Life in the cold: Studies of 
Antarctic microbial communities

José R. de la Torre
Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute

Wednesday, November 13, 2002
3:00 p.m. – Pacific Forum

Microorganisms account for a substantial proportion of the planet's biomass and thrive in environments previously deemed too extreme to support life. Nonetheless, little is known about many organisms that dominate natural microbial communities. My work in the laboratory of Norman Pace centered on Antarctic microbial communities: endolithic communities from the McMurdo Dry Valleys, sea ice communities, and potential habitats for microorganisms in the glacial ice above Lake Vostok.

My presentation will focus primarily on my studies of Antarctic endolithic communities. Cryptoendolithic microorganisms colonize pore spaces of exposed rocks, gaining protection from inhospitable surface conditions. Using molecular approaches, we found surprising diversity in these communities, revealing the existence of unsuspected organisms that, because of their abundance, may play important roles, including perhaps primary production. Of note was the abundance of an unknown distant relative of Deinococcus, known for its resistance to radiation and desiccation, which defines a new clade within the Thermus/Deinococcus division. 

Next: Contaminated sediments