The McMurdo Dry Valleys Long Term Research Program: New understanding of the biogeochemistry of the Dry Valley Lakes

• Published in: Polar Geography
• Main Authors: Lyons, WB, Welch, KA, Priscu, JC, Laybourn-Parry, J, Moorhead, D, McKnight, D, Doran, DM, Tranter, PT
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Taylor and Francis Inc 2001
• Subjects: Biological Sciences; Microbiology; Microbial Ecology; McMurdo Dry Valleys; Polar Geography
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1080/10889370109377713; http://ecite.utas.edu.au/51524

The McMurdo Dry Valleys LongTerm Ecological Research (MCMLTER) site represents the highestlatitude location of the 24 LTER sites supported by the U.S. National Science Foundation. Although the perennial icecovered lakes in the dry valleys have been investigated since IGY, detailed, ecosystembased studies have been conducted on these lakes since 1993 by LTER investigators. A review of recent findings on the biogeochemistry and food chain dynamics of these lakes is summarized within. The lakes are much more complicated and more dynamic than previously thought. The importance of collecting longterm data is imperative if an understanding of how these sensitive systems respond to climate change is to be gained. 2001 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.