@article{MTMT:33727568, title = {The challenges of commercial mountaineering on the highest Volcanic Seven Summit, the Ojos del Salado}, url = {https://m2.mtmt.hu/api/publication/33727568}, author = {Nagy, Balázs and Ignéczi, Ádám and Kovácsné Székely, Ilona and Ruiz Pereira, S and Mihajlik, Gábor and Felkai, Péter and Mari, László}, doi = {10.15201/hungeobull.72.1.2}, journal-iso = {HUNG GEOGR BULL (2009-)}, journal = {HUNGARIAN GEOGRAPHICAL BULLETIN (2009-)}, volume = {72}, unique-id = {33727568}, issn = {2064-5031}, abstract = {Commercial mountaineering has gained widespread popularity in recent decades. Global mountaineering challenges – e.g., the Seven Summits challenge to climb the highest summit of each continent – amplify this process, and also raise the profile of individual destinations. The highest volcano on the Earth, the Ojos del Salado in the Dry Andes (Chile/Argentina) is featured in two of the major challenges (Seven Second Summits, Volcanic Seven Summits). Thus, it is a prime extreme outdoor tourism destination. The relative ease of access and the non-technical nature of the ascent have also contributed to the increasing volume of tourism. However, our observations about commercial mountaineering practices reveal surprisingly low success rates on the summit. Based on data from our decade-long environmental monitoring programme and our field experiences,, we attribute this to the extreme environment and landscape of the mountain (e.g., cold and dry climate, strong winds, topographical situation, loose surface material), scarce mountaineering facilities, and potential misjudgements by inexperienced climbers.}, year = {2023}, eissn = {2064-5147}, pages = {23-40}, orcid-numbers = {Ignéczi, Ádám/0000-0003-1529-8383; Ruiz Pereira, S/0000-0002-5118-5143; Mari, László/0000-0002-3382-7800} } @article{MTMT:33906888, title = {Hydrological connections in a glaciated Andean catchment under permafrost conditions (33?S)}, url = {https://m2.mtmt.hu/api/publication/33906888}, author = {Pereira, S. Ruiz and Diez, B. and Cifuentes-Anticevic, J. and Leray, S. and Fernandoy, F. and Marquardt, C. and Lambert, F.}, doi = {10.1016/j.ejrh.2022.101311}, journal-iso = {J HYDROL-REG STUD}, journal = {JOURNAL OF HYDROLOGY: REGIONAL STUDIES}, volume = {45}, unique-id = {33906888}, abstract = {Fresh water supply is critical along the Andes, where drought conditions over the past decade are projected to persist. At high Andean headwater catchments, frozen ground conditions are assumed to modulate groundwater flow paths and their hydrological signals at different time -scales. However, knowledge of hydrological connections in subtropical Andean catchments is still very sparse. This study assessed hydrological connections and their impacts on groundwater contribution to baseflow in a headwater proglacial aquifer located in central Chile at 33 degrees S and 3600 m a.s.l. We collected and analyzed snow, glacial stream, and groundwater spring water samples between 2019 and 2021. We combined of water isotope and metagenomic proxies with the hydraulic parameterization of the catchment to deliver mean transit time distributions through the proglacial aquifer. The new hydrological insights for the region include the finding that groundwater spring signals delivered sub-decadal transit times, implying likely origins from glacial or interstitial ice. Additionally, the stable isotope signature showed that groundwater consistently differs from snow and surface runoff. The 16S rRNA metabarcoding analyses demonstrated the presence of psychrophilic microorganisms in groundwater springs, supporting the idea of a late warm-season activation of interstitial ice due to thawing events associated with a differential relative-abundance of specific cryophilic bacteria. Finally, our results suggest hy-drological connections and dampening timeframes between glaciers, proglacial areas, and groundwater springs, most likely from thawing sources.}, keywords = {High Andes; Transit times; mountain permafrost; Proglacial aquifer; 16S rRNA metabarcoding; Cryophilic bacteria}, year = {2023}, eissn = {2214-5818} } @article{MTMT:34473281, title = {Differentiation of cognate bacterial communities in thermokarst landscapes: implications for ecological consequences of permafrost degradation}, url = {https://m2.mtmt.hu/api/publication/34473281}, author = {Ren, Z. and Ye, S. and Li, H. and Huang, X. and Chen, L.