GIS analysis, biological samples (soil microorganism, invertebrate and plant), automatic weather station data and vegetation and invertebrate surveys to determine the terrestrial biocomplexity of the McMurdo Dry Valleys
Entry ID:
K020_2008_2009_NZ_1
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Summary
Abstract:
The McMurdo Dry Valleys are the largest area of snow-free land in Antarctica. Managers ability to promote and protect these areas would benefit if we knew the biodiversity present and what controls it distribution. The research therefore focused on describing and predicting biodiversity of terrestrial habitats in the Ross Dependency, Antarctica. The aim is to produce a GIS/biodiversity database ... that links biodiversity with environmental factors such as geology, and soil moisture content, to produce a model that is easily understood and useable by non-specialists and endusers. Samples of soil, invertebrates and mosses were collected from the Miers, Marshall, and Garwood Valleys for geochemistry and biological analysis. Over 450 sampling sites were visited although roughly 15 were inaccessible due to terrain or snow cover. A total 435 vegetation and invertebrate surveys were made and over 450 soil samples collected. At each location up-to-date molecular techniques were used to describe the biota from visible lichens, mosses and invertebrates to the hidden microbes. The soil samples were subsampled and analyses of soil geochemistry, soil respiration, microinvertebrate content (e.g. nematodes, rotifers, tardigrades), and microbiological assays. Samples were collected and split in the field using aseptic techniques for DNA analysis. New genomic approaches that examine microbial communities as a whole (i.e., metagenomics) or even their entire functional aspects (i.e., metatranscriptomics) were used to provide a comprehensive picture of systematic and functional biodiversity, which will help resolve the drivers of biodiversity in the environment. The samples are part of a major landscape scale study to determine the primary drivers of biodiversity and distribution of flora and fauna in the Dry Valleys. In addition, the SOM and other nutrient status including the form of subsidy was determined, and this information will be placed, together with site-specific variables such as aspect, slope, water, snow, stability. The use of GIS is central to the success of this project and considerable success in collating, analysing and preparing information for the GIS analysis. Two automatic weather stations were installed together with various trap systems to measure transfer of material within the Miers and Garwood Valleys in the 2007-2008 field season and in the 2008-2009 field season another was installed in the Marshall Valley. 
Related URL
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Description:
The investigators homepage
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Geographic Coverage
(Click for Interactive Map)
Spatial coordinates
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N: -78.0
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S: -78.16
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E: 164.47
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W: 163.61
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Temporal Coverage
Start Date:
2008-11-07
Stop Date:
2009-01-28
Quality
All of the collected soil samples are stored at the University of Waikato, Hamilton New Zealand in a -80C PC2 containment facility with small splits in the UK with David Hopkins and US with Jeb Barrett. A small subset of samples are at the University of West Cape, Cape Town, South Africa with Don Cowan. Samples of mites and springtails and mosses were are also collected and mainly held at the University of Waikato. Full metadata is available for each valley. Temperature and relative humidity data was collected on the valley sides along transects at 200m elevation increments.
Data Set Progress
IN WORK
Personnel
Role:
INVESTIGATOR
Phone:
+64 7 838 4593
Fax:
+64 7 838 4218
Email:
caryc at UDel.Edu
Email:
c.cary at waikato.ac.nz
Contact Address:
Department of Biological Sciences
University of Waikato
PO BOX 3105
City:
Hamilton
Postal Code:
3105
Country:
New Zealand
Role:
INVESTIGATOR
Phone:
+27 (21) 959 2083
Fax:
+27 (21) 959 3505
Email:
dcowan at uwc.ac.za
Contact Address:
Department of Biotechnology
University of the Western Cape
Bellville
City:
Cape Town
Postal Code:
7535
Country:
SOUTH AFRICA
Role:
INVESTIGATOR
Phone:
+64 7 838 4466 ext. 8429
Fax:
+64 7 838 4636
Email:
larsb at waikato.ac.nz
Contact Address:
Department of Geography, Tourism and Environmental Management
University of Waikato
PO BOX 3105
City:
Hamilton
Postal Code:
3105
Country:
New Zealand
Role:
INVESTIGATOR
Phone:
+01 775 784 1107
Fax:
+01 775 784 4583
Email:
asparrow at cabnr.unr.edu
Contact Address:
Natural Resources and Environmental Science
University of Nevada, Reno
Mail Stop 186
1000 Valley Road
City:
Reno
Province or State:
Nevada
Postal Code:
89512
Country:
USA
Role:
INVESTIGATOR
Phone:
+64 7 838 4225
Fax:
+64 4 838 4324
Email:
hogg at waikato.ac.nz
Contact Address:
Department of Biological Sciences
University of Waikato
Private Bag 3105
City:
Hamilton
Country:
NEW ZEALAND
Role:
DIF AUTHOR
Phone:
+64 3 358 0200
Fax:
+64 3 358 0211
Email:
c.poirot at antarcticanz.govt.nz
Contact Address:
Antarctica New Zealand
Private Bag 4745
City:
Christchurch
Country:
New Zealand
Role:
DIF AUTHOR
Phone:
+64 3 358 0200
Fax:
+64 3 358 0211
Email:
s.gordon at antarcticanz.govt.nz
Contact Address:
Antarctica New Zealand
Private Bag 4745
City:
Christchurch
Country:
New Zealand
Publications/References
Cronin, T. M., G. S. Dwyer, T. Kamiya, S. Schwede, and D. A. Willard,
2003. Medieval Warm Period, Little Ice Age and 20th Century
Temperature Variability from Chesapeake Bay. Global and Planetary
Change, v. 36, p. 17-29.
Creation and Review Dates
DIF Creation Date:
2004-03-15
Last DIF Revision Date:
2005-04-19
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