Abstract
The composition of sedimentary pigments in the Antarctic lake at Edmonson Point has been investigated and compared with the aim to provide a useful analytical method for pigments separation and identification, providing reference data for future assessment of possible changes in environmental conditions. Reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with electrospray-mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) detection and diode array detection (DAD) has been used to identify light screening and light harvesting pigments. The results are discussed in terms of local environmental conditions.
Highlights
Depletion of stratospheric ozone since the mid-1970s has led to significant increases in ultraviolet B (UVB) irradiation over Antarctica
electrospray-mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) analysis of the mixture combined with on-line diode array detection (DAD) electronic spectra allowed identification of the major components and their percentage composition (Table 1)
The two components eluting at 4.7 and 3.1 min were assigned as scytonemin and its reduced form [10] (2, 1) from [M+H]+ at m/z 545.5 and 547.7, [M+Na]+ at m/z 567.5 and 569.5 and [M−H]− at m/z 543.5 and 545.5, respectively, and from the UV-vis spectra (Figure 4) that show the absorption over relatively wide range of wavelength from 325 to 425 nm
Summary
Depletion of stratospheric ozone since the mid-1970s has led to significant increases in ultraviolet B (UVB) irradiation over Antarctica. During summer in the areas of Antarctica, small streams and lakes fed by glacial or snow melt water are present. This region provides many chemical data for understanding global processes such as climate change and dispersion of persistent anthropogenic pollutants because it is a symbol for a pristine environment [4]. Terra Nova Bay is part of the Ross Sea and is relatively ice-free in summer and there are more than a hundred small lakes and ponds in the area Most of these small lakes are located along the coast and receive their sediments and water supply during the spring and summer warmer periods as melted snow because ice acts as sediment trap [5]. As in the rest of Antarctica, the soils develop and vary according to the nature of the bedrock, time, climate, and other ecological factors that control weathering
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