}, doi = {10.5194/bg-20-4241-2023}, journal-iso = {BIOGEOSCIENCES}, journal = {BIOGEOSCIENCES}, volume = {20}, unique-id = {34473281}, issn = {1726-4170}, year = {2023}, eissn = {1726-4189}, pages = {4241-4258} } @article{MTMT:32708076, title = {Gradient studies reveal the true drivers of extreme life in the Atacama Desert}, url = {https://m2.mtmt.hu/api/publication/32708076}, author = {Boy, D and Moeller, R and Sauheitl, L and Schaarschmidt, F and Rapp, S and Brink, L and Gschwendtner, S. and Borquez, R G and Matus, F J and Horn, M A and Guggenberger, G and Boy, J}, doi = {10.1029/2021JG006714}, journal-iso = {J GEOPHYS RES BIOGEOSCI}, journal = {JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH: BIOGEOSCIENCES}, volume = {127}, unique-id = {32708076}, issn = {2169-8953}, year = {2022}, eissn = {2169-8961}, pages = {1-18}, orcid-numbers = {Moeller, R/0000-0002-2371-0676; Brink, L/0000-0003-0313-8147; Horn, M A/0000-0001-8510-9651} } @article{MTMT:32699514, title = {Wind-snow interactions at the Ojos del Salado region as a potential Mars analogue site in the Altiplano - Atacama desert region}, url = {https://m2.mtmt.hu/api/publication/32699514}, author = {Kereszturi, Ákos and Aszalós, Júlia Margit and Heiling, Zs and Ignéczi, Ádám and Kapui, Zsuzsanna and Király, Csilla and Leél-Őssy, Szabolcs and Szalai, Zoltán and Nemerkényi, Zsombor and Pál, Bernadett and Skultéti, Ágnes and Nagy, Balázs}, doi = {10.1016/j.icarus.2022.114941}, journal-iso = {ICARUS}, journal = {ICARUS}, volume = {378}, unique-id = {32699514}, issn = {0019-1035}, year = {2022}, eissn = {1090-2643}, orcid-numbers = {Ignéczi, Ádám/0000-0003-1529-8383; Szalai, Zoltán/0000-0001-5267-411X} } @article{MTMT:33257243, title = {Microbial ecology of a shallow alkaline hydrothermal vent: Strýtan Hydrothermal Field, Eyjafördur, northern Iceland}, url = {https://m2.mtmt.hu/api/publication/33257243}, author = {Twing, Katrina I. and Ward, L. M. and Kane, Zachary K. and Sanders, Alexa and Price, Roy Edward and Pendleton, H. Lizethe and Giovannelli, Donato and Brazelton, William J. and McGlynn, Shawn E.}, doi = {10.3389/fmicb.2022.960335}, journal-iso = {FRONT MICROBIOL}, journal = {FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY}, volume = {13}, unique-id = {33257243}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Strýtan Hydrothermal Field (SHF) is a submarine system located in Eyjafördur in northern Iceland composed of two main vents: Big Strýtan and Arnarnesstrýtan. The vents are shallow, ranging from 16 to 70 m water depth, and vent high pH (up to 10.2), moderate temperature (T max ∼70°C), anoxic, fresh fluids elevated in dissolved silica, with slightly elevated concentrations of hydrogen and methane. In contrast to other alkaline hydrothermal vents, SHF is unique because it is hosted in basalt and therefore the high pH is not created by serpentinization. While previous studies have assessed the geology and geochemistry of this site, the microbial diversity of SHF has not been explored in detail. Here we present a microbial diversity survey of the actively venting fluids and chimneys from Big Strýtan and Arnarnesstrýtan, using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. Community members from the vent fluids are mostly aerobic heterotrophic bacteria; however, within the chimneys oxic, low oxygen, and anoxic habitats could be distinguished, where taxa putatively capable of acetogenesis, sulfur-cycling, and hydrogen metabolism were observed. Very few archaea were observed in the samples. The inhabitants of SHF are more similar to terrestrial hot spring samples than other marine sites. It has been hypothesized that life on Earth (and elsewhere in the solar system) could have originated in an alkaline hydrothermal system, however all other studied alkaline submarine hydrothermal systems to date are fueled by serpentinization. SHF adds to our understandings of hydrothermal vents in relationship to microbial diversity, evolution, and possibly the origin of life.