Abstract:
Tweleve ponds on the McMurdo Ice Shelf were sampled to create and annual data set of water nutrient chemistry (DRP, NH4-N, NO3-N, TDN, TDP), pH, conductivity, temperature, phytoplankton chlorophyll a, and particulate N: P. Biological parameters collected include benthic algal chlorophyll a and ash-free dry weight, benthic microbial biomass, pigment and species composition. Species composition and dominance within the microbial mats varies from pond to pond. Photosynthetic and nitrogen fixation rates of benthic algae were determined from several ponds with contrasting physio-chemical properties. Samples were collected from ponds for algal species determination and microbial mat samples were collected and preserved for community spatial structure (i.e. position of each species within the microbial matrix). The annual 12-pond dataset has been operating since January 1988 and is one of the longest-running environmental datasets in Antarctica.
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Description:
National Institute for Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA)
Name:
SHULAMIT
GORDON 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
Personnel
BRIAN
SORRELL Role:
INVESTIGATOR
Phone:
+64 3 343 7802
Fax:
+64 3 348 5548
Email:
b.sorrell at niwa.co.nz
Contact Address:
NIWA
PO BOX 11-115 City:
Christchurch
Country:
New Zealand
IAN
HAWES Role:
INVESTIGATOR
Email:
AquaticResearchSolutions at gmail.com
Email:
ian.hawes at canterbury.ac.nz
Contact Address:
Waterways Centre for Freshwater Management
University of Canterbury City:
Christchurch
Country:
New Zealand
CLIVE
HOWARD-WILLIAMS Role:
INVESTIGATOR
Phone:
+64 3 343 7857
Fax:
+64 3 348 5548
Email:
c.howard-williams at niwa.co.nz
Contact Address:
NIWA
PO BOX 8602 City:
Christchurch
Country:
New Zealand
CEISHA
POIROT 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
SHULAMIT
GORDON 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
Jungblut, A.D. Hawes, I. Montford, D. Hitzfeld, B. Dietrich, D.R. Burns, P. Neilan, A. Diversity within cyanobacterial mat communities in variable salinity meltwater ponds of McMurdo Ice Shelf, Antarctica. Environmental microbiology 7(4): 519-529, 2005.
Creation and Review Dates
DIF Creation Date:
2008-10-06
Last DIF Revision Date:
2008-10-08