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Hassan S, Mushtaq M, Ganiee SA, Zaman M, Yaseen A, Shah AJ, Ganai BA. Microbial oases in the ice: A state-of-the-art review on cryoconite holes as diversity hotspots and their scientific connotations. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 252:118963. [PMID: 38640991 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.118963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2023] [Revised: 04/13/2024] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 04/21/2024]
Abstract
Cryoconite holes, small meltwater pools on the surface of glaciers and ice sheets, represent extremely cold ecosystems teeming with diverse microbial life. Cryoconite holes exhibit greater susceptibility to the impacts of climate change, underlining the imperative nature of investigating microbial communities as an essential module of polar and alpine ecosystem monitoring efforts. Microbes in cryoconite holes play a critical role in nutrient cycling and can produce bioactive compounds, holding promise for industrial and pharmaceutical innovation. Understanding microbial diversity in these delicate ecosystems is essential for effective conservation strategies. Therefore, this review discusses the microbial diversity in these extreme environments, aiming to unveil the complexity of their microbial communities. The current study envisages that cryoconite holes as distinctive ecosystems encompass a multitude of taxonomically diverse and functionally adaptable microorganisms that exhibit a rich microbial diversity and possess intricate ecological functions. By investigating microbial diversity and ecological functions of cryoconite holes, this study aims to contribute valuable insights into the broader field of environmental microbiology and enhance further understanding of these ecosystems. This review seeks to provide a holistic overview regarding the formation, evolution, characterization, and molecular adaptations of cryoconite holes. Furthermore, future research directions and challenges underlining the need for long-term monitoring, and ethical considerations in preserving these pristine environments are also provided. Addressing these challenges and resolutely pursuing future research directions promises to enrich our comprehension of microbial diversity within cryoconite holes, revealing the broader ecological and biogeochemical implications. The inferences derived from the present study will provide researchers, ecologists, and policymakers with a profound understanding of the significance and utility of cryoconite holes in unveiling the microbial diversity and its potential applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shahnawaz Hassan
- Department of Environmental Science, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, 190006, India.
| | - Misba Mushtaq
- Centre of Research for Development, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, 190006, India
| | - Shahid Ahmad Ganiee
- Department of Environmental Science, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, 190006, India
| | - Muzafar Zaman
- Department of Environmental Science, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, 190006, India
| | - Aarif Yaseen
- Department of Environmental Science, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, 190006, India
| | - Abdul Jalil Shah
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, 190006, India
| | - Bashir Ahmad Ganai
- Centre of Research for Development, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, 190006, India.
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Liu S, Stoof-Leichsenring KR, Harms L, Schulte L, Mischke S, Kruse S, Zhang C, Herzschuh U. Tibetan terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems collapsed with cryosphere loss inferred from sedimentary ancient metagenomics. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2024; 10:eadn8490. [PMID: 38781339 PMCID: PMC11114237 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adn8490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2024] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
Glacier and permafrost shrinkage and land-use intensification threaten mountain wildlife and affect nature conservation strategies. Here, we present paleometagenomic records of terrestrial and aquatic taxa from the southeastern Tibetan Plateau covering the last 18,000 years to help understand the complex alpine ecosystem dynamics. We infer that steppe-meadow became woodland at 14 ka (cal BP) controlled by cryosphere loss, further driving a herbivore change from wild yak to deer. These findings weaken the hypothesis of top-down control by large herbivores in the terrestrial ecosystem. We find a turnover in the aquatic communities at 14 ka, transitioning from glacier-related (blue-green) algae to abundant nonglacier-preferring picocyanobacteria, macrophytes, fish, and otters. There is no evidence for substantial effects of livestock herding in either ecosystem. Using network analysis, we assess the stress-gradient hypothesis and reveal that root hemiparasitic and cushion plants are keystone taxa. With ongoing cryosphere loss, the protection of their habitats is likely to be of conservation benefit on the Tibetan Plateau.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sisi Liu
- Polar Terrestrial Environmental Systems, Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Potsdam 14473, Germany
- Institute of Environmental Science and Geography, University of Potsdam, Potsdam 14469, Germany
| | - Kathleen R. Stoof-Leichsenring
- Polar Terrestrial Environmental Systems, Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Potsdam 14473, Germany
| | - Lars Harms
- Computing and Data Centre, Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Bremerhaven 27570, Germany
| | - Luise Schulte
- Polar Terrestrial Environmental Systems, Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Potsdam 14473, Germany
| | - Steffen Mischke
- Institute of Earth Sciences, University of Iceland, Reykjavík 102, Iceland
| | - Stefan Kruse
