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:
2005-11-11
Stop Date:
2005-12-10
Start Date:
2006-10-19
Stop Date:
2006-12-11
Start Date:
2007-10-19
Stop Date:
2007-12-12
Quality
The specimens are all in existence and effectively none have been destroyed. Fixed tissues are kept at room temperature and frozen tissues are all stored at -80 degrees at Lincoln University, New Zealand. In some cases, the tissues have been used to extract RNA or DNA or proteins samples and these purified samples are also stored at -20 or -80 degree containment freezers.
The raw experimental data is kept in laboratory books at Lincoln University and on computer files, which are backed up 2 times on portable hard drives.
Access Constraints
If the samples need to be transeferred from their current location, the receiving lab needs to have the necessary containment certification (i.e. PC2 containment) and transfers have to be done according to MAF protocol. Otherwise the work will need to be completed at Lincoln University. All access is restricted to approval from Dr Victoria Metcalf.
Data Set Progress
IN WORK
Personnel
Role:
INVESTIGATOR
Phone:
+64 3 325 2811
Fax:
+64 3 325 3864
Email:
victoria.metcalf at lincoln.ac.nz
Contact Address:
Lincoln University
PO BOX 84
City:
Lincoln
Province or State:
Canterbury
Postal Code:
7647
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
Creation and Review Dates
DIF Creation Date:
2006-01-18
Last DIF Revision Date:
2009-02-27
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