Investigation into the environmental factors that drive microbial diversity in the soils of the Miers Valley, Mt Erebus, Bratina Island and Beacon Valley

Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) Metadata:

• Identification_Information
• Data_Quality_Information
• Spatial_Reference_Information
• Distribution_Information
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Identification_Information:

Citation:

Citation_Information:

Originator: Unknown

Publication_Date: Unknown

Title: Investigation into the environmental factors that drive microbial diversity in the soils of the Miers Valley, Mt Erebus, Bratina Island and Beacon Valley

Description:

Abstract:

Modern molecular phylogenetics, in conjunction with sensitive mineral surface geochemical analysis, was used to determine the quantitative and qualitative distribution of micro-organism in Dry Valley soils, the key environmental factors that determine microbial distribution and what the role of micro-organism in community structure are. Several sites were sampled including Mt Erebus, the Miers Valley, Bratina Island and Beacon Valley. At Mt Erebus, the site was probed for soil temperatures and the areas hot spots were mapped. The temperature, pH and soil moisture was measured over three transects and the soil was sampled at intervals along each transect. A temperature logger with two probes, one at 4cm depth and the other on the surface was installed for one year. At the Miers Valley, a survey of hypoliths was conducted to gain a quantitative estimation of habitat and biomass values. Hypolith dimensions (cm2), weight of the hypolith rock (g), gross weight of the community (g), the depth of rock insertion (mm) and the depth of penetration (mm) were all recorded. Environmental data (temperature, humidity and irradiance levels) of hypoliths was also recorded with probes at the underside of the hypolith (3cm deep), the soil surface, open mineral soil (3cm) and non-translucent rock (3cm). Photographs were taken of the hypoliths and samples were collected for phylogenetic analysis, pigment spectrophotometric analysis and ATP analysis. A transect was established and soil samples were collected at intervals along the transect. An area with several (>48) seal carcases was surveyed with transects running through individual carcasses. Transects were described, sampled at intervals, pH measured, CO2 profiles determined, the relative humidity and temperature under the carcass measured, sampled for RNA analysis and microscopy and DNA samples were extracted. Other seal carcasses were sampled for carbon dating. Two experiments were set up: 1) Hypolith growth experiment to determine if soils are capable of seeding de novo hypoliths and 2) DNA longevity was determined in soil next to a hypolith sample using a clonesaver card cut into 9 bits. Soil types were also plated onto media for isolation of certain bacteria. At Bratina Island, two ponds (P70 and Orange) were sampled, and temperature and pH recorded. A short visit was made to the Beacon Valley where soils were sampled across a 25m transect for comparison. Samples (comprising DNA extracts, soil samples, mummified seal tissue samples, RNA later-stabilised soil samples, rock samples, hypolith samples and culture plates) collected from the Miers and Beacon Valleys were returned to the University of Waikato.

Purpose:

Not Available

Supplemental_Information:

REFERENCE: Cowan, D.A. Ah Tow, L. Smith, J.J. Cary, C. Moodley, K. 2005 Microbial molecular ecology of continental Antarctic biotopes. Antarctica: Global Laboratory for Scientific and International Collaboration. Tan, A., Yasin, Z., Mansor, M.(eds), Kuala Lumpur Academy of Sciences Malaysia

Supplemental_Information:

REFERENCE: Adams, B.J. Bardgett, R.D. Ayres, E. Wall, D.H. Aislabie, J. Bamforth, S. Bargagli, R. Cary, C. Cavacini, P. Connell, L. Convey, P. Fell, J.W. Frati, F. Hogg, I. Newsham, K.K. O’Donnell, A. Russell, N. Seppelt, R.D. Stevens, M.I. 2006 Diversity and distribution of Victoria Land biota. Soil biology and biochemistry 38(10): 3003-3018 doi:10.1016/j.soilbio.2006.04.030

Supplemental_Information:

REFERENCE: Barrett, J.E. Virginia, R.A. Wall, D.H. Cary, S.C. Adams, B.J. Hacker, A.L. Aislabie, J.M. 2006 Co-variation in soil biodiversity and biogeochemistry in northern and southern Victoria Land, Antarctica. Antarctic science 18(4): 535-548 doi: 10.1017/S0954102006000587

Supplemental_Information:

REFERENCE: Hogg, I.D. Cary, S.C. Convey, P. Newsham, K.K. O’Donnell, A.G. Adams, B.J. Aislabie, J. Frati, F. Stevens, M.I. Wall, D.H. 2006 Biotic interactions in Antarctic terrestrial ecosystems: Are they a factor? Soil biology and biochemistry 38(10): 3035-3040 doi:10.1016/j.soilbio.2006.04.026

Supplemental_Information:

REFERENCE: Smith, J.J. Ah Tow, L. Baker, G. Cary, C. Cowan, D.A. 2006 Bacterial diversity in three different Antarctic cold desert mineral soils. Microbial ecology 51(4): 413-421

Supplemental_Information:

