Physiological Capabilities of Cryoconite Hole Microorganisms
Cryoconite holes are miniature freshwater aquatic ecosystems that harbor a relatively diverse microbial community. This microbial community can withstand the extreme conditions of the supraglacial environment, including fluctuating temperatures, extreme and varying geochemical conditions and limited...
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Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2020.01783 https://doaj.org/article/e2ac2ecf8f8a421fb7b30bf5e03feaeb |
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:e2ac2ecf8f8a421fb7b30bf5e03feaeb 2023-05-15T14:03:56+02:00 Physiological Capabilities of Cryoconite Hole Microorganisms Ewa A. Poniecka Elizabeth A. Bagshaw Henrik Sass Amelia Segar Gordon Webster Christopher Williamson Alexandre M. Anesio Martyn Tranter 2020-07-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2020.01783 https://doaj.org/article/e2ac2ecf8f8a421fb7b30bf5e03feaeb EN eng Frontiers Media S.A. https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fmicb.2020.01783/full https://doaj.org/toc/1664-302X 1664-302X doi:10.3389/fmicb.2020.01783 https://doaj.org/article/e2ac2ecf8f8a421fb7b30bf5e03feaeb Frontiers in Microbiology, Vol 11 (2020) cryoconite microbial physiology cultivation freeze-thaw extreme conditions Microbiology QR1-502 article 2020 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2020.01783 2022-12-31T03:05:53Z Cryoconite holes are miniature freshwater aquatic ecosystems that harbor a relatively diverse microbial community. This microbial community can withstand the extreme conditions of the supraglacial environment, including fluctuating temperatures, extreme and varying geochemical conditions and limited nutrients. We analyzed the physiological capabilities of microbial isolates from cryoconite holes from Antarctica, Greenland, and Svalbard in selected environmental conditions: extreme pH, salinity, freeze-thaw and limited carbon sources, to identify their physiological limits. The results suggest that heterotrophic microorganisms in cryoconite holes are well adapted to fast-changing environmental conditions, by surviving multiple freeze-thaw cycles, a wide range of salinity and pH conditions and scavenging a variety of organic substrates. Under oxic and anoxic conditions, the communities grew well in temperatures up to 30°C, although in anoxic conditions the community was more successful at colder temperatures (0.2°C). The most abundant cultivable microorganisms were facultative anaerobic bacteria and yeasts. They grew in salinities up to 10% and in pH ranging from 4 to 10.5 (Antarctica), 2.5 to 10 (Svalbard), and 3 to 10 (Greenland). Their growth was sustained on at least 58 single carbon sources and there was no decrease in viability for some isolates after up to 100 consecutive freeze-thaw cycles. The elevated viability of the anaerobic community in the lowest temperatures indicates they might be key players in winter conditions or in early melt seasons, when the oxygen is potentially depleted due to limited flow of meltwater. Consequently, facultative anaerobic heterotrophs are likely important players in the reactivation of the community after the polar night. This detailed physiological investigation shows that despite inhabiting a freshwater environment, cryoconite microorganisms are able to withstand conditions not typically encountered in freshwater environments (namely high salinities or extreme pH), ... Article in Journal/Newspaper Antarc* Antarctica Greenland polar night Svalbard Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Greenland Svalbard Frontiers in Microbiology 11 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
op_collection_id |
ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
cryoconite microbial physiology cultivation freeze-thaw extreme conditions Microbiology QR1-502 |
spellingShingle |
cryoconite microbial physiology cultivation freeze-thaw extreme conditions Microbiology QR1-502 Ewa A. Poniecka Elizabeth A. Bagshaw Henrik Sass Amelia Segar Gordon Webster Christopher Williamson Alexandre M. Anesio Martyn Tranter Physiological Capabilities of Cryoconite Hole Microorganisms |
topic_facet |
cryoconite microbial physiology cultivation freeze-thaw extreme conditions Microbiology QR1-502 |
description |
Cryoconite holes are miniature freshwater aquatic ecosystems that harbor a relatively diverse microbial community. This microbial community can withstand the extreme conditions of the supraglacial environment, including fluctuating temperatures, extreme and varying geochemical conditions and limited nutrients. We analyzed the physiological capabilities of microbial isolates from cryoconite holes from Antarctica, Greenland, and Svalbard in selected environmental conditions: extreme pH, salinity, freeze-thaw and limited carbon sources, to identify their physiological limits. The results suggest that heterotrophic microorganisms in cryoconite holes are well adapted to fast-changing environmental conditions, by surviving multiple freeze-thaw cycles, a wide range of salinity and pH conditions and scavenging a variety of organic substrates. Under oxic and anoxic conditions, the communities grew well in temperatures up to 30°C, although in anoxic conditions the community was more successful at colder temperatures (0.2°C). The most abundant cultivable microorganisms were facultative anaerobic bacteria and yeasts. They grew in salinities up to 10% and in pH ranging from 4 to 10.5 (Antarctica), 2.5 to 10 (Svalbard), and 3 to 10 (Greenland). Their growth was sustained on at least 58 single carbon sources and there was no decrease in viability for some isolates after up to 100 consecutive freeze-thaw cycles. The elevated viability of the anaerobic community in the lowest temperatures indicates they might be key players in winter conditions or in early melt seasons, when the oxygen is potentially depleted due to limited flow of meltwater. Consequently, facultative anaerobic heterotrophs are likely important players in the reactivation of the community after the polar night. This detailed physiological investigation shows that despite inhabiting a freshwater environment, cryoconite microorganisms are able to withstand conditions not typically encountered in freshwater environments (namely high salinities or extreme pH), ... |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Ewa A. Poniecka Elizabeth A. Bagshaw Henrik Sass Amelia Segar Gordon Webster Christopher Williamson Alexandre M. Anesio Martyn Tranter |
author_facet |
Ewa A. Poniecka Elizabeth A. Bagshaw Henrik Sass Amelia Segar Gordon Webster Christopher Williamson Alexandre M. Anesio Martyn Tranter |
author_sort |
Ewa A. Poniecka |
title |
Physiological Capabilities of Cryoconite Hole Microorganisms |
title_short |
Physiological Capabilities of Cryoconite Hole Microorganisms |
title_full |
Physiological Capabilities of Cryoconite Hole Microorganisms |
title_fullStr |
Physiological Capabilities of Cryoconite Hole Microorganisms |
title_full_unstemmed |
Physiological Capabilities of Cryoconite Hole Microorganisms |
title_sort |
physiological capabilities of cryoconite hole microorganisms |
publisher |
Frontiers Media S.A. |
publishDate |
2020 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2020.01783 https://doaj.org/article/e2ac2ecf8f8a421fb7b30bf5e03feaeb |
geographic |
Greenland Svalbard |
geographic_facet |
Greenland Svalbard |
genre |
Antarc* Antarctica Greenland polar night Svalbard |
genre_facet |
Antarc* Antarctica Greenland polar night Svalbard |
op_source |
Frontiers in Microbiology, Vol 11 (2020) |
op_relation |
https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fmicb.2020.01783/full https://doaj.org/toc/1664-302X 1664-302X doi:10.3389/fmicb.2020.01783 https://doaj.org/article/e2ac2ecf8f8a421fb7b30bf5e03feaeb |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2020.01783 |
container_title |
Frontiers in Microbiology |
container_volume |
11 |
_version_ |
1766274825643360256 |