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Alessia C, Federica DA, Claudia P, Barbara C, Laura Z, Silvano O. A preliminary survey of the cellular responses of the black fungus Cryomyces antarcticus to long and short-term dehydration. ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY REPORTS 2024; 16:e13309. [PMID: 39075848 PMCID: PMC11286975 DOI: 10.1111/1758-2229.13309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 06/08/2024] [Indexed: 07/31/2024]
Abstract
The McMurdo Dry Valleys in Southern Victoria Land, Antarctica, are known for their extreme aridity, cold, and nutrient-poor conditions. These valleys provide a valuable comparison to environments on Mars. The survival of microorganisms in these areas hinges on their ability to withstand dehydration due to the limited availability of liquid water. Some microorganisms have adapted to survive extended periods of metabolic inactivity and dehydration, a physiological response to the harsh conditions in which they exist. This adaptation is significant for astrobiology studies as it allows for testing the resilience of microorganisms under extraterrestrial conditions, exploring the boundaries and potential for life beyond Earth. In this study, we examined the survivability, metabolic activity, cellular membrane integrity, and ultrastructural damage of Cryomyces antarcticus, a eukaryotic organism used for astrobiological studies, following two dehydration processes. We conducted a fast dehydration process, simulating what happens on the surface of Antarctic rocks under typical environmental conditions, and a slow dehydration process, which is commonly used in astrobiological experiments. Our findings revealed a higher percentage of damaged cells following slow dehydration treatments, confirming that rapid dehydration reflects the adaptability of microorganisms to respond to sudden and drastic changes in the Antarctic environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cassaro Alessia
- Department of Ecological and Biological SciencesUniversity of TusciaViterboItaly
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental SciencesUniversity of BolognaBolognaItaly
| | - D' Alò Federica
- Department of Ecological and Biological SciencesUniversity of TusciaViterboItaly
- Institute of Research on Terrestrial EcosystemsNational Research CouncilPorano (TR)Italy
| | - Pacelli Claudia
- Department of Ecological and Biological SciencesUniversity of TusciaViterboItaly
- Human Spaceflight and Scientific Research UnitItalian Space AgencyRomeItaly
| | - Cavalazzi Barbara
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental SciencesUniversity of BolognaBolognaItaly
- LE STUDIUM Institute for Advanced StudiesOrléansFrance
| | - Zucconi Laura
- Department of Ecological and Biological SciencesUniversity of TusciaViterboItaly
- Institute of Polar SciencesNational Research Council of Italy (CNR‐ISP)MessinaItaly
| | - Onofri Silvano
- Department of Ecological and Biological SciencesUniversity of TusciaViterboItaly
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Christoffersen SN, Pertoldi C, Sørensen JG, Kristensen TN, Bruhn D, Bahrndorff S. Strong acclimation effect of temperature and humidity on heat tolerance of the Arctic collembolan Megaphorura arctica. J Exp Biol 2024; 227:jeb247394. [PMID: 38841875 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.247394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 05/20/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024]
Abstract
The Arctic is a highly variable environment in which extreme daily and seasonal temperature fluctuations can occur. With climate change, an increase in the occurrence of extreme high temperatures and drought events is expected. While the effects of cold and dehydration stress on polar arthropods are well studied in combination, little is known about how these species respond to the combined effects of heat and dehydration stress. In this paper, we investigated how the heat tolerance of the Arctic collembola Megaphorura arctica is affected by combinations of different temperature and humidity acclimation regimes under controlled laboratory conditions. The effect of acclimation temperature was complex and highly dependent on both acclimation time and temperature, and was found to have a positive, negative or no effect depending on experimental conditions. Further, we found marked effects of the interaction between temperature and humidity on heat tolerance, with lower humidity severely decreasing heat tolerance when the acclimation temperature was increased. This effect was more pronounced with increasing acclimation time. Lastly, the effect of acclimation on heat tolerance under a fluctuating temperature regime was dependent on acclimation temperature and time, as well as humidity levels. Together, these results show that thermal acclimation alone has moderate or no effect on heat tolerance, but that drought events, likely to be more frequent in the future, in combination with high temperature stress can have large negative impacts on heat tolerance of some Arctic arthropods.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Cino Pertoldi
- Department of Chemistry and Bioscience, Aalborg University, 9220 Aalborg East, Denmark
- Aalborg Zoo, Mølleparkvej 63, 9000 Aalborg, Denmark
| | | | | | - Dan Bruhn
- Department of Chemistry and Bioscience, Aalborg University, 9220 Aalborg East, Denmark
| | - Simon Bahrndorff
- Department of Chemistry and Bioscience, Aalborg University, 9220 Aalborg East, Denmark
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Yang L, Zhang Q, Yu D, Zhu W, Wang Y. Synergistic Inhibitions of Gram-Negative Bacteria by Combination Treatment with Ciprofloxacin and a Novel Glucolipid. Chem Biodivers 2024; 21:e202400578. [PMID: 38634186 DOI: 10.1002/cbdv.202400578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2024] [Revised: 04/16/2024] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
Psychrophilic fungus Pseudogymnoascus sp. OUCMDZ-4032 derived from Antarctica was cultivated under 16 °C to produce a new glucolipid compound (1). Its structure was elucidated by analysis of detailed spectroscopic data, acid hydrolysis and 1-phenyl-3-methyl-5-pyrazolone precolumn derivatization, and 13C NMR quantum chemical calculations. Though compound 1 did not show inhibitory activity against bacteria, it can reduce the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of ciprofloxacin against Gram-negative bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, and Salmonella paratyphi by 1024, 256 and 256-fold. Compound 1 showed potential as a synergistically inhibiting adjuvant in co-administration with antibiotic to enhance antibacterial activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liyuan Yang
- School of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003, China
| | - Qingqing Zhang
- School of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003, China
| | - Deng Yu
- School of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003, China
| | - Weiming Zhu
- School of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003, China
- Key Laboratory for Marine Drugs and Bioproducts, Laoshan Laboratory, Qingdao, 266237, China
- Key Laboratory of Marine Drugs, Ministry of Education of China, School of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003, China
| | - Yi Wang
- School of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003, China
- Key Laboratory for Marine Drugs and Bioproducts, Laoshan Laboratory, Qingdao, 266237, China
- Key Laboratory of Marine Drugs, Ministry of Education of China, School of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003, China
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Sáez PL, Vallejos V, Sancho-Knapik D, Cavieres LA, Ramírez CF, Bravo LA, Javier Peguero-Pina J, Gil-Pelegrín E, Galmés J. Leaf hydraulic properties of Antarctic plants: effects of growth temperature and its coordination with photosynthesis. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2024; 75:2013-2026. [PMID: 38173309 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erad474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
One of the well-documented effects of regional warming in Antarctica is the impact on flora. Warmer conditions modify several leaf anatomical traits of Antarctic vascular plants, increasing photosynthesis and growth. Given that CO2 and water vapor partially share their diffusion pathways through the leaf, changes in leaf anatomy could also affect the hydraulic traits of Antarctic plants. We evaluated the effects of growth temperature on several anatomical and hydraulic parameters of Antarctic plants and assessed the trait co-variation between these parameters and photosynthetic performance. Warmer conditions promoted an increase in leaf and whole plant hydraulic conductivity, correlating with adjustments in carbon assimilation. These adjustments were consistent with changes in leaf vasculature, where Antarctic species displayed different strategies. At higher temperature, Colobanthus quitensis decreased the number of leaf xylem vessels, but increased their diameter. In contrast, in Deschampsia antarctica the diameter did not change, but the number of vessels increased. Despite this contrasting behavior, some traits such as a small leaf diameter of vessels and a high cell wall rigidity were maintained in both species, suggesting a water-conservation response associated with the ability of Antarctic plants to cope with harsh environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia L Sáez
- Laboratorio de Fisiología y Biología Molecular Vegetal, Instituto de Agroindustria, Departamento de Ciencias Agronómicas y Recursos Naturales, Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias y Medioambiente, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco, Chile
- Instituto de Ecología y Biodiversidad-IEB, Concepción, Chile
| | - Valentina Vallejos
- Laboratorio Cultivo de Tejidos Vegetales, Centro de Biotecnología, y Facultad de Ciencias Forestales, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile
| | - Domingo Sancho-Knapik
- Departamento de Sistemas Agrícolas, Forestales y Medio Ambiente, Centro de Investigación y Tecnología Agroalimentaria, Gobierno de Aragón, Zaragoza, España
| | - Lohengrin A Cavieres
- Instituto de Ecología y Biodiversidad-IEB, Concepción, Chile
- ECOBIOSIS, Departamento de Botánica, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Oceanográficas, Universidad de Concepción, Barrio Universitario s/n, Concepción, Chile
| | - Constanza F Ramírez
- Laboratorio Cultivo de Tejidos Vegetales, Centro de Biotecnología, y Facultad de Ciencias Forestales, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile
| | - León A Bravo
- Laboratorio de Fisiología y Biología Molecular Vegetal, Instituto de Agroindustria, Departamento de Ciencias Agronómicas y Recursos Naturales, Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias y Medioambiente, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco, Chile
| | - José Javier Peguero-Pina
