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Removal of Exogenous Materials from the Outer Portion of Frozen Cores to Investigate the Ancient Biological Communities Harbored Inside

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Characterizing Microbial Communities in >7000- and >180,000-Year-Old Antarctic Permafrost Using a Low-Biomass

Jacob T H Anderson^1,2, Alexis J Marshall^3,4,5, Roanna Richards-Babbage^3,4

¹Department of Marine Science, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.

|August 20, 2025

Summary

Subsurface permafrost in McMurdo Dry Valleys harbors ancient microbial communities, distinct from surface life. These findings offer insights into paleoecology and potential extraterrestrial habitats.

Keywords:

Comparative microbiology—Permafrost habitat—Decontamination protocol—Low-biomass extraction—McMurdo Dry Valleys

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Area of Science:

Microbiology
Paleoecology
Astrobiology

Background:

The McMurdo Dry Valleys harbor diverse microbial communities, but subsurface permafrost microorganisms remain understudied.
Understanding these ancient microbes is crucial for paleoecological reconstruction and astrobiological research.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate microbial diversity and paleoecology within ancient permafrost habitats in McMurdo Dry Valleys.
To compare subsurface microbial communities with surface soils and assess habitability in extreme cold, arid environments.

Main Methods:

Utilized a novel decontamination protocol and low-biomass DNA extraction techniques.
Employed 16S ribosomal RNA gene amplification sequencing to analyze microbial community structure.
Investigated permafrost samples from lower Wright Valley (7,000–25,000 years old) and Pearse Valley (>180,000 years old).

Main Results:

Distinct microbial communities were identified in subsurface permafrost compared to surface soils.
Ancient and isolated microbial communities were detected in subsurface permafrost, absent in surface soils.
No microbial DNA was resolved in high-elevation Friis Hills permafrost (>6 Ma), indicating severe habitability restrictions.

Conclusions:

Subsurface permafrost in McMurdo Dry Valleys preserves ancient, isolated microbial ecosystems.
Environmental conditions during permafrost formation differed significantly from present-day surface conditions.
Extreme cold and aridity severely limit microbial habitability, necessitating alternative detection methods for low-abundance populations on Earth and potentially Mars.