title: Hypolithic communities: important nitrogen sources in Antarctic desert soils

authors: Cowan, Don A.

subjects: hypolithic microbial communities

abstract: Hypolithic microbial communities (i.e. cryptic microbial assemblages found on the undersides of translucent rocks) are major contributors of carbon input into the oligotrophic hyper-arid desert mineral soils of the Eastern Antarctic Dry Valleys. Here we demonstrate, for the first time, that hypolithic microbial communities possess both the genetic capacity for nitrogen fixation (i.e. the presence of nifH genes) and the ability to catalyse acetylene reduction, an accepted proxy for dinitrogen fixation. An estimate of the total contribution of these communities suggests that hypolithic communities are important contributors to fixed nitrogen budgets in Antarctic desert soils.

text: Hypolithic communities: important nitrogen sources in Antarctic desert soils Hypolithic microbial communities (i.e. cryptic microbial assemblages found on the undersides of translucent rocks) are major contributors of carbon input into the oligotrophic hyper-arid desert mineral soils of the Eastern Antarctic Dry Valleys. Here we demonstrate, for the first time, that hypolithic microbial communities possess both the genetic capacity for nitrogen fixation (i.e. the presence of nifH genes) and the ability to catalyse acetylene reduction, an accepted proxy for dinitrogen fixation. An estimate of the total contribution of these communities suggests that hypolithic communities are important contributors to fixed nitrogen budgets in Antarctic desert soils.

year: 2011

title: Biological identification of springtails (Hexapoda: Collembola) from the Canadian Arctic, using mitochondrial DNA barcodes

authors: Hogg, Ian D.

abstract: We evaluated sequence diversity in the mitochondrial cytochrome-c oxidase I (COI; EC 1.9.3.1) gene as a tool for resolving differences among species of Arctic springtails. The Collembola examined in this analysis were collected from Igloolik, Cornwallis, and Somerset islands and included representatives from all major families found in the Arctic. Members of 13 genera and 19 species were examined, including 4 species of the genus Folsomia and 3 species of the genus Hypogastrura. In all cases, species were successfully discriminated. Sequence divergences within species were generally less than 1%, whereas divergences between species were greater than 8% in all cases. Divergences among individuals of one species of Folsomia were much higher (up to 13%), but this likely represents the presence of an undescribed sibling species. We conclude that DNA barcoding is a powerful tool for identifying species of Collembola and should regularly be useful as a complement to traditional, morphological taxonomy.

text: Biological identification of springtails (Hexapoda: Collembola) from the Canadian Arctic, using mitochondrial DNA barcodes We evaluated sequence diversity in the mitochondrial cytochrome-c oxidase I (COI; EC 1.9.3.1) gene as a tool for resolving differences among species of Arctic springtails. The Collembola examined in this analysis were collected from Igloolik, Cornwallis, and Somerset islands and included representatives from all major families found in the Arctic. Members of 13 genera and 19 species were examined, including 4 species of the genus Folsomia and 3 species of the genus Hypogastrura. In all cases, species were successfully discriminated. Sequence divergences within species were generally less than 1%, whereas divergences between species were greater than 8% in all cases. Divergences among individuals of one species of Folsomia were much higher (up to 13%), but this likely represents the presence of an undescribed sibling species. We conclude that DNA barcoding is a powerful tool for identifying species of Collembola and should regularly be useful as a complement to traditional, morphological taxonomy.

year: 2004-05

title: Taunakitia Te Marae: A Te Arawa perspective of Marae wellbeing: Final Report

authors: Tiakiwai, Sarah-Jane

abstract: In collaboration with Nga Pae o te Maramatanga, Waikato Tainui College for Research and Development and Te Kotahi Research Institute, Te Arawa Tangata conducted a research project named Taunakitia Te Marae, aimed at understanding and enhancing the wellbeing of Te Arawa marae. The research took a marae-centred view of how marae can foster and support Te Arawa hapū and iwi wellbeing and development.

text: Taunakitia Te Marae: A Te Arawa perspective of Marae wellbeing: Final Report In collaboration with Nga Pae o te Maramatanga, Waikato Tainui College for Research and Development and Te Kotahi Research Institute, Te Arawa Tangata conducted a research project named Taunakitia Te Marae, aimed at understanding and enhancing the wellbeing of Te Arawa marae. The research took a marae-centred view of how marae can foster and support Te Arawa hapū and iwi wellbeing and development.

year: 2015