Lakes in the Dry Valleys region of Antarctica are permanently capped
with 3 to 6 m thick layer of ice. Imbedded within the ice (at a depth of
about 2 m) is a layer of sand and gravel that harbors a rich microbial
community. The contribution of the ice aggregate microalgal community to
overall carbon and nitrogen cycling in this nutrient-poor ecosystem is
unknown. The purpose of this project is to describe and quantify the origin,
distribution, and growth physiology of ice aggregate microalgae in Lake
Bonney, Dry Valleys, Antarctica.
This research is funded by a grant from the National Science Foundation,
Office of Polar Programs (94-19423)
Return to Microbial Ecology/Nutrient
Cycling Laboratory page.
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Home Page.
Please direct questions and/or comments to Jay
Pinckney.
Pages Updated on 5 March 1999