are at similar, yet antipodal latitudes, are roughly the same size and endure approximately the same mean annual temperature. The Canada Glacier cryoconite communities were found to be significantly (P=0.001) associated with six environmental variables, which together explained 55% of the biological variation. The White Glacier cryoconite communities were not significantly associated with environmental variables. The differences in CCA results were attributed to the relative amount of disturbance and isolation between each glacier’s cryoconite holes. Canada Glacier cryoconite holes were mostly ice-covered and undisturbed by meltwater flow, whereas high meltwater production and open cryoconite holes on the White Glacier may continually reset the community structure and habitat variability due to inter-hole mixing.

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