- Polar Terrestrial Environmental Systems, Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Potsdam 14473, Germany
| | - Chengjun Zhang
- School of Earth Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 73000, China
| | - Ulrike Herzschuh
- Polar Terrestrial Environmental Systems, Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Potsdam 14473, Germany
- Institute of Environmental Science and Geography, University of Potsdam, Potsdam 14469, Germany
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biology, University of Potsdam, Potsdam 14476, Germany
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3
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Lu Q, Liu Y, Zhao J, Yao M. Successive accumulation of biotic assemblages at a fine spatial scale along glacier-fed waters. iScience 2024; 27:109476. [PMID: 38617565 PMCID: PMC11015461 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.109476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2023] [Revised: 01/14/2024] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Glacier-fed waters create strong environmental filtering for biota, whereby different organisms may assume distinct distribution patterns. By using environmental DNA-based metabarcoding, we investigated the multi-group biodiversity distribution patterns of the Parlung No. 4 Glacier, on the Tibetan Plateau. Altogether, 642 taxa were identified from the meltwater stream and the downstream Ranwu Lake, including 125 cyanobacteria, 316 diatom, 183 invertebrate, and 18 vertebrate taxa. As the distance increased from the glacier terminus, community complexity increased via sequential occurrences of cyanobacteria, diatoms, invertebrates, and vertebrates, as well as increasing taxa numbers. The stream and lake showed different community compositions and distinct taxa. Furthermore, the correlations with environmental factors and community assembly mechanisms showed group- and habitat-specific patterns. Our results reveal the rapid spatial succession and increasing community complexity along glacial flowpaths and highlight the varying adaptivity of different organisms, while also providing insight into the ecosystem responses to global change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Lu
- School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
- Institute of Ecology, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Yongqin Liu
- Center for Pan-Third Pole Environment, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
- State Key Laboratory of Tibetan Plateau Earth System, Resources and Environment (TPESRE), Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 101408, China
| | - Jindong Zhao
- School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
- Institute of Ecology, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Meng Yao
- School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
- Institute of Ecology, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
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4
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Ren Z, Gao H. Antibiotic resistance genes in integrated surface ice, cryoconite, and glacier-fed stream in a mountain glacier in Central Asia. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2024; 184:108482. [PMID: 38324929 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2024.108482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2023] [Revised: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
Glacier ice, cryoconite, and glacier-fed streams are interconnected features that have important implications for the dynamics and distribution of abiotic and biotic materials. However, the presence and behavior of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) within these glacial environments remained largely unexplored. Addressing this gap, we hypothesized that ARGs are widely distributed and exhibit distinct yet interconnected patterns of diversity and dynamics in these glacial environments. Here, we investigated ARGs in a mountain glacier in Central Asia. A total of 944 ARGs, spanning 22 antibiotic classes, were identified, with 633 ARGs shared across all three environments. Cryoconite exhibited the highest ARG richness, followed by ice, while stream biofilm displayed the lowest value. Exploring ARG profiles, we observed a consistent pattern in terms of antibiotic class and resistance mechanism across all three environments. Beta-lactam resistance genes exhibited the highest diversity, followed by multidrug, glycopeptide, and MLS. The predominant mechanisms were antibiotic inactivation, antibiotic efflux, and target alteration. The most prevalent ARG is cls, followed by mdfA, ropB, fabI, and macB. The similarity in ARG profiles between surface ice and cryoconite samples was more pronounced than their resemblance to stream biofilm samples. The variations of ARG profiles between any pair of environments were largely contributed by turnover component. Further insights into microbial interactions revealed 2328 significant associations between 80 OTUs and 356 ARGs, indicating complex relationships. Certain OTUs, including those from the genera Polaromonas, Ferruginibacter, Hymenobacter, Phormidesmis, Novosphingobium, and Polymorphobacter, were speculated as potential hosts for a variety of ARGs. Our findings underscore the intricate dynamics of antibiotic resistance in glacial ecosystems, emphasizing the need for a holistic understanding of ARG distribution, diversity, and associations across diverse environmental compartments. This research contributes valuable insights into the potential ecological implications of antibiotic resistance dissemination in cold environments, particularly as influenced by increasing climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ze Ren
- State Key Laboratory of Lake Science and Environment, Nanjing Institute of Geography and Limnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Hongkai Gao
- Key Laboratory of Geographic Information Science (Ministry of Education), East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China.
