The diversity of the microflora and microfauna and the thermal and moisture regimes of soils from contaminated and pristine soils from Scott Base, Marble Point and Bull Pass, Wright Valley Entry ID:
K123_1998_1999_NZ_1
Abstract:
The impact of fuel spills on the biological, chemical and physical properties of Antarctic soils was investigated. Soil surface samples and soil profile samples (pits dug down to the ice cemented surface) were collected from both oil-impacted and pristine sites in the vicinity of Scott Base, at the abandoned station at Marble Point and from Bull Pass in the Wright Valley. The aim was to determine the effects on the diversity of microflora and microfauna, on the thermal and moisture regimes of soils and on the composition of soil water. The samples were analysed for total counts of bacteria, viable counts of bacteria and fungi, numbers of hydrocarbon degraders, microbial respiration rates, microbial biomass and microbial nitrogen and soil parameters known to influence microbial activity (i.e. water content, pH, total carbon and conc. of the nutrients N and P). Soluable salts in the soils were extracted and analysed to determine whether there are any differences between oil-impacted and control sites. Measurements of soil CO2 flux were made with a gas analyser/soil chamber system in the Wright Valley to trial its application to Antarctic soils. Vitel soil moisture and salinity probes were tested and calibrated also in a range of environments in the Wright Valley and at Scott Base.
Related URL
Link:
GET DATA
Description:
Online Ross Sea Region GIS mapping data
Link:
GET DATA
Description:
Accession Numbers for identified bacteria: DQ365987-DQ365994, DQ365999-DQ366006, DQ366009-DQ366012, DQ366014-DQ366018, AY571818, AY571845, Clone Genbank Accession No. for Acidobacteria, Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Proteobacteria, Deinococcus-Thermus, Firmicutes, Cyanobacteria and Candidate TM7 see: Aislabie, J.M. Jordan, S. Barker, G.M. 2008 Relation between soil classification and bacterial diversity in soils of the Ross Sea region, Antarctica. Geoderma 144: 9-20 doi: 10.1016/j.geoderma.2007.10.006
Link:
VIEW PROJECT HOME PAGE
Description:
Contact investigator for access to existing samples at Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research
Some soil samples and cultures still exist and are stored at Landcare Research, New Zealand. For more information on these samples and other collected data, please contact the investigator(s) or refer to the publications.
Access Constraints
Accessible through contact with investigators if not available online
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
JACKIE
AISLABIE Role:
INVESTIGATOR
Phone:
+64 7 858 3713
Fax:
+64 7 858 4964
Email:
aislabiej at landcareresearch.co.nz
Contact Address:
Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd
Private Bag 3127 City:
Hamilton
Country:
New Zealand
MEGAN
BALKS Role:
INVESTIGATOR
Phone:
+64 7 838 4466 Ext 6322
Fax:
+64 7 838 4218
Email:
m.balks at waikato.ac.nz
Contact Address:
Department of Earth and Ocean Sciences
School of Science and Engineering
University of Waikato
Private Bag 3105 City:
Hamilton
Postal Code:
2001
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
Aislabie, J. Fraser, R. Duncan, S. Farrell, R.L. 2001 Effects of oil spills on microbial heterotrophs in Antarctic soils. Polar biology 24: 308-313
Aislabie, J.M. Balks, M.R. Foght, J.M. Waterhouse, E.J. 2004 Hydrocarbon spills on Antarctic soils: effects and management. Environmental science and technology 38(5): 1265-1274
Aislabie, J.M. Chhour, K.-L. Saul, D.J. Miyauchi, S. Ayton, J. Paetzold, R.F. Balks, M.R. 2006 Dominant bacteria in soils of Marble Point and Wright Valley, Victoria Land, Antarctica. Soil biology and biochemistry 38(10): 3041-3056 doi:10.1016/j.soilbio.2006.02.018
Aislabie, J.M. Jordan, S. Barker, G.M. 2008 Relation between soil classification and bacterial diversity in soils of the Ross Sea region, Antarctica. Geoderma 144: 9-20 doi: 10.1016/j.geoderma.2007.10.006
Baraniecki, C.A. Aislabie, J. Foght, J.M. 2002 Characterization of Sphingomonas sp. Ant 17, an aromatic hydrocarbon-degrading bacterium isolated from Antarctic soil. Microbial ecology 43: 44-54
Eckford, R. Cook, F.D. Saul, D. Aislabie, J. Foght, J. 2002 Free-living heterotrophic nitrogen-fixing bacteria isolated from fuel-contaminated Antarctic soils. Applied and environmental microbiology October: 5181-5185
Saul, D.J. Aislabie, J.M. Brown, C.E. Harris, L. Foght, J.M. 2005 Hydrocarbon contamination changes the bacterial diversity of soil from around Scott Base, Antarctica. FEMS microbiology ecology 53: 141-155
Wall, A. 2004. Use of TDR to determine moisture and temperature regimes in Antarctic soils in Antarctic Soils. MSc thesis, University of Waikato, New Zealand.
Wall, A.M. Balks, M.R. Campbell, D.I. Paetzold, R.F. 2004 Soil moisture measurement in the Ross Sea region of Antarctica using Hydra soil moisture probes. Supersoil 2004. 3rd Australian and New Zealand Soils Conference, University of Sydney, Australia, 5-9 Dec 2004. Singh, B.(ed), Published on CDROM. Website: www.regional.org.au/au/asssi/
Balks, M. Kimble, J. Paetzold, R. Aislabie, J. Campbell, I. 2000 Effects of hydrocarbon contaminants on the temperature and moisture regimes of cryosols of the Ross Sea region, Antarctica. Contaminants in Freezing Ground. Collected proceedings of 2nd International Conference, 2-5 July, 2000, Cambridge University.
Balks, M.R. Paetzold, R.F. Kimble, J.M. Aislabie, J. Campbell, I.B. 2002 Effects of hydrocarbon spills on the temperature and moisture regimes of Cryosols in the Ross Sea region. Antarctic science 14(4): 319-326
