Biomarker and Stable Isotope Characterization of Coastal Pond-Derived Organic Matter, McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica

Details Biomarker and Stable Isotope Characterization of Coastal Pond-Derived Organic Matter, McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica Biomarker and Stable Isotope Characterization of Coastal Pond-Derived Organic Matter, McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica

Aug 2007

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2007asbio...7..645h&link_type=abstract

Astrobiology, Volume 7, Issue 4, pp. 645-661.

Biology

1

Benthic Microbial Mats, Stable Carbon Isotopes, Stable Nitrogen Isotopes, Stable Sulfur Isotopes, Phospholipid Fatty Acids, Mcmurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica.

Scientific paper

Small coastal ponds that contain photosynthetic microbial mat communities represent an extreme environment where a potentially significant source of labile organic carbon can be found within the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica. To distinguish coastal pond-derived organic matter from other sources of organic matter in the Dry Valleys, bulk organic carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur isotope signatures and phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) profiles of benthic microbial mats located at two sites-Hjorth Hill coast and Garwood Valley-were investigated. The average isotope values at Hjorth Hill coast and Garwood Valley are, respectively, -10.9‰ and -10.2‰ for δ13 C, 3.7‰ and -1.3‰ for δ15N, and 8.1‰ and 16.7‰ for δ34S. Microbial mats from all ponds are dominated by monounsaturated PLFAs (indicative of Gramnegative bacteria) and polyunsaturated PLFAs (indicative of microeukaryotes). Biomarkers specific to aerobic prokaryotes, eukaryotes, and photoautotrophic microeukaryotes, as well as sulfur-reducing bacteria, are present in all samples. Benthic mats at Garwood Valley are thicker and more laminated, have a higher biomass, and have a greater carbon and nitrogen content, which suggests greater productivity than mats at Hjorth Hill coast. Greater productivity is supported, as well, by higher dissolved oxygen contents likely derived from heightened photosynthetic productivity. More productivity at Garwood Valley likely results from a larger influx of terrestrial surface waters together with a concomitant nutrient loading.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Biomarker and Stable Isotope Characterization of Coastal Pond-Derived Organic Matter, McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Biomarker and Stable Isotope Characterization of Coastal Pond-Derived Organic Matter, McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Biomarker and Stable Isotope Characterization of Coastal Pond-Derived Organic Matter, McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-968939