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Souza-Kasprzyk J, Kozak L, Niedzielski P. Impacts of anthropogenic activities and glacial processes on the distribution of chemical elements in Billefjord, Svalbard, Arctic. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 909:168534. [PMID: 37977378 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.168534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Revised: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
The Arctic region is undergoing rapid and extensive transformations due to global climate change. This study investigated the spatial distribution of 31 chemical elements in eight locations in Billefjord, Svalbard, Arctic, with varying degrees of anthropogenic and glacial influences. The west coast of Billefjord has experienced a greater historical anthropogenic impact, while the east coast has larger glaciers and shows less visible evidence of direct human impact. Over 450 topsoil samples collected in the west (abandoned mining town Pyramiden, and glacial valleys of Elsa, Ferdinand, Sven) and east coast of the fjord (glacial valleys of Ebba, Pollock, Ragnar and nearby the Nordenskiöld glacier). These samples were extracted and analyzed by ICP-OES. The results revealed complex distributions of elements among the locations. Nordenskiöld glacier area, along with other locations in the eastern part of the Billefjord, had significantly higher levels of most elements (20 out of 31; As, B, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, K, Li, Mg, Mo, Sb, Se, Sn, Sr, Ti, Tl, U, V, Zr). In contrast, Ferdinand Valley and other locations on the western side of the fjord had the lowest mean concentrations of most elements (18 out of 31; B, Ca, Cu, Cd, K, Li, P, Mg, Mo, Sb, Se, Sn, Sr, Ti, Tl, U, V, Zr). These findings highlight the significant influence of glacial processes on the elemental composition of soils within the region. The meltwater flow originating from glaciers in the sampled valleys contributes to the local element load, while the loss of glacier mass is associated with decreased element concentrations within these valleys. These results underscore the complexity of element distribution in the study area and emphasize the necessity for continuous monitoring efforts in this unique and environmentally sensitive region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliana Souza-Kasprzyk
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Adam Mickiewicz University, 8 Uniwersytetu Poznańskiego Street, 61-614 Poznań, Poland
| | - Lídia Kozak
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Adam Mickiewicz University, 8 Uniwersytetu Poznańskiego Street, 61-614 Poznań, Poland
| | - Przemyslaw Niedzielski
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Adam Mickiewicz University, 8 Uniwersytetu Poznańskiego Street, 61-614 Poznań, Poland.
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6
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Souza-Kasprzyk J, Tkachenko Y, Kozak L, Niedzielski P. Chemical element distribution in Arctic soils: Assessing vertical, spatial, animal and anthropogenic influences in Elsa and Ebba Valleys, Spitsbergen, Svalbard. CHEMOSPHERE 2023; 340:139862. [PMID: 37604346 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.139862] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2023] [Revised: 08/03/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 08/23/2023]
Abstract
The Arctic region is threatened by climate change and pollution caused by human activities which potentially influence the elemental concentrations available to and from the biota. To better understand this delicate balance, it is crucial to investigate the role of several factors. Therefore, we quantified the level of 43 chemical elements in soils from Elsa and Ebba Valleys, Petunia Bay, Spitsbergen, a region that has experienced lasting environmental impacts from historical mining activities. We evaluated the a) vertical sampling influence by examining the variation in element distribution between the soil upper and deeper layers, b) animal influence by verifying the role of native animals, particularly vertebrates, in introducing thought faeces elements to the soil and c) anthropogenic influence by studying the spatial geographical differences in element distribution based on the degree of human pressure between the valleys. Our analysis also includes data on soil organic matter (SOM) and mineral composition. Both valleys exhibited similar mineralogical composition, but Elsa Valley had higher concentrations of most analyzed elements compared to Ebba Valley. Despite the contribution of vertebrate feaces, no increase in element concentrations was observed in the animal-influenced soils. The sampled soil layers had similar chemical element profiles for most elements. SOM content tended to be higher in superficial soils and showed a strong positive correlation with most quantified elements. The higher concentrations in Elsa Valley reflect its past mining and mineral exploration, making this area more significantly impacted than Ebba Valley. Surprisingly, vertebrate animals do not appear to influence the concentrations of chemical elements or organic matter in soils. Our findings provide valuable insights into the legacy of past mining activities and mechanisms driving environmental change in the Arctic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliana Souza-Kasprzyk
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Adam Mickiewicz University, Ul. Uniwersytetu Poznańskiego 8, 61-614, Poznań, Poland
| | - Yana Tkachenko
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Adam Mickiewicz University, Ul. Uniwersytetu Poznańskiego 8, 61-614, Poznań, Poland
| | - Lídia Kozak
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Adam Mickiewicz University, Ul. Uniwersytetu Poznańskiego 8, 61-614, Poznań, Poland
| | - Przemyslaw Niedzielski
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Adam Mickiewicz University, Ul. Uniwersytetu Poznańskiego 8, 61-614, Poznań, Poland.
