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Preliminary evidence for the microbial loop in Antarctic sea ice using microcosm simulations

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 July 2012

Andrew Martin ,
Andrew McMinn ,
Simon K. Davy ,
Marti J. Anderson ,
Hilary C. Miller ,
Julie A. Hall  and
Ken G. Ryan
Andrew Martin*
Affiliation:
School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, PO Box 600, Wellington, New Zealand Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 129, Hobart 7001, Australia
Andrew McMinn
Affiliation:
Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 129, Hobart 7001, Australia
Simon K. Davy
Affiliation:
School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, PO Box 600, Wellington, New Zealand
Marti J. Anderson
Affiliation:
New Zealand Institute for Advanced Study, Massey University Private Bag 102 904, Albany 0632, New Zealand
Hilary C. Miller
Affiliation:
School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, PO Box 600, Wellington, New Zealand
Julie A. Hall
Affiliation:
National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research, Wellington 6140, New Zealand
Ken G. Ryan
Affiliation:
School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, PO Box 600, Wellington, New Zealand
*
Andrew.Martin@utas.edu.au
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Abstract

Sea ice microalgae actively contribute to the pool of dissolved organic matter (DOM) available for bacterial metabolism, but this link has historically relied on bulk correlations between chlorophyll a (a surrogate for algal biomass) and bacterial abundance. We incubated microbes from both the bottom (congelation layer) and surface brine region of Antarctic fast ice for nine days. Algal-derived DOM was manipulated by varying the duration of irradiance, restricting photosynthesis with 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea (DCMU) or incubating in the dark. The bacterial response to changes in DOM availability was examined by performing cell counts, quantifying bacterial metabolic activity and examining community composition with denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis. The percentage of metabolically active bacteria was relatively low in the surface brine microcosm (10–20% of the bacterial community), the treatment with DCMU indirectly restricted bacterial growth and there was some evidence for changes in community structure. Metabolic activity was higher (35–69%) in the bottom ice microcosm, and while there was no variation in community structure, bacterial growth was restricted in the treatment with DCMU compared to the light/dark treatment. These results are considered preliminary, but provide a useful illustration of sea ice microbial dynamics beyond the use of ‘snapshot’ biomass correlations.

Keywords

bacteriaDGGEmicroalgae
Type
Biological Sciences
Information
Antarctic Science , Volume 24 , Issue 6 , December 2012 , pp. 547 - 553
Copyright
Copyright © Antarctic Science Ltd 2012

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