Chapter 16. Common Features of Microorganisms in Ancient Layers of the Antarctic Ice Sheet

Abyzov, S.S.; Poglazova, M. N.; Mitskevich, J.N.; Ivanov, Mikhail; Castello, John D.; Rogers, Scott O.

doi:10.1515/9781400880188-020

Cited by 15 publications

(20 citation statements)

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“…The low quantity of sequence data (12 unique sequences at ≥97% identity) from the 2149 m sample is consistent with other studies that have reported low concentrations of cells at this depth of the glacier [9,12]. All of the sequences found here were from uncultured cyanobacteria.…”

Section: Glacial Ice (2149 M Sample)supporting

confidence: 90%

“…Initial hypotheses proposed that Lake Vostok was sterile due to the extreme and oligotrophic conditions. However, as information from geochemical, biological, and biochemical studies has accumulated, the results have suggested the existence of a complex biological ecosystem in the lake waters and sediments [1,2,9,10,[12][13][14][15]. Furthermore, the variety of conditions in the shallow embayment appear to have led to the formation of several ecological zones.…”

Section: Kmmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Metatranscriptomic and Metagenomic Analysis of Biological Diversity in Subglacial Lake Vostok (Antarctica)

Gura

Rogers

2020

Biology

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A combined metatranscriptomic and metagenomic study of Vostok (Antarctica) ice core sections from glacial, basal, and lake water accretion ice yielded sequences that indicated a wide variety of species and possible conditions at the base of the glacier and in subglacial Lake Vostok. Few organisms were in common among the basal ice and accretion ice samples, suggesting little transmission of viable organisms from the basal ice meltwater into the lake water. Additionally, samples of accretion ice, each of which originated from water in several locations of the shallow embayment, exhibit only small amounts of mixing of species. The western-most portion of the embayment had very low numbers of organisms, likely due to biologically challenging conditions. Increasing numbers of organisms were found progressing from west to east, up to approximately 7 km into the embayment. At that point, the numbers of unique sequences and sequence reads from thermophilic, thermotolerant, psychrophilic, and psychrotolerant organisms increased dramatically, as did sequences from alkaliphilic, alkalitolerant, acidophilic, and acidotolerant sequences. The number of unique and total sequences were positively associated with increases in concentrations of Na+, Ca2+, Mg2+, SO42−, Cl−, total amino acids, and non-purgeable organic carbon. The numbers of unique sequences from organisms reported from soil, sediment, ice, aquatic, marine, animal, and plant (probably pollen) sources also peaked in this region, suggesting that this was the most biologically active region. The confluence of the high numbers of organisms, physiologies, and metabolic capabilities suggests the presence of energy and nutrient sources in the eastern half of the embayment. Data from the main basin suggested a cold oligotrophic environment containing fewer organisms. In addition to bacteria, both the basal ice and accretion ice contained sequences from a diverse assemblage of eukaryotes, as well as from bacteria that are known to be associated with multicellular eukaryotes.

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Section: Glacial Ice (2149 M Sample)supporting

confidence: 90%

Section: Kmmentioning

confidence: 99%

Metatranscriptomic and Metagenomic Analysis of Biological Diversity in Subglacial Lake Vostok (Antarctica)

Gura

Rogers

2020

Biology

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“…Bacterial activity has the potential to alter the trace gas composition and its isotopic signature. Viable bacteria have been found in several ice cores to significant depths (Abyzov et al 1993, Christner et al 2000. Bacterial formation of trace gases is probably important in temperate glaciers, where much organic matter is trapped in the ice.…”

Section: How Reliable Are the Climate Records Obtained From Ice Cores?mentioning

confidence: 99%

The Late Quaternary History of Atmospheric Trace Gases and Aerosols: Interactions Between Climate and Biogeochemical Cycles

