Functional diversity of microbial communities in soils in the vicinity of Wanda Glacier, Antarctic Peninsula.
Microbial functional diversity in four soils sampled in the vicinity of Wanda Glacier, Antarctic Peninsula, was determined using Biolog EcoPlates at 5°C and 25°C. Comparisons of the patterns of substrate utilization and the diversity index showed differences in community composition, reflecting the heterogeneous distribution of microorganisms in this environment. Differences in microbial diversity may be related to soil chemical properties. Higher incubation temperature influenced the overall microbial diversity, reducing richness due to the selection of psychrotrophic microorganisms. To our knowledge, this is the first study with microbial communities from Wanda Glacier and contributes to understanding the microbial diversity of Antarctic environments.
Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Bento Gonçalves 9500, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
Igor Stelmach
IS
Pessi
Susana de Oliveira
Sde O
Elias
Felipe Lorenz
FL
Simões
Jefferson Cardia
JC
Simões
Alexandre José
AJ
Macedo
D000864:Antarctic Regions; D001419:Bacteria / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D044822:Biodiversity; D000458:Cyanobacteria / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005658:Fungi / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D046448:Ice Cover; D008828:Microbiological Techniques / Q000379:methods; D012988:Soil Microbiology; D013696:Temperature