Abstract
Glacier forefields provide a unique chronosequence to assess microbial or plant colonization and ecological succession on previously uncolonized substrates. Patterns of microbial succession in soils of alpine and subpolar glacier forefields are well documented but those affecting high polar systems, including moraine rocks, remain largely unexplored. In this study, we examine succession patterns in pioneering bacterial, fungal and algal communities developing on moraine rocks and soil at the Hurd Glacier forefield (Livingston Island, Antarctica). Over time, changes were produced in the microbial community structure of rocks and soils (ice-free for different lengths of time), which differed between both substrates across the entire chronosequence, especially for bacteria and fungi. In addition, fungal and bacterial communities showed more compositional consistency in soils than rocks, suggesting community assembly in each niche could be controlled by processes operating at different temporal and spatial scales. Microscopy revealed a patchy distribution of epilithic and endolithic lithobionts, and increasing endolithic colonization and microbial community complexity along the chronosequence. We conclude that, within relatively short time intervals, primary succession processes at polar latitudes involve significant and distinct changes in edaphic and lithic microbial communities associated with soil development and cryptogamic colonization.
Highlights
Glacier forefields are among the most appealing settings for investigating changes in microbial community composition and structure over time (Chapin et al, 1994; Nemergut et al, 2007; Zumsteg et al, 2012; Brown and Jumpponen, 2014; Jiang et al, 2018)
To explore how microbial primary succession processes occur in different substrates in a setting devoid of vascular plants, in this study we examine the moraine rocks and soils of a retreating glacier chronosequence in maritime Antarctica
120, 114, and 88 positive amplifications were achieved for bacteria, fungi, and algae respectively
Summary
Glacier forefields are among the most appealing settings for investigating changes in microbial community composition and structure over time (Chapin et al, 1994; Nemergut et al, 2007; Zumsteg et al, 2012; Brown and Jumpponen, 2014; Jiang et al, 2018). Compared to Arctic and high mountainous regions, where changes in microbial diversity and community differentiation in glacier forefield soil chronosequences have been extensively documented (Schütte et al, 2010; Brown and Jumpponen, 2014; Kazemi et al, 2016; Fernández-Martínez et al, 2017; Jiang et al, 2018), only few studies have investigated microbial diversity dynamics during ecological succession processes in Antarctic deglaciated areas, and these have focused mostly on bacteria (Pessi et al, 2012, 2015; Bajerski and Wagner, 2013; Yan et al, 2017; Kim et al, 2019). Evidence based on the rock colonization rate after biocide treatments suggests that changes in lithobiontic communities may occur even over short periods of time (Cámara et al, 2011), but how these differences are established and evolve over time for different types of microorganisms remains unexplored
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
