Sub-ice shelf environments experience limited organic carbon input due to the exclusion of phytoproductivity in the overlying water column. Recent ice-shelf loss along the east coast of the Antarctic Peninsula has brought new sources of carbon and energy to the marine benthos likely resulting in profound changes in sediment geochemistry and microbial community composition. To better understand the long-term effects of ice-shelf loss in this region we conducted a five-station survey along a 160 km transect following the historic path of retreat of the Larsen A ice shelf. Using a suite of geochemical measurements and next-generation (Illumina) sequencing we are correlating the abundance of specific taxonomic groups with local geochemistry to infer the function of dominant microbial populations and to assess the major drivers of change in the microbial communities following ice-shelf loss.

Impact of ice-shelf loss on geochemical profiles and microbial community composition in marine sediments of the Larsen A embayment, Antarctic Peninsula

245th National Meeting (2013)

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