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Leistenschneider C, Wu F, Primpke S, Gerdts G, Burkhardt-Holm P. Unveiling high concentrations of small microplastics (11-500 μm) in surface water samples from the southern Weddell Sea off Antarctica. Sci Total Environ 2024; 927:172124. [PMID: 38565351 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.172124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2024] [Revised: 03/27/2024] [Accepted: 03/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Recent studies have highlighted the prevalence of microplastic (MP) pollution in the global marine environment and these pollutants have been found to contaminate even remote regions, including the Southern Ocean south of the polar front. Previous studies in this region have mostly focused on MPs larger than 300 μm, potentially underestimating the extent of MP pollution. This study is the first to investigate MPs in marine surface waters south of the polar front, with a focus on small MPs 500-11 μm in size. Seventeen surface water samples were collected in the southern Weddell Sea using an in-house-designed sampling system. The analysis of the entire sample using micro-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (μFTIR) with focal plane array (FPA) detection revealed the presence of MPs in all samples, with the vast majority of the MPs detected being smaller than 300 μm (98.3 %). The mean concentration reached 43.5 (± 83.8) MPs m-3, with a wide range from 0.5 to 267.2 MPs m-3. The samples with the highest concentrations differed from the other samples in that they were collected north of the continental slope and the Antarctic Slope Current. Sea ice conditions possibly also influenced these varying concentrations. This study reports high concentrations of MPs compared to other studies in the region. It emphasizes the need to analyze small MPs, down to a size of 11 μm or even smaller, in the Antarctic Treaty Area to gain a more comprehensive understanding of MP pollution and its potential ecological impacts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clara Leistenschneider
- Man-Society-Environment Program, Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Basel, Vesalgasse 1, 4051 Basel, Switzerland; Shelf Sea System Ecology, Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Kurpromenade 201, 27498 Helgoland, Germany
| | - Fangzhu Wu
- Shelf Sea System Ecology, Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Kurpromenade 201, 27498 Helgoland, Germany
| | - Sebastian Primpke
- Shelf Sea System Ecology, Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Kurpromenade 201, 27498 Helgoland, Germany
| | - Gunnar Gerdts
- Shelf Sea System Ecology, Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Kurpromenade 201, 27498 Helgoland, Germany
| | - Patricia Burkhardt-Holm
- Man-Society-Environment Program, Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Basel, Vesalgasse 1, 4051 Basel, Switzerland
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Regney M, Kraberger S, Custer JM, Crane AE, Shero MR, Beltran RS, Kirkham AL, Van Doorslaer K, Stone AC, Goebel ME, Burns JM, Varsani A. Diverse papillomaviruses identified from Antarctic fur seals, leopard seals and Weddell seals from the Antarctic. Virology 2024; 594:110064. [PMID: 38522135 DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2024.110064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2023] [Revised: 03/09/2024] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 03/26/2024]
Abstract
Papillomaviruses (family Papillomaviridae) are non-enveloped, circular, double-stranded DNA viruses known to infect squamous and mucosal epithelial cells. In the family Papillomaviridae there are 53 genera and 133 viral species whose members infect a variety of mammalian, avian, reptilian, and fish species. Within the Antarctic context, papillomaviruses (PVs) have been identified in Adélie penguins (Pygoscelis adeliae, 2 PVs), Weddell seals (Leptonychotes weddellii, 7 PVs), and emerald notothen (Trematomus bernacchii, 1 PV) in McMurdo Sound and Ross Island in eastern Antarctica. Here we identified 13 diverse PVs from buccal swabs of Antarctic fur seals (Arctocephalus gazella, 2 PVs) and leopard seal (Hydrurga leptonyx, 3 PVs) in western Antarctica (Antarctic Peninsula), and vaginal and nasal swabs of Weddell seals (8 PVs) in McMurdo Sound. These PV genomes group into four genera representing 11 new papillomavirus types, of which five are from two Antarctic fur seals and a leopard seal and six from Weddell seals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melanie Regney
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85287, United States; The Biodesign Center for Fundamental and Applied Microbiomics, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85287, United States
| | - Simona Kraberger
- The Biodesign Center for Fundamental and Applied Microbiomics, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85287, United States; Center for Evolution and Medicine, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85287, United States
| | - Joy M Custer
- The Biodesign Center for Fundamental and Applied Microbiomics, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85287, United States; Center for Evolution and Medicine, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85287, United States
| | - Adele E Crane
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85287, United States
| | - Michelle R Shero
- Biology Department, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, 266 Woods Hole Rd, Woods Hole, MA, 02543, United States
| | - Roxanne S Beltran
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California Santa Cruz, 130 McAllister Way, Santa Cruz, CA, 95060, United States
| | - Amy L Kirkham
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Marine Mammals Management, 1011 E. Tudor Road, Anchorage, AK, 99503, United States
| | - Koenraad Van Doorslaer
- Department of Immunobiology, UA Cancer Center, The BIO5 Institute, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85724, United States
| | - Anne C Stone
- Center for Evolution and Medicine, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85287, United States; School of Human Evolution and Social Change, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85287, United States
| | - Michael E Goebel
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California-Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, United States
| | - Jennifer M Burns
- Department of Biological Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, 79409, United States
| | - Arvind Varsani
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85287, United States; The Biodesign Center for Fundamental and Applied Microbiomics, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85287, United States; Center for Evolution and Medicine, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85287, United States; Structural Biology Research Unit, Department of Integrative Biomedical Sciences, University of Cape Town, 7925 Cape Town, South Africa.
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García-Maroto D, Durán L, de Pablo Hernández MÁ. New approaches and error assessment to snow cover thickness and density using air temperature data at different heights. Sci Total Environ 2024; 926:171744. [PMID: 38518816 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171744] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2023] [Revised: 03/05/2024] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 03/24/2024]
Abstract
Snow poles are inexpensive systems composed of a wooden mast with temperature sensors affixed at varying heights with the purpose of estimating the snow depth. They are frequently utilised in cold, remote regions where the maintenance of complex monitoring instruments becomes impractical. In this study, snow cover thickness is determined using different methods, based on the thermal behaviour of air temperature measured by a snow pole on Deception Island, Antarctica. The methods are compared to high-resolution measurements of snow depth obtained using an ultrasonic sensor at the same site. A new modified method is proposed and shown to give the best results. Errors and sensitivity to chosen thresholds of the various methods have been compared. Sensitivity tests have been also conducted to evaluate the impact of missing data from some of the sensors. Finally, the insulating effect on the thermal signal produced by the snow is used to obtain information on the snowpack density. Promising results have been found from this effort, opening new possibilities for the usage of snow poles and may lead to future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diego García-Maroto
- Departamento de Física de la Tierra y Astrofísica, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid 28040, Spain; Instituto de Geociencias IGEO, CSIC-UCM, Madrid 28040, Spain
| | - Luis Durán
- Departamento de Física de la Tierra y Astrofísica, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid 28040, Spain.
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Escribano-Álvarez P, Castro MG, Pertierra LR, Olalla-Tárraga MÁ. Intra and interspecific differences in desiccation tolerance in native and alien Antarctic springtails in geothermal grounds. J Exp Zool A Ecol Integr Physiol 2024; 341:357-363. [PMID: 38318929 DOI: 10.1002/jez.2789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2023] [Revised: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 02/07/2024]
Abstract
The extreme low humidity and temperatures in Antarctica make it one of the harsher areas for life on our planet. In a global change context, environmental barriers that prevented the arrival of alien species in Antarctica are weakening. Deception Island, one of the four active volcanoes of Antarctica, is especially vulnerable to the impacts of alien species. Geothermal areas (GA) in this Island offer unique microclimatic conditions that could differentially affect native and alien soil arthropods. Here we explore the desiccation tolerance of a native (Cryptopygus antarcticus) and an alien (Proisotoma minuta) springtail (Collembola) species to these extreme environmental conditions. GA and non-geothermal areas (NGA) were selected to evaluate intra- and interspecific variation in desiccation tolerance. Populations of P. minuta from GA had greater desiccation tolerance than populations from NGA. However, desiccation tolerance of C. antarcticus did not differ between GA and NGA. This native species had greater desiccation tolerance than the alien P. minuta, but also greater body size. Our findings show that the alien P. minuta responds differently to environmental conditions than the native C. antarcticus. Furthermore, body size may influence desiccation tolerance in these two springtail species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pablo Escribano-Álvarez
- Dpto, Biología, Geología, Física y Química Inorgánica. Instituto de Cambio Global. Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Mostoles, Spain
| | - Mario G Castro
- Dpto, Biología, Geología, Física y Química Inorgánica. Instituto de Cambio Global. Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Mostoles, Spain
| | - Luis R Pertierra
- Millennium Institute Biodiversity of Antarctic and Subantarctic Ecosystems (BASE), Santiago, Chile
| | - Miguel Á Olalla-Tárraga
- Dpto, Biología, Geología, Física y Química Inorgánica. Instituto de Cambio Global. Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Mostoles, Spain
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Segawa T, Takahashi A, Kokubun N, Ishii S. Spread of antibiotic resistance genes to Antarctica by migratory birds. Sci Total Environ 2024; 923:171345. [PMID: 38447711 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2023] [Revised: 02/25/2024] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024]
Abstract
Recent studies have highlighted the presence of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in Antarctica, which are typically indicative of human activity. However, these studies have concentrated in the Antarctic Peninsula region, and relatively less is known about ARG prevalence in East Antarctica, where human activity levels are lower compared to the Antarctic Peninsula. In addition, the mechanisms of ARG transmission to Antarctica through natural or anthropogenic pathways remain unclear. In this study, we analyzed the fecal samples of Adélie penguins and South polar skuas by using high-throughput sequencing and microfluidic quantitative PCR to detect potential pathogens and ARGs at their breeding colonies near Syowa Station in East Antarctica. These results revealed the presence of several potential pathogens in the fecal matter of both bird species. However, the HF183 marker, which indicates human fecal contamination, was absent in all samples, as well as seawater sampled near the breeding colonies. This suggests that the human fecal contamination was negligible in our study area. In addition to pathogens, we found a significant number of ARGs and metal resistance genes in the feces of both Adélie penguins and South polar skuas, with higher detection rates in skuas than in penguins. To better understand how these birds acquire and transmit these genes, we analyzed the migratory patterns of Adélie penguins and South polar skuas by geolocator tracking. We found that the skuas migrate to the tropical and subtropical regions of the Indian Ocean during the austral winter. On the other hand, Adélie penguins exhibited a more localized migration pattern, mainly staying within Antarctic waters. Because the Indian Ocean is considered one of the major reservoirs of ARGs, South polar skuas might be exposed to ARGs during their winter migration and transfer these genes to Antarctica.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takahiro Segawa
- Center for Life Science Research, University of Yamanashi, Shimokato, Chuo, Yamanashi 409-3898, Japan.
| | - Akinori Takahashi
- National Institute of Polar Research, Tachikawa, Tokyo, Japan; Department of Polar Science, The Graduate University for Advanced Studies, Tachikawa, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Nobuo Kokubun
- National Institute of Polar Research, Tachikawa, Tokyo, Japan; Department of Polar Science, The Graduate University for Advanced Studies, Tachikawa, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Satoshi Ishii
- Department of Soil, Water and Climate, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, USA; BioTechnology Institute, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, USA
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McCarthy JS, Brown KE, King CK, Nielsen UN, Plaisted K, Wallace SMN, Reichman SM. Population growth of two limno-terrestrial Antarctic microinvertebrates in different aqueous soil media. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 2024:10.1007/s11356-024-32905-x. [PMID: 38676867 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-024-32905-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/10/2024] [Indexed: 04/29/2024]
Abstract
Terrestrial microinvertebrates provide important carbon and nutrient cycling roles in soil environments, particularly in Antarctica where larger macroinvertebrates are absent. The environmental preferences and ecology of rotifers and tardigrades in terrestrial environments, including in Antarctica, are not as well understood as their temperate aquatic counterparts. Developing laboratory cultures is critical to provide adequate numbers of individuals for controlled laboratory experimentation. In this study, we explore aspects of optimising laboratory culturing for two terrestrially sourced Antarctic microinvertebrates, a rotifer (Habrotrocha sp.) and a tardigrade (Acutuncus antarcticus). We tested a soil elutriate and a balanced salt solution (BSS) to determine their suitability as culturing media. Substantial population growth of rotifers and tardigrades was observed in both media, with mean rotifer population size increasing from 5 to 448 ± 95 (soil elutriate) and 274 ± 78 (BSS) individuals over 60 days and mean tardigrade population size increasing from 5 to 187 ± 65 (soil elutriate) and 138 ± 37 (BSS) over 160 days. We also tested for optimal dilution of soil elutriate in rotifer cultures, with 20-80% dilutions producing the largest population growth with the least variation in the 40% dilution after 36 days. Culturing methods developed in this study are recommended for use with Antarctica microinvertebrates and may be suitable for similar limno-terrestrial microinvertebrates from other regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordan S McCarthy
- Centre for Anthropogenic Pollution Impact and Management (CAPIM), University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
- School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Kathryn E Brown
- Environmental Stewardship Program, Australian Antarctic Division, 203 Channel Highway, Kingston, TAS, 7050, Australia
| | - Catherine K King
- Environmental Stewardship Program, Australian Antarctic Division, 203 Channel Highway, Kingston, TAS, 7050, Australia
| | - Uffe N Nielsen
- Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, NSW, 2750, Australia
| | - Katie Plaisted
- Centre for Anthropogenic Pollution Impact and Management (CAPIM), University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
- School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Stephanie M N Wallace
- Centre for Anthropogenic Pollution Impact and Management (CAPIM), University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
- School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Suzie M Reichman
- Centre for Anthropogenic Pollution Impact and Management (CAPIM), University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia.
- School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia.
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Lopes JC, Veiga VP, Seminiuk B, Santos LOF, Luiz AMC, Fernandes CA, Kinasz CT, Pellizari VH, Duarte RTD. Freezing and thawing in Antarctica: characterization of antifreeze protein (AFP) producing microorganisms isolated from King George Island, Antarctica. Braz J Microbiol 2024:10.1007/s42770-024-01345-7. [PMID: 38656427 DOI: 10.1007/s42770-024-01345-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2023] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Antarctic temperature variations and long periods of freezing shaped the evolution of microorganisms with unique survival mechanisms. These resilient organisms exhibit several adaptations for life in extreme cold. In such ecosystems, microorganisms endure the absence of liquid water and exhibit resistance to freezing by producing water-binding molecules such as antifreeze proteins (AFP). AFPs modify the ice structure, lower the freezing point, and inhibit recrystallization. The objective of this study was to select and identify microorganisms isolated from different Antarctic ecosystems based on their resistance to temperatures below 0 °C. Furthermore, the study sought to characterize these microorganisms regarding their potential antifreeze adaptive mechanisms. Samples of soil, moss, permafrost, and marine sediment were collected on King George Island, located in the South Shetland archipelago, Antarctica. Bacteria and yeasts were isolated and subjected to freezing-resistance and ice recrystallization inhibition (IR) tests. A total of 215 microorganisms were isolated, out of which 118 were molecularly identified through molecular analysis using the 16S rRNA and ITS regions. Furthermore, our study identified 24 freezing-resistant isolates, including two yeasts and 22 bacteria. A total of 131 protein extracts were subjected to the IR test, revealing 14 isolates positive for AFP production. Finally, four isolates showed both freeze-resistance and IR activity (Arthrobacter sp. BGS04, Pseudomonas sp. BGS05, Cryobacterium sp. P64, and Acinetobacter sp. M1_25C). This study emphasizes the diversity of Antarctic microorganisms with the ability to tolerate freezing conditions. These microorganisms warrant further investigation to conduct a comprehensive analysis of their antifreeze capabilities, with the goal of exploring their potential for future biotechnological applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- J C Lopes
- Laboratory of Molecular Ecology and Extremophiles, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Campus Reitor João David Ferreira Lima, s/n Trindade, 88040-900, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil
- Postgraduate Program in Biotechnology and Biosciences, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Brazil
| | - V P Veiga
- Laboratory of Molecular Ecology and Extremophiles, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Campus Reitor João David Ferreira Lima, s/n Trindade, 88040-900, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil
| | - B Seminiuk
- Laboratory of Molecular Ecology and Extremophiles, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Campus Reitor João David Ferreira Lima, s/n Trindade, 88040-900, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil
| | - L O F Santos
- Laboratory of Molecular Ecology and Extremophiles, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Campus Reitor João David Ferreira Lima, s/n Trindade, 88040-900, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil
| | - A M C Luiz
- Laboratory of Molecular Ecology and Extremophiles, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Campus Reitor João David Ferreira Lima, s/n Trindade, 88040-900, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil
- Postgraduate Program in Biotechnology and Biosciences, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Brazil
| | - C A Fernandes
- Laboratory of Molecular Ecology and Extremophiles, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Campus Reitor João David Ferreira Lima, s/n Trindade, 88040-900, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil
| | - C T Kinasz
- Laboratory of Molecular Ecology and Extremophiles, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Campus Reitor João David Ferreira Lima, s/n Trindade, 88040-900, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil
- Postgraduate Program in Biotechnology and Biosciences, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Brazil
| | - V H Pellizari
- Oceanographic Institute, Department of Biological Oceanography, University of São Paulo, 05508-120, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - R T D Duarte
- Laboratory of Molecular Ecology and Extremophiles, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Campus Reitor João David Ferreira Lima, s/n Trindade, 88040-900, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil.
