Keywords
habitat suitability, invertebrate diversity, Latitudinal Gradient Project, microbial diversity, nematodes
Abstract
Data from six sites in Victoria Land (72-77degrees S) investigating co-variation in soil communities (microbial and invertebrate) with biogeochemical properties show the influence of soil properties on habitat suitability varied among local landscapes as well as across climate gradients. Species richness of metazoan invertebrates (Nematoda, Tardigrada and Rotifera) was similar to previous descriptions in this region, though identification of three cryptic nematode species of Eudorylaimus through DNA analysis contributed to the understanding of controls over habitat preferences for individual species. Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis profiles revealed unexpectedly high diversity of bacteria. Distribution of distinct bacterial communities was associated with specific sites in northern and southern Victoria Land, as was the distribution of nematode and tardigrade species. Variation in soil metazoan communities was related to differences in soil organic matter, while bacterial diversity and community structure were not strongly correlated with any single soil property. There were no apparent correlations between metazoan and bacterial diversity, suggesting that controls over distribution and habitat suitability are different for bacterial and metazoan communities. Our results imply that top-down controls over bacterial diversity mediated by their metazoan consumers are not significant determinants of bacterial community structure and biomass in these ecosystems.
Original Publication Citation
Barrett, J. E., R. A. Virginia, D. H. Wall, S. C. Cary, B. J. Adams, A. L. Hacker, and J.M. Aislabie, "Co-variation in soil biodiversity and biogeochemistry in northern and southern Victoria Land, Antarctica," Antarctic Science 18(4) (26, 535-548.
BYU ScholarsArchive Citation
Adams, Byron J.; Barrett, J. E.; Virginia, Ross A.; Wall, Diana H.; Cary, S. C.; Hacker, A. L.; and Aislabie, J. M., "Co-variation in soil biodiversity and biogeochemistry in northern and southern Victoria Land, Antarctica" (2006). Faculty Publications. 296.
https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/facpub/296
Document Type
Peer-Reviewed Article
Publication Date
2006-09-01
Permanent URL
http://hdl.lib.byu.edu/1877/2009
Publisher
Antarctic Science Ltd.
Language
English
College
Life Sciences
Department
Microbiology and Molecular Biology
Copyright Status
© 2006 Antarctic Science Ltd.
Copyright Use Information
http://lib.byu.edu/about/copyright/