A glimpse into the future: How the timing of sea ice formation influences associated microalgal communities

Jacqui Stuart; Natalie Robinson; Craig Stewart; Kirsty F. Smith; John K. Pearman; Svenja Halfter; Greg Leonard; Ken G. Ryan

doi:10.1016/j.isci.2025.112417

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A glimpse into the future: How the timing of sea ice formation influences associated microalgal communities

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A glimpse into the future: How the timing of sea ice formation influences associated microalgal communities

Jacqui Stuart, Natalie Robinson, Craig Stewart, Kirsty F. Smith, John K. Pearman, Svenja Halfter, Greg Leonard and Ken G. Ryan

iScience, Vol.28(5), 112417

28/04/2025

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2025.112417

Handle:

https://hdl.handle.net/10523/45928

Abstract

Antarctica

climate change

Metabarcoding

platelet ice

SIPL Sampler

storm event

This study investigates the impact of unseasonable storm events in McMurdo Sound, Antarctica, in 2022 on eukaryotic microalgal communities (EMCs). We assessed EMCs from the fast-ice and sub-ice platelet layer (SIPL) associated with fast-ice formed during March (historical timing) and September (five months later). We compared three ice conditions: March-ice (fast ice with SIPL, frozen in March), September-ice (fast ice with SIPL, frozen in September), and September-no-SIPL (fast-ice without SIPL, frozen in September). Using metabarcoding and light microscopy, results showed higher diversity in March-ice EMCs compared to September-no-SIPL. Community structure was significantly influenced by ice condition and ice type. March-ice had the most unique ASVs, of all ice conditions. Biomass peaked in March-ice SIPLs at 25–50 cm, while September-ice SIPLs peaked at 0–25 cm). These findings demonstrate delayed ice formation alters EMC structure, diversity, and biomass, potentially impacting primary productivity, nutrient cycling and Antarctic sea ice ecosystems. • More diversity observed in March-ice condition EMCs. • No biomass difference between conditions, but SIPL had more than fast ice. • EMC composition differs in March-ice and both September ice conditions. • Microalgal indicator species found in each ice condition.

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Record Identifier: 9926736136201891
Title: A glimpse into the future: How the timing of sea ice formation influences associated microalgal communities
Creators: Jacqui Stuart
Natalie Robinson
Craig Stewart
Kirsty F. Smith
John K. Pearman
Svenja Halfter
Greg Leonard
Ken G. Ryan
Publication Details: iScience, Vol.28(5), 112417
Academic Unit: School of Surveying
Publisher: Elsevier
Grant note: Sir Robert Irvine Doctoral Scholarship, Antarctica New Zealand (J.S.); COAO404 / National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research; ANTA1801 / Antarctic Science Platform; CAWX1801 / Strategic Science Investment Fund (SSIF) Seafood Safety research platform, MBIE; Doctoral Scholarship and 400086 Faculty of Science Grant / Victoria University of Wellington (J.S.).
Date published ; e-published: 28/04/2025
Copyright: Copyright © The Author(s) 2025. This work was first published in iScience (Elsevier). This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/), which permits non-commercial use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly attributed to the creator(s) and the source, is not altered, transformed, or built upon in any way, and a link to the Creative Commons license is provided.
Language: English
Resource Type ; Subtype: Journal article