- Postgraduate Program in Biotechnology and Biosciences, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Brazil.
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Gonçalves VN, Amorim SS, da Costa MC, de Assis Santos D, Convey P, Rosa LH. Pathogenic potential of an environmental Aspergillus fumigatus strain recovered from soil of Pygoscelis papua (Gentoo penguins) colony in Antarctica. Braz J Microbiol 2024:10.1007/s42770-024-01326-w. [PMID: 38649623 DOI: 10.1007/s42770-024-01326-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 03/30/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Aspergillus fumigatus is a common opportunistic pathogen in different animals, including birds such as penguins. For the first time, a fungal strain identified as A. fumigatus was isolated from soil in the nests of gentoo penguins, Pygoscelis papua, on Livingston Island, South Shetland Islands (maritime Antarctica). This isolate (A. fumigatus UFMGCB 11829) displayed a series of potentially pathogenic characteristics in vitro. We evaluated its detailed molecular taxonomy and submitted the A. fumigatus UFMGCB 11829 Antarctic strain to in vivo pathogenic modelling. The isolate was confirmed to represent A. fumigatus morphological and phylogenetic analysis showed that it was closely related to A. fumigatus sequences reported from animals, immunosuppressed humans, storage grains, plants and soils. The strain displayed the best mycelial growth and conidia production at 37 ºC; however, it was also able to grow and produce conidia at 15º, demonstrating its capability to survive and colonize penguin nest at least in the summer season in maritime Antarctica. In pathogenicity tests, healthy mice did not showed symptoms of infection; however, 50% lethality was observed in immunosuppressed mice that were inoculated with 106 and 107 spores. Lethality increased to 100% when inoculated with 108 spores. Our data highlight the potential pathogenicity of opportunistic A. fumigatus that may be present in the Antarctic, and the risks of both their further transfer within Antarctica and outwards to other continents, risks which may be exacerbated due global climatic changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vívian Nicolau Gonçalves
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, P. O. Box 486, Belo Horizonte, MG, CEP 31270-901, Brazil
| | - Soraya Sander Amorim
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, P. O. Box 486, Belo Horizonte, MG, CEP 31270-901, Brazil
| | - Marliete Carvalho da Costa
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, P. O. Box 486, Belo Horizonte, MG, CEP 31270-901, Brazil
| | - Daniel de Assis Santos
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, P. O. Box 486, Belo Horizonte, MG, CEP 31270-901, Brazil
| | - Peter Convey
- British Antarctic Survey, NERC, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB3 0ET, UK
- Department of Zoology, University of Johannesburg, Auckland Park 2006, PO Box 524, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Biodiversity of Antarctic and Sub-Antarctic Ecosystems, Santiago, Chile
| | - Luiz Henrique Rosa
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, P. O. Box 486, Belo Horizonte, MG, CEP 31270-901, Brazil.
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Olmastroni S, Simonetti S, Fattorini N, D'Amico V, Cusset F, Bustamante P, Cherel Y, Corsi I. Living in a challenging environment: Monitoring stress ecology by non-destructive methods in an Antarctic seabird. Sci Total Environ 2024; 922:171249. [PMID: 38431169 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2023] [Revised: 02/22/2024] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024]
Abstract
How Antarctic species are facing historical and new stressors remains under-surveyed and risks to wildlife are still largely unknown. Adélie penguins Pygoscelis adeliae are well-known bioindicators and sentinels of Antarctic ecosystem changes, a true canary in the coal mine. Immuno-haematological parameters have been proved to detect stress in wild animals, given their rapid physiological response that allows them tracking environmental changes and thus inferring habitat quality. Here, we investigated variation in Erythrocyte Nuclear Abnormalities (ENAs) and White Blood Cells (WBCs) in penguins from three clustered colonies in the Ross Sea, evaluating immuno-haematological parameters according to geography, breeding stage, and individual penguin characteristics such as sex, body condition and nest quality. Concentrations of mercury (Hg) and stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen (as proxies of the penguin's trophic ecology) were analysed in feathers to investigate the association between stress biomarkers and Hg contamination in Adélie penguins. Colony and breeding stage were not supported as predictors of immuno-haematological parameters. ENAs and WBCs were respectively ∼30 % and ∼20 % higher in male than in female penguins. Body condition influenced WBCs, with penguins in the best condition having a ∼22 % higher level of WBCs than those in the worst condition. Nest position affected the proportion of micronuclei (MNs), with inner-nesting penguins having more than three times the proportion of MNs than penguins nesting in peripheral positions. Heterophils:Lymphocytes (H:L) ratio was not affected by any of the above predictors. Multiple factors acting as stressors are expected to increase prominently in Antarctic wildlife in the near future, therefore extensive monitoring aimed to assess the health status of penguin populations is mandatory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Olmastroni
- Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, Via Mattioli 4, 53100 Siena, Italy.
| | - Silvia Simonetti
- Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, Via Mattioli 4, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Niccolò Fattorini
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena, Via Mattioli 4, 53100 Siena, Italy; National Biodiversity Future Center, Palermo, Italy
| | - Verónica D'Amico
- Centro para el Estudio de Sistemas Marinos (CESIMAR), (CCT Centro Nacional Patagónico -CONICET), Brown 2915, U9120ACF, Puerto Madryn, Chubut, Argentina
| | - Fanny Cusset
- Littoral, Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266 du CNRS-La Rochelle Université, 2 Rue Olympe de Gouges, 17000 La Rochelle, France; Centre d'Études Biologiques de Chizé (CEBC), UMR 7372 du CNRS-La Rochelle Université, 79360 Villiers-en-Bois, France
| | - Paco Bustamante
- Littoral, Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266 du CNRS-La Rochelle Université, 2 Rue Olympe de Gouges, 17000 La Rochelle, France
| | - Yves Cherel
- Centre d'Études Biologiques de Chizé (CEBC), UMR 7372 du CNRS-La Rochelle Université, 79360 Villiers-en-Bois, France
| | - Ilaria Corsi
- Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, Via Mattioli 4, 53100 Siena, Italy
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10
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Cebuhar JD, Negrete J, Rodríguez Pirani LS, Picone AL, Proietti M, Romano RM, Della Védova CO, Casaux R, Secchi ER, Botta S. Anthropogenic debris in three sympatric seal species of the Western Antarctic Peninsula. Sci Total Environ 2024; 922:171273. [PMID: 38408675 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2023] [Revised: 02/13/2024] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/28/2024]
Abstract
Litter pollution is a growing concern, including for Antarctica and the species that inhabit this ecosystem. In this study, we investigated the microplastic contamination in three seal species that inhabit the Western Antarctic Peninsula: crabeater (Lobodon carcinophaga), leopard (Hydrurga leptonyx) and Weddell (Leptonychotes weddellii) seals. Given the worldwide ubiquity of this type of contaminant, including the Southern Ocean, we hypothesized that the three seal species would present anthropogenic debris in their feces. We examined 29 scat samples of crabeater (n = 5), leopard (n = 13) and Weddell (n = 11) seals. The chemical composition of the items found were identified using micro-Raman and micro-FTIR spectroscopies. All the samples of the three species presented anthropic particles (frequency of occurrence - %FO - 100 %). Fibers were the predominant debris, but fragments and filaments were also present. Particles smaller than 5 mm (micro debris) were predominant in all the samples. Leopard seals ingested significantly larger micro-debris in comparison with the other seal species. The dominant color was black followed by blue and white. Micro-Raman and micro-FTIR Spectroscopies revealed the presence of different anthropogenic pigments such as reactive blue 238, Indigo 3600 and copper phthalocyanine (blue and green). Carbon black was also detected in the samples, as well as plastic polymers such as polystyrene, polyester and polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyamide, polypropylene and polyurethane These results confirm the presence of anthropogenic contamination in Antarctic seals and highlight the need for actions to mitigate the effects and reduce the contribution of debris in the Antarctic ecosystem.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julieta D Cebuhar
- Laboratório de Ecologia e Conservação da Megafauna Marinha, Instituto de Oceanografia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande-FURG, Av. Itália Km 8 s/n, Rio Grande, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Oceanografia Biológica, Instituto de Oceanografia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande-FURG, Rio Grande, Brazil.
| | - Javier Negrete
- Laboratório de Predadores Tope, Instituto Antártico Argentino, Av. 25 de Mayo 1147, Villa Lynch, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo, Calle 64 N° 3, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, La Plata 1900, Argentina; Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas Y Técnicas (CONICET), Godoy Cruz, 2290, C1425FQB, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Lucas S Rodríguez Pirani
- CEQUINOR (UNLP, CCT-CONICET La Plata, associated with CIC), Departamento de Química, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Blvd. 120 N° 1465, La Plata 1900, Argentina
| | - A Lorena Picone
- CEQUINOR (UNLP, CCT-CONICET La Plata, associated with CIC), Departamento de Química, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Blvd. 120 N° 1465, La Plata 1900, Argentina
| | - Maira Proietti
- Laboratório de Ecologia Molecular Marinha and Projeto Lixo Marinho, Instituto de Oceanografia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande-FURG, Av. Itália Km 8 s/n, Rio Grande, Brasil Rio Grande, Brazil; The Ocean Cleanup, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Rosana M Romano
- CEQUINOR (UNLP, CCT-CONICET La Plata, associated with CIC), Departamento de Química, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Blvd. 120 N° 1465, La Plata 1900, Argentina
| | - Carlos O Della Védova
- CEQUINOR (UNLP, CCT-CONICET La Plata, associated with CIC), Departamento de Química, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Blvd. 120 N° 1465, La Plata 1900, Argentina
| | - Ricardo Casaux
- Centro de Investigación Esquel de Montaña y Estepa Patagónica (CIEMEP), Roca 780, 9200 Esquel, Chubut, Argentina
| | - Eduardo R Secchi
- Laboratório de Ecologia e Conservação da Megafauna Marinha, Instituto de Oceanografia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande-FURG, Av. Itália Km 8 s/n, Rio Grande, Brazil
| | - Silvina Botta
- Laboratório de Ecologia e Conservação da Megafauna Marinha, Instituto de Oceanografia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande-FURG, Av. Itália Km 8 s/n, Rio Grande, Brazil
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11
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Xiong S, Fu J, Dong C, Pei Z, Yang R, Li Y, Zhang Q, Jiang G. Bioaccumulation and Trophodynamics of Novel Brominated Flame Retardants (NBFRs) in Marine Food Webs from the Arctic and Antarctic Regions. Environ Sci Technol 2024; 58:6804-6813. [PMID: 38512799 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c10982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
The pervasive contamination of novel brominated flame retardants (NBFRs) in remote polar ecosystems has attracted great attention in recent research. However, understanding regarding the trophic transfer behavior of NBFRs in the Arctic and Antarctic marine food webs is limited. In this study, we examined the occurrence and trophodynamics of NBFRs in polar benthic marine sediment and food webs collected from areas around the Chinese Arctic Yellow River Station (n = 57) and Antarctic Great Wall Station (n = 94). ∑7NBFR concentrations were in the range of 1.27-7.47 ng/g lipid weight (lw) and 0.09-1.56 ng/g lw in the Arctic and Antarctic marine biota, respectively, among which decabromodiphenyl ethane (DBDPE) was the predominant compound in all sample types. The biota-sediment bioaccumulation factors (g total organic carbon/g lipid) of NBFRs in the Arctic (0.85-3.40) were 4-fold higher than those in the Antarctica (0.13-0.61). Trophic magnification factors (TMFs) and their 95% confidence interval (95% CI) of individual NBFRs ranged from 0.43 (95% CI: 0.32, 0.60) to 1.32 (0.92, 1.89) and from 0.34 (0.24, 0.49) to 0.92 (0.56, 1.51) in the Arctic and Antarctic marine food webs, respectively. The TMFs of most congeners were significantly lower than 1, indicating a trophic dilution potential. This is one of the very few investigations on the trophic transfer of NBFRs in remote Arctic and Antarctic marine ecosystems, which provides a basis for exploring the ecological risks of NBFRs in polar regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siyuan Xiong
- School of Environment, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, UCAS, Hangzhou 310024, China
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Jianjie Fu
- School of Environment, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, UCAS, Hangzhou 310024, China
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Cheng Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Zhiguo Pei
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Ruiqiang Yang
- School of Environment, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, UCAS, Hangzhou 310024, China
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yingming Li
- School of Environment, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, UCAS, Hangzhou 310024, China
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Qinghua Zhang
- School of Environment, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, UCAS, Hangzhou 310024, China
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Guibin Jiang
- School of Environment, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, UCAS, Hangzhou 310024, China
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
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12
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Zhang E, Wong SY, Czechowski P, Terauds A, Ray AE, Benaud N, Chelliah DS, Wilkins D, Montgomery K, Ferrari BC. Effects of increasing soil moisture on Antarctic desert microbial ecosystems. Conserv Biol 2024:e14268. [PMID: 38622950 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.14268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2023] [Revised: 01/28/2024] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024]
Abstract
Overgeneralization and a lack of baseline data for microorganisms in high-latitude environments have restricted the understanding of the microbial response to climate change, which is needed to establish Antarctic conservation frameworks. To bridge this gap, we examined over 17,000 sequence variants of bacteria and microeukarya across the hyperarid Vestfold Hills and Windmill Islands regions of eastern Antarctica. Using an extended gradient forest model, we quantified multispecies response to variations along 79 edaphic gradients to explore the effects of change and wind-driven dispersal on community dynamics under projected warming trends. We also analyzed a second set of soil community data from the Windmill Islands to test our predictions of major environmental tipping points. Soil moisture was the most robust predictor for shaping the regional soil microbiome; the highest rates of compositional turnover occurred at 10-12% soil moisture threshold for photoautotrophs, such as Cyanobacteria, Chlorophyta, and Ochrophyta. Dust profiles revealed a high dispersal propensity for Chlamydomonas, a microalga, and higher biomass was detected at trafficked research stations. This could signal the potential for algal blooms and increased nonendemic species dispersal as human activities increase in the region. Predicted increases in moisture availability on the Windmill Islands were accompanied by high photoautotroph abundances. Abundances of rare oligotrophic taxa, such as Eremiobacterota and Candidatus Dormibacterota, which play a crucial role in atmospheric chemosynthesis, declined over time. That photosynthetic taxa increased as soil moisture increased under a warming scenario suggests the potential for competition between primary production strategies and thus a more biotically driven ecosystem should the climate become milder. Better understanding of environmental triggers will aid conservation efforts, and it is crucial that long-term monitoring of our study sites be established for the protection of Antarctic desert ecosystems. Furthermore, the successful implementation of an improved gradient forest model presents an exciting opportunity to broaden its use on microbial systems globally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eden Zhang
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Evolution and Ecology Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Sin Yin Wong
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Evolution and Ecology Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Paul Czechowski
- Helmholtz Institute for Metabolic, Obesity and Vascular Research, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Aleks Terauds
- Environmental Stewardship Program, Australian Antarctic Division, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, Kingston, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Angelique E Ray
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Nicole Benaud
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Evolution and Ecology Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Devan S Chelliah
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Evolution and Ecology Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Daniel Wilkins
- Environmental Stewardship Program, Australian Antarctic Division, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, Kingston, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Kate Montgomery
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Belinda C Ferrari
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Evolution and Ecology Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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13
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Arzac MI, Miranda-Apodaca J, de Los Ríos A, Castanyer-Mallol F, García-Plazaola JI, Fernández-Marín B. The outstanding capacity of Prasiola antarctica to thrive in contrasting harsh environments relies on the constitutive protection of thylakoids and on morphological plasticity. Plant J 2024. [PMID: 38608130 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.16742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2023] [Revised: 02/29/2024] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024]
Abstract