- Departamento de Sistemas Agrícolas, Forestales y Medio Ambiente, Centro de Investigación y Tecnología Agroalimentaria, Gobierno de Aragón, Zaragoza, España
| | - Eustaquio Gil-Pelegrín
- Departamento de Sistemas Agrícolas, Forestales y Medio Ambiente, Centro de Investigación y Tecnología Agroalimentaria, Gobierno de Aragón, Zaragoza, España
| | - Jeroni Galmés
- Research Group on Plant Biology under Mediterranean Conditions, INAGEA-Universitat de les Illes Balears, Palma de Mallorca, Balearic Islands, Spain
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Yin H, Perera-Castro AV, Randall KL, Turnbull JD, Waterman MJ, Dunn J, Robinson SA. Basking in the sun: how mosses photosynthesise and survive in Antarctica. PHOTOSYNTHESIS RESEARCH 2023; 158:151-169. [PMID: 37515652 PMCID: PMC10684656 DOI: 10.1007/s11120-023-01040-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 07/31/2023]
Abstract
The Antarctic environment is extremely cold, windy and dry. Ozone depletion has resulted in increasing ultraviolet-B radiation, and increasing greenhouse gases and decreasing stratospheric ozone have altered Antarctica's climate. How do mosses thrive photosynthetically in this harsh environment? Antarctic mosses take advantage of microclimates where the combination of protection from wind, sufficient melt water, nutrients from seabirds and optimal sunlight provides both photosynthetic energy and sufficient warmth for efficient metabolism. The amount of sunlight presents a challenge: more light creates warmer canopies which are optimal for photosynthetic enzymes but can contain excess light energy that could damage the photochemical apparatus. Antarctic mosses thus exhibit strong photoprotective potential in the form of xanthophyll cycle pigments. Conversion to zeaxanthin is high when conditions are most extreme, especially when water content is low. Antarctic mosses also produce UV screening compounds which are maintained in cell walls in some species and appear to protect from DNA damage under elevated UV-B radiation. These plants thus survive in one of the harshest places on Earth by taking advantage of the best real estate to optimise their metabolism. But survival is precarious and it remains to be seen if these strategies will still work as the Antarctic climate changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Yin
- Securing Antarctica's Environmental Future, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, 2522, Australia
- Centre for Sustainable Ecosystem Solutions, School of Earth, Atmospheric and Life Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, 2522, Australia
| | | | - Krystal L Randall
- Securing Antarctica's Environmental Future, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, 2522, Australia
- Centre for Sustainable Ecosystem Solutions, School of Earth, Atmospheric and Life Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, 2522, Australia
| | - Johanna D Turnbull
- Securing Antarctica's Environmental Future, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, 2522, Australia
- Centre for Sustainable Ecosystem Solutions, School of Earth, Atmospheric and Life Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, 2522, Australia
| | - Melinda J Waterman
- Securing Antarctica's Environmental Future, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, 2522, Australia
- Centre for Sustainable Ecosystem Solutions, School of Earth, Atmospheric and Life Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, 2522, Australia
| | - Jodie Dunn
- Securing Antarctica's Environmental Future, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, 2522, Australia
- Centre for Sustainable Ecosystem Solutions, School of Earth, Atmospheric and Life Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, 2522, Australia
| | - Sharon A Robinson
- Securing Antarctica's Environmental Future, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, 2522, Australia.
- Centre for Sustainable Ecosystem Solutions, School of Earth, Atmospheric and Life Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, 2522, Australia.
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Rybalka N, Blanke M, Tzvetkova A, Noll A, Roos C, Boy J, Boy D, Nimptsch D, Godoy R, Friedl T. Unrecognized diversity and distribution of soil algae from Maritime Antarctica (Fildes Peninsula, King George Island). Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1118747. [PMID: 37434717 PMCID: PMC10332270 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1118747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 07/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Eukaryotic algae in the top few centimeters of fellfield soils of ice-free Maritime Antarctica have many important effects on their habitat, such as being significant drivers of organic matter input into the soils and reducing the impact of wind erosion by soil aggregate formation. To better understand the diversity and distribution of Antarctic terrestrial algae, we performed a pilot study on the surface soils of Meseta, an ice-free plateau mountain crest of Fildes Peninsula, King George Island, being hardly influenced by the marine realm and anthropogenic disturbances. It is openly exposed to microbial colonization from outside Antarctica and connected to the much harsher and dryer ice-free zones of the continental Antarctic. A temperate reference site under mild land use, SchF, was included to further test for the Meseta algae distribution in a contrasting environment. Methods We employed a paired-end metabarcoding analysis based on amplicons of the highly variable nuclear-encoded ITS2 rDNA region, complemented by a clone library approach. It targeted the four algal classes, Chlorophyceae, Trebouxiophyceae, Ulvophyceae, and Xanthophyceae, representing key groups of cold-adapted soil algae. Results A surprisingly high diversity of 830 algal OTUs was revealed, assigned to 58 genera in the four targeted algal classes. Members of the green algal class Trebouxiophyceae predominated in the soil algae communities. The major part of the algal biodiversity, 86.1% of all algal OTUs, could not be identified at the species level due to insufficient representation in reference sequence databases. The classes Ulvophyceae and Xanthophyceae exhibited the most unknown species diversity. About 9% of the Meseta algae species diversity was shared with that of the temperate reference site in Germany. Discussion In the small portion of algal OTUs for which their distribution could be assessed, the entire ITS2 sequence identity with references shows that the soil algae likely have a wide distribution beyond the Polar regions. They probably originated from soil algae propagule banks in far southern regions, transported by aeolian transport over long distances. The dynamics and severity of environmental conditions at the soil surface, determined by high wind currents, and the soil algae's high adaptability to harsh environmental conditions may account for the high similarity of soil algal communities between the northern and southern parts of the Meseta.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nataliya Rybalka
- Department of Experimental Phycology and Culture Collection of Algae (EPSAG), Albrecht-von-Haller-Institute for Plant Sciences, Georg August University, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Matthias Blanke
- Department of Experimental Phycology and Culture Collection of Algae (EPSAG), Albrecht-von-Haller-Institute for Plant Sciences, Georg August University, Göttingen, Germany
- Department of Bioinformatics, Institute of Microbiology and Genetics, Georg August University, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Ana Tzvetkova
- Institute of Bioinformatics and Human Molecular Genetics Group, Department of Functional Genomics, Interfaculty Institute of Genetics and Functional Genomics, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Angela Noll
- Primate Genetics Laboratory, German Primate Center, Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Christian Roos
- Primate Genetics Laboratory, German Primate Center, Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Jens Boy
- Institute of Soil Science, Leibniz University, Hanover, Germany
| | - Diana Boy
- Institute of Microbiology, Leibniz University, Hanover, Germany
| | - Daniel Nimptsch
- Department of Experimental Phycology and Culture Collection of Algae (EPSAG), Albrecht-von-Haller-Institute for Plant Sciences, Georg August University, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Roberto Godoy
- Instituto de Ciencias Ambientales y Evolutivas, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
| | - Thomas Friedl
- Department of Experimental Phycology and Culture Collection of Algae (EPSAG), Albrecht-von-Haller-Institute for Plant Sciences, Georg August University, Göttingen, Germany
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Manenti R, Galbiati M, Lapadula S, Forlani M, Barzaghi B, Melotto A, Ficetola GF. Behavioural drivers of ecotone exploitation: activity of groundwater animals in spring. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2023. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-023-03297-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/16/2023]
Abstract
Abstract
Border habitats such as interfaces and ecotones are promising research targets being likely areas of high species richness and genetic and phenotypic diversity. Springs are intriguing habitats exploited by both subterranean and surface species. For subterranean species, springs can provide higher trophic resources but can be risky in terms of predation and UV radiation, while for surface species, springs can be safer but less productive environments. We coupled field surveys and laboratory experiments to understand how predation risk and physical constraints, like light occurrence, affect spring exploitation by both a subterranean (Niphargus thuringius) and a surface crustacean amphipod species (Echinogammarus stammeri). From March to May 2021, we surveyed multiple springs and evaluated the activity (both during day and night) of the amphipods and of their predators. Furthermore, in a subterranean laboratory, we reared 80 N. thuringius and 80 E. stammeri under safe and risky conditions with both constant darkness and diel light variation assessing their activity and survival. Risky conditions were represented by the occurrence of meso-predators alone or coupled with the presence of a top predator. In the field, N. thuringius activity was negatively related to the density of predators, while laboratory experiments revealed a main role played by light treatments and night period. E. stammeri activity in the field was higher close to surface while in laboratory conditions decreased during time. In laboratory conditions, predation risk negatively affected survival of both amphipods. Our findings reveal that physical constraints play a key role in affecting the exploitation of ecotones and can mediate antipredator responses, thus providing selective pressures for the exploitation of border environments.
