Project Detail

Seasonal changes of microbial communities in deglaciated soils (Svalbard)

Name:	Seasonal changes of microbial communities in deglaciated soils (Svalbard)
Researchers:	Řeháková Klára (researcher)
Provider:	GA AV
Realization from:	2004
Realization to:	2005
Summary:	The Polar Regions have attracted scientific attention in recent years from several reasons: they influence the climate of Earth, their glaciers retain the greatest part of freshwater, and they are the most vulnerable area to global warming. Their deglaciated areas are suitable for the study of primary colonization and microbial communities succession in the soil. This project was focused on the seasonal changes of microbial communities in deglaciated soils in the forefield of the glacier Werenskioldbreen, Svalbard. The main emphasis was laid on bacteria, cyanobacteria and algae. Epifluorescent counting and isolation was used to determine the entire diversity of soil microbial communities and their changes during the vegetation season and their dependence on the microclimatic conditions. Furthermore, the interaction among single groups of microbial community and response of communities to the physico-chemical parameters of soils was studied.