Diversity and distribution of Tardigrada in Arctic cryoconite holes

Zawierucha, Krzysztof; Ostrowska, Marta; Vonnahme, Tobias R.; Devetter, Miloslav; Nawrot, A.; Lehmann, Sara; Kolicka, Małgorzata

doi:10.4081/jlimnol.2016.1453

Cited by 14 publications

(26 citation statements)

References 46 publications

(77 reference statements)

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“… They are exposed to dynamic changese.g., freezing, the flushing of sediments, inter-hole water-sediment mixing as well as variation in pollution, radionuclides and heavy metals content (e.g., Mueller et al 2001;Łokas et al 2016;Zawierucha et al 2016b).  Cryoconite holes biota form clear truncated food web -easy understanding of ecological relations in icy areas (e.g., Hodson et al 2008;Vonnahme et al 2015;Zawierucha et al 2016a).  There is evidence that they can easily disperse from glacier to glacier (abilities to settle new areas) (e.g., Dabert et al 2015;Gokul et al 2016;Shain et al 2016).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Those holes are waterfilled reservoirs with cryoconite sediment on the floor, that occurs on glacier surfaces throughout the world (Fig.1B). The development and functioning of these ecosystems is possible due to decrease in albedo on the surfaces of mineral and organic dust-covered glaciers, the presence of cryophilic microorganisms and the existence of truncated trophic webs (e.g., Takeuchi et al 2001;Hodson et al 2008;Cook et al 2015;Zawierucha et al 2015Zawierucha et al , 2016a. Cryoconite sediments on glaciers and in cryoconite holes are one of the most extremophile organisms consortia which appear on all investigated glaciers from polar to high alpine regions (e.g., Porazińska et al 2004;Hodson et al 2008;Cook et al 2015;Zawierucha et al 2016b).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Cryoconite sediments on glaciers and in cryoconite holes are one of the most extremophile organisms consortia which appear on all investigated glaciers from polar to high alpine regions (e.g., Porazińska et al 2004;Hodson et al 2008;Cook et al 2015;Zawierucha et al 2016b). To date, cryophilic organisms inhabiting glaciers (cryoconites and cryoconite holes) have been studied in different aspects: from taxonomy, ecology and biogeography, to searching of biotechnological potentials and physiological strategies to survive in cryoconite holes (e.g., Hodson et al 2008;Singh et al 2014a,b;Grzesiak et al 2015;Lutz et al 2016;Uetake et al 2016;Zawierucha et al 2016a). However, they have never been used in astrobiological experiments.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Applicability of cryoconite consortia of microorganisms and glacier-dwelling animals in astrobiological studies

Zawierucha¹,

Ostrowska²,

Kolicka³

2017

Contemporary Trends in Geoscience

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For several years it has been of interest to astrobiologists to focus on Earth's glaciers as a habitat that can be similar to glaciers on other moons and planets. Microorganisms on glaciers form consortia -cryoconite granules (cryoconites). They are granular/spherical mineral particles connected with archaea, cyanobacteria, heterotrophic bacteria, algae, fungi, and micro animals (mainly Tardigrada and Rotifera). Cryophilic organisms inhabiting glaciers have been studied in different aspects: from taxonomy, ecology and biogeography, to searching of biotechnological potentials and physiological strategies to survive in extreme glacial habitats. However, they have never been used in astrobiological experiments. The main aim of this paper is brief review of literature and supporting assumptions that cryoconite granules and microinvertebrates on glaciers, are promising models in astrobiology for looking for analogies and survival strategies in terms of icy planets and moons. So far, astrobiological research have been conducted on single strains of prokaryotes or microinvertebrates but never on a consortium of them. Due to the hypothetical similarity of glaciers on the Earth to those on other planets these cryoconites consortia of microorganisms and glacier microinvertebrates may be applied in astrobiological experiments instead of the limno-terrestrial ones used currently. Those consortia and animals have qualities to use them in such studies and they may be the key to understanding how organisms are able to survive, reproduce and remain active at low temperatures.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Applicability of cryoconite consortia of microorganisms and glacier-dwelling animals in astrobiological studies