Significance statement
Understanding environmental pressures acting on ecotones is a key point to verify if new adaptations may occur at the border between two distinct habitats. Using both field and laboratory approaches, we show that, in springs, the behaviour of subterranean invertebrates is affected by surface physical constraints which can mediate the effects of predation risk. Behavioural strategies to avoid predation, such as nocturnal activity, may promote spring ecotone exploitation by groundwater animals, such as amphipod crustaceans.
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Convey P, Hughes KA. Untangling unexpected terrestrial conservation challenges arising from the historical human exploitation of marine mammals in the Atlantic sector of the Southern Ocean. AMBIO 2023; 52:357-375. [PMID: 36048407 PMCID: PMC9755428 DOI: 10.1007/s13280-022-01782-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2022] [Revised: 07/06/2022] [Accepted: 08/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Intensive human exploitation of the Antarctic fur seal (Arctocephalus gazella) in its primary population centre on sub-Antarctic South Georgia, as well as on other sub-Antarctic islands and parts of the South Shetland Islands, in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries rapidly brought populations to the brink of extinction. The species has now recovered throughout its original distribution. Non-breeding and yearling seals, almost entirely males, from the South Georgia population now disperse in the summer months far more widely and in higher numbers than there is evidence for taking place in the pre-exploitation era. Large numbers now haul out in coastal terrestrial habitats in the South Orkney Islands and also along the north-east and west coast of the Antarctic Peninsula to at least Marguerite Bay. In these previously less- or non-visited areas, the seals cause levels of damage likely never to have been experienced previously to fragile terrestrial habitats through trampling and over-fertilisation, as well as eutrophication of sensitive freshwater ecosystems. This increased area of summer impact is likely to have further synergies with aspects of regional climate change, including reduction in extent and duration of sea ice permitting seals access farther south, and changes in krill abundance and distribution. The extent and conservation value of terrestrial habitats and biodiversity now threatened by fur seal distribution expansion, and the multiple anthropogenic factors acting in synergy both historically and to the present day, present a new and as yet unaddressed challenge to the agencies charged with ensuring the protection and conservation of Antarctica's unique ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Convey
- British Antarctic Survey, NERC, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB3 0ET, UK.
- Department of Zoology, University of Johannesburg, Auckland Park 2006, South Africa.
| | - Kevin A Hughes
- British Antarctic Survey, NERC, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB3 0ET, UK
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Perfetti-Bolaño A, Muñoz K, Kolok AS, Araneda A, Barra RO. Analysis of the contribution of locally derived wastewater to the occurrence of Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products in Antarctic coastal waters. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 851:158116. [PMID: 35988631 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.158116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2022] [Revised: 08/13/2022] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products (PPCPs) are emerging pollutants detected in many locations of the world including Antarctica. The main objective of this review is to discuss the influence of the human population on the concentration, distribution and biological effects of PPCPs across the Antarctic coastal marine ecosystem. We carried out a review of the scientific articles published for PPCPs in Antarctic, supported by the information of the Antarctic stations reported by Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programs (CONMAP), Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) and Secretariat of the Antarctic Treaty (ATS). In addition, spatial data regarding the Antarctic continent was obtained from Quantarctica. Antarctic concentrations of PPCPs were more reflective of the treatment system used by research stations as opposed to the infrastructure built or the annual occupancy by station. The main problem is that most of the research stations lack tertiary treatment, resulting in elevated concentrations of PPCPs in effluents. Furthermore, the geographic distribution of Antarctic field stations in coastal areas allows for the release of PPCPs, directly into the sea, a practice that remains in compliance with the current Protocol. After their release, PPCPs can become incorporated into sea ice, which can then act as a chemical reservoir. In addition, there is no clarity on the effects on the local biota. Finally, we recommend regulating the entry and use of PPCPs in Antarctica given the difficulties of operating, and in some cases the complete absence of appropriate treatment systems. Further studies are needed on the fate, transport and biological effects of PPCPs on the Antarctic biota. It is recommended that research efforts be carried out in areas inhabited by humans to generate mitigation measures relative to potential adverse impacts. Tourism should be also considered in further studies due the temporal release of PPCPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Perfetti-Bolaño
- Facultad de Ciencias Ambientales y Centro EULA-Chile, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción 4070386, Chile.
| | - Katherine Muñoz
- Institute for Environmental Sciences, University of Koblenz-Landau, Landau 76829, Germany
| | - Alan S Kolok
- Idaho Water Resources Research Institute, University of Idaho, 875 Perimeter Drive, MS 3002, Moscow, ID 83843, USA
| | - Alberto Araneda
- Facultad de Ciencias Ambientales y Centro EULA-Chile, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción 4070386, Chile
| | - Ricardo O Barra
- Facultad de Ciencias Ambientales y Centro EULA-Chile, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción 4070386, Chile; Instituto Milenio en Socio Ecología-Costera (SECOS), Santiago, Chile
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Liu S, Li T, Fang S, Zhang P, Yi D, Cong B, Zhang Z, Zhao L. Metabolic profiling and gene expression analyses provide insights into cold adaptation of an Antarctic moss Pohlia nutans. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:1006991. [PMID: 36176693 PMCID: PMC9514047 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.1006991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 08/11/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Antarctica is the coldest, driest, and most windy continent on earth. The major terrestrial vegetation consists of cryptogams (mosses and lichens) and two vascular plant species. However, the molecular mechanism of cold tolerance and relevant regulatory networks were largely unknown in these Antarctic plants. Here, we investigated the global alterations in metabolites and regulatory pathways of an Antarctic moss (Pohlia nutans) under cold stress using an integrated multi-omics approach. We found that proline content and several antioxidant enzyme activities were significantly increased in P. nutans under cold stress, but the contents of chlorophyll and total flavonoids were markedly decreased. A total of 559 metabolites were detected using ultra high-performance liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI-MS/MS). We observed 39 and 71 differentially changed metabolites (DCMs) after 24 h and 60 h cold stress, indicating that several major pathways were differentially activated for producing fatty acids, alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids, and phenolic acids. In addition, the quantitative transcriptome sequencing was conducted to uncover the global transcriptional profiles of P. nutans under cold stress. The representative differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified and summarized to the function including Ca2+ signaling, ABA signaling, jasmonate signaling, fatty acids biosynthesis, flavonoid biosynthesis, and other biological processes. The integrated dataset analyses of metabolome and transcriptome revealed that jasmonate signaling, auxin signaling, very-long-chain fatty acids and flavonoid biosynthesis pathways might contribute to P. nutans acclimating to cold stress. Overall, these observations provide insight into Antarctic moss adaptations to polar habitats and the impact of global climate change on Antarctic plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shenghao Liu
- Key Laboratory of Marine Eco-Environmental Science and Technology, First Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Qingdao, China
- School of Advanced Manufacturing, Fuzhou University, Jinjiang, China
| | - Tingting Li
- Key Laboratory of Marine Eco-Environmental Science and Technology, First Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Qingdao, China
| | - Shuo Fang
- Key Laboratory of Marine Eco-Environmental Science and Technology, First Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Qingdao, China
| | - Pengying Zhang
- National Glycoengineering Research Center, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
| | - Dan Yi
- Key Laboratory of Marine Eco-Environmental Science and Technology, First Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Qingdao, China
| | - Bailin Cong
- Key Laboratory of Marine Eco-Environmental Science and Technology, First Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Qingdao, China
- School of Advanced Manufacturing, Fuzhou University, Jinjiang, China
| | - Zhaohui Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Marine Eco-Environmental Science and Technology, First Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Qingdao, China
- Laboratory for Marine Ecology and Environmental Science, Pilot National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, China
| | - Linlin Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Marine Eco-Environmental Science and Technology, First Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Qingdao, China
- School of Advanced Manufacturing, Fuzhou University, Jinjiang, China
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11
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Beltrán-Sanz N, Raggio J, Gonzalez S, Dal Grande F, Prost S, Green A, Pintado A, Sancho LG. Climate change leads to higher NPP at the end of the century in the Antarctic Tundra: Response patterns through the lens of lichens. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 835:155495. [PMID: 35472357 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.155495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2021] [Revised: 04/20/2022] [Accepted: 04/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Poikilohydric autotrophs are the main colonizers of the permanent ice-free areas in the Antarctic tundra biome. Global climate warming and the small human footprint in this ecosystem make it especially vulnerable to abrupt changes. Elucidating the effects of climate change on the Antarctic ecosystem is challenging because it mainly comprises poikilohydric species, which are greatly influenced by microtopographic factors. In the present study, we investigated the potential effects of climate change on the metabolic activity and net primary photosynthesis (NPP) in the widespread lichen species Usnea aurantiaco-atra. Long-term monitoring of chlorophyll a fluorescence in the field was combined with photosynthetic performance measurements in laboratory experiments in order to establish the daily response patterns under biotic and abiotic factors at micro- and macro-scales. Our findings suggest that macroclimate is a poor predictor of NPP, thereby indicating that microclimate is the main driver due to the strong effects of microtopographic factors on cryptogams. Metabolic activity is also crucial for estimating the NPP, which is highly dependent on the type, distribution, and duration of the hydration sources available throughout the year. Under RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5, metabolic activity will increase slightly compared with that at present due to the increased precipitation events predicted in MIROC5. Temperature is highlighted as the main driver for NPP projections, and thus climate warming will lead to an average increase in NPP of 167-171% at the end of the century. However, small changes in other drivers such as light and relative humidity may strongly modify the metabolic activity patterns of poikilohydric autotrophs, and thus their NPP. Species with similar physiological response ranges to the species investigated in the present study are expected to behave in a similar manner provided that liquid water is available.
