Ecology and biogeochemistry of cyanobacteria in soils, permafrost, aquatic and cryptic polar habitats

• Published in: Biodiversity and Conservation
• Main Authors: Makhalanyane, Thulani P., Valverde, Angel, Velázquez, David, Gunnigle, Eoin, Van Goethem, Marc W., Quesada, Antonio, Cowan, Don A.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Springer 2015
• Subjects: Cyanobacteria; Antarctica; Arctic; Soil; Aquatic; Cryptic niches biogeochemistry; Antarctic; Antarc*; Ice; permafrost
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/2263/44178; https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-015-0902-z

Polar Regions (continental Antarctica and the Arctic) are characterized by a range of extreme environmental conditions, which impose severe pressures on biological life. Polar cold-active cyanobacteria are uniquely adapted to withstand the environmental conditions of the high latitudes. These adaptations include high ultra-violet radiation and desiccation tolerance, and mechanisms to protect cells from freeze–thaw damage. As the most widely distributed photoautotrophs in these regions, cyanobacteria are likely the dominant contributors of critically essential ecosystem services, particularly carbon and nitrogen turnover in terrestrial polar habitats. These habitats include soils, permafrost, cryptic niches (including biological soil crusts, hypoliths and endoliths), ice and snow, and a range of aquatic habitats. Here we review current literature on the ecology, and the functional role played by cyanobacteria in various Arctic and Antarctic environments. We focus on the ecological importance of cyanobacterial communities in Polar Regions and assess what is known regarding the toxins they produce. We also review the responses and adaptations of cyanobacteria to extreme environments. University of Pretoria Research Development Program (TPM),Genomics Research Institute,The National Research Foundation (NRF) of SouthAfrica’s National Antarctic Program (SANAP program) (TPM, AV, EG.MW VG, DAC) and Ministeriode Economıa y Competitividad (Spain) : Grantref CTM 2011-28736 (DV,AQ). http://link.springer.com/journal/10531 2016-03-10 hb2015