Farthest south algae and associated bacteria

Diversity, distribution and dispersal of Antarctic terrestrial algae

“…Eleven genera (Table 5) have been cultured from mineral soils and visible mats in small ponds collected in the Queen Maud Range (85-86 ° 45' S 146-158 ° W;Claridge et al, 1971;Cameron, 1972b) and in the Pensacola Mountains (82 ° 30'-83 ° 30' S 48-52 ° W;Parker et al, 1982a). Nunataks closer to the coast, in Dronning Maud Land (Engelskjcn, 1986;Ryan et al, 1989) and at Edward VII Peninsula (Broady, 1989a) support a richer flora, while this increases even further at coastal locations such as the Vestfold Hills (Broady, 1986; Table 5).…”

Antarctic microbial diversity: the basis of polar ecosystem processes

“…Their cyanobacterial mats included Phormidium autumnale, P. fragile and Schizothrix sp, but neither Nostoc nor diatoms were reported. Cameron (1972a) isolated the cyanobacteria Schizothrix calcicola and Porphyrosiphon notarisii from desiccated algal fragments found in the periphery of a frozen pond in the La Gorce Mountains (86 ° 45' S, 146 ° 00' W). As cyanobacterial sheaths are known to be associated with survival in the desiccated state, it is perhaps noteworthy that he described this 'farthest south' Porphyrosiphon as 'thickly laminated and sheathed'.…”

Microbial ecology of terrestrial Antarctica: Are microbial systems at risk from human activities?

“…Much of this work was conducted in the Dry Valley region of Victoria Land, including a Site of Special Scientific Interest for microbiology in the Barwick Valley (Parker et al 1978b), and other sites in the Transantarctic Mountains (Cameron et al 1970a;Cameron and Ford 1974;Parker and Howard 1977;1982). Small numbers of viable soil-borne microbes were found as far south as 87"21'S, the southernmost site examined, indicating that the potential geographic distribution of soil-borne microbes in Antarctica is limited only by the distribution of soil (Cameron 1972b). Laboratory analysis of air samples collected as part of these studies provided evidence that microorganisms found were adapted to higher temperatures, thereby implying exogenous origin (Cameron et al 1970a;Lacy et al 1970;Cameron et al 1971b).…”

“…The presence of suitable substrate may be of greater significance than climatic conditions in defining the presence and/or diversity of soil microorganisms in Antarctica (Boyd et al 1966;Cameron and Benoit 1970;Cameron 1972b;Cameron et al 1971a;Cameron and Ford 1974). Cameron et al (1970a) reported greater density and diversity of microorganisms in younger soils with northern (sunny) exposures in comparison with older, better developed soils on southern with northern (sunny) exposures in comparison with older, better developed soils on southern exposures found nearby, and concluded that the development of microbial ecosystems in terrestrial Antarctica requires a favorable complex of interacting microclimatic and edaphic factors.…”

“…Degradation of Research Conditions: Several studies were conducted on the survival and distribution of introduced bacteria, yeasts, and fungi associated with humans in the Dry Valleys and other inland sites (Cameron 1971;1972b;Cameron et al 1971a;Cameron and Ford 1974). These studies were designed to determine whether introductions of non-native species were impacting research activities.…”