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Affiliation(s)
- Núria Beltrán-Sanz
- Departamento de Biología Vegetal II, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
| | - José Raggio
- Departamento de Biología Vegetal II, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Sergi Gonzalez
- Antarctic Group, Spanish Meteorological Service (AEMET), Spain
| | - Francesco Dal Grande
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (SBiK-F), Senckenberg Gesellschaft für Naturforschung, Senckenberganlage 25, 60325 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Stefan Prost
- Department of Behavioural and Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, 1090 Vienna, Austria; University of Veterinary Medicine, Konrad Lorenz Institute of Ethology, Savoyenstrasse 1a, A-1160 Vienna, Austria; Natural History Museum Vienna, Central Research Laboratories, Burgring 7, 1010 Vienna, Austria; South African National Biodiversity Institute, P.O. Box 754, Pretoria 0001, South Africa
| | - Allan Green
- Departamento de Biología Vegetal II, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Ana Pintado
- Departamento de Biología Vegetal II, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Leopoldo García Sancho
- Departamento de Biología Vegetal II, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
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Perera-Castro AV, González-Rodríguez ÁM, Fernández-Marín B. When time is not of the essence: constraints to the carbon balance of bryophytes. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2022; 73:4562-4575. [PMID: 35298628 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erac104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2021] [Accepted: 03/10/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The data available so far indicate that the photosynthetic and relative growth rates of bryophytes are 10% of those reported for tracheophytes. By examining the existing literature and reanalysing data published in over 100 studies, this review examines the ecophysiological, biochemical, and structural reasons behind this phenomenon. The limiting Rubisco content and surface for gas exchange are the internal factors that can explain the low photosynthetic and growth rates of bryophytes. The role of the thicker cell walls of bryophytes in limiting CO2 diffusion is unclear, due to the current uncertainties regarding their porosity and permeability to CO2. From this review, it is also evident that, despite bryophytes having low photosynthetic rates, their positive carbon balance is tightly related to their capacity to deal with extreme conditions. Contributing factors include their capacity to deal with large daily temperature oscillations, and their capacity to delay the cessation of photosynthesis under water deficit (or to tolerate desiccation in extreme situations). Although further studies on bryophytes are needed before more solid conclusions can be drawn, it seems that their success relies on their remarkable tolerance to a highly variable environment, possibly at the expense of their maximum photosynthetic rate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alicia V Perera-Castro
- Department of Botany, Ecology and Plant Physiology, Universidad de La Laguna, 38200 La Laguna, Canary Islands, Spain
| | - Águeda M González-Rodríguez
- Department of Botany, Ecology and Plant Physiology, Universidad de La Laguna, 38200 La Laguna, Canary Islands, Spain
| | - Beatriz Fernández-Marín
- Department of Botany, Ecology and Plant Physiology, Universidad de La Laguna, 38200 La Laguna, Canary Islands, Spain
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13
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Kozeretska I, Serga S, Kovalenko P, Gorobchyshyn V, Convey P. Belgica antarctica (Diptera: Chironomidae): A natural model organism for extreme environments. INSECT SCIENCE 2022; 29:2-20. [PMID: 33913258 DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.12925] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2021] [Revised: 03/17/2021] [Accepted: 03/23/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Belgica antarctica (Diptera: Chironomidae), a brachypterous midge endemic to the maritime Antarctic, was first described in 1900. Over more than a century of study, a vast amount of information has been compiled on the species (3 750 000 Google search results as of January 10, 2021), encompassing its ecology and biology, life cycle and reproduction, polytene chromosomes, physiology, biochemistry and, increasingly, omics. In 2014, B. antarctica's genome was sequenced, further boosting research. Certain developmental stages can be cultured successfully in the laboratory. Taken together, this wealth of information allows the species to be viewed as a natural model organism for studies of adaptation and function in extreme environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iryna Kozeretska
- National Antarctic Scientific Center of Ukraine, 01601, Taras Shevchenko blv., 16, Kyiv, Ukraine
| | - Svitlana Serga
- National Antarctic Scientific Center of Ukraine, 01601, Taras Shevchenko blv., 16, Kyiv, Ukraine
- Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Department General and Medical Genetics, 01601, Volodymyrska str., 64/13, Kyiv, Ukraine
| | - Pavlo Kovalenko
- State Institution «Institute for Evolutionary Ecology of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine», Department of Population Dynamics, 03143, Lebedeva str., 37, Kyiv, Ukraine
| | - Volodymyr Gorobchyshyn
- State Institution «Institute for Evolutionary Ecology of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine», Department of Population Dynamics, 03143, Lebedeva str., 37, Kyiv, Ukraine
| | - Peter Convey
- British Antarctic Survey, NERC, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB3 0ET, United Kingdom
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14
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Câmara PEAS, Convey P, Rangel SB, Konrath M, Barreto CC, Pinto OHB, Silva MC, Henriques DK, de Oliveira HC, Rosa LH. The largest moss carpet transplant in Antarctica and its bryosphere cryptic biodiversity. Extremophiles 2021; 25:369-384. [PMID: 34117569 DOI: 10.1007/s00792-021-01235-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2021] [Accepted: 06/01/2021] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
As part of the reconstruction of the Brazilian Antarctic Station on King George Island, three areas of moss carpet were transplanted to minimize the impact of the new facilities on the local biodiversity. A total of 650 m2 of moss carpet was transplanted to neighboring but previously uncolonized locations and has subsequently survived for the last 3 years. Antarctic moss carpets typically comprise low moss species diversity and are often monospecific. We investigated the cryptic biodiversity that was transplanted along with the carpets using a metabarcoding approach through high throughput sequencing. We targeted 16S rRNA for Bacteria and Archaea, ITS for Fungi and Viridiplantae and Cox1 for Metazoa. We detected DNA representing 263 taxa from five Kingdoms (Chromista, Fungi, Metazoa, Protista and Viridiplantae), two Domains (Archaea and Bacteria) and 33 Phyla associated with the carpet. This diversity included one Archaea, 189 Bacteria, 24 Chromista, 19 Fungi, eight Metazoa, seven Protista and 16 Viridiplantae. Bacteria was the most abundant, rich and diverse group, with Chromista second in diversity and richness. Metazoa was less diverse but second highest in dominance. This is the first study to attempt transplanting a significant area of moss carpet to minimize anthropogenic environmental damage in Antarctica and to use metabarcoding as a proxy to assess diversity associated with Antarctic moss carpets, further highlighting the importance of such habitats for other organisms and their importance for conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Sandro B Rangel
- Instituto Brasileiro Do Meio Ambiente, IBAMA, Brasilia, Brazil
| | - Marcelo Konrath
- China National Electronics Import and Export Corporation, CEIEC, Beijing, China
| | | | - Otavio H B Pinto
- Departamento de Biologia Molecular, Universidade de Brasília, Brasilia, Brazil
| | | | | | | | - Luiz H Rosa
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
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Abstract
The Antarctic environment is famously inhospitable to most terrestrial biodiversity, traditionally viewed as a driver of species extinction. Combining population- and species-level molecular data, we show that beetles on islands along the Antarctic Polar Front diversified in response to major climatic events over the last 50 Ma in surprising synchrony with the region’s marine organisms. Unique algae- and moss-feeding habits enabled beetles to capitalize on cooling conditions, which resulted in a decline in flowering plants—the typical hosts for beetles elsewhere. Antarctica’s cooling paleoclimate thus fostered the diversification of both terrestrial and marine life. Climatically driven evolutionary processes since the Miocene may underpin much of the region’s diversity, are still ongoing, and should be further investigated among Antarctic biota. Global cooling and glacial–interglacial cycles since Antarctica’s isolation have been responsible for the diversification of the region’s marine fauna. By contrast, these same Earth system processes are thought to have played little role terrestrially, other than driving widespread extinctions. Here, we show that on islands along the Antarctic Polar Front, paleoclimatic processes have been key to diversification of one of the world’s most geographically isolated and unique groups of herbivorous beetles—Ectemnorhinini weevils. Combining phylogenomic, phylogenetic, and phylogeographic approaches, we demonstrate that these weevils colonized the sub-Antarctic islands from Africa at least 50 Ma ago and repeatedly dispersed among them. As the climate cooled from the mid-Miocene, diversification of the beetles accelerated, resulting in two species-rich clades. One of these clades specialized to feed on cryptogams, typical of the polar habitats that came to prevail under Miocene conditions yet remarkable as a food source for any beetle. This clade’s most unusual representative is a marine weevil currently undergoing further speciation. The other clade retained the more common weevil habit of feeding on angiosperms, which likely survived glaciation in isolated refugia. Diversification of Ectemnorhinini weevils occurred in synchrony with many other Antarctic radiations, including penguins and notothenioid fishes, and coincided with major environmental changes. Our results thus indicate that geo-climatically driven diversification has progressed similarly for Antarctic marine and terrestrial organisms since the Miocene, potentially constituting a general biodiversity paradigm that should be sought broadly for the region’s taxa.
