Perennial antarctic lake ice: An oasis for life in a polar desert

The permanent ice covers of Antarctic lakes in the Mcmurdo Dry valleys develop liquid water inclusions in response to solar heating of internal aeolian-derived sediments. The ice sediment particles serve as nutrient (inorganic and organic)-enriched microzones for the establishment of a physiological...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Science
Main Authors: Priscu, John C., Fritsen, Christian H., Adams, Edward E., Giovannoni, Stephen J., Paerl, Hans W., McKay, Christopher P., Doran, Peter T., Gordon, Douglas A., Lanoil, Brian D., Pinckney, James L.
Format: Text
Language:unknown
Published: LSU Digital Commons 1998
Subjects:
Antarctic
McMurdo Dry Valleys
Antarc*
polar desert
Online Access:https://digitalcommons.lsu.edu/geo_pubs/687
https://doi.org/10.1126/science.280.5372.2095
Description
Summary:The permanent ice covers of Antarctic lakes in the Mcmurdo Dry valleys develop liquid water inclusions in response to solar heating of internal aeolian-derived sediments. The ice sediment particles serve as nutrient (inorganic and organic)-enriched microzones for the establishment of a physiologically and ecologically complex microbial consortium capable of contemporaneous photosynthesis, nitrogen fixation, and decomposition. The consortium is capable of physically and chemically establishing and modifying a relatively nutrient-and organic matter-enriched microbial 'oasis' embedded in the lake ice cover.

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