Metagenomics of Antarctic Marine Sediment Reveals Potential for Diverse Chemolithoautotrophy
Arkadiy I. Garber, Jessica R. Zehnpfennig, Cody S. Sheik, Michael W. Henson, Gustavo A. Ramírez, Andrew R. Mahon, Kenneth M. Halanych, Deric R. Learman
Abstract
The impacts of climate change in polar regions, like Antarctica, have the potential to alter numerous ecosystems and biogeochemical cycles. Increasing temperature and freshwater runoff from melting ice can have profound impacts on the cycling of organic and inorganic nutrients between the pelagic and benthic ecosystems. Within the benthos, sediment microbial communities play a critical role in carbon mineralization and the cycles of essential nutrients like nitrogen and sulfur. Metagenomic data collected from sediment samples from the continental shelf of western Antarctica help to examine this unique system and document the metagenomic potential for lithotrophic metabolisms and the cycles of both nitrogen and sulfur, which support not only benthic microbes but also life in the pelagic zone.