The determination of physiological tolerance ranges of photosynthetic species and of the biochemical mechanisms underneath are fundamental to identify target processes and metabolites that will inspire enhanced plant management and production for the future. In this context, the terrestrial green algae within the genus Prasiola represent ideal models due to their success in harsh environments (polar tundras) and their extraordinary ecological plasticity. Here we focus on the outstanding Prasiola antarctica and compare two natural populations living in very contrasting microenvironments in Antarctica: the dry sandy substrate of a beach and the rocky bed of an ephemeral freshwater stream. Specifically, we assessed their photosynthetic performance at different temperatures, reporting for the first time gnsd values in algae and changes in thylakoid metabolites in response to extreme desiccation. Stream population showed lower α-tocopherol content and thicker cell walls and thus, lower gnsd and photosynthesis. Both populations had high temperatures for optimal photosynthesis (around +20°C) and strong constitutive tolerance to freezing and desiccation. This tolerance seems to be related to the high constitutive levels of xanthophylls and of the cylindrical lipids di- and tri-galactosyldiacylglycerol in thylakoids, very likely related to the effective protection and stability of membranes. Overall, P. antarctica shows a complex battery of constitutive and plastic protective mechanisms that enable it to thrive under harsh conditions and to acclimate to very contrasting microenvironments, respectively. Some of these anatomical and biochemical adaptations may partially limit photosynthesis, but this has a great potential to rise in a context of increasing temperature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miren I Arzac
- Department of Plant Biology and Ecology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Barrio Sarriena s/n, 48940, Leioa, Spain
| | - Jon Miranda-Apodaca
- Department of Plant Biology and Ecology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Barrio Sarriena s/n, 48940, Leioa, Spain
| | - Asunción de Los Ríos
- Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (MNCN-CSIC), Serrano 115 dpdo, 28006, Madrid, Spain
| | - Francesc Castanyer-Mallol
- Research Group on Plant Biology under Mediterranean Conditions, Department of Biology, Universitat de les Illes Balears (UIB), INAGEA, Balearic Islands, Palma, Spain
| | - José I García-Plazaola
- Department of Plant Biology and Ecology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Barrio Sarriena s/n, 48940, Leioa, Spain
| | - Beatriz Fernández-Marín
- Department of Plant Biology and Ecology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Barrio Sarriena s/n, 48940, Leioa, Spain
- Department of Botany, Ecology and Plant Physiology, University of La Laguna (ULL), Canary Islands, 38200, La Laguna, Spain
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14
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Powell T, Sumner DY, Jungblut AD, Hawes I, Mackey T, Grettenberger C. Metagenome-assembled bacterial genomes from benthic microbial mats in ice-covered Lake Vanda, Antarctica. Microbiol Resour Announc 2024:e0125023. [PMID: 38587419 DOI: 10.1128/mra.01250-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 03/10/2024] [Indexed: 04/09/2024] Open
Abstract
We recovered 57 bacterial metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) from benthic microbial mat pinnacles from Lake Vanda, Antarctica. These MAGs provide access to genomes from polar environments and can assist in culturing and utilizing these Antarctic bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tyler Powell
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of California, Davis, USA
- Microbiology Graduate Group, University of California, Davis, USA
| | - Dawn Y Sumner
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of California, Davis, USA
| | - Anne D Jungblut
- Department of Sciences, The Natural History Museum, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ian Hawes
- Coastal Marine Field Station, University of Waikato, Tauranga, New Zealand
| | - Tyler Mackey
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
| | - Christen Grettenberger
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of California, Davis, USA
- Department of Environmental Toxicology, University of California, Davis, USA
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15
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Lee JR, Shaw JD, Ropert-Coudert Y, Terauds A, Chown SL. Conservation features of the terrestrial Antarctic Peninsula. Ambio 2024:10.1007/s13280-024-02009-4. [PMID: 38589654 DOI: 10.1007/s13280-024-02009-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2023] [Revised: 02/02/2024] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024]
Abstract
Conserving landscapes used by multiple stakeholder groups requires understanding of what each stakeholder values. Here we employed a semi-structured, participatory approach to identify features of value in the terrestrial Antarctic Peninsula related to biodiversity, science and tourism. Stakeholders identified 115 features, ranging from Adélie penguin colonies to sites suitable for snowshoeing tourists. We split the features into seven broad categories: science, tourism, historic, biodiversity, geographic, habitat, and intrinsic features, finding that the biodiversity category contained the most features of any one category, while science stakeholders identified the most features of any stakeholder group. Stakeholders have overlapping interests in some features, particularly for seals and seabirds, indicating that thoughtful consideration of their inclusion in future management is required. Acknowledging the importance of tourism and other social features in Antarctica and ensuring their integration into conservation planning and assessment will increase the likelihood of implementing successful environmental management strategies into the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasmine R Lee
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, 3800, Australia.
- British Antarctic Survey, NERC, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB3 0ET, UK.
- Securing Antarctica's Environmental Future, School of Biology and Environmental Science, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, 4001, Australia.
| | - Justine D Shaw
- Securing Antarctica's Environmental Future, School of Biology and Environmental Science, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, 4001, Australia
| | - Yan Ropert-Coudert
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé, UMR 7372, La Rochelle Université - CNRS, 79360, Villiers en Bois, France
| | - Aleks Terauds
- Securing Antarctica's Environmental Future, School of Biology and Environmental Science, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, 4001, Australia
- Integrated Digital East Antarctic Program, Australian Antarctic Division, Department of Climate Change, the Environment, Energy and Water, Kingston, TAS, 7050, Australia
| | - Steven L Chown
- Securing Antarctica's Environmental Future, School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, 3800, Australia
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16
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González-Aravena M, Galbán-Malagón C, Castro-Nallar E, Barriga GP, Neira V, Krüger L, Adell AD, Olivares-Pacheco J. Detection of SARS-CoV-2 in Wastewater Associated with Scientific Stations in Antarctica and Possible Risk for Wildlife. Microorganisms 2024; 12:743. [PMID: 38674687 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12040743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2024] [Revised: 03/10/2024] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Before December 2020, Antarctica had remained free of COVID-19 cases. The main concern during the pandemic was the limited health facilities available at Antarctic stations to deal with the disease as well as the potential impact of SARS-CoV-2 on Antarctic wildlife through reverse zoonosis. In December 2020, 60 cases emerged in Chilean Antarctic stations, disrupting the summer campaign with ongoing isolation needs. The SARS-CoV-2 RNA was detected in the wastewater of several scientific stations. In Antarctica, treated wastewater is discharged directly into the seawater. No studies currently address the recovery of infectious virus particles from treated wastewater, but their presence raises the risk of infecting wildlife and initiating new replication cycles. This study highlights the initial virus detection in wastewater from Antarctic stations, identifying viral RNA via RT-qPCR targeting various genomic regions. The virus's RNA was found in effluent from two wastewater plants at Maxwell Bay and O'Higgins Station on King George Island and the Antarctic Peninsula, respectively. This study explores the potential for the reverse zoonotic transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from humans to Antarctic wildlife due to the direct release of viral particles into seawater. The implications of such transmission underscore the need for continued vigilance and research.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Cristóbal Galbán-Malagón
- GEMA, Center for Genomics, Ecology & Environment, Universidad Mayor, Santiago 8580745, Chile
- Anillo en Ciencia y Tecnología Antártica POLARIX, Santiago 8370146, Chile
- Institute for Environment, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33199, USA
| | - Eduardo Castro-Nallar
- Anillo en Ciencia y Tecnología Antártica POLARIX, Santiago 8370146, Chile
- Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Talca, Campus Talca, Talca 3481118, Chile
- Centro de Ecología Integrativa, Universidad de Talca, Campus Talca, Talca 3460000, Chile
| | - Gonzalo P Barriga
- Laboratorio de Virus Emergentes, Programa de Virología, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago 8380453, Chile
| | - Víctor Neira
- Medicina Preventiva Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago 8820808, Chile
| | - Lucas Krüger
- Departamento Científico, Instituto Antártico Chileno, Punta Arenas 6200985, Chile
- Millennium Institute Biodiversity of Antarctic and Subantarctic Ecosystems (BASE), Santiago 7750000, Chile
| | - Aiko D Adell
- Escuela de Medicina Veterinaria, Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Andrés Bello, Santiago 9350841, Chile
- Millennium Initiative for Collaborative Research on Bacterial Resistance, MICROB-R, Santiago 7550000, Chile
| | - Jorge Olivares-Pacheco
- Millennium Initiative for Collaborative Research on Bacterial Resistance, MICROB-R, Santiago 7550000, Chile
- Grupo de Resistencia Antimicrobiana en Bacterias Patógenas y Ambientales, GRABPA, Instituto de Biología, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Valparaíso 2373223, Chile
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17
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Martin-Andres I, Sobrado J, Cavalcante E, Quesada A. Survival of an Antarctic cyanobacterial mat under Martian conditions. Front Microbiol 2024; 15:1350457. [PMID: 38646624 PMCID: PMC11027934 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1350457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 04/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Antarctica is one of the most outstanding analogs of Mars, and cyanobacterial mats are considered one of the most resilient biological consortia. The purpose of this study is to find out the effect of the Martian conditions on an Antarctic cyanobacterial mat. We exposed an Antarctic microbial mat to Martian conditions in a simulating chamber (MARTE) for 15 d and investigated the variations in the consortium by the use of 16S rRNA gene expression as an indicator of the biological activity. Metabarcoding using the V3-V4 regions of the 16S rRNA gene was used to determine the succession of the active members of the microbial consortium during the experiment. The results showed that the microbial mat, far from collapsing, can survive the stringent conditions in the simulating chamber. Different behaviors were displayed depending on the metabolic capabilities and physiological characteristics of every taxon. The main conclusion is that the Martian conditions did not impair growth in some of the groups, and thus, the investigated Antarctic community would be able to survive in a Martian environment at least during the short experimental period, although elements of the community were affected in different ways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene Martin-Andres
- Departamento de Biología Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Lehrstuhl für Biotechnologie, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Jesús Sobrado
- Centro de Astrobiología CAB (INTA-CSIC), Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Antonio Quesada
- Departamento de Biología Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Astrobiología CAB (INTA-CSIC), Madrid, Spain
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18
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Celis JE, Squadrone S, Berti G, Abete MC, Sandoval M, Espejo W. Distribution of rare earth elements (REEs) in the feathers of gentoo penguins (Pygoscelis papua) from different geographical locations of the Antarctic peninsula area. Sci Total Environ 2024; 919:170923. [PMID: 38354803 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.170923] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2023] [Revised: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 02/10/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
Antarctica is the most remote and coldest regions of the planet, but the presence of REEs there has received little attention. This study assessed REE-contents in the feathers of adult gentoo penguins from Ardley Island, Kopaitic Island and Base O'Higgins. Field work was accomplished during 2011 (austral summer), and determination of elements was performed with ICP-MS. In general, REE-levels showed descending relations as follows: Ce > La > Y > Nd > Sc > Pr > Gd > Sm > Dy >Er > Yb > Eu > Ho > Tb > Tm > Lu. The data showed an increase of the levels of REEs from the lower part of the feather to the tip. This finding seems to be spatially dependent, but geochemical, anthropogenic conditions, feeding habits, sex, or even health status of birds should also be considered. It is a subject that requires deeper attention in future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- José E Celis
- Department of Animal Science, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad de Concepción, Av. Vicente Méndez 595, Chillán, Chile
| | - Stefania Squadrone
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d'Aosta, via Bologna 148, 10154 Turin, Italy
| | - Giovanna Berti
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d'Aosta, via Bologna 148, 10154 Turin, Italy
| | - Maria Cesarina Abete
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d'Aosta, via Bologna 148, 10154 Turin, Italy
| | - Marco Sandoval
- Department of Soil & Natural Resources, Facultad de Agronomía, Universidad de Concepción, Av. Vicente Méndez 595, Chillán, Chile
| | - Winfred Espejo
- Department of Soil & Natural Resources, Facultad de Agronomía, Universidad de Concepción, Av. Vicente Méndez 595, Chillán, Chile.
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19
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Zhang E, Wilkins D, Crane S, Chelliah DS, van Dorst J, Abdullah K, Tribbia DZ, Hince G, Spedding T, Ferrari B. Urea amendment decouples nitrification in hydrocarbon contaminated Antarctic soil. Chemosphere 2024; 354:141665. [PMID: 38490611 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.141665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2023] [Revised: 03/05/2024] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024]
Abstract
Hydrocarbon contaminated soils resulting from human activities pose a risk to the natural environment, including in the Arctic and Antarctic. Engineered biopiles constructed at Casey Station, Antarctica, have proven to be an effective strategy for remediating hydrocarbon contaminated soils, with active ex-situ remediation resulting in significant reductions in hydrocarbons, even in the extreme Antarctic climate. However, the use of urea-based fertilisers, whilst providing a nitrogen source for bioremediation, has also altered the natural soil chemistry leading to increases in pH, ammonium and nitrite. Monitoring of the urea amended biopiles identified rising levels of nitrite to be of particular interest, which misaligns with the long term goal of reducing contaminant levels and returning soil communities to a 'healthy' state. Here, we combine amplicon sequencing, microfluidic qPCR on field samples and laboratory soil microcosms to assess the impact of persistent nitrite accumulation (up to 60 months) on nitrifier abundances observed within the Antarctic biopiles. Differential inhibition of ammonia oxidizing bacteria (AOB) and nitrite oxidizing bacteria (NOB) Nitrobacter and Nitrospira in the cold, urea treated, alkaline soils (pH 8.1) was associated with extensive nitrite accumulation (76 ± 57 mg N/kg at 60 months). When the ratio of Nitrospira:AOB dropped below ∼1:1, Nitrobacter was completely inhibited or absent from the biopiles, and nitrite accumulated. Laboratory soil microcosms (incubated at 7 °C and 15 °C for 9 weeks) reproduced the pattern of nitrite accumulation in urea fertilized soil at the lower temperature, consistent with our longer-term observations from the Antarctic biopiles, and with other temperature-controlled microcosm studies. Diammonium phosphate amended soil did not exhibit nitrite accumulation, and could be a suitable alternative biostimulant to avoid excessive nitrite build-up.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eden Zhang
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, UNSW Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia; Evolution and Ecology Research Centre, UNSW Sydney, 2052, Australia
| | - Daniel Wilkins
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, UNSW Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia; Environmental Stewardship Program, Australian Antarctic Division, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, 203 Channel Highway, Kingston, TAS, 7050, Australia
| | - Sally Crane
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, UNSW Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia; Evolution and Ecology Research Centre, UNSW Sydney, 2052, Australia
| | - Devan S Chelliah
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, UNSW Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
| | - Josie van Dorst
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, UNSW Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia; Evolution and Ecology Research Centre, UNSW Sydney, 2052, Australia
| | - Kris Abdullah
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, UNSW Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia; Evolution and Ecology Research Centre, UNSW Sydney, 2052, Australia
| | - Dana Z Tribbia
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, UNSW Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia; Evolution and Ecology Research Centre, UNSW Sydney, 2052, Australia
| | - Greg Hince
- Environmental Stewardship Program, Australian Antarctic Division, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, 203 Channel Highway, Kingston, TAS, 7050, Australia
| | - Tim Spedding
- Environmental Stewardship Program, Australian Antarctic Division, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, 203 Channel Highway, Kingston, TAS, 7050, Australia
| | - Belinda Ferrari
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, UNSW Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia; Evolution and Ecology Research Centre, UNSW Sydney, 2052, Australia.
