Biodiversity of air-borne microorganisms at Halley station Antarctica

Pearce, David A. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5292-4596; Hughes, K. A. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2701-726X; Lachlan-Cope, T. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0657-3235; Harangozo, S.A.; Jones, A.E. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2040-4841. 2010 Biodiversity of air-borne microorganisms at Halley station Antarctica. Extremophiles, 14 (2). 145-159. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00792-009-0293-8

Full text not available from this repository. (Request a copy)

Abstract/Summary

A study of air-borne microbial biodiversity over an isolated scientific research station on an ice-shelf in continental Antarctica was undertaken to establish the potential source of microbial colonists. The study aimed to assess: (1) whether microorganisms were likely to have a local (research station) or distant (marine or terrestrial) origin, (2) the effect of changes in sea ice extent on microbial biodiversity and (3) the potential human impact on the environment. Air samples were taken above Halley Research Station during the austral summer and austral winter over a 2-week period. Overall, a low microbial biodiversity was detected, which included many sequence replicates. No significant patterns were detected in the aerial biodiversity between the austral summer and the austral winter. In common with other environmental studies, particularly in the polar regions, many of the sequences obtained were from as yet uncultivated organisms. Very few marine sequences were detected irrespective of the distance to open water, and around one-third of sequences detected were similar to those identified in human studies, though both of these might reflect prevailing wind conditions. The detected aerial microorganisms were markedly different from those obtained in earlier studies over the Antarctic Peninsula in the maritime Antarctic.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1007/s00792-009-0293-8
Programmes:	BAS Programmes > Global Science in the Antarctic Context (2005-2009) > Long-Term Monitoring and Survey – Biological Sciences Division
ISSN:	1431-0651
NORA Subject Terms:	Biology and Microbiology Ecology and Environment
Date made live:	20 Aug 2010 12:46 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/10609

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

https://doi.org/10.1007/s00792-009-0293-8

Programmes:

BAS Programmes > Global Science in the Antarctic Context (2005-2009) > Long-Term Monitoring and Survey – Biological Sciences Division

ISSN:

1431-0651

NORA Subject Terms:

Biology and Microbiology
Ecology and Environment

Date made live:

20 Aug 2010 12:46 +0 (UTC)