Zawierucha¹,

Ostrowska²,

Kolicka³

2017

Contemporary Trends in Geoscience

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“…The number of ecological studies on glacier ecosystems has increased in the last decade by surveys on the distribution of organisms in cryoconite holes (e.g., Uetake et al 2010), biocryomorphological interactions (Cook et al 2015a(Cook et al , 2016, the darkening of glaciers affected by algal blooming (e.g., Lutz et al 2014), the interaction between organisms in cryoconite holes (e.g., Gokul et al 2016), and even the biotechnological potential of cryoconite hole inhabitants (Singh et al 2014). Surprisingly, data on the biggest organisms in glacial ecosystems, micro-animals, are scarce and mainly restricted to taxonomical snapshots (Dastych et al 2003;Zawierucha et al 2016a).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Snapshot of micro-animals and associated biotic and abiotic environmental variables on the edge of the south-west Greenland ice sheet

et al. 2017

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Microinvertebrates play a role as top consumers on glaciers. In this study we tested what kind of cryoconite material the animals inhabit (mud vs granules) on the edge of the Greenland ice sheet (GrIS) in the south-west. We also tested the links between the densities of micro-fauna in cryoconite material and selected biotic (algae, cyanobacteria, bacterial abundances) and abiotic (water depth, pH, ion content, radionuclides) factors. We collected 33 cryoconite samples. Tardigrada and Rotifera were found in 18 and 61% of samples, respectively. Invertebrates in this study were considerably less frequent and less abundant in comparison with High Arctic glaciers. The highest density of tardigrades and rotifers constituted 53 and 118 ind./ml, respectively. Generalized linear models showed no relationship between the densities of fauna and biotic and abiotic factors. The densities of animals were significantly higher in granules than in mud. The difference in the densities of animals between granules and mud reflects a simple mechanistic removal of invertebrates from the sediment during its erosion by flushing which leads to mud formation. These processes may influence a random distribution of micro-fauna without clear ecological interactions with biotic and abiotic variables at the edge of the GrIS.

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“…The Svalbard Archipelago is located in the European part of the Arctic and is one of the best investigated polar areas in terms of tardigrade fauna. Studies of Svalbardian tardigrades began in the late 19th century (Scourfield 1897) and have been continued by a number of researchers up to the present day (e.g., Węglarska 1965;Dastych 1985;Maucci 1996;Tumanov 2007;Zawierucha et al 2015Zawierucha et al , 2016a.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Integrative redescription of a common Arctic water bear Pilatobius recamieri (Richters, 1911)

et al. 2017

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Tardigrada are a group of microscopic metazoans that inhabit a variety of ecosystems throughout the world, including polar regions, where they are a constant element of microfauna with densities exceeding hundreds of individuals per gram of dry plant material. However, despite a long history of research and their ubiquity in tundra ecosystems, the majority of tardigrade species have limited and outdated diagnoses. One such example is Pilatobius recamieri, a common tardigrade that is widely distributed in the Arctic. The aim of this study is to redescribe this species using new material from the type locality and tools of integrative taxonomy, viz. by combining classical imaging and morphometry by light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy imaging with DNA sequencing of four markers with various mutation rates: three nuclear (18S rRNA, 28S rRNA, and ITS-2) and one mitochondrial (COI). The sequences of the three latter markers are also the first to be presented for the genus Pilatobius. This study therefore provides the first necessary step towards the verification of the geographic range of P. recamieri, which is currently assumed to be very broad. A detailed comparison of P. recamieri with Pilatobius secchii (Bertolani and Rebecchi, 1996) from Italy revealed no morphological or morphometric differences between the two species, thus we designate P. secchii as a nomen inquirendum until molecular data for the taxon become available. Finally, we propose to replace the term ''lunula'' in the superfamilies Hypsibioidea and Isohypsibioidea with the more appropriate ''pseudolunula'' to differentiate it from the true lunula in other parachelans.

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Diversity and distribution of Tardigrada in Arctic cryoconite holes

Abstract: Despite

Cited by 14 publications

References 46 publications

Applicability of cryoconite consortia of microorganisms and glacier-dwelling animals in astrobiological studies

Applicability of cryoconite consortia of microorganisms and glacier-dwelling animals in astrobiological studies

Snapshot of micro-animals and associated biotic and abiotic environmental variables on the edge of the south-west Greenland ice sheet

Integrative redescription of a common Arctic water bear Pilatobius recamieri (Richters, 1911)

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