Culturable bacteria community development in postglacial soils of Ecology Glacier, King George Island, Antarctica

Glacier forelands are excellent sites in which to study microbial succession because conditions change rapidly in the emerging soil. Development of the bacterial community was studied along two transects on lateral moraines of Ecology Glacier, King George Island, by culture-dependent and culture-independent approaches (denaturating gradient gel electrophoresis, DGGE). Environmental conditions such as cryoturbation and soil composition affected both abundance and phylogenetic diversity of bacterial communities. Microbiocenosis structure along transect 1(severe cryoturbation) differed markedly from that along transect 2 (minor cryoturbation). Soil physical and chemical factors changed along the chronosequence (time since exposure) and influenced the taxonomic diversity of cultivated bacteria (CB), particularly along transect 2. Arthrobacter spp. played a pioneer role, and were present in all soil samples, but were most abundant along transect 1. Cultivated bacteria isolated from transect 2 were taxonomically more diverse than those cultivated from transect 1; those from transect 1 tended to express a broader range of enzyme and assimilation activities. Our data suggest that cryoturbation is a major factor in controlling bacterial community development in postglacial soils, shed light on microbial succession in glacier forelands, and add a new parameter to models that describe succession phenomena

Irina Baronova (centre left), Paul Petroff (centre right), and artists of the company, in Le mariage d'Aurore, Covent Garden Russian Ballet, Australian tour, His Majesty's Theatre, Melbourne, ca. 1938 [picture] /

From: Le mariage d'Aurore (Aurora's wedding) / music by Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky.; Inscription: "2G/2".; Part of the collection: Hugh P. Hall collection of photographs, 1938-1940.; Performed Sept-Nov 1938 and Mar-Apr 1939.; Choreography after Marius Petipa ; scenery by Léon Bakst ; costumes by Alexandre Benois.; Also available in an electronic version via the internet at: http://nla.gov.au/nla.pic-vn4194135. One of a collection of photographs taken by Hugh P. Hall of 28 ballet productions performed by the Covent Garden Russian Ballet (toured Australia 1938-1939) and the Original Ballet Russe (toured Australia 1939-1940). These are the second and third of the three Ballets Russes companies which toured Australasia between 1936 and 1940. The photographs were taken from the auditorium during a live performance in His Majesty's Theatre, Melbourne and mounted on cardboard for display purposes. For conservation and storage, the photographs have been demounted. The original arrangement of the photographs has been recorded, and details are available from the Pictures Branch of the National Library