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20
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Peng TC, Lavin P, Pedraza RO, Fierro-Vásquez N, Purcarea C, Yong ST, Wong CM. Draft genome sequence data of Antarctic Penicillium sp. strain E22, from Deception Island. Data Brief 2024; 53:110143. [PMID: 38419763 PMCID: PMC10900114 DOI: 10.1016/j.dib.2024.110143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Here, we report the draft genome sequence and assembly of the Penicillium sp. strain E22, which was isolated from Antarctic soil of Deception Island, South Shetland Islands close to the Antarctic Peninsula. The genome was sequenced using a 2 # 250 bp paired-end method by Illumina MiSeq 6000. The genome assembly was performed using softwares implemented in the Kbase web service. The phylogenetic tree of strain E22 comparing its internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region with the other Penicillium showed high genetic similarity to Penicillium griseofulvum MN545450 and Penicillium camemberti MT530220. Draf genome of Penicillium sp. strain E22 comprises 33,653 coding sequences, with a high G + C content of 48.32% and a total size of 37,484,944 bp. This draft genome assembly version has been deposited at GenBank under accession JASJUN000000000.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teoh Chui Peng
- Biotechnology Research Institute, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Jalan UMS, 88400 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
| | - Paris Lavin
- Departamento de Biotecnología, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar y Recursos Biológicos, Universidad de Antofagasta, Antofagasta 1240300, Chile
- Centro de Investigación en Inmunología y Biotecnología Biomédica de Antofagasta, (CIIBBA), Universidad de Antofagasta, Antofagasta 1240300, Chile
| | - Rómulo Oses Pedraza
- Centro Regional de Investigación y Desarrollo Sustentable de Atacama (CRIDESAT), Universidad de Atacama, Copiapó, Chile
| | - Natalia Fierro-Vásquez
- Departamento de Biotecnología, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar y Recursos Biológicos, Universidad de Antofagasta, Antofagasta 1240300, Chile
| | - Cristina Purcarea
- Institute of Biology Bucharest of the Romanian Academy, 296 Splaiul Independentei, 060031 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Sheau Ting Yong
- INEOS Oxford Institute for Antimicrobial Research, Department of Biology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Clemente M.V.L. Wong
- Biotechnology Research Institute, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Jalan UMS, 88400 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
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21
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Muñoz G, Mendieta V, Ulloa M, Agüero B, Torres CG, Kruger L, Neira V. Lack of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N1 in the South Shetland Islands in Antarctica, Early 2023. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:1008. [PMID: 38612247 PMCID: PMC11011164 DOI: 10.3390/ani14071008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2023] [Revised: 01/18/2024] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
In January 2023, an active surveillance initiative was undertaken in the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica, with the specific objective of ascertaining evidence for the presence of avian influenza, and specifically the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus subtype H5N1 (HPAIV H5N1). The investigation encompassed diverse locations, including Hanna Point (Livingston Island), Lions Rump (King George Island), and Base Escudero (King George Island), with targeted observations on marine mammals (southern elephant seals), flying birds (the kelp gull, snowy sheathbill and brown skua), and penguins (the chinstrap penguin and gentoo penguin). The study encompassed the examination of these sites for signs of mass mortality events possibly attributable to HPAIV H5N1, as well as sampling for influenza detection by means of real-time RT-PCR. Two hundred and seven (207) samples were collected, including 73 fecal samples obtained from the environment from marine mammals (predominantly feces of southern elephant seals), and 77 cloacal samples from penguins of the genus Pygoscelis (predominantly from the gentoo penguin). No evidence of mass mortality attributable to HPAIV H5N1 was observed, and all the collected samples tested negative for the presence of the virus, strongly suggesting the absence of the virus in the Antarctic territory during the specified period. This empirical evidence holds significant implications for both the ecological integrity of the region and the potential zoonotic threats, underscoring the importance of continued surveillance and monitoring in the Antarctic ecosystem.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriela Muñoz
- Departamento de Medicina Preventiva Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias y Pecuarias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago 8820808, Chile; (G.M.); (V.M.); (B.A.)
- Programa de Doctorado en Ciencias Silvoagropecuarias y Veterinarias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago 8820808, Chile
| | - Vanessa Mendieta
- Departamento de Medicina Preventiva Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias y Pecuarias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago 8820808, Chile; (G.M.); (V.M.); (B.A.)
| | - Mauricio Ulloa
- Veterinary Histology and Pathology, Institute of Animal Health and Food Safety, Veterinary School, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35001 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain;
- Servicio Nacional de Pesca y Acuicultura, Valparaíso 2340159, Chile
| | - Belén Agüero
- Departamento de Medicina Preventiva Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias y Pecuarias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago 8820808, Chile; (G.M.); (V.M.); (B.A.)
- Programa de Doctorado en Ciencias Silvoagropecuarias y Veterinarias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago 8820808, Chile
| | - Cristian G. Torres
- Departamento de Ciencias Clínicas, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias y Pecuarias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago 8820808, Chile;
| | - Lucas Kruger
- Instituto Antártico Chileno, Punta Arenas 6200000, Chile;
- Millennium Institute of Biodiversity of Antarctic and Subantarctic Ecosystems (BASE), Ñuñoa 7750000, Chile
| | - Victor Neira
- Departamento de Medicina Preventiva Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias y Pecuarias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago 8820808, Chile; (G.M.); (V.M.); (B.A.)
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22
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Handy J, Juchem D, Wang Q, Schimani K, Skibbe O, Zimmermann J, Karsten U, Herburger K. Antarctic benthic diatoms after 10 months of dark exposure: consequences for photosynthesis and cellular integrity. Front Plant Sci 2024; 15:1326375. [PMID: 38584953 PMCID: PMC10995292 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2024.1326375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2023] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/09/2024]
Abstract
Antarctic algae are exposed to prolonged periods of extreme darkness due to polar night, and coverage by ice and snow can extend such dark conditions to up to 10 months. A major group of microalgae in benthic habitats of Antarctica are diatoms, which are key primary producers in these regions. However, the effects of extremely prolonged dark exposure on their photosynthesis, cellular ultrastructure, and cell integrity remain unknown. Here we show that five strains of Antarctic benthic diatoms exhibit an active photosynthetic apparatus despite 10 months of dark-exposure. This was shown by a steady effective quantum yield of photosystem II (Y[II]) upon light exposure for up to 2.5 months, suggesting that Antarctic diatoms do not rely on metabolically inactive resting cells to survive prolonged darkness. While limnic strains performed better than their marine counterparts, Y(II) recovery to values commonly observed in diatoms occurred after 4-5 months of light exposure in all strains, suggesting long recovering times. Dark exposure for 10 months dramatically reduced the chloroplast ultrastructure, thylakoid stacking, and led to a higher proportion of cells with compromised membranes than in light-adapted cells. However, photosynthetic oxygen production was readily measurable after darkness and strong photoinhibition only occurred at high light levels (>800 µmol photons m-2 s-1). Our data suggest that Antarctic benthic diatoms are well adapted to long dark periods. However, prolonged darkness for several months followed by only few months of light and another dark period may prevent them to regain their full photosynthetic potential due to long recovery times, which might compromise long-term population survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob Handy
- Cell Biology of Phototrophic Marine Organisms, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany
| | - Desirée Juchem
- Applied Ecology and Phycology, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany
| | - Qian Wang
- Cell Biology of Phototrophic Marine Organisms, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany
| | - Katherina Schimani
- Botanischer Garten und Botanisches Museum Berlin, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Oliver Skibbe
- Botanischer Garten und Botanisches Museum Berlin, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jonas Zimmermann
- Botanischer Garten und Botanisches Museum Berlin, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ulf Karsten
- Applied Ecology and Phycology, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany
| | - Klaus Herburger
- Cell Biology of Phototrophic Marine Organisms, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany
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23
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Coleine C, Albanese D, Ray AE, Delgado-Baquerizo M, Stajich JE, Williams TJ, Larsen S, Tringe S, Pennacchio C, Ferrari BC, Donati C, Selbmann L. Metagenomics untangles potential adaptations of Antarctic endolithic bacteria at the fringe of habitability. Sci Total Environ 2024; 917:170290. [PMID: 38244622 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.170290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2023] [Revised: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 01/22/2024]
Abstract
Survival and growth strategies of Antarctic endolithic microbes residing in Earth's driest and coldest desert remain virtually unknown. From 109 endolithic microbiomes, 4539 metagenome-assembled genomes were generated, 49.3 % of which were novel candidate bacterial species. We present evidence that trace gas oxidation and atmospheric chemosynthesis may be the prevalent strategies supporting metabolic activity and persistence of these ecosystems at the fringe of life and the limits of habitability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Coleine
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, Largo dell'Università, 01100 Viterbo, Italy.
| | - Davide Albanese
- Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach, Via E. Mach 1, 38098 San Michele all'Adige, Italy
| | - Angelique E Ray
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, UNSW Sydney, Randwick, New South Wales 2052, Australia
| | - Manuel Delgado-Baquerizo
- Laboratorio de Biodiversidad y Funcionamiento Ecosistémico, Instituto de Recursos Naturales y Agrobiología de Sevilla (IRNAS), CSIC, Av. Reina Mercedes 10, E-41012 Sevilla, Spain; Unidad Asociada CSIC-UPO (BioFun), Universidad Pablo de Olavide, 41013 Sevilla, Spain
| | - Jason E Stajich
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology and Institute of Integrative Genome Biology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA 92507, USA; Institute for Integrative Genome Biology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, USA
| | - Timothy J Williams
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, UNSW Sydney, Randwick, New South Wales 2052, Australia
| | - Stefano Larsen
- Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach, Via E. Mach 1, 38098 San Michele all'Adige, Italy
| | - Susannah Tringe
- Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, One Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Christa Pennacchio
- Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, One Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Belinda C Ferrari
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, UNSW Sydney, Randwick, New South Wales 2052, Australia
| | - Claudio Donati
- Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach, Via E. Mach 1, 38098 San Michele all'Adige, Italy.
| | - Laura Selbmann
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, Largo dell'Università, 01100 Viterbo, Italy; Mycological Section, Italian Antarctic National Museum (MNA), Via al Porto Antico, 16128 Genoa, Italy
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24
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Williams TJ, Allen MA, Ray AE, Benaud N, Chelliah DS, Albanese D, Donati C, Selbmann L, Coleine C, Ferrari BC. Novel endolithic bacteria of phylum Chloroflexota reveal a myriad of potential survival strategies in the Antarctic desert. Appl Environ Microbiol 2024; 90:e0226423. [PMID: 38372512 PMCID: PMC10952385 DOI: 10.1128/aem.02264-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/20/2024] Open
Abstract
The ice-free McMurdo Dry Valleys of Antarctica are dominated by nutrient-poor mineral soil and rocky outcrops. The principal habitat for microorganisms is within rocks (endolithic). In this environment, microorganisms are provided with protection against sub-zero temperatures, rapid thermal fluctuations, extreme dryness, and ultraviolet and solar radiation. Endolithic communities include lichen, algae, fungi, and a diverse array of bacteria. Chloroflexota is among the most abundant bacterial phyla present in these communities. Among the Chloroflexota are four novel classes of bacteria, here named Candidatus Spiritibacteria class. nov. (=UBA5177), Candidatus Martimicrobia class. nov. (=UBA4733), Candidatus Tarhunnaeia class. nov. (=UBA6077), and Candidatus Uliximicrobia class. nov. (=UBA2235). We retrieved 17 high-quality metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) that represent these four classes. Based on genome predictions, all these bacteria are inferred to be aerobic heterotrophs that encode enzymes for the catabolism of diverse sugars. These and other organic substrates are likely derived from lichen, algae, and fungi, as metabolites (including photosynthate), cell wall components, and extracellular matrix components. The majority of MAGs encode the capacity for trace gas oxidation using high-affinity uptake hydrogenases, which could provide energy and metabolic water required for survival and persistence. Furthermore, some MAGs encode the capacity to couple the energy generated from H2 and CO oxidation to support carbon fixation (atmospheric chemosynthesis). All encode mechanisms for the detoxification and efflux of heavy metals. Certain MAGs encode features that indicate possible interactions with other organisms, such as Tc-type toxin complexes, hemolysins, and macroglobulins.IMPORTANCEThe ice-free McMurdo Dry Valleys of Antarctica are the coldest and most hyperarid desert on Earth. It is, therefore, the closest analog to the surface of the planet Mars. Bacteria and other microorganisms survive by inhabiting airspaces within rocks (endolithic). We identify four novel classes of phylum Chloroflexota, and, based on interrogation of 17 metagenome-assembled genomes, we predict specific metabolic and physiological adaptations that facilitate the survival of these bacteria in this harsh environment-including oxidation of trace gases and the utilization of nutrients (including sugars) derived from lichen, algae, and fungi. We propose that such adaptations allow these endolithic bacteria to eke out an existence in this cold and extremely dry habitat.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy J. Williams
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Michelle A. Allen
- School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Angelique E. Ray
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Nicole Benaud
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Devan S. Chelliah
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Davide Albanese
- Research and Innovation Center, Fondazione Edmund Mach, San Michele all’Adige, Italy
| | - Claudio Donati
- Research and Innovation Center, Fondazione Edmund Mach, San Michele all’Adige, Italy
| | - Laura Selbmann
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, Largo dell’Università, Viterbo, Italy
- Mycological Section, Italian Antarctic National Museum (MNA), Genova, Italy
| | - Claudia Coleine
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, Largo dell’Università, Viterbo, Italy
| | - Belinda C. Ferrari
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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25
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Moreno-Pino M, Manrique-de-la-Cuba MF, López-Rodríguez M, Parada-Pozo G, Rodríguez-Marconi S, Ribeiro CG, Flores-Herrera P, Guajardo M, Trefault N. Unveiling microbial guilds and symbiotic relationships in Antarctic sponge microbiomes. Sci Rep 2024; 14:6371. [PMID: 38493232 PMCID: PMC10944490 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-56480-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Marine sponges host diverse microbial communities. Although we know many of its ecological patterns, a deeper understanding of the polar sponge holobiont is still needed. We combine high-throughput sequencing of ribosomal genes, including the largest taxonomic repertoire of Antarctic sponge species analyzed to date, functional metagenomics, and metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs). Our findings show that sponges harbor more exclusive bacterial and archaeal communities than seawater, while microbial eukaryotes are mostly shared. Furthermore, bacteria in Antarctic sponge holobionts establish more cooperative interactions than in sponge holobionts from other environments. The bacterial classes that established more positive relations were Bacteroidia, Gamma- and Alphaproteobacteria. Antarctic sponge microbiomes contain microbial guilds that encompass ammonia-oxidizing archaea, ammonia-oxidizing bacteria, nitrite-oxidizing bacteria, and sulfur-oxidizing bacteria. The retrieved MAGs showed a high level of novelty and streamlining signals and belong to the most abundant members of the main microbial guilds in the Antarctic sponge holobiont. Moreover, the genomes of these symbiotic bacteria contain highly abundant functions related to their adaptation to the cold environment, vitamin production, and symbiotic lifestyle, helping the holobiont survive in this extreme environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario Moreno-Pino
- GEMA Center for Genomics, Ecology & Environment, Universidad Mayor, 8580745, Santiago, Chile
- Departamento de Genética Molecular y Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | | | | | - Génesis Parada-Pozo
- GEMA Center for Genomics, Ecology & Environment, Universidad Mayor, 8580745, Santiago, Chile
- Millenium Nucleus in Marine Agronomy of Seaweed Holobionts (MASH), Puerto Montt, Chile
| | | | | | - Patricio Flores-Herrera
- GEMA Center for Genomics, Ecology & Environment, Universidad Mayor, 8580745, Santiago, Chile
| | - Mariela Guajardo
- GEMA Center for Genomics, Ecology & Environment, Universidad Mayor, 8580745, Santiago, Chile
| | - Nicole Trefault
- GEMA Center for Genomics, Ecology & Environment, Universidad Mayor, 8580745, Santiago, Chile.
