Microbial ecology and biogeochemistry of continental Antarctic soils
The Antarctica Dry Valleys are regarded as the coldest hyperarid desert system on Earth. While a wide variety of environmental stressors including very low minimum temperatures, frequent freeze-thaw cycles and low water availability impose severe limitations to life, suitable niches for abundant mic...
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:14776f1bf39444289dc2d4e6689c5f44 2023-05-15T13:31:06+02:00 Microbial ecology and biogeochemistry of continental Antarctic soils Don A Cowan Thulani eMakhalanyane Paul eDennis David eHopkins 2014-04-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2014.00154 https://doaj.org/article/14776f1bf39444289dc2d4e6689c5f44 EN eng Frontiers Media S.A. http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fmicb.2014.00154/full https://doaj.org/toc/1664-302X 1664-302X doi:10.3389/fmicb.2014.00154 https://doaj.org/article/14776f1bf39444289dc2d4e6689c5f44 Frontiers in Microbiology, Vol 5 (2014) Carbon Nitrogen Soil adaptation microbial ecology biogeochemistry Microbiology QR1-502 article 2014 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2014.00154 2022-12-31T12:19:45Z The Antarctica Dry Valleys are regarded as the coldest hyperarid desert system on Earth. While a wide variety of environmental stressors including very low minimum temperatures, frequent freeze-thaw cycles and low water availability impose severe limitations to life, suitable niches for abundant microbial colonization exist. Antarctic desert soils contain much higher levels of microbial diversity than previously thought. Edaphic niches, including cryptic and refuge habitats, microbial mats and permafrost soils all harbour microbial communities which drive key biogeochemical cycling processes. For example, lithobionts (hypoliths and endoliths) possess a genetic capacity for nitrogen and carbon cycling, polymer degradation and other system processes. Nitrogen fixation rates of hypoliths, as assessed through acetylene reduction assays, suggest that these communities are a significant input source for nitrogen into these oligotrophic soils. Here we review aspects of microbial diversity in Antarctic soils with an emphasis on functionality and capacity. We assess current knowledge regarding adaptations to Antarctic soil environments and highlight the current threats to Antarctic desert soil communities. Article in Journal/Newspaper Antarc* Antarctic Antarctica permafrost Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Antarctic Frontiers in Microbiology 5 |
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Open Polar |
collection |
Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
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ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
Carbon Nitrogen Soil adaptation microbial ecology biogeochemistry Microbiology QR1-502 |
spellingShingle |
Carbon Nitrogen Soil adaptation microbial ecology biogeochemistry Microbiology QR1-502 Don A Cowan Thulani eMakhalanyane Paul eDennis David eHopkins Microbial ecology and biogeochemistry of continental Antarctic soils |
topic_facet |
Carbon Nitrogen Soil adaptation microbial ecology biogeochemistry Microbiology QR1-502 |
description |
The Antarctica Dry Valleys are regarded as the coldest hyperarid desert system on Earth. While a wide variety of environmental stressors including very low minimum temperatures, frequent freeze-thaw cycles and low water availability impose severe limitations to life, suitable niches for abundant microbial colonization exist. Antarctic desert soils contain much higher levels of microbial diversity than previously thought. Edaphic niches, including cryptic and refuge habitats, microbial mats and permafrost soils all harbour microbial communities which drive key biogeochemical cycling processes. For example, lithobionts (hypoliths and endoliths) possess a genetic capacity for nitrogen and carbon cycling, polymer degradation and other system processes. Nitrogen fixation rates of hypoliths, as assessed through acetylene reduction assays, suggest that these communities are a significant input source for nitrogen into these oligotrophic soils. Here we review aspects of microbial diversity in Antarctic soils with an emphasis on functionality and capacity. We assess current knowledge regarding adaptations to Antarctic soil environments and highlight the current threats to Antarctic desert soil communities. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Don A Cowan Thulani eMakhalanyane Paul eDennis David eHopkins |
author_facet |
Don A Cowan Thulani eMakhalanyane Paul eDennis David eHopkins |
author_sort |
Don A Cowan |
title |
Microbial ecology and biogeochemistry of continental Antarctic soils |
title_short |
Microbial ecology and biogeochemistry of continental Antarctic soils |
title_full |
Microbial ecology and biogeochemistry of continental Antarctic soils |
title_fullStr |
Microbial ecology and biogeochemistry of continental Antarctic soils |
title_full_unstemmed |
Microbial ecology and biogeochemistry of continental Antarctic soils |
title_sort |
microbial ecology and biogeochemistry of continental antarctic soils |
publisher |
Frontiers Media S.A. |
publishDate |
2014 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2014.00154 https://doaj.org/article/14776f1bf39444289dc2d4e6689c5f44 |
geographic |
Antarctic |
geographic_facet |
Antarctic |
genre |
Antarc* Antarctic Antarctica permafrost |
genre_facet |
Antarc* Antarctic Antarctica permafrost |
op_source |
Frontiers in Microbiology, Vol 5 (2014) |
op_relation |
http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fmicb.2014.00154/full https://doaj.org/toc/1664-302X 1664-302X doi:10.3389/fmicb.2014.00154 https://doaj.org/article/14776f1bf39444289dc2d4e6689c5f44 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2014.00154 |
container_title |
Frontiers in Microbiology |
container_volume |
5 |
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1766016013411811328 |