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Gradient analysis of cryoconite ecosystems from two polar glaciers

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Abstract

The cylindrical meltholes present in the ablation zones of many glaciers (termed cryoconite holes) contain complex microbial communities. A canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) of community structure and environmental gradients for cryoconite holes on two glaciers was undertaken. The Canada Glacier (77°37′S, 162°55′E) is located in the McMurdo Dry Valleys of Antarctica. The White Glacier (79°27′N, 90°40′W) is located on Axel Heiberg Island, Nunavut Territory, Canada. These glaciers are at similar, yet antipodal latitudes, are roughly the same size and endure approximately the same mean annual temperature. The Canada Glacier cryoconite communities were found to be significantly (P=0.001) associated with six environmental variables, which together explained 55% of the biological variation. The White Glacier cryoconite communities were not significantly associated with environmental variables. The differences in CCA results were attributed to the relative amount of disturbance and isolation between each glacier’s cryoconite holes. Canada Glacier cryoconite holes were mostly ice-covered and undisturbed by meltwater flow, whereas high meltwater production and open cryoconite holes on the White Glacier may continually reset the community structure and habitat variability due to inter-hole mixing.

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Acknowledgements

The Antarctic portion of this research was carried out with the support of Dr. Peter Doran of the McMurdo LTER program (NSF grant OPP-92-11773), Dr. Christian Fritsen (NSF grant OPP-98-14972) and the Polar Continental Shelf Project—Arctic-Antarctic Exchange Program (grant given to WHP). Field assistance was provided by Karen Lewis, Paul Langevin and Kathy Welch, while logistical support was made available by Antarctic Support Associates. The Arctic portion of this research was conducted at the McGill Arctic Research Station with logistical support from the Polar Continental Shelf Project, Natural Resources Canada (this is PCSP/ÉPCP manuscript no. 021–03). Field assistance was provided by Tom Holloway. Financial assistance was provided by an NSERC graduate fellowship to (DRM) and an operating grant (WHP). The authors would like to thank Miles Ecclestone, Trent University, Karen Lewis, University of Colorado and Peter Doran, University of Illinois at Chicago, for sharing unpublished data. This manuscript has benefited from comments from Prof. Gail Chmura, McGill University, Prof. Pierre Legendre, Université de Montréal, Prof. Warwick Vincent, Université Laval, Prof. John Smol, Queen’s University and anonymous reviewers.

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  1. D. R. Mueller

    Present address: Département de Biologie and Centre d’études nordiques, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, G1K 7P4, Canada

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geography and Centre for Climate and Global Change Research, McGill University, Montreal, QC, H3A 2K6, Canada

    D. R. Mueller & W. H. Pollard

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  1. D. R. Mueller
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  2. W. H. Pollard
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Correspondence to D. R. Mueller.

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Mueller, D.R., Pollard, W.H. Gradient analysis of cryoconite ecosystems from two polar glaciers. Polar Biol 27, 66–74 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-003-0580-2

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