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7
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Hattori S, Li Z, Yoshida N, Takeuchi N. Isotopic Evidence for Microbial Nitrogen Cycling in a Glacier Interior of High-Mountain Asia. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:15026-15036. [PMID: 37747413 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c04757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/26/2023]
Abstract
Glaciers are now acknowledged as an important biome globally, but biological processes in the interior of the glacier (englacial) are thought to be slow and to play only a minor role in biogeochemical cycles. In this study, we demonstrate extensive, microbially driven englacial nitrogen cycling in an Asian glacier using the stable isotopes (δ15N, δ18O, and Δ17O values) of nitrate. Apparent decreases in Δ17O values of nitrate in an 8 m shallow firn core from the accumulation area indicate that nitrifiers gradually replaced ∼80% of atmospheric nitrate with nitrate from microbial nitrification on a decadal scale. Nitrate concentrations did not increase with depth in this core, suggesting the presence of nitrate sinks by microbial assimilation and denitrification within the firn layers. The estimated englacial metabolic rate using isotopic mass balance was classified as growth metabolism, which is approximately 2 orders of magnitude more active than previously known cold-environment metabolisms. In a 56 m ice core from the interior of the ablation area, we found less nitrification but continued microbial nitrate consumption, implying that organic matter is microbially accumulated over centuries before appearing on the ablating surface. Such englacial microbial products may support supraglacial microbes, potentially promoting glacial darkening and melting. With predicted global warming and higher nitrogen loads, englacial nutrient cycling and its roles may become increasingly important in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shohei Hattori
- International Center for Isotope Effects Research (ICIER), Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
- Frontiers Science Center for Critical Earth Material Cycling, State Key Laboratory for Mineral Deposits Research, School of Earth Sciences and Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Zhongqin Li
- State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Sciences/Tien Shan Glaciological Station, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Naohiro Yoshida
- Department of Chemical Science and Engineering, School of Materials and Chemical Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Midori-ku, Yokohama 226-8502, Japan
- Earth-Life Science Institute, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Tokyo 152-8551, Japan
- National Institute of Information and Communications Technology, Tokyo 184-8795, Japan
| | - Nozomu Takeuchi
- Department of Earth Sciences, Graduate School of Science, Chiba University, Chiba 263-8522, Japan
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Wejnerowski Ł, Poniecka E, Buda J, Klimaszyk P, Piasecka A, Dziuba MK, Mugnai G, Takeuchi N, Zawierucha K. Empirical testing of cryoconite granulation: Role of cyanobacteria in the formation of key biogenic structure darkening glaciers in polar regions. JOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY 2023; 59:939-949. [PMID: 37572353 DOI: 10.1111/jpy.13372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2023] [Revised: 06/18/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/14/2023]
Abstract
Cryoconite, the dark sediment on the surface of glaciers, often aggregates into oval or irregular granules serving as biogeochemical factories. They reduce a glacier's albedo, act as biodiversity hotspots by supporting aerobic and anaerobic microbial communities, constitute one of the organic matter (OM) sources on glaciers, and are a feeder for micrometazoans. Although cryoconite granules have multiple roles on glaciers, their formation is poorly understood. Cyanobacteria are ubiquitous and abundant engineers of cryoconite hole ecosystems. This study tested whether cyanobacteria may be responsible for cryoconite granulation as a sole biotic element. Incubation of Greenlandic, Svalbard, and Scandinavian cyanobacteria in different nutrient availabilities and substrata for growth (distilled water alone and water with quartz powder, furnaced cryoconite without OM, or powdered rocks from glacial catchment) revealed that cyanobacteria bind mineral particles into granules. The structures formed in