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Storage and export of microbial biomass across the western Greenland Ice Sheet

Author

Listed:
  • T. D. L. Irvine-Fynn

    (Aberystwyth University)

  • A. Edwards

    (Aberystwyth University)

  • I. T. Stevens

    (Aberystwyth University
    Newcastle University
    Aarhus University)

  • A. C. Mitchell

    (Aberystwyth University)

  • P. Bunting

    (Aberystwyth University)

  • J. E. Box

    (Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland)

  • K. A. Cameron

    (Aberystwyth University
    Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland
    University of Glasgow)

  • J. M. Cook

    (Aberystwyth University
    Aarhus University
    University of Sheffield)

  • K. Naegeli

    (Aberystwyth University
    University of Bern)

  • S. M. E. Rassner

    (Aberystwyth University)

  • J. C. Ryan

    (Brown University)

  • M. Stibal

    (Charles University)

  • C. J. Williamson

    (University of Bristol)

  • A. Hubbard

    (UiT—The Arctic University of Norway
    University of Oulu)

Abstract

The Greenland Ice Sheet harbours a wealth of microbial life, yet the total biomass stored or exported from its surface to downstream environments is unconstrained. Here, we quantify microbial abundance and cellular biomass flux within the near-surface weathering crust photic zone of the western sector of the ice sheet. Using groundwater techniques, we demonstrate that interstitial water flow is slow (~10−2 m d−1), while flow cytometry enumeration reveals this pathway delivers 5 × 108 cells m−2 d−1 to supraglacial streams, equivalent to a carbon flux up to 250 g km−2 d−1. We infer that cellular carbon accumulation in the weathering crust exceeds fluvial export, promoting biomass sequestration, enhanced carbon cycling, and biological albedo reduction. We estimate that up to 37 kg km−2 of cellular carbon is flushed from the weathering crust environment of the western Greenland Ice Sheet each summer, providing an appreciable flux to support heterotrophs and methanogenesis at the bed.

Suggested Citation

  • T. D. L. Irvine-Fynn & A. Edwards & I. T. Stevens & A. C. Mitchell & P. Bunting & J. E. Box & K. A. Cameron & J. M. Cook & K. Naegeli & S. M. E. Rassner & J. C. Ryan & M. Stibal & C. J. Williamson & A, 2021. "Storage and export of microbial biomass across the western Greenland Ice Sheet," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-11, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:12:y:2021:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-021-24040-9
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-24040-9
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