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20 pages, 2594 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Drift Algal Accumulation in Ice Scour Pits Provides an Underestimated Ecological Subsidy in a Novel Antarctic Soft-Sediment Habitat

by Ignacio Garrido, Heather L. Hawk, Paulina Bruning, Luis Miguel Pardo and Ladd E. Johnson

Biology 2023, 12(1), 128; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology12010128 - 13 Jan 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2810

Abstract

Ice scouring is one of the strongest agents of disturbance in nearshore environments at high latitudes. In depths, less than 20 m, grounding icebergs reshape the soft-sediment seabed by gouging furrows called ice pits. Large amounts of drift algae (up to 5.6 kg/m [...] Read more.

Ice scouring is one of the strongest agents of disturbance in nearshore environments at high latitudes. In depths, less than 20 m, grounding icebergs reshape the soft-sediment seabed by gouging furrows called ice pits. Large amounts of drift algae (up to 5.6 kg/m²) that would otherwise be transported to deeper water accumulate inside these features, representing an underestimated subsidy. Our work documents the distribution and dimensions of ice pits in Fildes Bay, Antarctica, and evaluates their relationship to the biomass and species composition of algae found within them. It also assesses the rates of deposition and advective loss of algae in the pits. The 17 ice pits found in the study area covered only 4.2% of the seabed but contained 98% of drift algal biomass, i.e., 60 times the density (kg/m²) of the surrounding seabed. Larger ice pits had larger and denser algal accumulations than small pits and had different species compositions. The accumulations were stable over time: experimentally cleared pits regained initial biomass levels after one year, and advective loss was less than 15% annually. Further research is needed to understand the impacts of ice scouring and subsequent algal retention on ecosystem functioning in this rapidly changing polar environment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polar Ecosystem: Response of Organisms to Changing Climate)

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16 pages, 2278 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Climate Change Helps Polar Invasives Establish and Flourish: Evidence from Long-Term Monitoring of the Blowfly Calliphora vicina

by Ella Z. Daly, Hannah Sørine Gerlich, Yves Frenot, Toke T. Høye, Martin Holmstrup and David Renault

Biology 2023, 12(1), 111; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology12010111 - 10 Jan 2023

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2511

Abstract

The isolated sub-Antarctic islands are of major ecological interest because of their unique species diversity and long history of limited human disturbance. However, since the presence of Europeans, these islands and their sensitive biota have been under increasing pressure due to human activity [...] Read more.

The isolated sub-Antarctic islands are of major ecological interest because of their unique species diversity and long history of limited human disturbance. However, since the presence of Europeans, these islands and their sensitive biota have been under increasing pressure due to human activity and associated biological invasions. In such delicate ecosystems, biological invasions are an exceptional threat that may be further amplified by climate change. We examined the invasion trajectory of the blowfly Calliphora vicina (Robineau-Desvoidy 1830). First introduced in the sub-Antarctic Kerguelen Islands in the 1970s, it is thought to have persisted only in sheltered microclimates for several decades. Here, we show that, in recent decades, C. vicina has been able to establish itself more widely. We combine experimental thermal developmental data with long-term ecological and meteorological monitoring to address whether warming conditions help explain its current success and dynamics in the eastern Kerguelen Islands. We found that warming temperatures and accumulated degree days could explain the species’ phenological and long-term invasion dynamics, indicating that climate change has likely assisted its establishment. This study represents a unique long-term view of a polar invader and stresses the rapidly increasing susceptibility of cold regions to invasion under climate change. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polar Ecosystem: Response of Organisms to Changing Climate)

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16 pages, 4485 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Soil Geochemical Properties Influencing the Diversity of Bacteria and Archaea in Soils of the Kitezh Lake Area, Antarctica

by Qinxin Li, Nengfei Wang, Wenbing Han, Botao Zhang, Jiaye Zang, Yiling Qin, Long Wang, Jie Liu and Tao Zhang

Biology 2022, 11(12), 1855; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology11121855 - 19 Dec 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1871

Abstract

It is believed that polar regions are influenced by global warming more significantly, and because polar regions are less affected by human activities, they have certain reference values for future predictions. This study aimed to investigate the effects of climate warming on soil [...] Read more.