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Bokhorst S, Convey P, Casanova-Katny A, Aerts R. Warming impacts potential germination of non-native plants on the Antarctic Peninsula. Commun Biol 2021; 4:403. [PMID: 33767327 PMCID: PMC7994377 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-021-01951-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2020] [Accepted: 03/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
The Antarctic Peninsula is under pressure from non-native plants and this risk is expected to increase under climate warming. Establishment and subsequent range expansion of non-native plants depend in part on germination ability under Antarctic conditions, but quantifying these processes has yet to receive detailed study. Viability testing and plant growth responses under simulated Antarctic soil surface conditions over an annual cycle show that 16 non-native species, including grasses, herbs, rushes and a succulent, germinated and continued development under a warming scenario. Thermal germination requirement (degree day sum) was calculated for each species and field soil-temperature recordings indicate that this is satisfied as far south as 72° S. Here, we show that the establishment potential of non-native species, in number and geographical range, is considerably greater than currently suggested by species distribution modelling approaches, with important implications for risk assessments of non-native species along the Antarctic Peninsula.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stef Bokhorst
- Department of Ecological Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - Peter Convey
- British Antarctic Survey, Natural Environment Research Council, Cambridge, UK
| | - Angélica Casanova-Katny
- Laboratorio de Ecofisiologia Vegetal y Núcleo de Estudios Ambientales (NEA), Facultad de Recursos Naturales, Universidad Católica de Temuco, Temuco, Chile
| | - Rien Aerts
- Department of Ecological Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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17
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Kim IS, Choi W, Son J, Lee JH, Lee H, Lee J, Shin SC, Kim HW. Screening and Genetic Network Analysis of Genes Involved in Freezing and Thawing Resistance in DaMDHAR-Expressing Saccharomyces cerevisiae Using Gene Expression Profiling. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:genes12020219. [PMID: 33546197 PMCID: PMC7913288 DOI: 10.3390/genes12020219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2020] [Revised: 01/28/2021] [Accepted: 01/30/2021] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
The cryoprotection of cell activity is a key determinant in frozen-dough technology. Although several factors that contribute to freezing tolerance have been reported, the mechanism underlying the manner in which yeast cells respond to freezing and thawing (FT) stress is not well established. Therefore, the present study demonstrated the relationship between DaMDHAR encoding monodehydroascorbate reductase from Antarctic hairgrass Deschampsia antarctica and stress tolerance to repeated FT cycles (FT2) in transgenic yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. DaMDHAR-expressing yeast (DM) cells identified by immunoblotting analysis showed high tolerance to FT stress conditions, thereby causing lower damage for yeast cells than wild-type (WT) cells with empty vector alone. To detect FT2 tolerance-associated genes, 3′-quant RNA sequencing was employed using mRNA isolated from DM and WT cells exposed to FT (FT2) conditions. Approximately 332 genes showed ≥2-fold changes in DM cells and were classified into various groups according to their gene expression. The expressions of the changed genes were further confirmed using western blot analysis and biochemical assay. The upregulated expression of 197 genes was associated with pentose phosphate pathway, NADP metabolic process, metal ion homeostasis, sulfate assimilation, β-alanine metabolism, glycerol synthesis, and integral component of mitochondrial and plasma membrane (PM) in DM cells under FT2 stress, whereas the expression of the remaining 135 genes was partially related to protein processing, selenocompound metabolism, cell cycle arrest, oxidative phosphorylation, and α-glucoside transport under the same condition. With regard to transcription factors in DM cells, MSN4 and CIN5 were activated, but MSN2 and MGA1 were not. Regarding antioxidant systems and protein kinases in DM cells under FT stress, CTT1, GTO, GEX1, and YOL024W were upregulated, whereas AIF1, COX2, and TRX3 were not. Gene activation represented by transcription factors and enzymatic antioxidants appears to be associated with FT2-stress tolerance in transgenic yeast cells. RCK1, MET14, and SIP18, but not YPK2, have been known to be involved in the protein kinase-mediated signalling pathway and glycogen synthesis. Moreover, SPI18 and HSP12 encoding hydrophilin in the PM were detected. Therefore, it was concluded that the genetic network via the change of gene expression levels of multiple genes contributing to the stabilization and functionality of the mitochondria and PM, not of a single gene, might be the crucial determinant for FT tolerance in DaMDAHR-expressing transgenic yeast. These findings provide a foundation for elucidating the DaMDHAR-dependent molecular mechanism of the complex functional resistance in the cellular response to FT stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Il-Sup Kim
- Advanced Bio-Resource Research Center, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Korea;
| | - Woong Choi
- Korea Polar Research Institute, Incheon 21990, Korea; (W.C.); (J.S.); (J.H.L.); (H.L.); (J.L.); (S.C.S.)
| | - Jonghyeon Son
- Korea Polar Research Institute, Incheon 21990, Korea; (W.C.); (J.S.); (J.H.L.); (H.L.); (J.L.); (S.C.S.)
| | - Jun Hyuck Lee
- Korea Polar Research Institute, Incheon 21990, Korea; (W.C.); (J.S.); (J.H.L.); (H.L.); (J.L.); (S.C.S.)
- Department of Polar Science, University of Science and Technology, Incheon 21990, Korea
| | - Hyoungseok Lee
- Korea Polar Research Institute, Incheon 21990, Korea; (W.C.); (J.S.); (J.H.L.); (H.L.); (J.L.); (S.C.S.)
- Department of Polar Science, University of Science and Technology, Incheon 21990, Korea
| | - Jungeun Lee
- Korea Polar Research Institute, Incheon 21990, Korea; (W.C.); (J.S.); (J.H.L.); (H.L.); (J.L.); (S.C.S.)
- Department of Polar Science, University of Science and Technology, Incheon 21990, Korea
| | - Seung Chul Shin
- Korea Polar Research Institute, Incheon 21990, Korea; (W.C.); (J.S.); (J.H.L.); (H.L.); (J.L.); (S.C.S.)
| | - Han-Woo Kim
- Korea Polar Research Institute, Incheon 21990, Korea; (W.C.); (J.S.); (J.H.L.); (H.L.); (J.L.); (S.C.S.)
