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A microbial ecosystem beneath the West Antarctic ice sheet [1]

Liquid water has been known to occur beneath the Antarctic ice sheet for more than 40 years, but only recently have these subglacial aqueous environments been recognized as microbial ecosystems that may influence biogeochemical transformations on a global scale. Here we present the first geomicrobiological description of water and surficial sediments obtained from direct sampling of a subglacial Antarctic lake. Subglacial Lake Whillans (SLW) lies beneath approximately 800 m of ice on the lower portion of the Whillans Ice Stream (WIS) in West Antarctica and is part of an extensive and evolving subglacial drainage network5.

Publication Date: 
21/08/2014
Brent C. Christner [2], John C. Priscu [3], Amanda M. Achberger & et al [4]
Nature [5]
512
310–313
Tags:
Antarctica [6], Ecosystems [7], Micro Organisms [8]
Centre for Science and Environment
National Knowledge Commission Government of India

Technology Partners: MimirTech


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Source URL: http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/feature-article/microbial-ecosystem-beneath-west-antarctic-ice-sheet

Links:
[1] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/feature-article/microbial-ecosystem-beneath-west-antarctic-ice-sheet
[2] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/author/brent-c-christner
[3] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/author/john-c-priscu
[4] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/author/amanda-m-achberger-et-al
[5] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/journal/nature
[6] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/antarctica
[7] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/ecosystems
[8] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/micro-organisms