- Millenium Nucleus in Marine Agronomy of Seaweed Holobionts (MASH), Puerto Montt, Chile.
- FONDAP Center IDEAL- Dynamics of High Latitude Marine Ecosystem, Valdivia, Chile.
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26
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Gutiérrez J, González-Acuña D, Fuentes-Castillo D, Fierro K, Hernández C, Zapata L, Verdugo C. Antibiotic resistance in wildlife from Antarctic Peninsula. Sci Total Environ 2024; 916:170340. [PMID: 38278249 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.170340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2023] [Revised: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 01/28/2024]
Abstract
Although considered one of the most pristine ecosystems, Antarctica has been largely influenced by human activities during the last 50 years, affecting its unique biodiversity. One of the major global threats to health is the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria that may be actively transferred to wildlife. We cultured and tested for antibiotic resistance in 137 cloacal and fresh fecal samples of several avian and marine mammal species from the Antarctic Peninsula, the most impacted area in Antarctica. Alarmingly, 80 % of the isolates showed antibiotic resistance, either phenotypically or genotypically. Most of the resistant bacteria, such as Enterobacteriaceae and Enterococcus species, are part of local gastrointestinal microbiota. Penguins and pinnipeds harbored a great diversity of antibiotic resistance and must be eligible as sentinels for future studies. These results show that antibiotic resistance has rapidly transferred to bacteria in Antarctic wildlife, which is a global matter of concern.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josefina Gutiérrez
- Instituto de Patología Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile; Center of Surveillance and Evolution of Infectious Diseases, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
| | | | - Danny Fuentes-Castillo
- Departamento de Patología y Medicina Preventiva, Universidad de Concepción, Chillán, Chile
| | - Karina Fierro
- Instituto de Patología Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
| | - Carlos Hernández
- Instituto de Patología Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
| | - Loreto Zapata
- Instituto de Patología Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
| | - Claudio Verdugo
- Instituto de Patología Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile; Center of Surveillance and Evolution of Infectious Diseases, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile.
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Wu G, Hu Y, Gong C, Wang D, Zhang F, Herath IK, Chen Z, Shi G. Spatial distribution, sources, and direct radiative effect of carbonaceous aerosol along a transect from the Arctic Ocean to Antarctica. Sci Total Environ 2024; 916:170136. [PMID: 38242463 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.170136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2023] [Revised: 12/25/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 01/21/2024]
Abstract
Carbonaceous aerosols (CA) have a high impact on air quality and climate. However, the composition and spatial variability of CA in the marine boundary layer (MBL) remain understudied, especially in the remote regions. Here, atmospheric organic carbon (OC) and elemental carbon (EC) measurements using DRI Model 2001 Thermal/Optical Carbon Analyzer in the MBL were performed during the Chinese Antarctic (2019-2020) and Arctic (2021) research expedition, spanning about 160 latitudes. Due to varying intensities of atmospheric transport from the continents, a significant latitudinal gradient in OC and EC was observed. OC exhibited the highest concentration over the coastal East Asia (CEA), with a mean of 4324 ng m-3 (358-18027 ng m-3), followed by the Arctic Ocean (AO). Similar OC levels were detected over the Southern Ocean (SO) and the Antarctic Ice Sheet (AIS). Similarly, the highest EC was also observed over CEA, with a mean of 867 ng m-3 (71-3410 ng m-3), followed by AO and SO, while the lowest EC appeared over the AIS, with a mean of 30 ng m-3 (2-70 ng m-3). The lower Char-EC/Soot-EC ratios over AO and CEA compared to SO and AIS indicated that fossil fuel combustion contributed more to EC over AO and CEA, while biomass burning played a more significant role in EC levels over SO and AIS. The high OC/EC ratio over AIS was associated with an extremely low EC level and the formation of secondary OC over AIS. SBDART model results suggested that EC had a net warming effect on the atmospheric column, with the highest direct radiative effects (DRE) over AO (5.50 ± 0.15 W m-2, corresponding a heating rate of 0.15 K day-1) and the lowest DRE over SO (1.35 ± 0.04 W m-2, corresponding a heating rate of 0.04 K day-1).
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Affiliation(s)
- Guangmei Wu
- Key Laboratory of Geographic Information Science, School of Geographic Sciences and State Key Lab of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Ye Hu
- Key Laboratory of Geographic Information Science, School of Geographic Sciences and State Key Lab of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Chongshui Gong
- Institute of Arid Meteorology, China Meteorological Administration, Lanzhou 730020, China
| | - Danhe Wang
- Key Laboratory of Geographic Information Science, School of Geographic Sciences and State Key Lab of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Fan Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Geographic Information Science, School of Geographic Sciences and State Key Lab of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Imali Kaushalya Herath
- Key Laboratory of Geographic Information Science, School of Geographic Sciences and State Key Lab of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Zhenlou Chen
- Key Laboratory of Geographic Information Science, School of Geographic Sciences and State Key Lab of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Guitao Shi
- Key Laboratory of Geographic Information Science, School of Geographic Sciences and State Key Lab of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China; Key Laboratory of Spatial-temporal Big Data Analysis and Application of Natural Resources in Megacities, Ministry of Natural Resources, Shanghai, China.
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LaRue M, Iles D, Labrousse S, Fretwell P, Ortega D, Devane E, Horstmann I, Viollat L, Foster-Dyer R, Le Bohec C, Zitterbart D, Houstin A, Richter S, Winterl A, Wienecke B, Salas L, Nixon M, Barbraud C, Kooyman G, Ponganis P, Ainley D, Trathan P, Jenouvrier S. Advances in remote sensing of emperor penguins: first multi-year time series documenting trends in the global population. Proc Biol Sci 2024; 291:20232067. [PMID: 38471550 PMCID: PMC10932703 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2023.2067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Like many polar animals, emperor penguin populations are challenging to monitor because of the species' life history and remoteness. Consequently, it has been difficult to establish its global status, a subject important to resolve as polar environments change. To advance our understanding of emperor penguins, we combined remote sensing, validation surveys and using Bayesian modelling, we estimated a comprehensive population trajectory over a recent 10-year period, encompassing the entirety of the species' range. Reported as indices of abundance, our study indicates with 81% probability that there were fewer adult emperor penguins in 2018 than in 2009, with a posterior median decrease of 9.6% (95% credible interval (CI) -26.4% to +9.4%). The global population trend was -1.3% per year over this period (95% CI = -3.3% to +1.0%) and declines probably occurred in four of eight fast ice regions, irrespective of habitat conditions. Thus far, explanations have yet to be identified regarding trends, especially as we observed an apparent population uptick toward the end of time series. Our work potentially establishes a framework for monitoring other Antarctic coastal species detectable by satellite, while promoting a need for research to better understand factors driving biotic changes in the Southern Ocean ecosystem.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle LaRue
- Department of Earth and Environmental Science, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- School of Earth and Environment, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - David Iles
- Canadian Wildlife Service, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Ottawa, Canada
- Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA, USA
| | - Sara Labrousse
- Department of Earth and Environmental Science, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA, USA
- Sorbonne Université, LOCEAN-IPSL, UMR 7159, 75005, Paris, France
| | | | - David Ortega
- Department of Earth and Environmental Science, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Eileen Devane
- Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA, USA
| | | | - Lise Viollat
- Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA, USA
| | - Rose Foster-Dyer
- School of Earth and Environment, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Céline Le Bohec
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université de Strasbourg, IPHC UMR 7178, Strasbourg, France
- Département de Biologie Polaire, Centre Scientifique de Monaco, Monaco City, Monaco
| | - Daniel Zitterbart
- Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA, USA
- Department of Physics, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Aymeric Houstin
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université de Strasbourg, IPHC UMR 7178, Strasbourg, France
- Département de Biologie Polaire, Centre Scientifique de Monaco, Monaco City, Monaco
- Department of Physics, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Sebastian Richter
- Department of Physics, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Alexander Winterl
- Department of Physics, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Barbara Wienecke
- Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, Australian Antarctic Division, Hobart, Australia
| | - Leo Salas
- Point Blue Conservation Science, Petaluma, CA, USA
| | - Monique Nixon
- School of Earth and Environment, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Christophe Barbraud
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé, UMR7372 Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique – La Rochelle Université, 79360 Villiers en Bois, France
| | | | - Paul Ponganis
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | | | - Philip Trathan
- British Antarctic Survey, Cambridge, UK
- Ocean and Earth Science, National Oceanography Centre, University of Southampton, University Road, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK
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Duffy GA, Montiel F, Purich A, Fraser CI. Emerging long-term trends and interdecadal cycles in Antarctic polynyas. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2321595121. [PMID: 38437551 PMCID: PMC10945784 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2321595121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2023] [Accepted: 01/28/2024] [Indexed: 03/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Polynyas, areas of open water embedded within sea ice, are a key component of ocean-atmosphere interactions that act as hotspots of sea-ice production, bottom-water formation, and primary productivity. The specific drivers of polynya dynamics remain, however, elusive and coupled climate models struggle to replicate Antarctic polynya activity. Here, we leverage a 44-y time series of Antarctic sea ice to elucidate long-term trends. We identify Antarctic-wide linear increases and a hitherto undescribed cyclical pattern of polynya activity across the Ross Sea region that potentially arises from interactions between the Amundsen Sea Low and Southern Annular Mode. While their specific drivers remain unknown, identifying these emerging patterns augments our capacity to understand the processes that influence sea ice. As we enter a potentially new age of Antarctic sea ice, this advance in understanding will, in turn, lead to more accurate predictions of environmental change, and its implications for Antarctic ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grant A. Duffy
- Department of Marine Science, University of Otago, Dunedin9054, New Zealand
| | - Fabien Montiel
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Otago, Dunedin9054, New Zealand
| | - Ariaan Purich
- School of Earth, Atmosphere and Environment, and Australian Research Council Special Research Initiative for Securing Antarctica’s Environmental Future, Monash University, Clayton, Kulin Nations, VIC3800, Australia
| | - Ceridwen I. Fraser
- Department of Marine Science, University of Otago, Dunedin9054, New Zealand
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Clark RW, Wellner JS, Hillenbrand CD, Totten RL, Smith JA, Miller LE, Larter RD, Hogan KA, Graham AGC, Nitsche FO, Lehrmann AA, Lepp AP, Kirkham JD, Fitzgerald VT, Garcia-Barrera G, Ehrmann W, Wacker L. Synchronous retreat of Thwaites and Pine Island glaciers in response to external forcings in the presatellite era. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2211711120. [PMID: 38408214 PMCID: PMC10945778 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2211711120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2022] [Accepted: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 02/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Today, relatively warm Circumpolar Deep Water is melting Thwaites Glacier at the base of its ice shelf and at the grounding zone, contributing to significant ice retreat. Accelerating ice loss has been observed since the 1970s; however, it is unclear when this phase of significant melting initiated. We analyzed the marine sedimentary record to reconstruct Thwaites Glacier's history from the early Holocene to present. Marine geophysical surveys were carried out along the floating ice-shelf margin to identify core locations from various geomorphic settings. We use sedimentological data and physical properties to define sedimentary facies at seven core sites. Glaciomarine sediment deposits reveal that the grounded ice in the Amundsen Sea Embayment had already retreated to within ~45 km of the modern grounding zone prior to ca. 9,400 y ago. Sediments deposited within the past 100+ y record abrupt changes in environmental conditions. On seafloor highs, these shifts document ice-shelf thinning initiating at least as early as the 1940s. Sediments recovered from deep basins reflect a transition from ice proximal to slightly more distal conditions, suggesting ongoing grounding-zone retreat since the 1950s. The timing of ice-shelf unpinning from the seafloor for Thwaites Glacier coincides with similar records from neighboring Pine Island Glacier. Our work provides robust new evidence that glacier retreat in the Amundsen Sea was initiated in the mid-twentieth century, likely associated with climate variability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel W Clark
- Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77004
| | - Julia S Wellner
- Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77004
| | | | - Rebecca L Totten
- Department of Geological Sciences, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL 35401
| | - James A Smith
- British Antarctic Survey, Cambridge CB3 0ET, United Kingdom
| | - Lauren E Miller
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22903
| | | | - Kelly A Hogan
- British Antarctic Survey, Cambridge CB3 0ET, United Kingdom
| | - Alastair G C Graham
- College of Marine Science, University of South Florida, St. Petersburg, FL 33701
| | - Frank O Nitsche
- Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University, New York, NY 10964
| | - Asmara A Lehrmann
- Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77004
| | - Allison P Lepp
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22903
| | - James D Kirkham
- British Antarctic Survey, Cambridge CB3 0ET, United Kingdom
- Scott Polar Research Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1ER, United Kingdom
| | | | | | - Werner Ehrmann
- Institute for Geophysics & Geology, University of Leipzig, Leipzig 04103, Germany
| | - Lukas Wacker
- Ion Beam Physics, Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich, Zürich 8093, Switzerland
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Prekrasna-Kviatkovska Y, Parnikoza I, Yerkhova A, Stelmakh O, Pavlovska M, Dzyndra M, Yarovyi O, Dykyi E. From acidophilic to ornithogenic: microbial community dynamics in moss banks altered by gentoo penguins. Front Microbiol 2024; 15:1362975. [PMID: 38525081 PMCID: PMC10959021 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1362975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 03/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction The study explores the indirect impact of climate change driven by gentoo's penguin colonization pressure on the microbial communities of moss banks formed by Tall moss turf subformation in central maritime Antarctica. Methods Microbial communities and chemical composition of the differently affected moss banks (Unaffected, Impacted and Desolated) located on Galindez Island and Сape Tuxen on the mainland of Kyiv Peninsula were analyzed. Results The native microbiota of the moss banks' peat was analyzed for the first time, revealing a predominant presence of Acidobacteria (32.2 ± 14.4%), followed by Actinobacteria (15.1 ± 4.0%) and Alphaproteobacteria (9.7 ± 4.1%). Penguin colonization and subsequent desolation of moss banks resulted in an increase in peat pH (from 4.7 ± 0.05 to 7.2 ± 0.6) and elevated concentrations of soluble nitrogen (from 1.8 ± 0.4 to 46.9 ± 2.1 DIN, mg/kg) and soluble phosphorus compounds (from 3.6 ± 2.6 to 20.0 ± 1.8 DIP, mg/kg). The contrasting composition of peat and penguin feces led to the elimination of the initial peat microbiota, with an increase in Betaproteobacteria (from 1.3 ± 0.8% to 30.5 ± 23%) and Bacteroidota (from 5.5 ± 3.7% to 19.0 ± 3.7%) proportional to the intensity of penguins' impact, accompanied by a decrease in community diversity. Microbial taxa associated with birds' guts, such as Gottschalkia and Tissierella, emerged in Impacted and Desolated moss banks, along with bacteria likely benefiting from eutrophication. The changes in the functional capacity of the penguin-affected peat microbial communities were also detected. The nitrogen-cycling genes that regulate the conversion of urea into ammonia, nitrite oxide, and nitrate oxide (ureC, amoA, nirS, nosZ, nxrB) had elevated copy numbers in the affected peat. Desolated peat samples exhibit the highest nitrogen-cycle gene numbers, significantly differing from Unaffected peat (p < 0.05). Discussion The expansion of gentoo penguins induced by climate change led to the replacement of acidophilic microbiomes associated with moss banks, shaping a new microbial community influenced by penguin guano's chemical and microbial composition.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ivan Parnikoza
- Biology and Ecology Department, State Institution National Antarctic Scientific Center, Kyiv, Ukraine
- Department of Cell Population Genetics, Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Kyiv, Ukraine
- Faculty of Natural Science, National University of “Kyiv-Mohyla Academy”, Kyiv, Ukraine
| | - Anna Yerkhova
- Biomedical Institute, Open International University of Human Development Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine
| | - Olesia Stelmakh
- Faculty of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Kyiv Academic University, Kyiv, Ukraine
| | - Mariia Pavlovska
- Biology and Ecology Department, State Institution National Antarctic Scientific Center, Kyiv, Ukraine
- Faculty of Plant Protection, Biotechnology and Ecology, National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine
| | - Marta Dzyndra
- Biology and Ecology Department, State Institution National Antarctic Scientific Center, Kyiv, Ukraine
| | - Oleksandr Yarovyi
- Biology and Ecology Department, State Institution National Antarctic Scientific Center, Kyiv, Ukraine
| | - Evgen Dykyi
- Biology and Ecology Department, State Institution National Antarctic Scientific Center, Kyiv, Ukraine
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Tassino B, Silva A. Environmental, social, and behavioral challenges of the human circadian clock in real-life conditions. Front Physiol 2024; 15:1347377. [PMID: 38516211 PMCID: PMC10954801 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2024.1347377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Urban environments, in which ambient light has become a less-reliable entrainer, are challenging for the biological clock to maintain performance. As a consequence, human circadian rhythms are less robust and more variable among individuals. Assessing the individual phase of entrainment, as well as its plastic shifts in response to disturbances of the physical and social environment, is a way to measure circadian disruption. However, this is still difficult to address in real-life scenarios in which several factors modulate the circadian phase not always in a concerted manner. In this perspective, we present the contribution of two real-life situations, in which the circadian system is challenged by important alterations in entraining signals: 1) a trip to the Antarctic summer (socio-environmental challenge), and 2) dancers trained in morning/night shifts (socio-behavioral challenge). Both natural chronobiological experiments are helpful in exploring the functioning and plasticity of the circadian clock and allow for considering individual characteristics and history.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bettina Tassino
- Sección Etología, Instituto de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
- Grupo de Investigación en Cronobiología, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Ana Silva
- Grupo de Investigación en Cronobiología, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
- Laboratorio de Neurociencias, Instituto de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
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Vesman AV, Ershova AA, Litina EN, Chukmasov PV. Assessment of marine litter on the Fields Peninsula, King George Island, Antarctica. Mar Pollut Bull 2024; 200:116164. [PMID: 38364645 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2023] [Revised: 02/12/2024] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/18/2024]
Abstract
The study presents the results of the survey of beached litter on the two opposite shores of the Fields Peninsula (King George Island) conducted during the austral summer seasons of 2022 and 2023, as part of the 67th and 68th Russian Antarctic expeditions. Beaches situated on the coast of the Drake Passage were much more polluted compared to the beaches on the Maxwell Bay side. Plastic accounted for 86 % of all found items on the shores of the Drake Passage, with the majority of items related to fisheries or shipping. On the Maxwell Bay beaches, only 36 % of litter was plastic, with other categories like wood and metal dominating the total number. The average density of marine litter is 0.32 items/m (0.017 items/m2), comparable to other similar surveys conducted on Antarctic islands; however, this is at least 15-20 times lower than beach litter densities in the Arctic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna V Vesman
- Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute (AARI), Saint Petersburg, Russia; Russian State Hydrometeorological University (RSHU), Saint Petersburg, Russia.