Blunier

Ono

Delmas

2003

Paleoclimate, Global Change and the Future

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“…The top section (from 3,538 to 3,595 m), which accreted within and near the embayment, primarily consists of type I ice, although there are some regions of type II ice (2). Bacteria from this ice, including potentially psychrophilic and psychrotolerant species as well as the molecular signature of a thermophilic bacterium, have been reported (1,3,4,5,7,10). Within the lake, temperatures average Ϫ2°C, pressures approach 400 atmospheres, high oxygen levels exist, there are low nutrient levels, and it is completely dark.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Isolation of Microbes from Lake Vostok Accretion Ice

D’Elia

Veerapaneni

Rogers

2008

Appl Environ Microbiol

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Bacteria from seven Lake Vostok accretion and two deep glacial Vostok ice core sections were characterized. The cell concentrations were low, but many of the cells were viable. From the hundreds of cultures, 18 unique bacterial rRNA gene phylotypes were determined. Lake Vostok may contain a complex microbial ecosystem.Subglacial Lake Vostok, the eighth largest lake on Earth (area ϭ 14,000 km 2 , volume ϭ 5,600 km 3 ) (9, 16), is covered by a 4-kilometer-thick layer of glacial ice. As the glacier traverses the lake over a period of 18,000 years, ice freezes (or accretes) to the bottom surface of the glacier, eventually forming a 200-m layer of accretion ice that has retained a linear and temporal record of the contents of the upper surface of the lake. The glacier passes over a shallow embayment, near an island (or peninsula), and then over part of the main lake basin. As the glacier passes through the embayment, initially it is grounded on the lakebed, and partly because of this, it collects mineral inclusions, making the ice silty (termed type I accretion ice) (13). Melting and freezing in this area, as well as a possible influx of material from a river system and/or from hydrothermal activity, may contribute to the characteristics of the type I ice (3, 14). The glacier is suspended over open water in portions of the embayment and over most of the main parts of the lake. The ice that forms over open water contains far fewer inclusions and lower concentrations of ions, organic carbon, and biomass (6,10,14). This ice is very clear ice and has been termed type II accretion ice (13). The top section (from 3,538 to 3,595 m), which accreted within and near the embayment, primarily consists of type I ice, although there are some regions of type II ice (2). Bacteria from this ice, including potentially psychrophilic and psychrotolerant species as well as the molecular signature of a thermophilic bacterium, have been reported (1,3,4,5,7,10). Within the lake, temperatures average Ϫ2°C, pressures approach 400 atmospheres, high oxygen levels exist, there are low nutrient levels, and it is completely dark.We isolated and characterized microbes from Lake Vostok type I and II accretion ice from the embayment and the main basin as well as from glacial ice immediately above the accretion ice layers. Sequence results from the rRNA small subunit genes and internal transcribed spacers indicate that at least 18 species are represented in the accretion ice. All are psychrotolerant in that they grew at 4°C, although optimal growth was often at higher temperatures.Descriptions and cell concentrations. Nine Vostok 5G ice core sections were assayed. Five sections represented ice that accreted over the shallow embayment (depths of 3,540, 3,563, 3,582, and 3,584 m, all type I ice, and 3,591 m, type II ice) (2) approximately 3,800 to 5,100 years ago (2,6,13,14), two accreted 3,400 to 3,500 years ago over the main lake basin (3,606 m, type I ice, and 3,610 m, type II ice), and two were glacial ice cores near the bottom of the glacier (3,5...

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Chapter 16. Common Features of Microorganisms in Ancient Layers of the Antarctic Ice Sheet

Cited by 15 publications

References 0 publications

Metatranscriptomic and Metagenomic Analysis of Biological Diversity in Subglacial Lake Vostok (Antarctica)

Metatranscriptomic and Metagenomic Analysis of Biological Diversity in Subglacial Lake Vostok (Antarctica)

The Late Quaternary History of Atmospheric Trace Gases and Aerosols: Interactions Between Climate and Biogeochemical Cycles

Isolation of Microbes from Lake Vostok Accretion Ice

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