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Removal of Exogenous Materials from the Outer Portion of Frozen Cores to Investigate the Ancient Biological Communities Harbored Inside
Published on: July 3, 2016
Arctic Ocean microbial community structure before and after the 2007 record sea ice minimum
André M Comeau1, William K W Li, Jean-Éric Tremblay
1Québec-Océan, Département de Biologie, and Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes, Université Laval, Québec, Québec, Canada. andre.comeu@ibis.ulaval.ca
Plos One
|November 19, 2011
Summary
Arctic warming is altering marine microbial communities. Significant shifts in microbial life were observed in the Beaufort Sea after the 2007 sea ice minimum, indicating ecosystem sensitivity to climate change.
Area of Science:
- Marine microbial ecology
- Arctic oceanography
- Climate change impacts
Background:
- Global temperature increases profoundly impact the Arctic, evidenced by significant multiyear sea ice loss since 2007.
- Arctic marine microbial food webs are crucial for biogeochemical cycling and supporting higher trophic levels, but their response to climate change is poorly understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of climate-mediated changes on Arctic microbial communities.
- To analyze shifts in microbial DNA from the subsurface chlorophyll maximum (SCM) layer of the Beaufort Sea between 2003 and 2010.
Main Methods:
- High-throughput sequencing of microbial DNA collected from the Beaufort Sea's SCM layer (2003-2010).
- Comparison of microbial communities before and after the September 2007 sea ice minimum.
Main Results:
- The SCM layer freshened, and nitrate concentrations decreased.
- Significant differences in microbial communities across Eukarya, Archaea, and Bacteria were detected post-2007.
- Eukarya showed shifts with increased ciliates and decreased marine stramenopiles (MASTs).
- Archaea saw a decline in Marine Group I Thaumarchaeota (from 60% to <10%).
- Bacterial communities, particularly Bacteroidetes, showed reduced diversity after 2007.
Conclusions:
- Arctic microbial food webs are sensitive to physical oceanographic changes.
- The observed shifts indicate a response to climate-driven alterations in the Canadian Arctic ecosystem over the past decade.
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