A5060745981- Polar Research and Ecology
- Microbial Community Ecology and Physiology
- Cryospheric studies and observations
- Climate change and permafrost
- Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies
- Protist diversity and phylogeny
- Gut microbiota and health
- Fecal contamination and water quality
- Methane Hydrates and Related Phenomena
- Soil and Water Nutrient Dynamics
- Geology and Paleoclimatology Research
- Spaceflight effects on biology
- Bacteriophages and microbial interactions
- Urban Stormwater Management Solutions
- Ruminant Nutrition and Digestive Physiology
- Hydrocarbon exploration and reservoir analysis
- Geological Studies and Exploration
- Historical Studies of British Isles
- Genetic and phenotypic traits in livestock
- Water Treatment and Disinfection
- Phosphorus and nutrient management
- Wastewater Treatment and Reuse
- Mine drainage and remediation techniques
- Microbial Fuel Cells and Bioremediation
- 3D Surveying and Cultural Heritage
Aberystwyth University
2016-2025
Edwards (United Kingdom)
2025
Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences
2014-2024
University Centre in Svalbard
2023
University of Wales
2007
Cryoconite is granular sediment found on glacier surfaces comprising both mineral and biological material. Despite long having been recognised as an important glaciological phenomenon cryoconite remains relatively poorly understood. Here, we appraise the literature for first time, with aim of synthesising evaluating current knowledge to direct future investigations. We review properties cryoconite, environments in which it found, biology biogeochemistry its interactions climate anthropogenic...
Abstract The Arctic is melting at an unprecedented rate and key drivers are changes in snow ice albedo. Here we show that red snow, a common algal habitat blooming after the onset of melting, plays crucial role decreasing Our data reveal pigmented algae cosmopolitan as well independent location-specific geochemical mineralogical factors. patterns for diversity, pigmentation and, consequently albedo, ubiquitous across reduction albedo accelerates melt increases time area exposed bare ice. We...
The microbiome and associated metabolome of faecal samples were compared to those from the caecum right dorsal colon horses ponies euthanised for nonresearch purposes by investigating microbial population community structure as well their functional metabolic products. Through use 16S rRNA gene dendrograms, was shown cluster separately other gut regions. gene-based quantitative PCR (q-PCR) also demonstrated differences between Metabolites identified Fourier transform infrared clustered in a...
Distinct microbial habitats on glacial surfaces are dominated by snow and ice algae, which the critical players dominant primary colonisers net producers during melt season. Here for first time we have evaluated role of these algae in association with full community composition (i.e., bacteria, archaea) distinct surface 12 glaciers permanent fields Svalbard Arctic Sweden. We cross-correlated data analyses specific metabolites such as fatty acids pigments, a suite potential physico-chemical...
Cryoconite is a microbe–mineral aggregate which darkens the ice surface of glaciers. Microbial process and marker gene PCR-dependent measurements reveal active diverse cryoconite microbial communities on polar Here, we provide first report metagenome culture-independent study alpine diversity. We assembled 1.2 Gbp metagenomic DNA sequenced using an Illumina HiScanSQ from holes across ablation zone Rotmoosferner in Austrian Alps. The revealed bacterially-dominated community, with...
Algae are important primary colonizers of snow and glacial ice, but hitherto little is known about their ecology on Iceland's glaciers ice caps. Due do the close proximity active volcanoes delivering large amounts ash dust, they special ecosystems. This study provides first investigation presence diversity microbial communities all major Icelandic caps over a 3 year period. Using high-throughput sequencing small subunit ribosomal RNA genes (16S 18S), we assessed community structure...
Cryoconite holes are known as foci of microbial diversity and activity on polar glacier surfaces, but virtually unexplored habitats in alpine regions. In addition, whether cryoconite community structure reflects ecosystem functionality is poorly understood. Terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism Fourier transform infrared metabolite fingerprinting from glaciers Austria, Greenland Svalbard demonstrated bacterial communities closely correlated with cognate fingerprints. The...
Parallel policy developments driven in the USA by Clean Water Act and Europe Framework Directive have focused attention on need for quantitative information fluxes of faecal indicator bacteria catchment systems. Data are required point diffuse source loadings, fate transport these non-conservative parameters, land surface, within soil systems, groundwater, streams, impoundments nearshore waters. This new is needed regulators to inform Total Maximum Daily Load estimates Programmes Measures...
Summary Uncertainty surrounds estimates of microbial cell and organic detritus fluxes from glacier surfaces. Here, we present the first enumeration biological particles draining a supraglacial catchment, on M idtre L ovénbreen ( S valbard) over 36 days. A stream flux 1.08 × 10 7 cells m −2 h −1 was found, with strong inverse, non‐linear associations between water discharge particle concentrations. Over study period, significant decrease in cell‐like exhibiting 530 nm autofluorescence noted....
Microbial colonization of glacial ice surfaces incurs feedbacks which affect the melting rate surface. Ecosystems formed as microbe-mineral aggregates termed cryoconite locally reduce surface albedo and represent foci biodiversity biogeochemical cycling. Consequently, greater understanding ecological processes in formation functional ecosystems upon glacier is sought. Here, we present first bacterial biogeography an cap, evaluating respective roles dispersal, environmental biotic filtration...
The role of aerial dispersal in shaping patterns biodiversity remains poorly understood, mainly due to a lack coordinated efforts gathering data at appropriate temporal and spatial scales. It has been long known that the rate an ecosystem can significantly influence dynamics, transport identified as important source biological input remote locations. With considerable effort devoted recent decades understanding atmospheric circulation south polar region, unique opportunity emerged...
Cryoconite holes are foci of unusually high microbial diversity and activity on glacier surfaces worldwide, comprising melt-holes formed by the darkening ice biogenic granular debris. Despite recent studies linking cryoconite community structure to functionality habitats, little is known processes shaping bacterial community. In particular, assertions that strongly influenced aeolian transfer biota from ice-marginal habitats potential for microbes inoculate proglacial poorly quantified...
Measuring microbial abundance in glacier ice and identifying its controls is essential for a better understanding quantification of biogeochemical processes glacial ecosystems. However, cell enumeration samples challenging due to typically low numbers the presence interfering mineral particles. We quantified first time cells surface from geographically distinct sites on Greenland Ice Sheet, using three methods: epifluorescence microscopy (EFM), flow cytometry (FCM) quantitative polymerase...
Measurements of albedo are a prerequisite for modelling surface melt across the Earth's cryosphere, yet available satellite products limited in spatial and/or temporal resolution. Here, we present practical methodology to obtain centimetre resolution with accuracies 5% using consumer-grade digital camera and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technologies. Our method comprises workflow processing, correcting calibrating raw images white reference target, upward downward shortwave radiation...
To The Editor: Today, around two thirds (∼51M km3) of Earth's freshwater is locked away in glaciers, ice caps and sheets 1. Yet, wholesale recognition that these frozen assets constitute largest ecosystem only recent 2. Considering the global scale this glacial habitat, its important role climate system, it should neither be neglected nor overlooked. Here, we evaluate a cytometric definition globally significant, icy biome. A sceptical reader more familiar with marine terrestrial biomes may...
ABSTRACT In the field of observation, chance favours only prepared mind (Pasteur). Impressive developments in genomics have led microbiology to its third “Golden Age”. However, conventional metagenomics strategies necessitate retrograde transfer samples from extreme or remote environments for later analysis, rendering powerful insights gained retrospective nature, striking a contrast with Pasteur’s dictum. Here we implement highly portable USB-based nanopore DNA sequencing platforms coupled...