Organic matter from Arctic sea-ice loss alters bacterial community structure and function
Underwood, G.J.C.; Michel, C.; Meisterhans, G.; Niemi, A.; Belzile, C.; Witt, M.; Dumbrell, A.J.; Koch, B.P. (2019). Organic matter from Arctic sea-ice loss alters bacterial community structure and function. Nat. Clim. Chang. 9(2): 170-176. https://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41558-018-0391-7
In: Nature Climate Change. Nature Publishing Group: London. ISSN 1758-678X; e-ISSN 1758-6798, more
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| Authors | | Top |
- Underwood, G.J.C.
- Michel, C.
- Meisterhans, G.
- Niemi, A.
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- Belzile, C.
- Witt, M.
- Dumbrell, A.J.
- Koch, B.P.
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| Abstract |
Continuing losses of multi-year sea ice (MYI) across the Arctic are causing first-year sea ice (FYI) to dominate the Arctic ice pack. Melting FYI provides a strong seasonal pulse of dissolved organic matter (DOM) into surface waters; however, the biological impact of this DOM input is unknown. Here we show that DOM additions cause important and contrasting changes in under-ice bacterioplankton abundance, production and species composition. Utilization of DOM was influenced by molecular size, with 10–100 kDa and >100 kDa DOM fractions promoting rapid growth of particular taxa, while uptake of sulfur and nitrogen-rich low molecular weight organic compounds shifted bacterial community composition. These results demonstrate the ecological impacts of DOM released from melting FYI, with wide-ranging consequences for the cycling of organic matter across regions of the Arctic Ocean transitioning from multi-year to seasonal sea ice as the climate continues to warm. |
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