It is believed that polar regions are influenced by global warming more significantly, and because polar regions are less affected by human activities, they have certain reference values for future predictions. This study aimed to investigate the effects of climate warming on soil microbial communities in lake areas, taking Kitezh Lake, Antarctica as the research area. Below-peak soil, intertidal soil, and sediment were taken at the sampling sites, and we hypothesized that the diversity and composition of the bacterial and archaeal communities were different among the three sampling sites. Through 16S rDNA sequencing and analysis, bacteria and archaea with high abundance were obtained. Based on canonical correspondence analysis and redundancy analysis, pH and phosphate had a great influence on the bacterial community whereas pH and nitrite had a great influence on the archaeal community. Weighted gene coexpression network analysis was used to find the hub bacteria and archaea related to geochemical factors. The results showed that in addition to pH, phosphate, and nitrite, moisture content, ammonium, nitrate, and total carbon content also play important roles in microbial diversity and structure at different sites by changing the abundance of some key microbiota. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polar Ecosystem: Response of Organisms to Changing Climate)

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17 pages, 2534 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Rapid Response to Experimental Warming of a Microbial Community Inhabiting High Arctic Patterned Ground Soil

by Kevin K. Newsham, Birgitte Kortegaard Danielsen, Elisabeth Machteld Biersma, Bo Elberling, Guy Hillyard, Priyanka Kumari, Anders Priemé, Cheolwoon Woo and Naomichi Yamamoto

Biology 2022, 11(12), 1819; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology11121819 - 14 Dec 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2828

Abstract

The influence of climate change on microbial communities inhabiting the sparsely vegetated patterned ground soils that are widespread across the High Arctic is poorly understood. Here, in a four-year experiment on Svalbard, we warmed patterned ground soil with open top chambers and biannually [...] Read more.

The influence of climate change on microbial communities inhabiting the sparsely vegetated patterned ground soils that are widespread across the High Arctic is poorly understood. Here, in a four-year experiment on Svalbard, we warmed patterned ground soil with open top chambers and biannually irrigated the soil to predict the responses of its microbial community to rising temperatures and precipitation. A 1 °C rise in summertime soil temperature caused 44% and 78% increases in CO₂ efflux and CH₄ consumption, respectively, and a 32% increase in the frequency of bacterial 16S ribosomal RNA genes. Bacterial alpha diversity was unaffected by the treatments, but, of the 40 most frequent bacterial taxa, warming caused 44–45% reductions in the relative abundances of a Sphingomonas sp. and Ferruginibacter sp. and 33–91% increases in those of a Phenylobacterium sp. and a member of the Acetobacteraceae. Warming did not influence the frequency of fungal internal transcribed spacer 2 copies, and irrigation had no effects on the measured variables. Our study suggests rapid changes to the activities and abundances of microbes, and particularly bacteria, in High Arctic patterned ground soils as they warm. At current rates of soil warming on Svalbard (0.8 °C per decade), we anticipate that similar effects to those reported here will manifest themselves in the natural environment by approximately the mid 2030s. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polar Ecosystem: Response of Organisms to Changing Climate)

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18 pages, 1460 KiB

Open AccessArticle

High Resilience and Fast Acclimation Processes Allow the Antarctic Moss Bryum argenteum to Increase Its Carbon Gain in Warmer Growing Conditions

by Emma L. Gemal, T. G. Allan Green, S. Craig Cary and Claudia Colesie

Biology 2022, 11(12), 1773; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology11121773 - 6 Dec 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2425

Abstract

Climate warming in Antarctica involves major shifts in plant distribution and productivity. This study aims to unravel the plasticity and acclimation potential of Bryum argenteum var. muticum, a cosmopolitan moss species found in Antarctica. By comparing short-term, closed-top chamber warming experiments which [...] Read more.