| | - Alexandra A Ershova
- Russian State Hydrometeorological University (RSHU), Saint Petersburg, Russia
| | - Ekaterina N Litina
- Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute (AARI), Saint Petersburg, Russia
| | - Pavel V Chukmasov
- A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 119071, Russia
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González-Aravena M, Perrois G, Font A, Cárdenas CA, Rondon R. Microbiome profile of the Antarctic clam Laternula elliptica. Braz J Microbiol 2024; 55:487-497. [PMID: 38157148 PMCID: PMC10920576 DOI: 10.1007/s42770-023-01200-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024] Open
Abstract
The filter feeder clam Laternula elliptica is a key species in the Antarctic ecosystem. As a stenothermal benthic species, it has a poor capacity for adaptation to small temperature variations. Despite their ecological importance and sensitivity to climate change, studies on their microbiomes are lacking. The goal of this study was to characterize the bacterial communities of L. elliptica and the tissues variability of this microbiome to provide an initial insight of host-microbiota interactions. We investigated the diversity and taxonomic composition of bacterial communities of L. elliptica from five regions of the body using high-throughput 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The results showed that the microbiome of L. elliptica tended to differ from that of the surrounding seawater samples. However, there were no significant differences in the microbial composition between the body sites, and only two OTUs were present in all samples, being considered core microbiome (genus Moritella and Polaribacter). No significant differences were detected in diversity indexes among tissues (mean 626.85 for observed OTUs, 628.89 Chao1, 5.42 Shannon, and 0.87 Simpson). Rarefaction analysis revealed that most tissues reached a plateau of OTU number according to sample increase, with the exception of Siphon samples. Psychromonas and Psychrilyobacter were particularly abundant in L. elliptica whereas Fluviicola dominated seawater and siphons. Typical polar bacteria were Polaribacter, Shewanella, Colwellia, and Moritella. We detected the prevalence of pathogenic bacterial sequences, particularly in the family Arcobacteraceae, Pseudomonadaceae, and Mycoplasmataceae. The prokaryotic diversity was similar among tissues, as well as their taxonomic composition, suggesting a homogeneity of the microbiome along L. elliptica body. The Antarctic clam population can be used to monitor the impact of human activity in areas near Antarctic stations that discharge wastewater.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Garance Perrois
- Departamento Científico, Instituto Antártico Chileno, Punta Arenas, Chile
- Tropical & Subtropical Research Center, Korea Institute of Ocean Science & Technology, Busan, Republic of Korea
| | - Alejandro Font
- Departamento Científico, Instituto Antártico Chileno, Punta Arenas, Chile
| | - César A Cárdenas
- Departamento Científico, Instituto Antártico Chileno, Punta Arenas, Chile
- Millennium Institute Biodiversity of Antarctic and Subantarctic Ecosystems (BASE), Santiago, Chile
| | - Rodolfo Rondon
- Departamento Científico, Instituto Antártico Chileno, Punta Arenas, Chile.
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Yu J, Lee H, Cho SM, Lee Y, Kim D, Hong SG, Park SJ, Kim SG, Jin H, Lee J. Life under the snow: A year-round transcriptome analysis of Antarctic mosses in natural habitats provides insight into the molecular adaptation of plants under extreme environment. Plant Cell Environ 2024; 47:976-991. [PMID: 38164069 DOI: 10.1111/pce.14793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2023] [Revised: 11/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
Mosses are vital components of ecosystems, exhibiting remarkable adaptability across diverse habitats from deserts to polar ice caps. Sanionia uncinata (Hedw.) Loeske, a dominant Antarctic moss survives extreme environmental condition through perennial lifecycles involving growth and dormancy alternation. This study explores genetic controls and molecular mechanisms enabling S. uncinata to cope with seasonality of the Antarctic environment. We analysed the seasonal transcriptome dynamics of S. uncinata collected monthly from February 2015 to January 2016 in King George Island, Antarctica. Findings indicate that genes involved in plant growth were predominantly upregulated in Antarctic summer, while those associated with protein synthesis and cell cycle showed marked expression during the winter-to-summer transition. Genes implicated in cellular stress and abscisic acid signalling were highly expressed in winter. Further, validation included a comparison of the Antarctic field transcriptome data with controlled environment simulation of Antarctic summer and winter temperatures, which revealed consistent gene expression patterns in both datasets. This proposes a seasonal gene regulatory model of S. uncinate to understand moss adaptation to extreme environments. Additionally, this data set is a valuable resource for predicting genetic responses to climatic fluctuations, enhancing our knowledge of Antarctic flora's resilience to global climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jihyeon Yu
- Division of Life Sciences, Korea Polar Research Institute, Incheon, South Korea
| | - Hyoungseok Lee
- Division of Life Sciences, Korea Polar Research Institute, Incheon, South Korea
- Polar Science, University of Science and Technology, Incheon, South Korea
| | - Sung Mi Cho
- Division of Life Sciences, Korea Polar Research Institute, Incheon, South Korea
- Polar Science, University of Science and Technology, Incheon, South Korea
| | - Yelim Lee
- Division of Life Sciences, Korea Polar Research Institute, Incheon, South Korea
- School of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Dockyu Kim
- Division of Life Sciences, Korea Polar Research Institute, Incheon, South Korea
| | - Soon Gyu Hong
- Division of Life Sciences, Korea Polar Research Institute, Incheon, South Korea
- Polar Science, University of Science and Technology, Incheon, South Korea
| | - Sang-Jong Park
- Division of Atmospheric Sciences, Korea Polar Research Institute, Incheon, South Korea
| | - Sang-Gyu Kim
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute for Science and Technology, Daejeon, Korea
| | - Hongshi Jin
- Division of Life Sciences, Korea Polar Research Institute, Incheon, South Korea
| | - Jungeun Lee
- Division of Life Sciences, Korea Polar Research Institute, Incheon, South Korea
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Cabrera MÁ, Márquez SL, Pérez-Donoso JM. New insights into xenobiotic tolerance of Antarctic bacteria: transcriptomic analysis of Pseudomonas sp. TNT3 during 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene biotransformation. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 2024; 31:17256-17274. [PMID: 38337121 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-024-32298-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2023] [Accepted: 01/28/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
The xenobiotic 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) is a highly persistent environmental contaminant, whose biotransformation by microorganisms has attracted renewed attention. In previous research, we reported the discovery of Pseudomonas sp. TNT3, the first described Antarctic bacterium with the ability to biotransform TNT. Furthermore, through genomic analysis, we identified distinctive features in this isolate associated with the biotransformation of TNT and other xenobiotics. However, the metabolic pathways and genes active during TNT exposure in this bacterium remained unexplored. In the present transcriptomic study, we used RNA-sequencing to investigate gene expression changes in Pseudomonas sp. TNT3 exposed to 100 mg/L of TNT. The results showed differential expression of 194 genes (54 upregulated and 140 downregulated), mostly encoding hypothetical proteins. The most highly upregulated gene (> 1000-fold) encoded an azoreductase enzyme not previously described. Other significantly upregulated genes were associated with (nitro)aromatics detoxification, oxidative, thiol-specific, and nitrosative stress responses, and (nitro)aromatic xenobiotic tolerance via efflux pumps. Most of the downregulated genes were involved in the electron transport chain, pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ)-related alcohol oxidation, and motility. These findings highlight a complex cellular response to TNT exposure, with the azoreductase enzyme likely playing a crucial role in TNT biotransformation. Our study provides new insights into the molecular mechanisms of TNT biotransformation and aids in developing effective TNT bioremediation strategies. To the best of our knowledge, this report is the first transcriptomic response analysis of an Antarctic bacterium during TNT biotransformation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ma Ángeles Cabrera
- Center for Bioinformatics and Integrative Biology (CBIB), Facultad de Ciencias de La Vida, Universidad Andrés Bello, Av. República 330, Santiago, Chile
| | - Sebastián L Márquez
- Center for Bioinformatics and Integrative Biology (CBIB), Facultad de Ciencias de La Vida, Universidad Andrés Bello, Av. República 330, Santiago, Chile
- Fundación Científica y Cultural Biociencia, José Domingo Cañas 2280, Ñuñoa, Santiago, Chile
| | - José M Pérez-Donoso
- Center for Bioinformatics and Integrative Biology (CBIB), Facultad de Ciencias de La Vida, Universidad Andrés Bello, Av. República 330, Santiago, Chile.
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Méheust Y, Delord K, Bonnet-Lebrun AS, Raclot T, Vasseur J, Allain J, Decourteillle V, Bost CA, Barbraud C. Human infrastructures correspond to higher Adélie penguin breeding success and growth rate. Oecologia 2024; 204:675-688. [PMID: 38459994 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-024-05523-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/11/2024]
Abstract
Anthropogenic activities generate increasing disturbance in wildlife especially in extreme environments where species have to cope with rapid environmental changes. In Antarctica, while studies on human disturbance have mostly focused on stress response through physiological and behavioral changes, local variability in population dynamics has been addressed more scarcely. In addition, the mechanisms by which breeding communities are affected around research stations remain unclear. Our study aims at pointing out the fine-scale impact of human infrastructures on the spatial variability in Adélie penguin (Pygoscelis adeliae) colonies dynamics. Taking 24 years of population monitoring, we modeled colony breeding success and growth rate in response to both anthropic and land-based environmental variables. Building density around colonies was the second most important variable explaining spatial variability in breeding success after distance from skua nests, the main predators of penguins on land. Building density was positively associated with penguins breeding success. We discuss how buildings may protect penguins from avian predation and environmental conditions. The drivers of colony growth rate included topographical variables and the distance to human infrastructures. A strong correlation between 1-year lagged growth rate and colony breeding success was coherent with the use of public information by penguins to select their initial breeding site. Overall, our study brings new insights about the relative contribution and ecological implications of human presence on the local population dynamics of a sentinel species in Antarctica.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yann Méheust
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé, UMR7372 CNRS-La Rochelle Université, 79360, Villiers-en-Bois, France.
| | - Karine Delord
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé, UMR7372 CNRS-La Rochelle Université, 79360, Villiers-en-Bois, France
| | - Anne-Sophie Bonnet-Lebrun
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé, UMR7372 CNRS-La Rochelle Université, 79360, Villiers-en-Bois, France
| | - Thierry Raclot
- Institut Pluridisciplinaire Hubert Curien, UMR7178 CNRS, 69037, Strasbourg, France
| | - Julien Vasseur
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé, UMR7372 CNRS-La Rochelle Université, 79360, Villiers-en-Bois, France
| | - Jimmy Allain
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé, UMR7372 CNRS-La Rochelle Université, 79360, Villiers-en-Bois, France
| | - Virgil Decourteillle
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé, UMR7372 CNRS-La Rochelle Université, 79360, Villiers-en-Bois, France
| | - Charles-André Bost
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé, UMR7372 CNRS-La Rochelle Université, 79360, Villiers-en-Bois, France
| | - Christophe Barbraud
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé, UMR7372 CNRS-La Rochelle Université, 79360, Villiers-en-Bois, France
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Bendall JG, Chawanji AS, Fong BY, Andrewes P, Ma L, MacGibbon AKH, Anema SG. "Milk on Ice": A detailed analysis of Ernest Shackleton's century-old whole milk powder in comparison with modern counterparts. J Dairy Sci 2024; 107:1311-1333. [PMID: 38423728 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2023-23893] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/06/2023] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
Whole milk powder (WMP) manufactured in New Zealand in 1907 was sent to the Antarctic continent with the Shackleton-led British Antarctic Expedition from 1907 to 1909. This powder was stored at ambient conditions at Shackleton's Hut at Cape Royds, Antarctica, for over 100 yr before a sample was collected on behalf of Fonterra by the Antarctic Heritage Trust. Having spent most of its existence both dried and in frozen storage, any deleterious reactions within the WMP would have been markedly retarded. The composition and some properties of the roller-dried Shackleton's WMP are reported along with those of 2 modern spray-dried New Zealand WMP. The Shackleton powder was less white and more yellow than the modern WMP and was composed of flakes rather than agglomerated particles, consistent with that expected of a roller-dried powder. Headspace analysis showed lipolytic and oxidative volatile compounds were present in the Shackleton WMP, indicting some deterioration of the milk either before powder manufacture or on storage of the finished product. On a moisture-free basis, the Shackleton WMP had higher protein, higher fat (with a markedly higher free fat level), higher ash, and a lower lactose level than the modern WMP. The lysine level was lower in the Shackleton WMP compared with the spray-dried powders, whereas the fatty acid composition was relatively similar. The sodium level was markedly higher in the Shackleton WMP compared with the spray-dried powder, which is probably due to the addition of an alkaline sodium salt to adjust the pH of the milk before roller drying. Lead, iron, and tin levels were markedly higher in the Shackleton WMP compared with the spray-dried powders, possibly due to the equipment used in powder manufacture and the tin-plated cases used for storage. The proteins in the Shackleton WMP were more lactosylated than in the spray-dried powders. The Shackleton WMP had a higher ratio of κ-casein A to B variants and a higher ratio of β-lactoglobulin B to A variants than the spray-dried powders, whereas the αS1-casein, β-casein, αS2-casein, and α-lactalbumin protein variants were similar in all powders. The total phospholipid content was markedly lower in the Shackleton WMP than the spray-dried powders, primarily due to a lower phosphatidylethanolamine concentration. The molecular species distributions within the phospholipid classes were generally similar in the 3 powders. Claims are sometimes encountered that the milk of today is different from that consumed by previous generations. However, this comparative study has shown that the Shackleton WMP was generally similar to modern WMP. Although differences in some components and properties were observed, these were attributable to the manufacturing equipment and processes used in the pioneering years of WMP manufacture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin G Bendall
- Fonterra Research and Development Centre, Palmerston North, New Zealand 4472
| | - Abraham S Chawanji
- Fonterra Research and Development Centre, Palmerston North, New Zealand 4472
| | - Bertram Y Fong
- Fonterra Research and Development Centre, Palmerston North, New Zealand 4472
| | - Paul Andrewes
- Fonterra Research and Development Centre, Palmerston North, New Zealand 4472
| | - Lin Ma
- Fonterra Research and Development Centre, Palmerston North, New Zealand 4472
| | | | - Skelte G Anema
- Fonterra Research and Development Centre, Palmerston North, New Zealand 4472.