REFERENCE: Cowan, D.A. Casanueva, A. Stafford, W. 2007 Ecology and biodiversity of cold-adapted organisms. In: Physiology and biochemistry of extremophiles. Gerday, C., Glansdorff, N.(eds), Washington, DC. ASM Press

Supplemental_Information:

REFERENCE: Niederberger, T.D. McDonald, I.R. Hacker, A.L. Soo, R.M. Barrett, J.E. Wall, D.H. Cary, C. 2008 Microbial community composition in soils of Northern Victoria Land, Antarctica Environmental microbiology 10(7): 1713-1624 doi:10.1111/j.1462-2920.2008.01593.x

Supplemental_Information:

REFERENCE: Wood, S.A. Rueckert, A. Cowan, D.A. Cary, S.C. 2008 Sources of edaphic cyanobacterial diversity in the Dry Valleys of Eastern Antarctica. The ISME journal 2: 308-320 doi:10.1038/ismej.2007.104

Supplemental_Information:

REFERENCE: "Babalola, O.O., Kirby, B.M., Le Roes-Hill, M., Cook, A.E., Cary, S.C., Burton, S.G. And Cowan, D.A. 2009. Phylogenetic analysis of actinobacterial populations associated with Antarctic Dry Valley mineral soils. Environmental Microbiology 11(3): 566-576."

Supplemental_Information:

REFERENCE: Soo, R.M., Wood, S.A., Grzymski, J.J., McDonald, I.R. And Cary, S.C. 2009. Microbial biodiversity of thermophilic communities in hot mineral soils of Tramway Ridge, Mount Erebus, Antarctica. Environmental Microbiology 11 (3): 715-729.

Time_Period_of_Content:

Time_Period_Information:

Range_of_Dates/Times:

Beginning_Date: 20050124

Ending_Date: 20050205

Currentness_Reference:Unknown

Time_Period_of_Content:

Time_Period_Information:

Range_of_Dates/Times:

Beginning_Date: 20060110

Ending_Date: 20060201

Currentness_Reference:Unknown

Time_Period_of_Content:

Time_Period_Information:

Range_of_Dates/Times:

Beginning_Date: 20061126

Ending_Date: 20061213

Currentness_Reference:Unknown

Status:

Progress: In Work

Maintenance_and_Update_Frequency: As needed

Spatial_Domain:

Description_of_Geographic_Extent:

Bounding_Coordinates:

West_Bounding_Coordinate: 163.812

East_Bounding_Coordinate: 163.812

North_Bounding_Coordinate: -78.0943

South_Bounding_Coordinate: -78.0943

Spatial_Domain:

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West_Bounding_Coordinate: 167.45

East_Bounding_Coordinate: 167.45

North_Bounding_Coordinate: -77.7667

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Spatial_Domain:

Description_of_Geographic_Extent:

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West_Bounding_Coordinate: 165.5333

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Spatial_Domain:

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West_Bounding_Coordinate: 160.7155

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Keywords:

Theme:

Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: GCMD SCIENCE PARAMETERS

Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: GCMD PLATFORM

Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: GCMD INSTRUMENT

Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: PROJECT

Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: ISO TOPIC CATEGORY

Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: DATA SET LANGUAGE

Theme_Keyword: EARTH SCIENCE > LAND SURFACE > SOILS > MICRONUTRIENTS/TRACE ELEMENTS

Theme_Keyword: EARTH SCIENCE > LAND SURFACE > SOILS > SOIL MOISTURE/WATER CONTENT

Theme_Keyword: EARTH SCIENCE > LAND SURFACE > SOILS > SOIL PRODUCTIVITY

Theme_Keyword: EARTH SCIENCE > LAND SURFACE > SOILS > SOIL TEMPERATURE

Theme_Keyword: EARTH SCIENCE > LAND SURFACE > SOILS > MICROFLORA

Theme_Keyword: EARTH SCIENCE > BIOSPHERE > ECOLOGICAL DYNAMICS > COMMUNITY DYNAMICS > BIODIVERSITY FUNCTIONS

Theme_Keyword: EARTH SCIENCE > BIOSPHERE > ECOLOGICAL DYNAMICS > COMMUNITY DYNAMICS > COMMUNITY STRUCTURE

Theme_Keyword: FIELD SURVEYS

Theme_Keyword: LABORATORY

Theme_Keyword: SOIL MOISTURE PROBE

Theme_Keyword: SOIL SAMPLER

Theme_Keyword: SOIL TEMPERATURE PROBE

Theme_Keyword: LTER > LONG-TERM ECOLOGICAL RESEARCH

Theme_Keyword: LGP > LATITUDINAL GRADIENT PROJECT

Theme_Keyword: IPY > INTERNATIONAL POLAR YEAR

Theme_Keyword: EBA > EVOLUTION AND BIODIVERSITY IN THE ANTARCTIC

Theme_Keyword: BIOTA

Theme_Keyword: ENVIRONMENT

Theme_Keyword: GEOSCIENTIFIC INFORMATION

Theme_Keyword: ENGLISH

Place:

Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: GCMD

Place_Keyword: CONTINENT > ANTARCTICA

Place_Keyword: CONTINENT > ANTARCTICA > BEACON VALLEY

Place_Keyword: CONTINENT > ANTARCTICA > BRATINA ISLAND

Place_Keyword: CONTINENT > ANTARCTICA > MIERS VALLEY

Place_Keyword: CONTINENT > ANTARCTICA > MT EREBUS

Place_Keyword: GEOGRAPHIC REGION > POLAR

Access_Constraints: Not Available

Use_Constraints:

Not Available

Point_of_Contact:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Person_Primary:

Contact_Person: CRAIG CARY

Contact_Person_Primary:

Contact_Person: DON COWAN

Contact_Position: INVESTIGATOR

Contact_Position: INVESTIGATOR

Contact_Address:

Address_Type: Mailing and Physical Address

Address: Department of Biological Sciences

Address: University of Waikato

Address: PO BOX 3105

City: Hamilton

Postal_Code: 3105

Country: New Zealand

Contact_Address:

Address_Type: Mailing and Physical Address

Address: Department of Biotechnology

Address: University of the Western Cape

Address: Bellville

City: Cape Town

Postal_Code: 7535

Country: SOUTH AFRICA

Contact_Voice_Telephone: +64 7 838 4593

Contact_Voice_Telephone: +27 (21) 959 2083

Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: +64 7 838 4218

Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: +27 (21) 959 3505

Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: caryc@UDel.Edu

Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: c.cary@waikato.ac.nz

Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: dcowan@uwc.ac.za

Data_Quality_Information:

Attribute_Accuracy:

Attribute_Accuracy_Report:

In the 2005-2006 season, samples of soil, sediment and water were collected from Tramway Ridge, Bratina Island meltwater ponds and in the Miers Valley. A set of soil and hypolith samples are held in South Africa. In the 2006-2007 season, samples were collected from Tramway Ridge, Mt Erebus, the Miers Valley and Beacon Valley. Samples consisted of soil, hyperrhic measurements, seal samples, cyanbacterial mats and hyperliths. A small number of samples are held in South Africa. All of the collected samples are stored at the University of Waikato, Hamilton New Zealand in a PC2 containment facility. Various amounts of the samples are held at the University of Western Cape, Cape Town, South Africa and is indicated below. The samples are stored at -80C. The samples were used for DNA analysis and this analysis uses very little material. Therefore, most if not all, of the samples still exist. Please contact the investigator for more information.

Logical_Consistency_Report:

Not Available

Completeness_Report:

Not Available

Lineage:

Process_Step:

Process_Description:

Not Available

Process_Date: Unknown

Spatial_Reference_Information:

Distribution_Information:

Distributor:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Organization_Primary:

Contact_Organization: NZ/NZAI/ANZ > Antarctica New Zealand, New Zealand Antarctic Institute, New Zealand

Contact_Person: SHULAMIT GORDON

Contact_Position: DATA CENTER CONTACT

Contact_Address:

Address_Type: Mailing and Physical Address

Address: Antarctica New Zealand

Address: Private Bag 4745

City: Christchurch

Country: New Zealand

Contact_Voice_Telephone: +64 3 358 0200

Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: +64 3 358 0211

Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: s.gordon@antarcticanz.govt.nz

Resource_Description: K023_2005_2007_NZ_1

Distribution_Liability:

Not Available

Standard_Order_Process:

Digital_Form:

Digital_Transfer_Information:

Format_Name: Not Available

Digital_Transfer_Option:

Online_Option:

Computer_Contact_Information:

Network_Address:

Network_Resource_Name:

http://www.antarcticanz.govt.nz/

Access_Instructions:

DATA CENTER URL

Digital_Transfer_Option:

Online_Option:

Computer_Contact_Information:

Network_Address:

Network_Resource_Name:

http://sci.waikato.ac.nz/staff/biol/carychttp://ww...

Access_Instructions:

The investigators homepage

Fees: Not Available

Metadata_Reference_Information:

Metadata_Date: 20090430

Metadata_Review_Date: 20090702

Metadata_Contact:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Person_Primary:

Contact_Person: CEISHA POIROT

Contact_Person_Primary:

Contact_Person: SHULAMIT GORDON

Contact_Position: DIF AUTHOR

Contact_Position: DIF AUTHOR

Contact_Address:

Address_Type: Mailing and Physical Address

Address: Antarctica New Zealand

Address: Private Bag 4745

City: Christchurch

Country: New Zealand

Contact_Address:

Address_Type: Mailing and Physical Address

Address: Antarctica New Zealand

Address: Private Bag 4745

City: Christchurch

Country: New Zealand

Contact_Voice_Telephone: +64 3 358 0200

Contact_Voice_Telephone: +64 3 358 0200

Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: +64 3 358 0211

Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: +64 3 358 0211

Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: c.poirot@antarcticanz.govt.nz

Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: s.gordon@antarcticanz.govt.nz

Metadata_Standard_Name: FGDC Content Standards for Digital Geospatial Metadata

Metadata_Standard_Version: FGDC-STD-001-1998

Metadata_Time_Convention: local time