Climate warming in Antarctica involves major shifts in plant distribution and productivity. This study aims to unravel the plasticity and acclimation potential of Bryum argenteum var. muticum, a cosmopolitan moss species found in Antarctica. By comparing short-term, closed-top chamber warming experiments which mimic heatwaves, with in situ seasonal physiological rates from Cape Hallett, Northern Victoria Land, we provide insights into the general inherent resilience of this important Antarctic moss and into its adaptability to longer-term threats and stressors associated with climate change. Our findings show that B. argenteum can thermally acclimate to mitigate the effects of increased temperature under both seasonal changes and short-term pulse warming events. Following pulse warming, this species dramatically increased its carbon uptake, measured as net photosynthesis, while reductions in carbon losses, measured as dark respiration, were not observed. Rapid growth of new shoots may have confounded the effects on respiration. These results demonstrate the high physiological plasticity of this species, with acclimation occurring within only 7 days. We show that this Antarctic moss species appears to have a high level of resilience and that fast acclimation processes allow it to potentially benefit from both short-term and long-term climatic changes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polar Ecosystem: Response of Organisms to Changing Climate)

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24 pages, 5444 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Carbon and Iron Uptake by Phytoplankton in the Amundsen Sea, Antarctica

by Bo Wang, Lingfang Fan, Minfang Zheng, Yusheng Qiu and Min Chen

Biology 2022, 11(12), 1760; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology11121760 - 4 Dec 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1906

Abstract

Freshwater components in the Southern Ocean, whether sea ice meltwater or meteoric water, influence the growth of phytoplankton by affecting water stability and supplying dissolved iron (DFe). In addition, melting sea ice stimulates phytoplankton blooms by providing ice algae. In this study, sea [...] Read more.

Freshwater components in the Southern Ocean, whether sea ice meltwater or meteoric water, influence the growth of phytoplankton by affecting water stability and supplying dissolved iron (DFe). In addition, melting sea ice stimulates phytoplankton blooms by providing ice algae. In this study, sea ice meltwater and meteoric water in the Amundsen Sea (AS) were differentiated by their stable oxygen isotopic compositions (δ¹⁸O), while the phytoplankton carbon fixation rate (CFR) and iron uptake rate (FeUR) values were determined using the ¹⁴C and ⁵⁵Fe tracer assays, respectively. Our results showed that FeUR exhibits a significant positive response only to sea ice meltwater, suggesting that DFe and algae provided by sea ice melting may be the main cause. In addition, the CFR had a slightly positive response to the freshwater input and a stronger correlation with the phytoplankton biomass, suggesting that the freshwater input may have enhanced the CFR through the algae released from sea ice melting. The FeUR normalized to the phytoplankton biomass was significantly positively correlated with the mixed layer depth, suggesting that water stability regulates the phytoplankton growth and the resulting Fe demand. A higher Fe demand per unit of carbon fixation during sea ice formation leads to a higher Fe/C ratio in phytoplankton. Although no significant correlations were observed between the FeUR, CFR, and meteoric water, meteoric water may have an effect on larger phytoplankton sensitive to Fe deficiencies. The results of culture experiments with DFe addition showed that the added Fe significantly enhanced the Fe uptake, carbon fixation, and Fe/C ratio of the cells, especially for micro-phytoplankton. The more pronounced response of micro-phytoplankton means that the meteoric water input may affect the efficiency of carbon export. Our study provides the first measurements of phytoplankton Fe quotas in the AS in austral late summer and early autumn, providing insights into how meteoric water and sea ice meltwater affect seasonal changes in Antarctic ecosystems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polar Ecosystem: Response of Organisms to Changing Climate)

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16 pages, 2491 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Feeding Ecology of Odontaster validus under Different Environmental Conditions in the West Antarctic Peninsula

by Lisette Zenteno-Devaud, Gabriela V. Aguirre-Martinez, Claudia Andrade, Leyla Cárdenas, Luis Miguel Pardo, Humberto E. González and Ignacio Garrido

Biology 2022, 11(12), 1723; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology11121723 - 28 Nov 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2001

Abstract

To study how Odontaster validus can influence the spatial structure of Antarctic benthic communities and how they respond to disturbance, it is necessary to assess potential dietary shifts in different habitats. We investigated the diets of O. validus from Maxwell Bay and South [...] Read more.

