Frontiers in Microbiology (Feb 2016)
Aerobiology over Antarctica – a new initiative for atmospheric ecology
- David Anthony Pearce,
- Irina A Alekhina,
- Aleks eTerauds,
- Annick eWilmotte,
- Antonio eQuesada,
- Arwyn eEdwards,
- Aurélien eDommergue,
- Birgit eSattler,
- Byron eAdams,
- Catarina Maria Magalhães,
- Wan-Loy eChu,
- Maggie eLau,
- Stephen Craig Cary,
- David J Smith,
- Diana H Wall,
- Gabriela eEguren,
- Gwynneth eMatcher,
- James eBradley,
- Jean-Pierre Paul De Vera,
- Josef eElster,
- Josef eElster,
- Kevin Andrew Hughes,
- Lewis Paul Cuthbertson,
- Liane G Benning,
- Nina eGunde - Cimerman,
- Nina eGunde - Cimerman,
- Peter eConvey,
- Soon Gyu eHong,
- Vivian Helena Pellizari,
- Steve Brian Pointing,
- Warwick F Vincent
Affiliations
- David Anthony Pearce
- Northumbria University
- Irina A Alekhina
- Arctic and Antarctic Institute
- Aleks eTerauds
- Australian Antarctic Division
- Annick eWilmotte
- University of Liège
- Antonio eQuesada
- Universidad Autónoma de Madrid
- Arwyn eEdwards
- Institute of Biological, Environmental & Rural Sciences (IBERS) Aberystwyth University
- Aurélien eDommergue
- University of Grenoble
- Birgit eSattler
- University of Innsbruck
- Byron eAdams
- Brigham Young University
- Catarina Maria Magalhães
- University of Porto
- Wan-Loy eChu
- International Medical University
- Maggie eLau
- Princeton University
- Stephen Craig Cary
- University of Waikato
- David J Smith
- NASA Ames Research Center
- Diana H Wall
- Colorado State University
- Gabriela eEguren
- University of the Republic
- Gwynneth eMatcher
- Rhodes University
- James eBradley
- University of Bristol
- Jean-Pierre Paul De Vera
- Institut für Planetenforschung
- Josef eElster
- University of South Bohemia
- Josef eElster
- Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic
- Kevin Andrew Hughes
- British Antarctic Survey
- Lewis Paul Cuthbertson
- Northumbria University
- Liane G Benning
- GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences
- Nina eGunde - Cimerman
- University of Ljubljana
- Nina eGunde - Cimerman
- Centre of Excellence for Integrated Approaches in Chemistry and Biology of Proteins (CIPKeBiP)
- Peter eConvey
- British Antarctic Survey
- Soon Gyu eHong
- KOPRI
- Vivian Helena Pellizari
- Universidade de Sao Paulo
- Steve Brian Pointing
- Auckland University of Technology
- Warwick F Vincent
- Université Laval
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2016.00016
- Journal volume & issue
-
Vol. 7
Abstract
The role of aerial dispersal in shaping patterns of biodiversity remains poorly understood, mainly due to a lack of coordinated efforts in gathering data at appropriate temporal and spatial scales. It has been long known that the rate of dispersal to an ecosystem can significantly influence ecosystem dynamics, and that aerial transport has been identified as an important source of biological input to remote locations. With the considerable effort devoted in recent decades to understanding atmospheric circulation in the south polar region, a unique opportunity has emerged to investigate the atmospheric ecology of Antarctica, from local to continental scales. This concept note identifies key questions in Antarctic microbial biogeography and the need for standardized sampling and analysis protocols to address such questions. A consortium of polar aerobiologists is established to bring together researchers with a common interest in the airborne dispersion of microbes and other propagules in the Antarctic, with opportunities for comparative studies in the Arctic.
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