%0 Generic %A D Zarsky, Jakub %A Stibal, Marek %A Hodson, Andy %A Sattler, Birgit %A Schostag, Morten %A H Hansen, Lars %A S Jacobsen, Carsten %A Psenner, Roland %D 2013 %T Abundances of the 16S rRNA gene and bacterial and archaeal amoA genes (gene copies g−1) in cryoconite on Aldegondabreen (mean ± sd; n = 3) %U https://iop.figshare.com/articles/dataset/___Abundances_of_the_16S_rRNA_gene_and_bacterial_and_archaeal_em_amoA_em_genes_gene_copies_g_sup_1_s/1011901 %R 10.6084/m9.figshare.1011901.v1 %2 https://iop.figshare.com/ndownloader/files/1479726 %K Arctic glacier %K nitrogen cycling %K supraglacial environments %K valley glacier %K prokaryotic microbes %K detection limit %K archaeal amoA genes %K surface debris %K 16 S rRNA gene %K geochemical analysis %K glacier surface %K cryoconite %K bird colonies %K aldegondabreen %K polymerase chain reactions %K surface debris particles %K supraglacial meltwater flow %K 16 S %K Environmental Science %X

Table 4.  Abundances of the 16S rRNA gene and bacterial and archaeal amoA genes (gene copies g−1) in cryoconite on Aldegondabreen (mean ± sd; n = 3). b.d. below detection limit.

Abstract

The aggregation of surface debris particles on melting glaciers into larger units (cryoconite) provides microenvironments for various microorganisms and metabolic processes. Here we investigate the microbial community on the surface of Aldegondabreen, a valley glacier in Svalbard which is supplied with carbon and nutrients from different sources across its surface, including colonies of seabirds. We used a combination of geochemical analysis (of surface debris, ice and meltwater), quantitative polymerase chain reactions (targeting the 16S ribosomal ribonucleic acid and amoA genes), pyrosequencing and multivariate statistical analysis to suggest possible factors driving the ecology of prokaryotic microbes on the surface of Aldegondabreen and their potential role in nitrogen cycling. The combination of high nutrient input with subsidy from the bird colonies, supraglacial meltwater flow and the presence of fine, clay-like particles supports the formation of centimetre-scale cryoconite aggregates in some areas of the glacier surface. We show that a diverse microbial community is present, dominated by the cyanobacteria, Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Actinobacteria, that are well-known in supraglacial environments. Importantly, ammonia-oxidizing archaea were detected in the aggregates for the first time on an Arctic glacier.

%I IOP Publishing