To study how Odontaster validus can influence the spatial structure of Antarctic benthic communities and how they respond to disturbance, it is necessary to assess potential dietary shifts in different habitats. We investigated the diets of O. validus from Maxwell Bay and South Bay in the West Antarctic Peninsula. A multifaceted approach was applied including in situ observations of cardiac stomach everted contents, isotopic niche, and trophic diversity metrics. Results confirm the flexible foraging strategy of this species under markedly different environmental conditions, suggesting plasticity in resource use. The data also showed evidence of isotopic niche expansion, high δ¹⁵N values, and Nacella concinna as a common food item for individuals inhabiting a site with low seasonal sea ice (Ardley Cove), which could have significant ecological implications such as new trophic linkages within the Antarctic benthic community. These results highlight the importance of considering trophic changes of key species to their environment as multiple ecological factors can vary as a function of climatic conditions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polar Ecosystem: Response of Organisms to Changing Climate)

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28 pages, 3343 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Antarctic Seabed Assemblages in an Ice-Shelf-Adjacent Polynya, Western Weddell Sea

by Bétina A. V. Frinault, Frazer D. W. Christie, Sarah E. Fawcett, Raquel F. Flynn, Katherine A. Hutchinson, Chloë M. J. Montes Strevens, Michelle L. Taylor, Lucy C. Woodall and David K. A. Barnes

Biology 2022, 11(12), 1705; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology11121705 - 25 Nov 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2856

Abstract

Ice shelves cover ~1.6 million km² of the Antarctic continental shelf and are sensitive indicators of climate change. With ice-shelf retreat, aphotic marine environments transform into new open-water spaces of photo-induced primary production and associated organic matter export to the benthos. Predicting [...] Read more.

Ice shelves cover ~1.6 million km² of the Antarctic continental shelf and are sensitive indicators of climate change. With ice-shelf retreat, aphotic marine environments transform into new open-water spaces of photo-induced primary production and associated organic matter export to the benthos. Predicting how Antarctic seafloor assemblages may develop following ice-shelf loss requires knowledge of assemblages bordering the ice-shelf margins, which are relatively undocumented. This study investigated seafloor assemblages, by taxa and functional groups, in a coastal polynya adjacent to the Larsen C Ice Shelf front, western Weddell Sea. The study area is rarely accessed, at the frontline of climate change, and located within a CCAMLR-proposed international marine protected area. Four sites, ~1 to 16 km from the ice-shelf front, were explored for megabenthic assemblages, and potential environmental drivers of assemblage structures were assessed. Faunal density increased with distance from the ice shelf, with epifaunal deposit-feeders a surrogate for overall density trends. Faunal richness did not exhibit a significant pattern with distance from the ice shelf and was most variable at sites closest to the ice-shelf front. Faunal assemblages significantly differed in composition among sites, and those nearest to the ice shelf were the most dissimilar; however, ice-shelf proximity did not emerge as a significant driver of assemblage structure. Overall, the study found a biologically-diverse and complex seafloor environment close to an ice-shelf front and provides ecological baselines for monitoring benthic ecosystem responses to environmental change, supporting marine management. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polar Ecosystem: Response of Organisms to Changing Climate)

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13 pages, 858 KiB

Open AccessArticle

High Ecophysiological Plasticity of Desmarestia aculeata (Phaeophyceae) Present in an Arctic Fjord under Varying Salinity and Irradiance Conditions

by Johanna Marambio, Nora Diehl and Kai Bischof

Biology 2022, 11(10), 1499; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology11101499 - 13 Oct 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1726

Abstract

The seaweed Desmarestia aculeata (Phaeophyceae) is distributed in the temperate zone of the North Atlantic up to the Arctic, where it is exposed to a high Arctic light regime and fluctuating salinity conditions resulting from glacial and terrestrial run-off. Information on how this [...] Read more.

