Abstract
The permanent ice covers of Antarctic lakes in the McMurdo Dry Valleys develop liquid water inclusions in response to solar heating of internal aeolian-derived sediments. The ice sediment particles serve as nutrient (inorganic and organic)-enriched microzones for the establishment of a physiologically and ecologically complex microbial consortium capable of contemporaneous photosynthesis, nitrogen fixation, and decomposition. The consortium is capable of physically and chemically establishing and modifying a relatively nutrient- and organic matter-enriched microbial "oasis" embedded in the lake ice cover.
Publication types
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
MeSH terms
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Antarctic Regions
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Bacteria / growth & development*
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Bacteria / metabolism
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Carbon / metabolism
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Carbon Dioxide / metabolism
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Cyanobacteria / genetics
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Cyanobacteria / growth & development
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Cyanobacteria / metabolism
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Ecosystem*
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Exobiology
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Geologic Sediments / microbiology*
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Ice*
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Jupiter
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Mars
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Nitrogen Fixation
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Photosynthesis
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Phylogeny
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RNA, Bacterial / genetics
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RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / genetics
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Water Microbiology*
Substances
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Ice
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RNA, Bacterial
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RNA, Ribosomal, 16S
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Carbon Dioxide
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Carbon
Associated data
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GENBANK/AF076157
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GENBANK/AF076158
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GENBANK/AF076159
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GENBANK/AF076160
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GENBANK/AF076161
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GENBANK/AF076162
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GENBANK/AF076163
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GENBANK/AF076164
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GENBANK/AF076165