Arctic gypsum endoliths: a biogeochemical characterization of a viable and active microbial community
Extreme environmental conditions such as those found in the polar regions on Earth are thought to test the limits of life. Microorganisms living in these environments often seek protection from environmental stresses such as high UV exposure, desiccation and rapid temperature fluctuations, with one...
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:748128ef7ead4702b4ce4dd043419057 2023-05-15T15:02:07+02:00 Arctic gypsum endoliths: a biogeochemical characterization of a viable and active microbial community L. A. Ziolkowski N. C. S. Mykytczuk C. R. Omelon H. Johnson L. G. Whyte G. F. Slater 2013-11-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-10-7661-2013 https://doaj.org/article/748128ef7ead4702b4ce4dd043419057 EN eng Copernicus Publications http://www.biogeosciences.net/10/7661/2013/bg-10-7661-2013.pdf https://doaj.org/toc/1726-4170 https://doaj.org/toc/1726-4189 1726-4170 1726-4189 doi:10.5194/bg-10-7661-2013 https://doaj.org/article/748128ef7ead4702b4ce4dd043419057 Biogeosciences, Vol 10, Iss 11, Pp 7661-7675 (2013) Ecology QH540-549.5 Life QH501-531 Geology QE1-996.5 article 2013 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-10-7661-2013 2022-12-31T02:07:12Z Extreme environmental conditions such as those found in the polar regions on Earth are thought to test the limits of life. Microorganisms living in these environments often seek protection from environmental stresses such as high UV exposure, desiccation and rapid temperature fluctuations, with one protective habitat found within rocks. Such endolithic microbial communities, which often consist of bacteria, fungi, algae and lichens, are small-scale ecosystems comprised of both producers and consumers. However, the harsh environmental conditions experienced by polar endolithic communities are thought to limit microbial diversity and therefore the rate at which they cycle carbon. In this study, we characterized the microbial community diversity, turnover rate and microbe–mineral interactions of a gypsum-based endolithic community in the polar desert of the Canadian high Arctic. 16S/18S/23S rRNA pyrotag sequencing demonstrated the presence of a diverse community of phototrophic and heterotrophic bacteria, archaea, algae and fungi. Stable carbon isotope analysis of the viable microbial membranes, as phospholipid fatty acids and glycolipid fatty acids, confirmed the diversity observed by molecular techniques and indicated that present-day atmospheric carbon is assimilated into the microbial community biomass. Uptake of radiocarbon from atmospheric nuclear weapons testing during the 1960s into microbial lipids was used as a pulse label to determine that the microbial community turns over carbon on the order of 10 yr, equivalent to 4.4 g C m −2 yr −1 gross primary productivity. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) micrographs indicated that mechanical weathering of gypsum by freeze–thaw cycles leads to increased porosity, which ultimately increases the habitability of the rock. In addition, while bacteria were adhered to these mineral surfaces, chemical analysis by micro-X-ray fluorescence (μ-XRF) spectroscopy suggests little evidence for microbial alteration of minerals, which contrasts with other endolithic habitats. ... Article in Journal/Newspaper Arctic polar desert Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Arctic Biogeosciences 10 11 7661 7675 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
op_collection_id |
ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
Ecology QH540-549.5 Life QH501-531 Geology QE1-996.5 |
spellingShingle |
Ecology QH540-549.5 Life QH501-531 Geology QE1-996.5 L. A. Ziolkowski N. C. S. Mykytczuk C. R. Omelon H. Johnson L. G. Whyte G. F. Slater Arctic gypsum endoliths: a biogeochemical characterization of a viable and active microbial community |
topic_facet |
Ecology QH540-549.5 Life QH501-531 Geology QE1-996.5 |
description |
Extreme environmental conditions such as those found in the polar regions on Earth are thought to test the limits of life. Microorganisms living in these environments often seek protection from environmental stresses such as high UV exposure, desiccation and rapid temperature fluctuations, with one protective habitat found within rocks. Such endolithic microbial communities, which often consist of bacteria, fungi, algae and lichens, are small-scale ecosystems comprised of both producers and consumers. However, the harsh environmental conditions experienced by polar endolithic communities are thought to limit microbial diversity and therefore the rate at which they cycle carbon. In this study, we characterized the microbial community diversity, turnover rate and microbe–mineral interactions of a gypsum-based endolithic community in the polar desert of the Canadian high Arctic. 16S/18S/23S rRNA pyrotag sequencing demonstrated the presence of a diverse community of phototrophic and heterotrophic bacteria, archaea, algae and fungi. Stable carbon isotope analysis of the viable microbial membranes, as phospholipid fatty acids and glycolipid fatty acids, confirmed the diversity observed by molecular techniques and indicated that present-day atmospheric carbon is assimilated into the microbial community biomass. Uptake of radiocarbon from atmospheric nuclear weapons testing during the 1960s into microbial lipids was used as a pulse label to determine that the microbial community turns over carbon on the order of 10 yr, equivalent to 4.4 g C m −2 yr −1 gross primary productivity. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) micrographs indicated that mechanical weathering of gypsum by freeze–thaw cycles leads to increased porosity, which ultimately increases the habitability of the rock. In addition, while bacteria were adhered to these mineral surfaces, chemical analysis by micro-X-ray fluorescence (μ-XRF) spectroscopy suggests little evidence for microbial alteration of minerals, which contrasts with other endolithic habitats. ... |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
L. A. Ziolkowski N. C. S. Mykytczuk C. R. Omelon H. Johnson L. G. Whyte G. F. Slater |
author_facet |
L. A. Ziolkowski N. C. S. Mykytczuk C. R. Omelon H. Johnson L. G. Whyte G. F. Slater |
author_sort |
L. A. Ziolkowski |
title |
Arctic gypsum endoliths: a biogeochemical characterization of a viable and active microbial community |
title_short |
Arctic gypsum endoliths: a biogeochemical characterization of a viable and active microbial community |
title_full |
Arctic gypsum endoliths: a biogeochemical characterization of a viable and active microbial community |
title_fullStr |
Arctic gypsum endoliths: a biogeochemical characterization of a viable and active microbial community |
title_full_unstemmed |
Arctic gypsum endoliths: a biogeochemical characterization of a viable and active microbial community |
title_sort |
arctic gypsum endoliths: a biogeochemical characterization of a viable and active microbial community |
publisher |
Copernicus Publications |
publishDate |
2013 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-10-7661-2013 https://doaj.org/article/748128ef7ead4702b4ce4dd043419057 |
geographic |
Arctic |
geographic_facet |
Arctic |
genre |
Arctic polar desert |
genre_facet |
Arctic polar desert |
op_source |
Biogeosciences, Vol 10, Iss 11, Pp 7661-7675 (2013) |
op_relation |
http://www.biogeosciences.net/10/7661/2013/bg-10-7661-2013.pdf https://doaj.org/toc/1726-4170 https://doaj.org/toc/1726-4189 1726-4170 1726-4189 doi:10.5194/bg-10-7661-2013 https://doaj.org/article/748128ef7ead4702b4ce4dd043419057 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-10-7661-2013 |
container_title |
Biogeosciences |
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10 |
container_issue |
11 |
container_start_page |
7661 |
op_container_end_page |
7675 |
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1766334095029174272 |