Bacteria of Ice and Snow in Antarctica

Mclean, A. L.

doi:10.1038/102035a0

Cited by 47 publications

(21 citation statements)

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“…It was originally hypothesized that due to the extreme cold condition the Antarctic continent is devoid of life.To our knowledge, Erik Ekelöf (1908a, b) 1, 2 was the first to report microbial existence in Antarctica. This was later confirmed by other scientists [3][4][5][6][7][8][9] by describing microbial life found in Antarctic soil and water. Due to the development of more sophisticated techniques, molecular based approaches are currently used to determine microbial diversity in Antarctica.…”

Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 58%

Comparison of the microbial diversity and abundance between the freshwater land-locked lakes of Schirmacher Oasis, and the perennially ice-covered Lake Untersee in East Antarctica

et al. 2010

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Extreme conditions such as low temperature, dryness, and constant UV-radiation in terrestrial Antarctica are limiting factors of the survival of microbial populations. The objective of this study was to investigate the microbial diversity and enumeration between the open water lakes of Schirmacher Oasis and the permanently ice-covered Lake Untersee. The lakes in Schirmacher Oasis possessed abundant and diverse group of microorganisms compared to the Lake Untersee. Furthermore, the microbial diversity between two lakes in Schirmacher Oasis (Lake L27C and L47) was compared by culture-based molecular approach. It was determined that L27Chad a richer microbial diversity representing 5 different phyla and 7 different genera. In contrast L47 consisted of 4 different phyla and 6 different genera. The difference in microbial community could be due to the wide range of pH between L27C (pH 9.1) and L47 (pH 5.7). Most of the microbes isolated from these lakes consisted of adaptive biological pigmentation. Characterization of the microbial community found in the freshwater lakes of East Antarctica is important because it gives a further glimpse into the adaptation and survival strategies found in extreme conditions.

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Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 58%

Comparison of the microbial diversity and abundance between the freshwater land-locked lakes of Schirmacher Oasis, and the perennially ice-covered Lake Untersee in East Antarctica

et al. 2010

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“…Schleifer and Kandler (1972) have already mentioned such strains. Previous studies of Antarctic soil bacteria were mainly concerned with the occurrence and distribution of psychrophiles and contaminants introduced by man (McLean 1918;Darling and Siple 1941;Straka and Stokes 1960;Boyd et al 1966). Since then only few taxonomical investigations have been made Madden et al 1978;Johnson and Bellinoff 1981;.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Characterization of 15 selected coccal bacteria isolated from antarctic rock and soil samples from the McMurdo-Dry Valleys (South-Victoria Land)

Siebert

Hirsch

1988

Polar Biol

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Approximately 1500 cultures of microorganisms were isolated from rocks and soils of the Ross Desert (McMurdo-Dry Valleys). From these, 15 coccoid strains were chosen for more detailed investigation. They were characterized by morphological, physiological and chemotaxonomical properties. All isolates were Gram-positive, catalase-positive and nonmotile. Six strains showed red pigmentation and could be identified as members of the genera Micrococcus (M. roseus, M. agilis) or Deinococcus. In spite of their coccoid morphology, the remaining nine strains had to be associated with coryneform bacteria (Arthrobacter, Brevibacterium), because of their cell wall composition and G+C ratios. Most of the strains were psychrotrophic, but one strain was even obligately psychrophilic, with a temperature maximum below 20 degrees C. Red cocci had in vitro pH optima above 9.0 although they generally originated from acid samples. Most isolates showed a preference for sugar alcohols and organic acids, compounds which are commonly known to be released by lichens, molds and algae, the other components of the cryptoendolithic ecosystem. These properties indicate that our strains are autochthonous members of the natural Antarctic microbial population.

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“…In fact, the excretion of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) by organisms in cold environments has been shown to protect cells from freezing, and allow prolonged function across a range of temperature changes in sea ice (Ewert & Deming, 2013). EPS has been known for a long time (McLean, 1918), but its full capability as an environmental buffer in the cold has only recently been studied (Deming, 2002;Krembs et al, 2011;Ewert & Deming, 2013).…”

Section: Extremophilic Lifementioning

confidence: 99%

The habitability of planets orbiting M-dwarf stars

2016

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The prospects for the habitability of M-dwarf planets have long been debated, due to key differences between the unique stellar and planetary environments around these low-mass stars, as compared to hotter, more luminous Sunlike stars. Over the past decade, significant progress has been made by both space-and ground-based observatories to measure the likelihood of small planets to orbit in the habitable zones of M-dwarf stars. We now know that most M dwarfs are hosts to closely-packed planetary systems characterized by a paucity of Jupiter-mass planets and the presence of multiple rocky planets, with roughly a third of these rocky M-dwarf planets orbiting within the habitable zone, where they have the potential to support liquid water on their surfaces. Theoretical studies have also quantified the effect on climate and habitability of the interaction between the spectral energy distribution of M-dwarf stars and the atmospheres and surfaces of their planets. These and other recent results fill in knowledge gaps that existed at the time of the previous overview papers published nearly a decade ago by Tarter et al. (2007) and Scalo et al. (2007). In this review we provide a comprehensive picture of the current knowledge of M-dwarf planet occurrence and habitability based on work done in this area over the past decade, and summarize future directions planned in this quickly evolving field.

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Bacteria of Ice and Snow in Antarctica

Cited by 47 publications

References 1 publication

Comparison of the microbial diversity and abundance between the freshwater land-locked lakes of Schirmacher Oasis, and the perennially ice-covered Lake Untersee in East Antarctica

Comparison of the microbial diversity and abundance between the freshwater land-locked lakes of Schirmacher Oasis, and the perennially ice-covered Lake Untersee in East Antarctica

Characterization of 15 selected coccal bacteria isolated from antarctic rock and soil samples from the McMurdo-Dry Valleys (South-Victoria Land)

The habitability of planets orbiting M-dwarf stars

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