“…In the absence of vascular plants, the mineral soils of the Dry Valleys are dominated by microbial communities. Contrary to earlier assumptions, which predicted low community complexity and spatial heterogeneity, recent molecular-based research (for example, Cowan et al, 2002;Aislabie et al, 2006;Barrett et al, 2006b;Smith et al, 2006; TD Niederberger, IR McDonald, AL Hacker, RM Soo, JE Barrett, DH Wall, SC Cary unpublished) has shown that the Dry Valley soils contain a much more diverse community assemblage than would have been expected given the harsh environmental conditions.…”