- Department of Polar Science, University of Science and Technology, Incheon 21990, Korea
- Correspondence:
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Marchand LJ, Tarayre M, Dorey T, Rantier Y, Hennion F. Morphological variability of cushion plant Lyallia kerguelensis (Caryophyllales) in relation to environmental conditions and geography in the Kerguelen Islands: implications for cushion necrosis and climate change. Polar Biol 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s00300-020-02768-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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19
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Perera-Castro AV, Waterman MJ, Turnbull JD, Ashcroft MB, McKinley E, Watling JR, Bramley-Alves J, Casanova-Katny A, Zuniga G, Flexas J, Robinson SA. It Is Hot in the Sun: Antarctic Mosses Have High Temperature Optima for Photosynthesis Despite Cold Climate. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2020; 11:1178. [PMID: 32922412 PMCID: PMC7457050 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2020.01178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2020] [Accepted: 07/21/2020] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
The terrestrial flora of Antarctica's frozen continent is restricted to sparse ice-free areas and dominated by lichens and bryophytes. These plants frequently battle sub-zero temperatures, extreme winds and reduced water availability; all influencing their ability to survive and grow. Antarctic mosses, however, can have canopy temperatures well above air temperature. At midday, canopy temperatures can exceed 15°C, depending on moss turf water content. In this study, the optimum temperature of photosynthesis was determined for six Antarctic moss species: Bryum pseudotriquetrum, Ceratodon purpureus, Chorisodontium aciphyllum, Polytrichastrum alpinum, Sanionia uncinata, and Schistidium antarctici collected from King George Island (maritime Antarctica) and/or the Windmill Islands, East Antarctica. Both chlorophyll fluorescence and gas exchange showed maximum values of electron transport rate occurred at canopy temperatures higher than 20°C. The optimum temperature for both net assimilation of CO2 and photoprotective heat dissipation of three East Antarctic species was 20-30°C and at temperatures below 10°C, mesophyll conductance did not significantly differ from 0. Maximum mitochondrial respiration rates occurred at temperatures higher than 35°C and were lower by around 80% at 5°C. Despite the extreme cold conditions that Antarctic mosses face over winter, the photosynthetic apparatus appears optimised to warm temperatures. Our estimation of the total carbon balance suggests that survival in this cold environment may rely on a capacity to maximize photosynthesis for brief periods during summer and minimize respiratory carbon losses in cold conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alicia V. Perera-Castro
- Department of Biology, Universitat de les Illes Balears, INAGEA, Palma de Mallorca, Spain
- Centre for Sustainable Ecosystem Solutions, School of Earth, Atmosphere and Life Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
| | - Melinda J. Waterman
- Centre for Sustainable Ecosystem Solutions, School of Earth, Atmosphere and Life Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
| | - Johanna D. Turnbull
- Centre for Sustainable Ecosystem Solutions, School of Earth, Atmosphere and Life Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
| | - Michael B. Ashcroft
- Centre for Sustainable Ecosystem Solutions, School of Earth, Atmosphere and Life Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
| | - Ella McKinley
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Jennifer R. Watling
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
- Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Jessica Bramley-Alves
- Centre for Sustainable Ecosystem Solutions, School of Earth, Atmosphere and Life Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
| | - Angelica Casanova-Katny
- Laboratorio de Ecofisiología Vegetal y Cambio Climático y Núcleo de Estudios Ambientales (NEA), Facultad de Recursos Naturales, Universidad Católica de Temuco, Temuco, Chile
| | - Gustavo Zuniga
- Facultad de Química y Biología, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Jaume Flexas
- Department of Biology, Universitat de les Illes Balears, INAGEA, Palma de Mallorca, Spain
| | - Sharon A. Robinson
- Centre for Sustainable Ecosystem Solutions, School of Earth, Atmosphere and Life Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
- Global Challenges Program, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
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McGaughran A, Terauds A, Convey P, Fraser CI. Genome‐wide SNP data reveal improved evidence for Antarctic glacial refugia and dispersal of terrestrial invertebrates. Mol Ecol 2019; 28:4941-4957. [DOI: 10.1111/mec.15269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2019] [Revised: 09/19/2019] [Accepted: 09/25/2019] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Angela McGaughran
- Division of Ecology and Evolution Research School of Biology Australian National University Canberra ACT Australia
- Black Mountain Laboratories Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation Acton ACT Australia
| | - Aleks Terauds
- Department of Energy and the Environment Australian Antarctic Division Kingston Tas. Australia
- Fenner School of Environment and Society College of Science Australian National University Canberra ACT Australia
| | - Peter Convey
- British Antarctic Survey NERC, High Cross Cambridge UK
| | - Ceridwen I. Fraser
- Fenner School of Environment and Society College of Science Australian National University Canberra ACT Australia
- Department of Marine Science University of Otago Dunedin New Zealand
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21
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Antarctic pearlwort (Colobanthus quitensis) populations respond differently to pre-germination treatments. Polar Biol 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s00300-019-02505-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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22
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Bartlett J, Convey P, Hayward SAL. Not so free range? Oviposition microhabitat and egg clustering affects Eretmoptera murphyi (Diptera: Chironomidae) reproductive success. Polar Biol 2018; 42:271-284. [PMID: 30872891 PMCID: PMC6383618 DOI: 10.1007/s00300-018-2420-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2018] [Revised: 10/02/2018] [Accepted: 10/08/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Understanding the physiology of non-native species in Antarctica is key to elucidating their ability to colonise an area, and how they may respond to changes in climate. Eretmoptera murphyi is a chironomid midge introduced to Signy Island (Maritime Antarctic) from South Georgia (Sub-Antarctic) where it is endemic. Here, we explore the tolerance of this species' egg masses to heat and desiccation stress encountered within two different oviposition microhabitats (ground surface vegetation and underlying soil layer). Our data show that, whilst oviposition takes place in both substrates, egg sacs laid individually in soil are at the greatest risk of failing to hatch, whilst those aggregated in the surface vegetation have the lowest risk. The two microhabitats are characterised by significantly different environmental conditions, with greater temperature fluctuations in the surface vegetation, but lower humidity (%RH) and available water content in the soil. Egg sacs were not desiccation resistant and lost water rapidly, with prolonged exposure to 75% RH affecting survival for eggs in singly oviposited egg sacs. In contrast, aggregated egg sacs (n = 10) experienced much lower desiccation rates and survival of eggs remained above 50% in all treatments. Eggs had high heat tolerance in the context of the current microhabitat conditions on Signy. We suggest that the atypical (for this family) use of egg sac aggregation in E. murphyi has developed as a response to environmental stress. Current temperature patterns and extremes on Signy Island are unlikely to affect egg survival, but changes in the frequency and duration of extreme events could be a greater challenge.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Pete Convey
- British Antarctic Survey, NERC, High Cross, Madingley Rd, Cambridge, CB3 0ET UK
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23
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Casanova-Katny A, Torres-Mellado GA, Eppley SM. Reproductive output of mosses under experimental warming on Fildes Peninsula, King George Island, maritime Antarctica. REVISTA CHILENA DE HISTORIA NATURAL 2016. [DOI: 10.1186/s40693-016-0061-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
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Tashyreva D, Elster J. Annual Cycles of Two Cyanobacterial Mat Communities in Hydro-Terrestrial Habitats of the High Arctic. MICROBIAL ECOLOGY 2016; 71:887-900. [PMID: 26841797 DOI: 10.1007/s00248-016-0732-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2015] [Accepted: 01/18/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Cyanobacteria form extensive macroscopic mats in shallow freshwater environments in the High Arctic and Antarctic. In these habitats, the communities are exposed to seasonal freezing and desiccation as well as to freeze-thawing and drying-rewetting cycles. Here, we characterized the annual cycles of two Phormidium communities in very shallow seepages located in central Svalbard. We observed the structure of the communities and the morphology, ultrastructure, metabolic activity, and viability of filaments and single cells. The communities overwintered as frozen mats, which were formed by long filaments enclosed in thick multilayered polysaccharide sheaths. No morphologically and/or ultrastructurally distinct spore-like cells were produced for surviving the winter, and the winter survival of the communities was not provided by a few resistant cells, which did not undergo visible morphological and ultrastructural transformations. Instead, a high proportion of cells in samples (85%) remained viable after prolonged freezing. The sheaths were the only morphological adaption, which seemed to protect the trichomes from damage due to freezing and freeze-associated dehydration. The cells in the overwintering communities were not dormant, as all viable cells rapidly resumed respiration after thawing, and their nucleoids were not condensed. During the whole vegetative season, defined by the presence of water in a liquid state, the communities were constantly metabolically active and contained <1% of dead and injured cells. The morphology and ultrastructure of the cells remained unaltered during observations throughout the year, except for light-induced changes in thylakoids. The dissemination events are likely to occur in spring as most of the trichomes were split into short fragments (hormogonia), a substantial proportion of which were released into the environment by gliding out of their sheaths, as well as by cracking and dissolving their sheaths. The short fragments subsequently grew longer and gradually produced new polysaccharide sheaths.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daria Tashyreva
- Centre for Polar Ecology, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czech Republic.
