Vertical distribution of bacteria in arctic sea ice

Abstract

Heterotrophic bacteria were enumerated in north polar sea ice cores obtained near Point Barrow, Alaska. Highest concentrations of total and viable bacteria were found in the layer containing the sea ice microbial community identified by the maximum chlorophyll a content. Gas vacuolate bacteria were also found in the sea ice, a discovery which is consistent with their recent report from antarctic sea ice microbial communities. The gas vacuolate bacteria comprised 0.2% or less of the viable bacteria isolated from sea ice cores, lower than concentrations reported for most antarctic samples. Most gas vacuolate isolates from the sea ice cores were pigmented pink, orange, or yellow. An ice core from nearby saline Elson Lagoon contained an inverted sea ice microbial community with highest chlorophyll a concentrations and bacterial counts found in the top 0–20 cm of the ice. This surface layer also contained high numbers (up to 186 bacteria/ml) of a nonpigmented, gas vacuolate, elongated rod-shaped bacterium.