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Moran AL, Lobert GT, Toh MWA. Spawning and larval development of Colossendeis megalonyx, a giant Antarctic sea spider. Ecology 2024; 105:e4258. [PMID: 38343147 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.4258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2023] [Revised: 11/19/2023] [Accepted: 12/27/2023] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Amy L Moran
- School of Life Sciences, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA
| | - Graham T Lobert
- School of Life Sciences, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA
| | - Ming Wei Aaron Toh
- School of Life Sciences, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA
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40
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Finucci B, Chin C, O'Neill HL, White WT, Pinkerton MH. First observation of a skate egg case nursery in the Ross Sea. J Fish Biol 2024. [PMID: 38402691 DOI: 10.1111/jfb.15688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2023] [Revised: 01/22/2024] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 02/27/2024]
Abstract
Areas of importance to Southern Ocean skates are poorly defined. Here, we identify a deepwater skate egg case nursery in a discrete location at ~460 m depth off Cape Adare in the Southern Ocean. This is the first confirmed observation of a skate nursery area in the Ross Sea and only the second observation for the Southern Ocean. The morphology and size of the egg cases were consistent with the genus Bathyraja and most likely belong to the Bathyraja sp. (cf. eatonii). The nursery occurs within the "no take" General Protection Zone of the Ross Sea region marine protected area, where commercial fishing is prohibited.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brittany Finucci
- National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA), Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Caroline Chin
- National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA), Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Helen L O'Neill
- CSIRO National Research Collections Australia-Australian National Fish Collection, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | - William T White
- CSIRO National Research Collections Australia-Australian National Fish Collection, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Matthew H Pinkerton
- National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA), Wellington, New Zealand
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Gonçalves VN, Pimenta RS, Lopes FAC, Santos KCR, Silva MC, Convey P, Câmara PEAS, Rosa LH. Fungal and fungal-like diversity present in ornithogenically influenced maritime Antarctic soils assessed using metabarcoding. J Basic Microbiol 2024. [PMID: 38386010 DOI: 10.1002/jobm.202300601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2023] [Revised: 01/14/2024] [Accepted: 02/03/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
We assessed soil fungal and fungal-like diversity using metabarcoding in ornithogenically influenced soils around nests of the bird species Phalacrocorax atriceps, Macronectes giganteus, Pygoscelis antarcticus, and Pygoscelis adelie on the South Shetland Islands, maritime Antarctic. A total of 1,392,784 fungal DNA reads was obtained and assigned to 186 amplicon sequence variants (ASVs). The dominant fungal phylum was Ascomycota, followed by Basidiomycota, Chytridiomycota, Blastocladiomycota, Rozellomycota, Mortierellomycota, Monoblepharomycota, Aphelidiomycota, Basidiobolomycota, Mucoromycota, and the fungal-like Oomycota (Stramenopila), in rank order. Antarctomyces sp., Blastocladiomycota sp., Pseudogymnoascus pannorum, Microascaceae sp., Mortierella sp., Lobulomycetales sp., Sordariomycetes sp., Fungal sp., Rhizophydiales sp., Pseudeurotiaceae sp., Chytridiomycota sp. 1, Filobasidiella sp., Tausonia pullulans, Betamyces sp., and Leucosporidium sp. were the most abundant assigned taxa. The fungal assemblages present in the different ornithogenically influenced soils displayed different diversity indices. However, in general, we detected high fungal diversity and few taxa shared between the samples. Despite the polyextreme environmental conditions experienced in these Antarctic soils, the metabarcoding approach detected a rich and complex fungal community dominated by saprophytes, but with some pathogenic taxa also present. The community was dominated by psychrophilic and psychrotolerant taxa, some apparently endemic to Antarctica, and those identified only at higher taxonomic levels, which may represent currently undescribed fungi. The mycobiome detected included taxa characterized by different ecological roles, including saprotrophic, human- and animal-associated, phytopathogenic, mutualistic, and cosmopolitan. These fungi may potentially be dispersed by birds or in the air column over great distances, including between different regions within Antarctica and from South America, Africa, and Oceania.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vívian Nicolau Gonçalves
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brasil
| | - Raphael Sânzio Pimenta
- Laboratório de Microbiologia Geral e Aplicada, Universidade Federal do Tocantins, Palmas, Tocantins, Brasil
| | - Fabyano A C Lopes
- Laboratório de Microbiologia, Universidade Federal do Tocantins, Palmas, Tocantins, Brasil
| | - Karita C R Santos
- Laboratório de Microbiologia, Universidade Federal do Tocantins, Palmas, Tocantins, Brasil
| | - Micheline C Silva
- Departamento de Botânica, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, Brasil
| | - Peter Convey
- British Antarctic Survey, NERC, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Zoology, University of Johannesburg, Auckland Park, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Millennium Institute Biodiversity of Antarctic and Subantarctic Ecosystems (BASE), Santiago, Las Palmeras, Chile
- Cape Horn International Center (CHIC), Puerto Williams, Chile
| | - Paulo E A S Câmara
- Departamento de Botânica, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, Brasil
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Fungos, Algas e Plantas, UFSC, Florianópolis, Brasil
| | - Luiz H Rosa
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brasil
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McConnell JR, Chellman NJ, Wensman SM, Plach A, Stanish C, Santibáñez PA, Brugger SO, Eckhardt S, Freitag J, Kipfstuhl S, Stohl A. Hemispheric-scale heavy metal pollution from South American and Australian mining and metallurgy during the Common Era. Sci Total Environ 2024; 912:169431. [PMID: 38142989 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.169431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Revised: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 12/26/2023]
Abstract
Records from polar and alpine ice reflect past changes in background and industrial toxic heavy metal emissions. While Northern Hemisphere records have been used to evaluate environmental effects and linkages to historical events such as foreign conquests, plagues, economic downturns, and technological developments during the past three millennia, little is known about the magnitude and environmental effects of such emissions in the Southern Hemisphere or their historical linkages, especially prior to late 19th century industrialization. Here we used detailed measurements of the toxic heavy metals lead, cadmium, and thallium, as well as non-toxic bismuth, cerium, and sulfur in an array of five East Antarctic ice cores to investigate hemispheric-scale pollution during the Common Era. While thallium showed no anthropogenic increases, the other three metals increased by orders of magnitude in recent centuries after accounting for crustal and volcanic components. These first detailed records indicate that East Antarctic lead pollution started in the 13th century coincident with Late Intermediate Period metallurgy in the Andes and was pervasive during the Spanish Colonial period in parallel with large-scale exploitation of Andean silver and other ore deposits. Lead isotopic variations suggest that 19th-century increases in lead, cadmium, and bismuth resulted from Australian lead and Bolivian tin mining emissions, with 20th century pollution largely the result of the latter. As in the Northern Hemisphere, variations in heavy metal pollution coincided with plagues, cultural and technological developments, as well as global economic and political events including the Great Depression and the World Wars. Estimated atmospheric heavy metal emissions from Spanish Colonial-era mining and smelting during the late 16th and early 17th century were comparable to estimated European emissions during the 1st-century apex of the Roman Empire, with atmospheric model simulations suggesting hemispheric-scale toxic heavy metal pollution during the past five centuries as a result.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph R McConnell
- Division of Hydrologic Sciences, Desert Research Institute, Reno, NV 89512, USA.
| | - Nathan J Chellman
- Division of Hydrologic Sciences, Desert Research Institute, Reno, NV 89512, USA
| | - Sophia M Wensman
- Division of Hydrologic Sciences, Desert Research Institute, Reno, NV 89512, USA
| | - Andreas Plach
- Department of Meteorology and Geophysics, University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Charles Stanish
- Institute for the Advanced Study of Culture and the Environment, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33620, USA
| | - Pamela A Santibáñez
- Division of Hydrologic Sciences, Desert Research Institute, Reno, NV 89512, USA
| | - Sandra O Brugger
- Division of Hydrologic Sciences, Desert Research Institute, Reno, NV 89512, USA
| | - Sabine Eckhardt
- Norwegian Institute for Air Research, N-2027 Kjeller, Norway
| | - Johannes Freitag
- Alfred-Wegener-Institut Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung, 27570 Bremerhaven, Germany
| | - Sepp Kipfstuhl
- Alfred-Wegener-Institut Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung, 27570 Bremerhaven, Germany
| | - Andreas Stohl
- Department of Meteorology and Geophysics, University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
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Olgun N, Tarı U, Balcı N, Altunkaynak Ş, Gürarslan I, Yakan SD, Thalasso F, Astorga-España MS, Cabrol L, Lavergne C, Hoffmann L. Lithological controls on lake water biogeochemistry in Maritime Antarctica. Sci Total Environ 2024; 912:168562. [PMID: 37981135 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.168562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2023] [Revised: 11/04/2023] [Accepted: 11/11/2023] [Indexed: 11/21/2023]
Abstract
Although the Antarctic lakes are of great importance for the climate and the carbon cycle, the lithological influences on the input of elements that are necessary for phytoplankton in lakes have so far been insufficiently investigated. To address this issue, we analyzed phytoplankton cell concentrations and chemical compositions of water samples from lakes, ponds and a stream on Fildes and Ardley Islands of King George Island in the South Shetland Archipelago. Furthermore, lake sediments, as well as soil and rock samples collected from the littoral zone were analyzed for their mineralogical/petrographic composition and pollutant contents of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). In addition, leaching experiments were carried out to with the lithologic samples to investigate the possible changes in pH, alkalinity, macronutrients (N, P, Si), micronutrients (e.g. Fe, Zn, Cu, Mn), anions (S, F, Br), and other cations (e.g. Na, K, Mg, Ca, Al, Ti, V, Cr, Co, Ni, As, Se, Pb, Sb, Mo, Ag, Cd, Sn, Ba, Tl, B). Our results showed that phytoplankton levels varied between 15 and 206 cells/mL. Chlorophyll-a concentrations showed high correlations with NH4, NO3. The low levels of PO4 (<0.001 mg/L) indicated a possible P-limitation in the studied lakes. The composition of rock samples ranged from basalt to trachybasalt with variable major oxide (e.g. SiO2, Na2O and K2O) contents and consist mainly quartz, albite, calcite, dolomite and zeolite minerals. The concentrations of total PAHs were below the toxic threshold levels (9.55-131.25 ng g-1 dw). Leaching experiments with lithologic samples indicated major increase in pH (up to 9.77 ± 0.02) and nutrients, especially PO4 (1.03 ± 0.04 mg/L), indicating a strong P-fertilization impact in increased melting scenarios. Whereas, toxic elements such as Pb, Cu, Cd, Al and As were also released from the lithology, which may reduce the phytoplankton growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nazlı Olgun
- Eurasia Institute of Earth Sciences, Istanbul Technical University (ITU), 34469 Maslak, Istanbul, Turkey.
| | - Ufuk Tarı
- Faculty of Mines, Department of Geological Engineering, Istanbul Technical University (ITU), 34469 Maslak, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Nurgül Balcı
- Biogeochemistry Laboratory, Department of Geological Engineering, Istanbul Technical University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Şafak Altunkaynak
- Faculty of Mines, Department of Geological Engineering, Istanbul Technical University (ITU), 34469 Maslak, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Işıl Gürarslan
- Faculty of Mines, Department of Geological Engineering, Istanbul Technical University (ITU), 34469 Maslak, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Sevil Deniz Yakan
- Faculty of Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering, Istanbul Technical University (ITU), 34469 Maslak, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Frederic Thalasso
- Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del IPN (Cinvestav), Depto. Biotecnología y Bioingeniería, Av. IPN. 2508, San Pedro Zacatenco C.P. 07360, Mexico
| | | | - Léa Cabrol
- Aix-Marseille University, Mediterranean Institute of Oceanography (M.I.O, UMR 110), CNRS, IRD, Marseille, France
| | - Céline Lavergne
- HUB Ambiental UPLA and Laboratory of Aquatic Environmental Research (LACER), Universidad de Playa Ancha, Subida Leopoldo Carvallo 207, Valparaíso 234000, Chile
| | - Linn Hoffmann
- Department of Botany, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand
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Yang L, Yu B, Liu H, Ji X, Xiao C, Cao M, Fu J, Zhang Q, Hu L, Yin Y, Shi J, Jiang G. Foraging behavior and sea ice-dependent factors affecting the bioaccumulation of mercury in Antarctic coastal waters. Sci Total Environ 2024; 912:169557. [PMID: 38141978 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.169557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2023] [Revised: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 12/25/2023]
Abstract
To elucidate the potential risks of the toxic pollutant mercury (Hg) in polar waters, the study of accumulated Hg in fish is compelling for understanding the cycling and fate of Hg on a regional scale in Antarctica. Herein, the Hg isotopic compositions of Antarctic cod Notothenia coriiceps were assessed in skeletal muscle, liver, and heart tissues to distinguish the differences in Hg accumulation in isolated coastal environments of the eastern (Chinese Zhongshan Station, ZSS) and the antipode western Antarctica (Chinese Great Wall Station, GWS), which are separated by over 4000 km. Differences in odd mass-independent isotope fractionation (odd-MIF) and mass-dependent fractionation (MDF) across fish tissues were reflection of the specific accumulation of methylmercury (MeHg) and inorganic Hg (iHg) with different isotopic fingerprints. Internal metabolism including hepatic detoxification and processes related to heart may also contribute to MDF. Regional heterogeneity in iHg end-members further provided evidence that bioaccumulated Hg origins can be largely influenced by polar water circumstances and foraging behavior. Sea ice was hypothesized to play critical roles in both the release of Hg with negative odd-MIF derived from photoreduction of Hg2+ on its surface and the impediment of photochemical transformation of Hg in water layers. Overall, the multitissue isotopic compositions in local fish species and prime drivers of the heterogeneous Hg cycling and bioaccumulation patterns presented here enable a comprehensive understanding of Hg biogeochemical cycling in polar coastal waters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Yang
- School of Environment, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou 310024, China; State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Ben Yu
- National Research Center for Environmental Analysis and Measurement, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Hongwei Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Xiaomeng Ji
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Cailing Xiao
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Environmental and Health Effects of Persistent Toxic Substances, School of Environment and Health, Jianghan University, Wuhan 430056, China; State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Source Apportionment and Control of Aquatic Pollution, School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Mengxi Cao
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Environmental and Health Effects of Persistent Toxic Substances, School of Environment and Health, Jianghan University, Wuhan 430056, China
| | - Jianjie Fu
- School of Environment, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou 310024, China; State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Qinghua Zhang
- School of Environment, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou 310024, China; State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Ligang Hu
- School of Environment, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou 310024, China; State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Yongguang Yin
- School of Environment, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou 310024, China; State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Jianbo Shi
- School of Environment, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou 310024, China; State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China; State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Source Apportionment and Control of Aquatic Pollution, School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China.