}, year = {2022}, eissn = {1664-302X} } @article{MTMT:33072665, title = {Yeast Diversity in the Qaidam Basin Desert in China with the Description of Five New Yeast Species}, url = {https://m2.mtmt.hu/api/publication/33072665}, author = {Wei, Xu-Yang and Zhu, Hai-Yan and Song, Liang and Zhang, Ri-Peng and Li, Ai-Hua and Niu, Qiu-Hong and Liu, Xin-Zhan and Bai, Feng-Yan}, doi = {10.3390/jof8080858}, journal-iso = {J FUNGI}, journal = {JOURNAL OF FUNGI}, volume = {8}, unique-id = {33072665}, abstract = {The Qaidam Basin is the highest and one of the largest and driest deserts on Earth. It is considered a mars analog area in China. In contrast to numerous studies concerning its geology, geophysical, and chemistry, relatively few studies have reported microbial diversity and distribution in this area. Here, we investigated culturable yeast diversity in the northeast Qaidam Basin. A total of 194 yeast strains were isolated, and 12 genera and 21 species were identified, among which 19 were basidiomycetous yeasts. Naganishia albida, N. adeliensis, and Filobasidium magnum were the three most dominant species and were distributed in thirteen samples from eight locations. Five new species (Filobasidium chaidanensis, Kondoa globosum, Symmetrospora salmoneus, Teunia nitrariae, and Vishniacozyma pseudodimennae) were found and described based on ITS and D1D2 gene loci together with phenotypic characteristics and physiochemical analysis. Representative strains from each species were chosen for the salt-tolerant test, in which species showed different responses to different levels of NaCl concentrations. Further, the strain from soil can adapt well to the higher salt stress compared to those from plants or lichens. Our study represents the first report of the yeast diversity in the Qaidam Basin, including five new species, and also provides further information on the halotolerance of yeasts from the saline environment in mars analog.}, year = {2022}, eissn = {2309-608X}, pages = {858}, orcid-numbers = {Zhang, Ri-Peng/0000-0001-6050-513X; Liu, Xin-Zhan/0000-0002-6227-1987; Bai, Feng-Yan/0000-0001-9823-6430} } @article{MTMT:33072666, title = {The Role of Thermokarst Lake Expansion in Altering the Microbial Community and Methane Cycling in Beiluhe Basin on Tibetan Plateau}, url = {https://m2.mtmt.hu/api/publication/33072666}, author = {Xu, Qian and Du, Zhiheng and Wang, Lei and Xue, Kai and Wei, Zhiqiang and Zhang, Gaosen and Liu, Keshao and Lin, Jiahui and Lin, Penglin and Chen, Tuo and Xiao, Cunde}, doi = {10.3390/microorganisms10081620}, journal-iso = {MICROORGANISMS}, journal = {MICROORGANISMS}, volume = {10}, unique-id = {33072666}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {One of the most significant environmental changes across the Tibetan Plateau (TP) is the rapid lake expansion. The expansion of thermokarst lakes affects the global biogeochemical cycles and local climate regulation by rising levels, expanding area, and increasing water volumes. Meanwhile, microbial activity contributes greatly to the biogeochemical cycle of carbon in the thermokarst lakes, including organic matter decomposition, soil formation, and mineralization. However, the impact of lake expansion on distribution patterns of microbial communities and methane cycling, especially those of water and sediment under ice, remain unknown. This hinders our ability to assess the true impact of lake expansion on ecosystem services and our ability to accurately investigate greenhouse gas emissions and consumption in thermokarst lakes. Here, we explored the patterns of microorganisms and methane cycling by investigating sediment and water samples at an oriented direction of expansion occurred from four points under ice of a mature-developed thermokarst lake on TP. In addition, the methane concentration of each water layer was examined. Microbial diversity and network complexity were different in our shallow points (MS, SH) and deep points (CE, SH). There are differences of microbial community composition among four points, resulting in the decreased relative abundances of dominant phyla, such as Firmicutes in sediment, Proteobacteria in water, Thermoplasmatota in sediment and water, and increased relative abundance of Actinobacteriota with MS and SH points. Microbial community composition involved in methane cycling also shifted, such as increases in USCγ, Methylomonas, and Methylobacter, with higher relative abundance consistent with low dissolved methane concentration in MS and SH points. There was a strong correlation between changes in microbiota characteristics and changes in water and sediment environmental factors. Together, these results show that lake expansion has an important impact on microbial diversity and methane cycling.}, year = {2022}, eissn = {2076-2607}, pages = {1620}, orcid-numbers = {Xiao, Cunde/0000-0002-1706-4794} } @article{MTMT:32351000, title = {Electrical conductivity as a driver of biological and geological spatial heterogeneity in the Puquios, Salar de Llamara, Atacama Desert, Chile}, url = {https://m2.mtmt.hu/api/publication/32351000}, author = {Reid, R. P. and Oehlert, A. M. and Suosaari, E. P. and Demergasso, C. and Chong, G. and Escudero, L. V. and Piggot, A. M. and Lascu, I. and Palma, A. T.