Antarctic microbial diversity: the basis of polar ecosystem processes

Wynn‐Williams, D. D.

doi:10.1007/bf00051979

Cited by 139 publications

(74 citation statements)

References 83 publications

(83 reference statements)

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“…The number of bacterial and archaeal taxa detected on the PhyloChip significantly decreased with increasing latitude, with a large reduction in the southernmost sites (Fossil Bluff and Coal Nunatak). This pattern agrees well with diversity estimates based on 16S rRNA gene libraries (Yergeau et al, 2007c), as well as reported decreases in the diversity of other Antarctic terrestrial organisms with increasing latitude (Smith, 1992;Wynn-Williams, 1996;Sohlenius and Boströ m, 2005;Peat et al, 2006). This pattern is thought to be related not only to decreases in temperature at higher latitudes, but also to concomitant decreases in water and nutrient availability (Kennedy, 1993).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

Environmental microarray analyses of Antarctic soil microbial communities

et al. 2008

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Antarctic ecosystems are fascinating in their limited trophic complexity, with decomposition and nutrient cycling functions being dominated by microbial activities. Not only are Antarctic habitats exposed to extreme environmental conditions, the Antarctic Peninsula is also experiencing unequalled effects of global warming. Owing to their uniqueness and the potential impact of global warming on these pristine systems, there is considerable interest in determining the structure and function of microbial communities in the Antarctic. We therefore utilized a recently designed 16S rRNA gene microarray, the PhyloChip, which targets 8741 bacterial and archaeal taxa, to interrogate microbial communities inhabiting densely vegetated and bare fell-field soils along a latitudinal gradient ranging from 51 °S (Falkland Islands) to 72 °S (Coal Nunatak). Results indicated a clear decrease in diversity with increasing latitude, with the two southernmost sites harboring the most distinct Bacterial and Archaeal communities. The microarray approach proved more sensitive in detecting the breadth of microbial diversity than polymerase chain reaction-based bacterial 16S rRNA gene libraries of modest size (∼190 clones per library). Furthermore, the relative signal intensities summed for phyla and families on the PhyloChip were significantly correlated with the relative occurrence of these taxa in clone libraries. PhyloChip data were also compared with functional gene microarray data obtained earlier, highlighting numerous significant relationships and providing evidence for a strong link between community composition and functional gene distribution in Antarctic soils. Integration of these PhyloChip data with other complementary methods provides an unprecedented understanding of the microbial diversity and community structure of terrestrial Antarctic habitats.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

Environmental microarray analyses of Antarctic soil microbial communities

et al. 2008

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“…Following glacial retreat, algal communities would have developed from viable propagules deposited on newly exposed substrata, predominantly through long-distance dispersal with wind as a fundamental vector (Muñ oz et al 2004). Favourable movement of air masses from north to south does occur (Wynn-Williams 1996). Evidence of these transport propagules is provided, for example, by the rare occurrence of exotic mosses in cultures of maritime Antarctic soils.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Several studies showed that many floral and faunal taxa, including higher plants, algae, lichens, protozoa and arthropods, become less diverse at higher latitude (Smith 1992;Broady 1996;Wynn-Williams 1996). However, even if it is generally accepted that Antarctic terrestrial diversity decreases as latitude (and stresses) increases (Broady 1996;Smith 1996), the latitudinal patterns are not always so clear.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 91%

Algal biomass and pigments along a latitudinal gradient in Victoria Land lakes, East Antarctica

Borghini

Colacevich

Caruso³

et al. 2016

Polar Research

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It is generally accepted that Antarctic terrestrial diversity decreases as latitude increases, but latitudinal patterns of several organisms are not always as clear as expected. The Victoria Land region is rich in lakes and ponds and spans 8 degrees of latitude that encompasses gradients in factors such as solar radiation, temperature, ice cover and day length. An understanding of the links between latitudinally driven environmental and biodiversity changes is essential to the understanding of the ecology and evolution of Antarctic biota and the formulation of hypotheses about likely future changes in biodiversity. As several studies have demonstrated that photosynthetic pigments are an excellent, although underused, tool for the study of lacustrine algal communities, the aim of the present study was to investigate variations in algal biomass and biodiversity across the latitudinal gradient of Victoria Land using sedimentary pigments. We test the hypothesis that the biodiversity of freshwater environments decreases as latitude increases. On the basis of our results, we propose using the number of sedimentary pigments as a proxy for algal diversity and the sum of chlorophyll a and bacteriochlorophyll a with their degradation derivatives as an index of biomass. Overall, our data show that biomass and diversity decrease as latitude increases but local environmental conditions, in particular, natural levels of eutrophy, can affect both productivity and diversity

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“…Microorganisms are the dominant biomass component of Antarctic ecosystems (Wynn-Williams, 1996;Pointing et al, 2009). This dominance of microorganisms results in a relatively simplified system sensitive to perturbations (Yergeau and Kowalchuk, 2008).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bacterial diversity in rhizosphere soil from Antarctic vascular plants of Admiralty Bay, maritime Antarctica

et al. 2010

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The Antarctic is a pristine environment that contributes to the maintenance of the global climate equilibrium. The harsh conditions of this habitat are fundamental to selecting those organisms able to survive in such an extreme habitat and able to support the relatively simple ecosystems. The DNA of the microbial community associated with the rhizospheres of Deschampsia antarctica Desv (Poaceae) and Colobanthus quitensis (Kunth) BartI (Caryophyllaceae), the only two native vascular plants that are found in Antarctic ecosystems, was evaluated using a 16S rRNA multiplex 454 pyrosequencing approach. This analysis revealed similar patterns of bacterial diversity between the two plant species from different locations, arguing against the hypothesis that there would be differences between the rhizosphere communities of different plants. Furthermore, the phylum distribution presented a peculiar pattern, with a bacterial community structure different from those reported of many other soils. Firmicutes was the most abundant phylum in almost all the analyzed samples, and there were high levels of anaerobic representatives. Also, some phyla that are dominant in most temperate and tropical soils, such as Acidobacteria, were rarely found in the analyzed samples. Analyzing all the sample libraries together, the predominant genera found were Bifidobacterium (phylum Actinobacteria), Arcobacter (phylum Proteobacteria) and Faecalibacterium (phylum Firmicutes). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first major bacterial sequencing effort of this kind of soil, and it revealed more than expected diversity within these rhizospheres of both maritime Antarctica vascular plants in Admiralty Bay, King George Island, which is part of the South Shetlands archipelago.

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Antarctic microbial diversity: the basis of polar ecosystem processes

Cited by 139 publications

References 83 publications

Environmental microarray analyses of Antarctic soil microbial communities

Environmental microarray analyses of Antarctic soil microbial communities

Algal biomass and pigments along a latitudinal gradient in Victoria Land lakes, East Antarctica

Bacterial diversity in rhizosphere soil from Antarctic vascular plants of Admiralty Bay, maritime Antarctica

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