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A microbial ecosystem beneath the West Antarctic ice sheet
Brent C Christner1, John C Priscu2, Amanda M Achberger1
1Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803, USA.
Nature
|August 22, 2014
Summary
Microbial ecosystems thrive in Antarctic subglacial lakes, influencing global biogeochemical cycles. These chemosynthetic environments harbor diverse bacteria and archaea, impacting ocean systems.
Area of Science:
- Geomicrobiology
- Antarctic Limnology
Background:
- Subglacial aquatic environments beneath Antarctic ice sheets are increasingly recognized as unique microbial ecosystems.
- These ecosystems may play a significant role in global biogeochemical transformations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide the first geomicrobiological description of Subglacial Lake Whillans (SLW).
- To characterize the microbial life and biogeochemistry of a subglacial Antarctic lake.
Main Methods:
- Direct sampling of water and sediments from Subglacial Lake Whillans.
- Analysis of water chemistry, including solute sources (ice melt, lithogenic weathering, seawater).
- Metabolic activity assessment (heterotrophic and autotrophic production) and microbial community analysis (SSU rRNA gene sequencing).
Main Results:
- SLW water column harbors metabolically active microorganisms, primarily bacteria and archaea.
- The ecosystem is chemosynthetically driven, with microbial life sustained by glacial meltwater and lithogenic solutes.
- Diverse microbial assemblages were identified, indicating a viable and active subglacial ecosystem.
Conclusions:
- Subglacial Antarctic aquatic environments support viable microbial ecosystems.
- These ecosystems contain globally relevant carbon and microbial pools.
- Subglacial microbes can mobilize lithospheric elements, influencing Southern Ocean geochemistry and biology.
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