Abstract Project: KOP180

Rey Mourot (GFZ)

Glacier biodiversity has a direct influence on the microbially derived dissolved and particulate carbon and associated nutrients into glacier rivers, forefields, and fjords1-4 which in turn influence marine phytoplankton. Micro-algal communities are known to regulate key biogeochemical element cycles (i.e., C, P, N) and contribute to increased glacier surface melting5-7. Yet, they have been almost exclusively studied during the Arctic day. With this project, we will assess their state and survival during winter and evaluate the influence of the polar night on their activity and productivity. Using snow and ice cores collected from various glaciers around Ny-Ålesund in winter, we will analyse variations in microbial diversity, function, metabolic rates, and activity in the frozen state. This new dataset will then be compared with our summer 2021 samples, thus granting us a 1st ever insight into the seasonal role of cryo-microbial communities and their impact.