Publication details
Cryoconite holes on frozen lakes as source of interesting extremophilic and extremotolerant organisms
| Authors | |
|---|---|
| Year of publication | 2015 |
| Type | Article in Periodical |
| Magazine / Source | Czech Polar Reports |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Web | http://www.sci.muni.cz/CPR/10cislo/Sehnal2015-web.pdf |
| Doi | http://dx.doi.org/10.5817/CPR2015-2-17 |
| Field | Ecology |
| Keywords | cryoconite holes - cyanobacteria - extreme environment - diversity - adaptation |
| Description | The key thought of this short communication is biodiversity evaluation of the photoautotrophic inhabitants of lake cryoconite holes and point out their potencial as extremotolerant or even extremophilic organisms that deserve attention. Cyanobacterial diversity of these environments was investigated in cryoconites holes of 2 permanently and 1 seasonally ice-covered lakes at James Ross Island. Twelve species from different taxonomic groups, both coccal and filamentous (with and without heterocytes) cyanobacteria, were determined using a light microscope and morphological features of autorophic microorganisms. The results suggested relatively high diversity in such extreme environments and also indicated potential of lake cryoconites to serve as a reservoir of organism that can have special protection properties. |