The seaweed Desmarestia aculeata (Phaeophyceae) is distributed in the temperate zone of the North Atlantic up to the Arctic, where it is exposed to a high Arctic light regime and fluctuating salinity conditions resulting from glacial and terrestrial run-off. Information on how this species is able to thrive under current and future Arctic conditions is scarce. During the Arctic summer of 2019, D. aculeata was collected in Kongsfjorden, Svalbard (78.9° N, 11.9° E) to investigate its physiological and biochemical responses to variations in salinity (salinities: 34, 28 and 18) and daily cycles of irradiance (50–500 μmol photons m⁻²s⁻¹) at 0 °C over 21 days. The species revealed effective short-term acclimation to both abiotic drivers. Maximal quantum yield of PSII (F_v/F_m) fluctuated with the light cycle at a salinity of 34, while the maximum relative electron transport rate (rETRmax) significantly differed between salinities of 28 and 18. Chlorophyll a and β-Carotene remained at high concentrations in all treatments showing pronounced acclimation during the experiment. High mannitol concentrations were measured throughout the experiment, while phlorotannins were high at low salinity. Hyposalinity and light are interacting drivers of the physiological and biochemical acclimation process for D. aculeata. Our experiment highlights the high ecophysiological plasticity of D. aculeata, suggesting that the species will likely be capable of withstanding future habitat changes in the Arctic. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polar Ecosystem: Response of Organisms to Changing Climate)

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23 pages, 2811 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The First Comprehensive Biodiversity Study of Culturable Fungal Communities Inhabiting Cryoconite Holes in the Werenskiold Glacier on Spitsbergen (Svalbard Archipelago, Arctic)

by Justyna Borzęcka, Jakub Suchodolski, Bartłomiej Dudek, Lena Matyaszczyk, Klaudyna Spychała and Rafał Ogórek

Biology 2022, 11(8), 1224; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology11081224 - 16 Aug 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3190

Abstract

Cryoconite holes on glacier surfaces are a source of cold-adapted microorganisms, but little is known about their fungal inhabitants. Here, we provide the first report of distinctive fungal communities in cryoconite holes in the Werenskiold Glacier on Spitsbergen (Svalbard Archipelago, Arctic). Due to [...] Read more.

Cryoconite holes on glacier surfaces are a source of cold-adapted microorganisms, but little is known about their fungal inhabitants. Here, we provide the first report of distinctive fungal communities in cryoconite holes in the Werenskiold Glacier on Spitsbergen (Svalbard Archipelago, Arctic). Due to a combination of two incubation temperatures (7 °C and 24 ± 0.5 °C) and two media during isolation (PDA, YPG), as well as classical and molecular identification approaches, we were able to identify 23 different fungi (21 species and 2 unassigned species). Most of the fungi cultured from cryoconite sediment were ascomycetous filamentous micromycetes. However, four representatives of macromycetes were also identified (Bjerkandera adusta, Holwaya mucida, Orbiliaceae sp., and Trametes versicolor). Some of the described fungi possess biotechnological potential (Aspergillus pseudoglaucus, A. sydowii, Penicillium expansum, P. velutinum, B. adusta, and T. versicolor), thus, we propose the Arctic region as a source of new strains for industrial applications. In addition, two phytopathogenic representatives were present (P. sumatraense, Botrytis cinerea), as well as one potentially harmful to humans (Cladosporium cladosporioides). To the best of our knowledge, we are the first to report the occurrence of A. pseudoglaucus, C. allicinum, C. ramotenellum, P. sumatraense, P. velutinum, P. cumulodentata, B. adusta, and T. versicolor in polar regions. In all likelihood, two unassigned fungus species (Orbiliaceae and Dothideomycetes spp.) might also be newly described in such environments. Additionally, due to experimenting with 10 sampling sites located at different latitudes, we were able to conclude that the number of fungal spores decreases as one moves down the glacier. Considering the prevalence and endangerment of glacial environments worldwide, such findings suggest their potential as reservoirs of fungal diversity, which should not be overlooked. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polar Ecosystem: Response of Organisms to Changing Climate)