the experiment resembled those commonly observed in natural cryoconite holes: they contained numerous cyanobacterial filaments protruding from aggregated mineral particles. Moreover, all examined strains were confirmed to produce extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), which suggests that cryoconite granulation is most likely due to EPS secretion by gliding cyanobacteria. In the presence of water as the only substrate for growth, cyanobacteria formed mostly carpet-like mats. Our data empirically prove that EPS-producing oscillatorialean cyanobacteria isolated from the diverse community of cryoconite microorganisms can form granules from mineral substrate and that the presence of the mineral substrate increases the probability of the formation of these important and complex biogeochemical microstructures on glaciers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Łukasz Wejnerowski
- Department of Hydrobiology, Institute of Environmental Biology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań, Poland
| | - Ewa Poniecka
- Department of Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Jakub Buda
- Department of Animal Taxonomy and Ecology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań, Poland
| | - Piotr Klimaszyk
- Department of Water Protection, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań, Poland
| | - Agnieszka Piasecka
- Department of Gene Expression, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań, Poland
| | - Marcin Krzysztof Dziuba
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Gianmarco Mugnai
- Department of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Nozomu Takeuchi
- Department of Earth Sciences, Graduate School of Science, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Krzysztof Zawierucha
- Department of Animal Taxonomy and Ecology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań, Poland
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Owens PN, Stott TA, Blake WH, Millward GE. Legacy radionuclides in cryoconite and proglacial sediment on Orwell Glacier, Signy Island, Antarctica. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2023; 264:107206. [PMID: 37224721 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2023.107206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2023] [Revised: 05/06/2023] [Accepted: 05/10/2023] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Cryoconite is a specific type of material found on the surface of glaciers and icesheets. Samples of cryoconite were collected from the Orwell Glacier and its moraines, together with suspended sediment from the proglacial stream on Signy Island, part of the South Orkney Islands, Antarctica. The activity concentrations of certain fallout radionuclides were determined in the cryoconite, moraine and suspended sediment, in addition to particle size composition and %C and %N. For cryoconite samples (n = 5), mean activity concentrations (±1SD) of 137Cs, 210Pbun and 241Am were 13.2 ± 20.9, 66.1 ± 94.0 and 0.32 ± 0.64 Bq kg-1, respectively. Equivalent values for the moraine samples (n = 7) were 2.56 ± 2.75, 14.78 ± 12.44 and <1.0 Bq kg-1, respectively. For the composite suspended sediment sample, collected over 3 weeks in the ablation season, the values (± counting uncertainty) for 137Cs, 210Pbun and 241Am were 2.64 ± 0.88, 49.2 ± 11.9 and <1.0 Bq kg-1, respectively. Thus, fallout radionuclide activity concentrations were elevated in cryoconite relative to moraine and suspended sediment. In the case of 40K, the highest value was for the suspended sediment (1423 ± 166 Bq kg-1). The fallout radionuclides in cryoconite were 1-2 orders of magnitude greater than values in soils collected from other locations in Antarctica. This work further demonstrates that cryoconite likely scavenges fallout radionuclides (dissolved and particulate) in glacial meltwater. In the case of 40K, the greater value in suspended sediment implies a subglacial source. These results are amongst the relatively few that demonstrate the presence of fallout radionuclides in cryoconites at remote locations in the Southern Hemisphere. This work adds to the growing contention that elevated activities of fallout radionuclides, and other contaminants, in cryoconites are a global phenomenon and may be a risk to downstream terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip N Owens
- Department of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, and Quesnel River Research Centre, University of Northern British Columbia, Prince George, British Columbia, V2N4Z9, Canada.