| | - Guibin Jiang
- School of Environment, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou 310024, China; State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
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45
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García-Veira D, Sukekava CF, Sparaventi E, Navarro G, Huertas IE, Tovar-Sánchez A, Laglera LM. A first estimation of the role of penguin guano on copper cycling and organic speciation in Antarctic coastal waters. Sci Total Environ 2024; 912:169266. [PMID: 38086484 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.169266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2023] [Revised: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2024]
Abstract
Cu is a vital micronutrient, but free Cu ions (Cu2+) in seawater, even at subnanomolar concentrations, can impede phytoplankton growth. Natural Cu complexation with organic ligands regulates Cu acquisition and, in most instances, reduces Cu2+ concentrations below toxic thresholds. Along the Antarctic coast, the sources and sinks of Cu and its associated ligands remain poorly defined. Despite the high productivity in the area, there are no studies on the role of trophic transfer in Cu cycling. This study explores penguin guano release of Cu and Cu ligands and its potential in neutralizing copper toxicity along the Antarctic coast. We collected guano in a Chinstrap penguin nesting location in the West coast of Deception Island and extracted its components into aqueous solution imitating natural processes. Copper concentration in guano was 0.4 mg (dry weight g)-1 constituting a potential toxic threat and showed biomagnification with respect to krill. Surface seawater samples collected from various locations varying in penguin activity, were analyzed to assess the potential influence of guano on the area. Visual examination and elevated levels of Al suggested that a substantial portion of guano was lithogenic. Consequently, only a modest 16 % of the total Cu present in guano could be extracted using mechanical methods. Notably, the concentrations of the extracted organic ligands were approximately 23 times higher than the concentrations of the extracted Cu. This significant presence of ligands effectively nullifies any potential toxicity that could have arisen from free Cu2+ ions. Guano ligands' conditional stability constants were lower than those in surface seawater suggesting phytoplankton exudation was the main ligand source in the area. Overall, guano acts as a key node for Cu cycling in coastal Antarctic waters but its deleterious potential is neutralized by ligands from krill digestion and the high background concentration of phytoplankton exudates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel García-Veira
- Department of Chemistry, University of the Balearic Islands, Palma, Balearic Islands 07122, Spain
| | - Camila Fiaux Sukekava
- Department of Chemistry, University of the Balearic Islands, Palma, Balearic Islands 07122, Spain; Instituto de Oceanografia, Fundação Universidade Federal do Rio Grande, Rio Grande 96203900, Brazil
| | - Erica Sparaventi
- Department of Ecology and Coastal Management, Andalusian Institute for Marine Science, ICMAN (CSIC), Campus Universitario Río San Pedro, Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain
| | - Gabriel Navarro
- Department of Ecology and Coastal Management, Andalusian Institute for Marine Science, ICMAN (CSIC), Campus Universitario Río San Pedro, Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain
| | - I Emma Huertas
- Department of Ecology and Coastal Management, Andalusian Institute for Marine Science, ICMAN (CSIC), Campus Universitario Río San Pedro, Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain
| | - Antonio Tovar-Sánchez
- Department of Ecology and Coastal Management, Andalusian Institute for Marine Science, ICMAN (CSIC), Campus Universitario Río San Pedro, Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain
| | - Luis Miguel Laglera
- Department of Chemistry, University of the Balearic Islands, Palma, Balearic Islands 07122, Spain.
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46
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Savaglia V, Lambrechts S, Tytgat B, Vanhellemont Q, Elster J, Willems A, Wilmotte A, Verleyen E, Vyverman W. Geology defines microbiome structure and composition in nunataks and valleys of the Sør Rondane Mountains, East Antarctica. Front Microbiol 2024; 15:1316633. [PMID: 38380088 PMCID: PMC10877063 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1316633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Understanding the relation between terrestrial microorganisms and edaphic factors in the Antarctic can provide insights into their potential response to environmental changes. Here we examined the composition of bacterial and micro-eukaryotic communities using amplicon sequencing of rRNA genes in 105 soil samples from the Sør Rondane Mountains (East Antarctica), differing in bedrock or substrate type and associated physicochemical conditions. Although the two most widespread taxa (Acidobacteriota and Chlorophyta) were relatively abundant in each sample, multivariate analysis and co-occurrence networks revealed pronounced differences in community structure depending on substrate type. In moraine substrates, Actinomycetota and Cercozoa were the most abundant bacterial and eukaryotic phyla, whereas on gneiss, granite and marble substrates, Cyanobacteriota and Metazoa were the dominant bacterial and eukaryotic taxa. However, at lower taxonomic level, a distinct differentiation was observed within the Cyanobacteriota phylum depending on substrate type, with granite being dominated by the Nostocaceae family and marble by the Chroococcidiopsaceae family. Surprisingly, metazoans were relatively abundant according to the 18S rRNA dataset, even in samples from the most arid sites, such as moraines in Austkampane and Widerøefjellet ("Dry Valley"). Overall, our study shows that different substrate types support distinct microbial communities, and that mineral soil diversity is a major determinant of terrestrial microbial diversity in inland Antarctic nunataks and valleys.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Savaglia
- InBioS Research Unit, Department of Life Sciences, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
- Laboratory of Protistology and Aquatic Ecology, Department of Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Sam Lambrechts
- Laboratory of Protistology and Aquatic Ecology, Department of Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Bjorn Tytgat
- Laboratory of Protistology and Aquatic Ecology, Department of Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | | | - Josef Elster
- Faculty of Science, Centre for Polar Ecology, University of South Bohemia České Budějovice and Institute of Botany, Třeboň, Czechia
| | - Anne Willems
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Annick Wilmotte
- InBioS Research Unit, Department of Life Sciences, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Elie Verleyen
- Laboratory of Protistology and Aquatic Ecology, Department of Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Wim Vyverman
- Laboratory of Protistology and Aquatic Ecology, Department of Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
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47
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Gebru TB, Zhang Q, Dong C, Hao Y, Li C, Yang R, Li Y, Jiang G. The long-term spatial and temporal distributions of polychlorinated naphthalene air concentrations in Fildes Peninsula, West Antarctica. J Hazard Mater 2024; 463:132824. [PMID: 37890383 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.132824] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2023] [Revised: 10/08/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023]
Abstract
The knowledge of polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs) in the Antarctic atmosphere is quite limited compared to the Arctic. PCNs are a global concern because of their PBT characteristics (i.e., persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic) and severe and often deadly biological effects on people and other animals. Therefore, the present study used a passive air sampling method to conduct long-term air monitoring of PCNs for almost a decade from 2013 to 2022, specifically on Fildes Peninsula, situated on King George Island, located in West Antarctica. The median sum of mono-CNs to octa-CN concentration (∑75PCNs) in the Antarctic atmosphere was 12.4 pg/m3. In terms of homologues, mono-CNs to tri-CNs predominated. Among these, the prevalent congeners observed were PCN-1 and PCN-2, originating from mono-CNs, followed by PCN-5/7 from di-CNs, and PCN-24/14 from tri-CNs, respectively. Between 2013 and 2022, the total levels of PCNs were found to have decreased approximately fourfold. Ratio analyses and principal component analysis (PCA) showed that the long-range atmospheric transport and combustion-related sources as the potential PCN sources in the study area. This paper provides the most up-to-date temporal trend analysis of PCNs in the Antarctic continent and is the first to document all 75 congeners (mono-CNs to octa-CN homologue groups).
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Affiliation(s)
- Tariku Bekele Gebru
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; Department of Chemistry, College of Natural and Computational Sciences, Mekelle University, Mekelle 231, Ethiopia
| | - Qinghua Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; School of Environment, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou 310024, China
| | - Cheng Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yanfen Hao
- State Key Laboratory of Precision Blasting, School of Environment and Health, Jianghan University, Wuhan 430056, China
| | - Cui Li
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Ruiqiang Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; School of Environment, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou 310024, China
| | - Yingming Li
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
| | - Guibin Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; School of Environment, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou 310024, China
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48
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Benitez HA, Salinas C, Hernández J, Contador Mejías T, Kim S, Maturana CS, Rebolledo L, Pérez LM, Câmara PEAS, Alves Ferreira V, Lobos I, Piñeiro A, Convey P. An outsider on the Antarctic Peninsula: A new record of the non-native moth Plodia interpunctella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). Ecol Evol 2024; 14:e10838. [PMID: 38322004 PMCID: PMC10844584 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.10838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2023] [Revised: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2024] Open
Abstract
We report the first record of the microlepidopteran Plodia interpunctella beyond the South Shetland Islands at the Chilean Yelcho scientific station (64°52'33.1428″ S; 63°35'1.9572″ W), Doumer Island, close to the west coast of the Antarctic Peninsula. It is notable that P. interpunctella, a globally distributed stored product pest species, exhibits a remarkable capacity for prolonged viability within food storage facilities. The dual challenges of food transportation and storage in the context of Antarctica's challenging operational conditions may have facilitated P. interpunctella's initial arrival to the Antarctic region. Non-perishable food items, such as grains, flour and rice, provide practical options for the bulk food transportation and storage required in the long-term operation of Antarctic research stations. The presence of P. interpunctella in Antarctica, even if restricted to synanthropic environments within buildings, is a clear threat to Antarctic biodiversity, not only through being an invasive species itself but also as a potential vector for other non-native species (bacteria, acari, between others.), which could carry diseases to the native species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hugo A. Benitez
- Millennium Institute Biodiversity of Antarctic and Subantarctic Ecosystems (BASE)SantiagoChile
- Cape Horn International Center (CHIC)Centro Universitario Cabo de Hornos, Universidad de MagallanesPuerto WilliamsChile
- Laboratorio de Ecología y Morfometría Evolutiva, Centro de Investigación de Estudios Avanzados del MauleUniversidad Católica del MauleTalcaChile
| | - Carla Salinas
- Departamento CientíficoInstituto Antártico ChilenoPunta ArenasChile
| | - Jordan Hernández
- Millennium Institute Biodiversity of Antarctic and Subantarctic Ecosystems (BASE)SantiagoChile
- Cape Horn International Center (CHIC)Centro Universitario Cabo de Hornos, Universidad de MagallanesPuerto WilliamsChile
- Programa de Doctorado en Salud Ecosistémica, Centro de Investigación de Estudios Avanzados del MauleUniversidad Católica del MauleTalcaChile
| | - Tamara Contador Mejías
- Millennium Institute Biodiversity of Antarctic and Subantarctic Ecosystems (BASE)SantiagoChile
- Cape Horn International Center (CHIC)Centro Universitario Cabo de Hornos, Universidad de MagallanesPuerto WilliamsChile
- Núcleo Milenio de Salmónidos Invasores (INVASAL)ConcepciónChile
| | - Sanghee Kim
- Division of Life SciencesKorea Polar Research InstituteIncheonKorea
| | - Claudia S. Maturana
- Millennium Institute Biodiversity of Antarctic and Subantarctic Ecosystems (BASE)SantiagoChile
- Cape Horn International Center (CHIC)Centro Universitario Cabo de Hornos, Universidad de MagallanesPuerto WilliamsChile
| | - Lorena Rebolledo
- Departamento CientíficoInstituto Antártico ChilenoPunta ArenasChile
| | - Laura M. Pérez
- Departamento de Física, FACIUniversidad de TarapacáAricaChile
| | | | | | - Isabel Lobos
- Millennium Institute Biodiversity of Antarctic and Subantarctic Ecosystems (BASE)SantiagoChile
- Laboratorio de Ecología y Morfometría Evolutiva, Centro de Investigación de Estudios Avanzados del MauleUniversidad Católica del MauleTalcaChile
| | - Alejandro Piñeiro
- Millennium Institute Biodiversity of Antarctic and Subantarctic Ecosystems (BASE)SantiagoChile
- Laboratorio de Ecología y Morfometría Evolutiva, Centro de Investigación de Estudios Avanzados del MauleUniversidad Católica del MauleTalcaChile
| | - Peter Convey
- Millennium Institute Biodiversity of Antarctic and Subantarctic Ecosystems (BASE)SantiagoChile
- Cape Horn International Center (CHIC)Centro Universitario Cabo de Hornos, Universidad de MagallanesPuerto WilliamsChile
- British Antarctic Survey (BAS)Natural Environment Research CouncilCambridgeUK
- Department of ZoologyUniversity of JohannesburgAuckland ParkSouth Africa
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49
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Evgrafova SY, Mavlyudov BR, Chukmasov PV, Chetverova AA, Masyagina OV. Fossil mosses are emitting methane after maritime Antarctic glacier retreat. Mar Pollut Bull 2024; 199:115959. [PMID: 38154169 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115959] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2023] [Revised: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/17/2023] [Indexed: 12/30/2023]
Abstract
In the extraordinary weather conditions of the austral summer of 2023, fossil mosses thawed out from under the Bellingshausen Ice Dome, King George Island, Southern Shetland Archipelago of maritime Antarctica. At the end of the austral summer, we directly measured greenhouse gas fluxes (CH4 and CO2) from the surface of fossil mosses. We showed that fossil mosses were strong emitters of CH4 and weak emitters of CO2. The real-time measured CH4 emissions reached 0.173 μmol m-2 s-1, which is comparable to CH4 efflux in water bodies or wet tundra in the Arctic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Svetlana Y Evgrafova
- Sukachev Institute of Forest SB RAS, Federal Research Center "Krasnoyarsk Science Center SB RAS", 50/28 Akademgorodok st., 660036 Krasnoyarsk, Russian Federation; Siberian Federal University, 660041 Krasnoyarsk, Russian Federation; Melnikov Permafrost Institute of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Science, 677010 Yakutsk, Russian Federation
| | - Bulat R Mavlyudov
- Institute of Geography, Russian Academy of Sciences, Staromonetnyy Pereulok, 29, Moscow 119017, Russian Federation
| | - Pavel V Chukmasov
- Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 119071, Russian Federation
| | - Antonina A Chetverova
- St. Petersburg University, St. Petersburg 199034, Russian Federation; Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute, St. Petersburg 199397, Russian Federation
| | - Oxana V Masyagina
- Sukachev Institute of Forest SB RAS, Federal Research Center "Krasnoyarsk Science Center SB RAS", 50/28 Akademgorodok st., 660036 Krasnoyarsk, Russian Federation.
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50
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Kang S, Kim S, Park KC, Petrašiūnas A, Shin HC, Jo E, Cho SM, Kim JH. Molecular evidence for multiple origins and high genetic differentiation of non-native winter crane fly, Trichocera maculipennis (Diptera: Trichoceridae), in the maritime Antarctic. Environ Res 2024; 242:117636. [PMID: 37952853 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.117636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2023] [Revised: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023]
Abstract
Native biodiversity and ecosystems of Antarctica safeguarded from biological invasion face recent threats from non-native species, accelerated by increasing human activities and climate changes. Over two decades ago, the winter crane fly, Trichocera maculipennis, was first detected on King George Island. It has now successfully colonized several research stations across King George Island. To understand the origin, genetic diversity, and population structure of this Holarctic species, we conducted mitochondrial DNA cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) sequence analysis across both its native and invasive ranges. In parallel, we performed microsatellite loci analysis within the invasive ranges, utilizing 12 polymorphic microsatellite markers. Furthermore, we compared body sizes among adult males and females collected from three different locations of King George Island. Our COI sequence analysis exhibited two different lineages present on King George Island. Lineage I was linked to Arctic Svalbard and Polish cave populations and Lineage II was related to Canadian Terra Nova National Park populations, implying multiple origins. Microsatellite analysis further exhibited high levels of genetic diversity and significant levels of genetic differentiation among invasive populations. Body sizes of adult T. maculipennis were significantly different among invasive populations but were not attributed to genetics. This significant genetic diversity likely facilitated the rapid colonization and establishment of T. maculipennis on King George Island, contributing to their successful invasion. Molecular analysis results revealed a substantial amount of genetic variation within invasive populations, which can serve as management units for invasive species control. Furthermore, the genetic markers we developed in the study will be invaluable tools for tracking impending invasion events and the travel routes of new individuals. Taken together, these findings illustrate the highly invasive and adaptable characteristics of T. maculipennis. Therefore, immediate action is necessary to mitigate their ongoing invasion and facilitate their eradication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seunghyun Kang
- Korea Polar Research Institute, Incheon, 21990, South Korea
| | - Sanghee Kim
- Korea Polar Research Institute, Incheon, 21990, South Korea
| | - Kye Chung Park
- The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Ltd., Christchurch, 8140, New Zealand
| | - Andrius Petrašiūnas
- Department of Zoology, Institute of Biosciences, Vilnius University Life Sciences Center, LT 1022, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | | | - Euna Jo
- Korea Polar Research Institute, Incheon, 21990, South Korea
| | - Sung Mi Cho
- Korea Polar Research Institute, Incheon, 21990, South Korea
| | - Ji Hee Kim
- Korea Polar Research Institute, Incheon, 21990, South Korea.
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