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18 pages, 2912 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Benthic Biodiversity, Carbon Storage and the Potential for Increasing Negative Feedbacks on Climate Change in Shallow Waters of the Antarctic Peninsula

by Simon A. Morley, Terri A. Souster, Belinda J. Vause, Laura Gerrish, Lloyd S. Peck and David K. A. Barnes

Biology 2022, 11(2), 320; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology11020320 - 17 Feb 2022

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 4868

Abstract

The importance of cold-water blue carbon as biological carbon pumps that sequester carbon into ocean sediments is now being realised. Most polar blue carbon research to date has focussed on deep water, yet the highest productivity is in the shallows. This study measured [...] Read more.

The importance of cold-water blue carbon as biological carbon pumps that sequester carbon into ocean sediments is now being realised. Most polar blue carbon research to date has focussed on deep water, yet the highest productivity is in the shallows. This study measured the functional biodiversity and carbon standing stock accumulated by shallow-water (<25 m) benthic assemblages on both hard and soft substrata on the Antarctic Peninsula (WAP, 67° S). Soft substrata benthic assemblages (391 ± 499 t C km⁻²) contained 60% less carbon than hard substrata benthic assemblages (648 ± 909). In situ observations of substrata by SCUBA divers provided estimates of 59% hard (4700 km) and 12% soft (960 km) substrata on seasonally ice-free shores of the Antarctic Peninsula, giving an estimate of 253,000 t C at 20 m depth, with a sequestration potential of ~4500 t C year⁻¹. Currently, 54% of the shoreline is permanently ice covered and so climate-mediated ice loss along the Peninsula is predicted to more than double this carbon sink. The steep fjordic shorelines make these assemblages a globally important pathway to sequestration, acting as one of the few negative (mitigating) feedbacks to climate change. The proposed WAP marine protected area could safeguard this ecosystem service, helping to tackle the climate and biodiversity crises. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polar Ecosystem: Response of Organisms to Changing Climate)

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Review

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14 pages, 1857 KiB

Open AccessReview

Animal–Energy Relationships in a Changing Ocean: The Case of Continental Shelf Macrobenthic Communities on the Weddell Sea and the Vicinity of the Antarctic Peninsula

by Enrique Isla

Biology 2023, 12(5), 659; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology12050659 - 27 Apr 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1724

Abstract

The continental shelves of the Weddell Sea and the Antarctic Peninsula vicinity host abundant macrobenthic communities, and the persistence of which is facing serious global change threats. The current relationship among pelagic energy production, its distribution over the shelf, and macrobenthic consumption is [...] Read more.

The continental shelves of the Weddell Sea and the Antarctic Peninsula vicinity host abundant macrobenthic communities, and the persistence of which is facing serious global change threats. The current relationship among pelagic energy production, its distribution over the shelf, and macrobenthic consumption is a “clockwork” mechanism that has evolved over thousands of years. Together with biological processes such as production, consumption, reproduction, and competence, it also involves ice (e.g., sea ice, ice shelves, and icebergs), wind, and water currents, among the most important physical controls. This bio-physical machinery undergoes environmental changes that most likely will compromise the persistence of the valuable biodiversity pool that Antarctic macrobenthic communities host. Scientific evidence shows that ongoing environmental change leads to primary production increases and also suggests that, in contrast, macrobenthic biomass and the organic carbon concentration in the sediment may decrease. Warming and acidification may affect the existence of the current Weddell Sea and Antarctic Peninsula shelf macrobenthic communities earlier than other global change agents. Species with the ability to cope with warmer water may have a greater chance of persisting together with allochthonous colonizers. The Antarctic macrobenthos biodiversity pool is a valuable ecosystem service that is under serious threat, and establishing marine protected areas may not be sufficient to preserve it. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polar Ecosystem: Response of Organisms to Changing Climate)

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