| | - Tim A Stott
- School of Biological & Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, Liverpool John Moores University, Byrom Street Campus, Liverpool, L3 3AF, UK
| | - Will H Blake
- School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, PL4 8AA, UK
| | - Geoffrey E Millward
- School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, PL4 8AA, UK
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10
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Impact of anthropogenic contamination on glacier surface biota. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2023; 80:102900. [PMID: 36764028 DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2023.102900] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2022] [Revised: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023]
Abstract
Glaciers are ecosystems and they host active biological communities. Despite their remoteness, glaciers act as cold condensers where high precipitation rates and cold temperatures favor the deposition of pollutants. These contaminants include a broad range of substances, including legacy pollutants, but also compounds still largely used. Some of these compounds are monitored in the environment and their effects on the ecosystems are known, in contrast others can be defined as emerging pollutants since their presence and their impact on the environment are still poorly understood (e.g. microplastics, radionuclides). This review aim to provide an overview of the studies that have investigated the effects of pollutants on the supraglacial ecosystem so far. Despite the distribution of the pollutants in glacier environments has been discussed in several studies, no review paper has summarized the current knowledge on the effects of these substances on the ecological communities living in glacier ecosystems.
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11
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Pittino F, Ambrosini R, Seeger M, Azzoni RS, Diolaiuti G, Alviz Gazitua P, Franzetti A. Geographical variability of bacterial communities of cryoconite holes of Andean glaciers. Sci Rep 2023; 13:2633. [PMID: 36788266 PMCID: PMC9929092 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-24373-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2022] [Accepted: 11/14/2022] [Indexed: 02/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Cryoconite holes, ponds full of melting water with sediment on the bottom, are hotspots of biodiversity on glacier surfaces and host dynamic micro-ecosystems. They have been extensively investigated in different areas of the world (e.g., the Arctic, Antarctic, Alps, and Himalaya), but so far no study has described the bacterial communities of the glaciers in the Andes, the world's longest mountain range. In this study, we describe the bacterial communities of three small (< 2 km2) high-elevation (< 4200 m a.s.l.) glaciers of the Central Andes (Iver, East Iver and Morado glaciers) and two large (> 85 km2) glaciers of the Patagonian Andes (Exploradores and Perito Moreno glaciers) whose ablation tongues reach low altitude (< 300 m a.s.l.). Results show that the bacterial communities were generally similar to those observed in the cryoconite holes of other continents, but with few cyanobacteria (0.5% of sequences). The most abundant orders were Betaproteobacteriales, Cytophagales, Chitinophagales, Acetobacterales, Frankiales, Armatimonadales, Sphingobacteriales, Rhizobiales, Bacteroidales, Sphingomonadales, and Micrococcales. The bacterial communities differed between glaciers and both water pH and O2 concentration appeared to influence the bacterial community composition. This work thus provides the first description of the bacterial communities in cryoconite holes of South American glaciers.
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Affiliation(s)
- F. Pittino
- grid.7563.70000 0001 2174 1754Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences (DISAT), Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy ,grid.419754.a0000 0001 2259 5533WSL Swiss Federal Research Institute, Birmensdorf, Switzerland
| | - R. Ambrosini
- grid.4708.b0000 0004 1757 2822Laboratory of Glacier Ecology, Department of Environmental Science and Policy, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - M. Seeger
- grid.12148.3e0000 0001 1958 645XMolecular Microbiology and Environmental Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María, Valparaiso, Chile
| | - R. S. Azzoni
- grid.4708.b0000 0004 1757 2822Laboratory of Glacier Ecology, Department of Environmental Science and Policy, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy ,grid.4708.b0000 0004 1757 2822Department of Earth Science “Ardito Desio”, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - G. Diolaiuti