- Botany Department, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czech Republic.
| | - Josef Elster
- Centre for Polar Ecology, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
- Institute of Botany, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Třeboň, Czech Republic
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Abstract
The Antarctic region comprises the continent, the Maritime Antarctic, the sub-Antarctic islands, and the southern cold temperate islands. Continental Antarctica is devoid of insects, but elsewhere diversity varies from 2 to more than 200 species, of which flies and beetles constitute the majority. Much is known about the drivers of this diversity at local and regional scales; current climate and glacial history play important roles. Investigations of responses to low temperatures, dry conditions, and varying salinity have spanned the ecological to the genomic, revealing new insights into how insects respond to stressful conditions. Biological invasions are common across much of the region and are expected to increase as climates become warmer. The drivers of invasion are reasonably well understood, although less is known about the impacts of invasion. Antarctic entomology has advanced considerably over the past 50 years, but key areas, such as interspecific interactions, remain underexplored.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven L Chown
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Victoria 3800, Australia;
| | - Peter Convey
- British Antarctic Survey, Natural Environment Research Council, Cambridge CB3 0ET, United Kingdom;
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Asplund J, Bokhorst S, Kardol P, Wardle DA. Removal of secondary compounds increases invertebrate abundance in lichens. FUNGAL ECOL 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/j.funeco.2015.07.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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27
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Impact of diurnal freeze–thaw cycles on the soil nematode Scottnema lindsayae in Taylor Valley, Antarctica. Polar Biol 2015. [DOI: 10.1007/s00300-015-1809-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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28
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Kellmann-Sopyła W, Giełwanowska I. Germination capacity of five polar Caryophyllaceae and Poaceae species under different temperature conditions. Polar Biol 2015. [DOI: 10.1007/s00300-015-1740-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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29
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Life history of the Antarctic tardigrade, Acutuncus antarcticus, under a constant laboratory environment. Polar Biol 2015. [DOI: 10.1007/s00300-015-1718-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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30
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Everatt MJ, Convey P, Worland MR, Bale JS, Hayward SAL. Are the Antarctic dipteran, Eretmoptera murphyi, and Arctic collembolan, Megaphorura arctica, vulnerable to rising temperatures? BULLETIN OF ENTOMOLOGICAL RESEARCH 2014; 104:494-503. [PMID: 24816280 DOI: 10.1017/s0007485314000261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Polar terrestrial invertebrates are suggested as being vulnerable to temperature change relative to lower latitude species, and hence possibly also to climate warming. Previous studies have shown Antarctic and Arctic Collembola and Acari to possess good heat tolerance and survive temperature exposures above 30 °C. To test this feature further, the heat tolerance and physiological plasticity of heat stress were explored in the Arctic collembolan, Megaphorura arctica, from Svalbard and the Antarctic midge, Eretmoptera murphyi, from Signy Island. The data obtained demonstrate considerable heat tolerance in both species, with upper lethal temperatures ≥35 °C (1 h exposures), and tolerance of exposure to 10 and 15 °C exceeding 56 days. This tolerance is far beyond that required in their current environment. Average microhabitat temperatures in August 2011 ranged between 5.1 and 8.1 °C, and rarely rose above 10 °C, in Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard. Summer soil microhabitat temperatures on Signy Island have previously been shown to range between 0 and 10 °C. There was also evidence to suggest that E. murphyi can recover from high-temperature exposure and that M. arctica is capable of rapid heat hardening. M. arctica and E. murphyi therefore have the physiological capacity to tolerate current environmental conditions, as well as future warming. If the features they express are characteristically more general, such polar terrestrial invertebrates will likely fare well under climate warming scenarios.
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Affiliation(s)
- M J Everatt
- School of Biosciences,University of Birmingham,Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT,UK
| | - P Convey
- British Antarctic Survey,Natural Environment Research Council,High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0ET,UK
| | - M R Worland
- British Antarctic Survey,Natural Environment Research Council,High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0ET,UK
| | - J S Bale
- School of Biosciences,University of Birmingham,Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT,UK
| | - S A L Hayward
- School of Biosciences,University of Birmingham,Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT,UK
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Everatt MJ, Convey P, Bale JS, Worland MR, Hayward SAL. Responses of invertebrates to temperature and water stress: A polar perspective. J Therm Biol 2014; 54:118-32. [PMID: 26615734 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtherbio.2014.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2014] [Revised: 05/20/2014] [Accepted: 05/20/2014] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
As small bodied poikilothermic ectotherms, invertebrates, more so than any other animal group, are susceptible to extremes of temperature and low water availability. In few places is this more apparent than in the Arctic and Antarctic, where low temperatures predominate and water is unusable during winter and unavailable for parts of summer. Polar terrestrial invertebrates express a suite of physiological, biochemical and genomic features in response to these stressors. However, the situation is not as simple as responding to each stressor in isolation, as they are often faced in combination. We consider how polar terrestrial invertebrates manage this scenario in light of their physiology and ecology. Climate change is also leading to warmer summers in parts of the polar regions, concomitantly increasing the potential for drought. The interaction between high temperature and low water availability, and the invertebrates' response to them, are therefore also explored.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew J Everatt
- School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
| | - Pete Convey
- British Antarctic Survey, Natural Environment Research Council, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB3 0ET, UK; National Antarctic Research Center, IPS Building, University Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Gateway Antarctica, University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand
| | - Jeffrey S Bale
- School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
| | - M Roger Worland
- British Antarctic Survey, Natural Environment Research Council, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB3 0ET, UK
| | - Scott A L Hayward
- School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK.
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Convey P, Chown SL, Clarke A, Barnes DKA, Bokhorst S, Cummings V, Ducklow HW, Frati F, Green TGA, Gordon S, Griffiths HJ, Howard-Williams C, Huiskes AHL, Laybourn-Parry J, Lyons WB, McMinn A, Morley SA, Peck LS, Quesada A, Robinson SA, Schiaparelli S, Wall DH. The spatial structure of Antarctic biodiversity. ECOL MONOGR 2014. [DOI: 10.1890/12-2216.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 232] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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Bramley-Alves J, King DH, Robinson SA, Miller RE. Dominating the Antarctic Environment: Bryophytes in a Time of Change. ADVANCES IN PHOTOSYNTHESIS AND RESPIRATION 2014. [DOI: 10.1007/978-94-007-6988-5_17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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34
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Everatt MJ, Bale JS, Convey P, Worland MR, Hayward SAL. The effect of acclimation temperature on thermal activity thresholds in polar terrestrial invertebrates. JOURNAL OF INSECT PHYSIOLOGY 2013; 59:1057-1064. [PMID: 23973412 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2013.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2013] [Revised: 07/31/2013] [Accepted: 08/05/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
In the Maritime Antarctic and High Arctic, soil microhabitat temperatures throughout the year typically range between -10 and +5 °C. However, on occasion, they can exceed 20 °C, and these instances are likely to increase and intensify as a result of climate warming. Remaining active under both cool and warm conditions is therefore important for polar terrestrial invertebrates if they are to forage, reproduce and maximise their fitness. In the current study, lower and upper thermal activity thresholds were investigated in the polar Collembola, Megaphorura arctica and Cryptopygus antarcticus, and the mite, Alaskozetes antarcticus. Specifically, the effect of acclimation on these traits was explored. Sub-zero activity was exhibited in all three species, at temperatures as low as -4.6 °C in A. antarcticus. At high temperatures, all three species had capacity for activity above 30 °C and were most active at 25 °C. This indicates a comparable spread of temperatures across which activity can occur to that seen in temperate and tropical species, but with the activity window shifted towards lower temperatures. In all three species following one month acclimation at -2 °C, chill coma (=the temperature at which movement and activity cease) and the critical thermal minimum (=low temperature at which coordination is no longer shown) occurred at lower temperatures than for individuals maintained at +4 °C (except for the CTmin of M. arctica). Individuals acclimated at +9 °C conversely showed little change in their chill coma or CTmin. A similar trend was demonstrated for the heat coma and critical thermal maximum (CTmax) of all species. Following one month at -2 °C, the heat coma and CTmax were reduced as compared with +4 °C reared individuals, whereas the heat coma and CTmax of individuals acclimated at +9 °C showed little adjustment. The data obtained suggest these invertebrates are able to take maximum advantage of the short growing season and have some capacity, in spite of limited plasticity at high temperatures, to cope with climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- M J Everatt
- School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK.
