Abstract
The role of aerial dispersal in shaping patterns of biodiversity remains poorly understood, mainly due to a lack of coordinated efforts in gathering data at appropriate temporal and spatial scales. It has been long known that the rate of dispersal to an ecosystem can significantly influence ecosystem dynamics, and that aerial transport has been identified as an important source of biological input to remote locations. With the considerable effort devoted in recent decades to understanding atmospheric circulation in the south-polar region, a unique opportunity has emerged to investigate the atmospheric ecology of Antarctica, from regional to continental scales. This concept note identifies key questions in Antarctic microbial biogeography and the need for standardized sampling and analysis protocols to address such questions. A consortium of polar aerobiologists is established to bring together researchers with a common interest in the airborne dispersion of microbes and other propagules in the Antarctic, with opportunities for comparative studies in the Arctic.
Highlights
Aerial dispersal plays an essential role in shaping patterns of biodiversity (e.g., Womack et al, 2010)
Aerobiology Over Antarctica has been identified as an important source of biological input to remote locations (e.g., Pearce et al, 2010)
With the considerable effort devoted in recent decades to understanding Antarctic atmospheric dynamics, we believe a unique opportunity has emerged to investigate atmospheric ecology from regional to continental scales
Summary
Aerial dispersal plays an essential role in shaping patterns of biodiversity (e.g., Womack et al, 2010). The ability of atmospheric ecology to help understand large scale patterns of biodiversity remains limited, mainly due to a lack of coordinated efforts in gathering data at appropriate temporal and spatial scales (Figure 1) It has been known for some time that the rate of dispersal to an ecosystem can significantly influence ecosystem dynamics; aerial transport. Aerial biodiversity studies carried out to date have generally been based on single-site investigations over limited time periods, providing ‘snapshot’ information on the abundance, distribution and diversity of microorganisms found in specific aerial environments (e.g., Pearce et al, 2010; Figure 2) These have confirmed the magnitude of aerial dispersal, they have failed to address its influence on ecosystem stability and resilience, only providing qualitative data in this regard. This makes interpretation of data collected on Antarctic ice-free ‘islands’ more straightforward, i.e., the background contamination between propagule source and those collected/detected at the destination is greatly reduced compared to other parts of the planet
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