Cryoconite Holes on Glaciers

Abstract

Cryoconite holes are water-filled depressions on the surface of glaciers. They contain microbial communities and may contribute to glacial wastage and biological colonization of ice-free areas.

Biocryomorphology: Integrating Microbial Processes with Ice Surface Hydrology, Topography, and Roughness

“…Following Kohshima (1987), Wharton et al (1985), Hodson et al (2008) established ice surfaces as habitats and highlighted their biogeochemical importance, catalyzing an abiotic to biotic paradigm shift in glaciology. Cryoconite holes were identified as especially biodiverse and active.…”

“…Typically, they are described as symmetrical cylinders with flat floors occupied by non-overlapping layers of cryoconite granules. Wharton et al (1985) characterized them as discrete ecosystems with "distinct boundaries, energy flow and nutrient cycling, " and more recent studies have determined microbial community structures using molecular techniques (e.g., Cameron et al, 2012;Edwards et al, 2014b). Cryoconite invariably comprises filamentous Cyanobacteria that "engineer" (Langford et al, 2010) aggregates, providing microhabitats for algae, heterotrophic bacteria, protozoa, fungi, and meiofauna.…”

Sediment Melt-Migration Dynamics in Perennial Antarctic Lake Ice

“…Lake ice sediment and glacier cryoconites (Sharp, 1949, and references therein) share similar thermodynamic processes. The depth and shape of cryoconites are an indicator of energy fluxes near the glacier surface (Gribbon, 1979;McIntyre, 1984;Wharton et al, 1985). Similarly, the location of sediment layers in perennial lake ice are an indicator of the energy fluxes Simmons et al, 1986;Wharton et al, 1993) which are relevant to the mass and energy balance of the Taylor Valley lakes (Simmons et al, 1987;Wharton et al, 1992;Barrett et al, 2008).…”

“…The numerical model follows from previous work (Gribbon, 1979;McIntyre, 1984;Wharton et al, 1985) with assumptions applicable to subsurface conditions.…”

Area, depth and elevation of cryoconite holes in the Arctic do not influence Tardigrada densities

“…Wharton et al 1983Wharton et al , 1985Mueller et al 2001). Currently these holes are considered to be extreme microecosystems (e.g.…”