- grid.4708.b0000 0004 1757 2822Laboratory of Glacier Ecology, Department of Environmental Science and Policy, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - P. Alviz Gazitua
- grid.442234.70000 0001 2295 9069Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de los Lagos, Osorno, Chile
| | - A. Franzetti
- grid.7563.70000 0001 2174 1754Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences (DISAT), Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
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12
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Ono M, Takeuchi N, Zawierucha K. Description of a new species of Tardigrada Hypsibius nivalis sp. nov. and new phylogenetic line in Hypsibiidae from snow ecosystem in Japan. Sci Rep 2022; 12:14995. [PMID: 36056052 PMCID: PMC9440035 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-19183-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 08/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Snow ecosystems are an important component of polar and mountainous regions, influencing water regime, biogeochemical cycles and supporting snow specific taxa. Although snow is considered to be one of the most unique, and at the same time a disappearing habitat, knowledge of its taxonomic diversity is still limited. It is true especially for micrometazoans appearing in snow algae blooming areas. In this study, we used morphological and molecular approaches to identify two tardigrade species found in green snow patches of Mt. Gassan in Japan. By morphology, light (PCM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and morphometry we described Hypsibius nivalis sp. nov. which differs from other similar species by granular, polygonal sculpture on the dorsal cuticle and by the presence of cuticular bars next to the internal claws. Additionally, phylogenetic multilocus (COI, 18S rRNA, 28S rRNA) analysis of the second taxon, Hypsibius sp. identified by morphology as convergens-pallidus group, showed its affinity to the Hypsibiidae family and it is placed as a sister clade to all species in the Hypsibiinae subfamily. Our study shows that microinvertebrates associated with snow are poorly known and the assumption that snow might be inhabited by snow-requiring tardigrade taxa cannot be ruled out. Furthermore, our study contributes to the understanding subfamily Hypsibiinae showing that on its own the morphology of specimens belonging to convergens-pallidus group is insufficient in establishing a true systematic position of specimens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masato Ono
- Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Nozomu Takeuchi
- Department of Earth Sciences, Graduate School of Science, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Krzysztof Zawierucha
- Department of Animal Taxonomy and Ecology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań, Poland.
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland.
- Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic.
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13
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Łokas E, Wachniew P, Baccolo G, Gaca P, Janko K, Milton A, Buda J, Komędera K, Zawierucha K. Unveiling the extreme environmental radioactivity of cryoconite from a Norwegian glacier. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 814:152656. [PMID: 34954174 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.152656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2021] [Revised: 11/29/2021] [Accepted: 12/20/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
This study is a first survey of the occurrence of artificial (137Cs, 241Am, 207Bi, Pu isotopes) and natural (210Pb, 228Ac, 214Bi, 40K) radionuclides in Norwegian cryoconite. Cryoconite samples were collected before (12 samples) and after (5 samples) a rainfall event, after which 7 cryoconite holes dissapeared. The concentrations of radionuclides in cryoconite samples from the Blåisen Glacier are compared with data from the Arctic and Alpine glaciers. Cryoconite samples from the studied glacier had extremely high activity concentrations of 137Cs, 241Am, 207Bi and 239+240Pu (up to 25,000 Bq/kg, 58 Bq/kg, 13 Bq/kg and 131 Bq/kg, respectively) and also high concentrations of organic matter (OM), comparing to other Scandinavian and Arctic glaciers, reaching up to ~40% of total mass. The outstandingly high concentrations of 137Cs, 241Am, Pu isotopes, and 207Bi on the Blåisen Glacier are primarily related to bioaccumulation of radionuclides in organic-rich cryoconite and might be enhanced by additional transfers of contamination from the tundra by lemmings during their population peaks. The presumed influence of intense rainfall on radionuclide concentrations in the cryoconite was not confirmed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edyta Łokas
- Department of Mass Spectrometry, Institute of Nuclear Physics Polish Academy of Sciences, Kraków, Poland.