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35
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Heat tolerance and physiological plasticity in the Antarctic collembolan, Cryptopygus antarcticus, and mite, Alaskozetes antarcticus. J Therm Biol 2013. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jtherbio.2013.02.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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36
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Crisp MD, Cook LG. Phylogenetic niche conservatism: what are the underlying evolutionary and ecological causes? THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2012; 196:681-694. [PMID: 22943495 DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-8137.2012.04298.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 141] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2012] [Accepted: 07/25/2012] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Phylogenetic niche conservatism (PNC) is the tendency of lineages to retain their niche-related traits through speciation events. A recent surge in the availability of well-sampled molecular phylogenies has stimulated phylogenetic approaches to understanding ecological processes at large geographical scales and through macroevolutionary time. We stress that PNC is a pattern, not a process, and is found only in some traits and some lineages. At the simplest level, a pattern of PNC is an inevitable consequence of evolution - descent with modification and divergence of lineages - but several intrinsic causes, including physicochemical, developmental and genetic constraints, can lead directly to a marked pattern of PNC. A pattern of PNC can also be caused indirectly, as a by-product of other causes, such as extinction, dispersal limitation, competition and predation. Recognition of patterns of PNC can contribute to understanding macroevolutionary processes: for example, release from constraint in traits has been hypothesized to trigger adaptive radiations such as that of the angiosperms. Given the multiple causes of patterns of PNC, tests should address explicit questions about hypothesized processes. We conclude that PNC is a scientifically useful concept with applications to the practice of ecological research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael D Crisp
- Division of Evolution, Ecology and Genetics, Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, 0200, Australia
| | - Lyn G Cook
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Qld, 4072, Australia
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Molecular evidence for distinct Antarctic lineages in the cosmopolitan terrestrial diatoms Pinnularia borealis and Hantzschia amphioxys. Protist 2012; 164:101-15. [PMID: 22554828 DOI: 10.1016/j.protis.2012.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2012] [Revised: 03/01/2012] [Accepted: 04/01/2012] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Recent morphology-based studies indicate that freshwater diatom floras in the Antarctic comprise a significant share of endemics among a majority of apparently cosmopolitan species. Given the widespread (pseudo)cryptic species diversity in diatoms, we assessed the molecular divergence and temperature-dependent growth characteristics between Antarctic and non-Antarctic strains for two presumed species with a cosmopolitan distribution, namely Pinnularia borealis and Hantzschia amphioxys. Molecular phylogenies based on the plastid gene rbcL and the nuclear 28S rDNA (D1-D3 region) revealed that both taxa consist of multiple lineages, each including a distinct Antarctic lineage. A molecular clock estimates the origin of P. borealis at 35.8 (30-47) million years (Ma) ago, making this the oldest known diatom species complex. The Antarctic P. borealis lineage is estimated to have diverged 7.8 (2-15) Ma ago, after the geographical and thermal isolation of the Antarctic continent. Despite not being psychrophilic, the Antarctic lineages of P. borealis and H. amphioxys have a lower optimal growth temperature and upper lethal temperature than most lineages from more temperate regions, indicating niche differentiation. Together, this suggests that many presumed cosmopolitan Antarctic diatom species are in fact species complexes, possibly containing Antarctic endemics with low temperature preferences.
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39
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Lee CK, Barbier BA, Bottos EM, McDonald IR, Cary SC. The Inter-Valley Soil Comparative Survey: the ecology of Dry Valley edaphic microbial communities. ISME JOURNAL 2011; 6:1046-57. [PMID: 22170424 DOI: 10.1038/ismej.2011.170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 165] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Recent applications of molecular genetics to edaphic microbial communities of the McMurdo Dry Valleys and elsewhere have rejected a long-held belief that Antarctic soils contain extremely limited microbial diversity. The Inter-Valley Soil Comparative Survey aims to elucidate the factors shaping these unique microbial communities and their biogeography by integrating molecular genetic approaches with biogeochemical analyses. Although the microbial communities of Dry Valley soils may be complex, there is little doubt that the ecosystem's food web is relatively simple, and evidence suggests that physicochemical conditions may have the dominant role in shaping microbial communities. To examine this hypothesis, bacterial communities from representative soil samples collected in four geographically disparate Dry Valleys were analyzed using molecular genetic tools, including pyrosequencing of 16S rRNA gene PCR amplicons. Results show that the four communities are structurally and phylogenetically distinct, and possess significantly different levels of diversity. Strikingly, only 2 of 214 phylotypes were found in all four valleys, challenging a widespread assumption that the microbiota of the Dry Valleys is composed of a few cosmopolitan species. Analysis of soil geochemical properties indicated that salt content, alongside altitude and Cu(2+), was significantly correlated with differences in microbial communities. Our results indicate that the microbial ecology of Dry Valley soils is highly localized and that physicochemical factors potentially have major roles in shaping the microbiology of ice-free areas of Antarctica. These findings hint at links between Dry Valley glacial geomorphology and microbial ecology, and raise previously unrecognized issues related to environmental management of this unique ecosystem.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles K Lee
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand
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40
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Nielsen UN, Wall DH, Adams BJ, Virginia RA. Antarctic nematode communities: observed and predicted responses to climate change. Polar Biol 2011. [DOI: 10.1007/s00300-011-1021-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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41
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Detecting and mapping vegetation distribution on the Antarctic Peninsula from remote sensing data. Polar Biol 2010. [DOI: 10.1007/s00300-010-0880-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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42
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Lewis Smith RI, Richardson M. Fuegian plants in Antarctica: natural or anthropogenically assisted immigrants? Biol Invasions 2010. [DOI: 10.1007/s10530-010-9784-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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43
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Chin JP, Megaw J, Magill CL, Nowotarski K, Williams JP, Bhaganna P, Linton M, Patterson MF, Underwood GJC, Mswaka AY, Hallsworth JE. Solutes determine the temperature windows for microbial survival and growth. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2010; 107:7835-40. [PMID: 20404182 PMCID: PMC2867857 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1000557107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 103] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Microbial cells, and ultimately the Earth's biosphere, function within a narrow range of physicochemical conditions. For the majority of ecosystems, productivity is cold-limited, and it is microbes that represent the failure point. This study was carried out to determine if naturally occurring solutes can extend the temperature windows for activity of microorganisms. We found that substances known to disorder cellular macromolecules (chaotropes) did expand microbial growth windows, fungi preferentially accumulated chaotropic metabolites at low temperature, and chemical activities of solutes determined microbial survival at extremes of temperature as well as pressure. This information can enhance the precision of models used to predict if extraterrestrial and other hostile environments are able to support life; furthermore, chaotropes may be used to extend the growth windows for key microbes, such as saprotrophs, in cold ecosystems and man-made biomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason P. Chin
- School of Biological Sciences, Medical Biology Centre, Queen's University, Belfast BT9 7BL, Northern Ireland
| | - Julianne Megaw
- School of Biological Sciences, Medical Biology Centre, Queen's University, Belfast BT9 7BL, Northern Ireland
| | - Caroline L. Magill
- School of Biological Sciences, Medical Biology Centre, Queen's University, Belfast BT9 7BL, Northern Ireland
| | - Krzysztof Nowotarski
- School of Biological Sciences, Medical Biology Centre, Queen's University, Belfast BT9 7BL, Northern Ireland
| | - Jim P. Williams
- School of Biological Sciences, Medical Biology Centre, Queen's University, Belfast BT9 7BL, Northern Ireland
| | - Prashanth Bhaganna
- School of Biological Sciences, Medical Biology Centre, Queen's University, Belfast BT9 7BL, Northern Ireland
| | - Mark Linton
- Food Microbiology Branch, Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, Belfast BT9 5PX, Northern Ireland; and
| | - Margaret F. Patterson
- Food Microbiology Branch, Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, Belfast BT9 5PX, Northern Ireland; and
| | - Graham J. C. Underwood
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Essex, Colchester CO4 3SQ, United Kingdom
| | - Allen Y. Mswaka
- School of Biological Sciences, Medical Biology Centre, Queen's University, Belfast BT9 7BL, Northern Ireland
| | - John E. Hallsworth
- School of Biological Sciences, Medical Biology Centre, Queen's University, Belfast BT9 7BL, Northern Ireland
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