Abstract
Microorganisms are a globally ubiquitous component of the atmosphere, of vital importance to climate, human health and environmental processes. Bioaerosols (which include viable fungi, prokaryotes, pollen and viruses as well as biologically derived remnants) are suspected to have a fundamental role in structuring the composition and function of ecosystems globally. Antarctica presents a tractable opportunity to study the dispersal of airborne microorganisms due to its isolation and its simple, microbially dominated ecosystems. Recent advances in technology have begun to shed light on the poorly understood Antarctic aerosphere, with most research focusing on bacteria. This chapter summarises the current knowledge regarding the movement and behaviour of bioaerosols in the global atmosphere, followed by the role that the air plays as a vector of microbes to Antarctica, and an overview of Antarctic bioaerosol research. Survival mechanisms of microbes in the harsh Antarctic terrestrial and atmospheric environments are outlined, followed by a discussion of the potential effects that aerial input to Antarctic ecosystems may have in the face of climate change. Bioaerosols are found to be highly changeable over space and time, with concentrations and compositions influenced by a myriad of variables, particularly climatic factors such as wind speed and temperature. Although studies of Antarctic bioaerosols have confirmed the extremely low biomass predicted in its atmosphere compared with temperate zones, greater biodiversity has been discovered as technology has improved. Multiple lines of evidence indicate that bioaerosols have been globally transported over great distances. While many microbes are believed to survive in the atmosphere as spores, some species may remain metabolically active and could contribute to certain atmospheric processes. The evidence of continual bioaerosol deposition and theorised significance to current ecosystem structuring suggests that as the Antarctic climate changes, deposited microorganisms could drive rapid community shifts. This chapter identifies numerous knowledge gaps in the field, including the variability, environmental drivers, source (where) and extent (how much) of Antarctic airborne microorganisms. Given the predicted importance of airborne transportation to Antarctic ecosystems, it is essential to substantially increase research effort to gain a more comprehensive view of the extreme Antarctic aerosphere.
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King-Miaow, K., Lee, K., Maki, T., LaCap-Bugler, D., Archer, S.D.J. (2019). Airborne Microorganisms in Antarctica: Transport, Survival and Establishment. In: Castro-Sowinski, S. (eds) The Ecological Role of Micro-organisms in the Antarctic Environment. Springer Polar Sciences. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-02786-5_8
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