| | - Przemysław Wachniew
- Faculty of Physics and Applied Computer Science, AGH University of Science and Technology, Kraków, Poland
| | - Giovanni Baccolo
- Department of Environmental and Earth Sciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milano, Italy
| | - Paweł Gaca
- GAU-Radioanalytical Laboratories, Ocean and Earth Science, University of Southampton, National Oceanography Centre, European Way, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Karel Janko
- Laboratory of Fish Genetics, Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Libechov, Czech Republic; Department of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Science, University of Ostrava, Ostrava, Czech Republic
| | - Andrew Milton
- GAU-Radioanalytical Laboratories, Ocean and Earth Science, University of Southampton, National Oceanography Centre, European Way, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Jakub Buda
- Department of Animal Taxonomy and Ecology, Adam Mickiewicz Unversity, Poznań, Poland
| | - Kamila Komędera
- Mössbauer Spectroscopy Laboratory, Institute of Physics, Pedagogical University, Kraków, Poland
| | - Krzysztof Zawierucha
- Department of Animal Taxonomy and Ecology, Adam Mickiewicz Unversity, Poznań, Poland
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14
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Zawierucha K, Trzebny A, Buda J, Bagshaw E, Franzetti A, Dabert M, Ambrosini R. Trophic and symbiotic links between obligate-glacier water bears (Tardigrada) and cryoconite microorganisms. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0262039. [PMID: 35020747 PMCID: PMC8754347 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0262039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2021] [Accepted: 12/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Insights into biodiversity and trophic webs are important for understanding ecosystem functions. Although the surfaces of glaciers are one of the most productive and biologically diverse parts of the cryosphere, the links between top consumers, their diet and microbial communities are poorly understood. In this study, for the first time we investigated the relationships between bacteria, fungi and other microeukaryotes as they relate to tardigrades, microscopic metazoans that are top consumers in cryoconite, a biologically rich and productive biogenic sediment found on glacier surfaces. Using metabarcoding (16S rDNA for bacteria, ITS1 for fungi, and 18S rDNA for other microeukaryotes), we analyzed the microbial community structures of cryoconite and compared them with the community found in both fully fed and starved tardigrades. The community structure of each microbial group (bacteria, fungi, microeukaryotes) were similar within each host group (cryoconite, fully fed tardigrades and starved tardigrades), and differed significantly between groups, as indicated by redundancy analyses. The relative number of operational taxonomic units (ZOTUs, OTUs) and the Shannon index differed significantly between cryoconite and tardigrades. Species indicator analysis highlighted a group of microbial taxa typical of both fully fed and starved tardigrades (potential commensals), like the bacteria of the genera Staphylococcus and Stenotrophomonas, as well as a group of taxa typical of both cryoconite and fully fed tardigrades (likely part of the tardigrade diet; bacteria Flavobacterium sp., fungi Preussia sp., algae Trebouxiophyceae sp.). Tardigrades are consumers of bacteria, fungi and other microeukaryotes in cryoconite and, being hosts for diverse microbes, their presence can enrich the microbiome of glaciers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krzysztof Zawierucha
- Department of Animal Taxonomy and Ecology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań, Poland
- * E-mail:
| | - Artur Trzebny
- Molecular Biology Techniques Laboratory, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań, Poland
| | - Jakub Buda
- Department of Animal Taxonomy and Ecology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań, Poland
| | - Elizabeth Bagshaw
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Andrea Franzetti
- Earth and Environmental Sciences Department, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Miroslawa Dabert
- Molecular Biology Techniques Laboratory, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań, Poland
| | - Roberto Ambrosini
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
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15
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Buda J, Poniecka EA, Rozwalak P, Ambrosini R, Bagshaw EA, Franzetti A, Klimaszyk P, Nawrot A, Pietryka M, Richter D, Zawierucha K. Is Oxygenation Related to the Decomposition of Organic Matter in Cryoconite Holes? Ecosystems 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s10021-021-00729-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
AbstractCryoconite is a sediment occurring on glacier surfaces worldwide which reduces ice albedo and concentrates glacier surface meltwater into small reservoirs called cryoconite holes. It consists of mineral and biogenic matter, including active microorganisms. This study presents an experimental insight into the influence of sediment oxygenation on the cryoconite ability to produce and decomposition of organic matter. Samples were collected from five glaciers in the Arctic and the European mainland. Cryoconite from three glaciers was incubated in stagnant and mechanically mixed conditions to imitate inter-hole water–sediment mixing by meltwater occurring on glaciers in Northern Hemisphere, and its effect on oxygen profiles and organic matter content. Moreover, we investigated short-term changes of oxygen conditions in cryoconite from four glaciers in illuminated and dark conditions. An anaerobic zone was present or approaching zero oxygen in all illuminated cryoconite samples, varying in depth depending on the origin of cryoconite: from 1500 µm from Steindalsbreen (Scandinavian Peninsula) and Forni Glacier (The Alps) to 3100 µm from Russell Glacier and Longyearbreen (Arctic) after incubation. Organic matter content varied between glaciers from 6.11% on Longyearbreen to 16.36% on Russell Glacier. The mixed sediment from the Forni Glacier had less organic matter than stagnant, the sediment from Longyearbreen followed this trend, but the difference was not statistically significant, while the sediment from Ebenferner did not differ between groups. Our results have implications for the understanding of biogeochemical processes on glacier surfaces, the adaptation of organisms to changing physical conditions due to abrupt sediment mixing, but also on the estimation of productivity of supraglacial systems.
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