}, doi = {10.1038/s41598-021-92105-2}, journal-iso = {SCI REP}, journal = {SCIENTIFIC REPORTS}, volume = {11}, unique-id = {32351000}, issn = {2045-2322}, abstract = {Reputed to be the driest desert in the world, the Atacama Desert in the Central Andes of Northern Chile is an extreme environment with high UV radiation, wide temperature variation, and minimum precipitation. Scarce lagoons associated with salt flats (salars) in this desert are the surface expression of shallow groundwater; these ponds serve as refugia for life and often host microbial communities associated with evaporitic mineral deposition. Results based on multidisciplinary field campaigns and associated laboratory examination of samples collected from the Puquios of the Salar de Llamara in the Atacama Desert during austral summer provide unprecedented detail regarding the spatial heterogeneity of physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of these salar environments. Four main lagoons ('Puquios') and more than 400 smaller ponds occur within an area less than 5 km(2), and are characterized by high variability in electrical conductivity, benthic and planktonic biota, microbiota, lagoon bottom type, and style of mineral deposition. Results suggest that electrical conductivity is a driving force of system heterogeneity. Such spatial heterogeneity within the Puquios is likely to be expanded with temporal observations incorporating expected seasonal changes in electrical conductivity. The complexity of these Andean ecosystems may be key to their ability to persist in extreme environments at the edge of habitability.}, year = {2021}, eissn = {2045-2322} } @article{MTMT:32351002, title = {Gullies and Moraines Are Islands of Biodiversity in an Arid, Mountain Landscape, Asgard Range, Antarctica}, url = {https://m2.mtmt.hu/api/publication/32351002}, author = {Solon, Adam J. and Mastrangelo, Claire and Vimercati, Lara and Sommers, Pacifica and Darcy, John L. and Gendron, Eli M. S. and Porazinska, Dorota L. and Schmidt, S. K.}, doi = {10.3389/fmicb.2021.654135}, journal-iso = {FRONT MICROBIOL}, journal = {FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY}, volume = {12}, unique-id = {32351002}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Cold, dry, and nutrient-poor, the McMurdo Dry Valleys of Antarctica are among the most extreme terrestrial environments on Earth. Numerous studies have described microbial communities of low elevation soils and streams below glaciers, while less is known about microbial communities in higher elevation soils above glaciers. We characterized microbial life in four landscape features (habitats) of a mountain in Taylor Valley. These habitats varied significantly in soil moisture and include moist soils of a (1) lateral glacial moraine, (2) gully that terminates at the moraine, and very dry soils on (3) a southeastern slope and (4) dry sites near the gully. Using rRNA gene PCR amplicon sequencing of Bacteria and Archaea (16S SSU) and eukaryotes (18S SSU), we found that all habitat types harbored significantly different bacterial and eukaryotic communities and that these differences were most apparent when comparing habitats that had macroscopically visible soil crusts (gully and moraine) to habitats with no visible crusts (near gully and slope). These differences were driven by a relative predominance of Actinobacteria and a Colpodella sp. in non-crust habitats, and by phototrophic bacteria and eukaryotes (e.g., a moss) and predators (e.g., tardigrades) in habitats with biological soil crusts (gully and moraine). The gully and moraine also had significantly higher 16S and 18S ESV richness than the other two habitat types. We further found that many of the phototrophic bacteria and eukaryotes of the gully and moraine share high sequence identity with phototrophs from moist and wet areas elsewhere in the Dry Valleys and other cold desert ecosystems. These include a Moss (Bryum sp.), several algae (e.g., a Chlorococcum sp.) and cyanobacteria (e.g., Nostoc and Phormidium spp.). Overall, the results reported here broaden the diversity of habitat types that have been studied in the Dry Valleys of Antarctica and suggest future avenues of research to more definitively understand the biogeography and factors controlling microbial diversity in this unique ecosystem.}, keywords = {Extremophiles; GULLIES; Bryum; BIOLOGICAL SOIL CRUSTS; cold deserts; microbial oases; cryobiosphere}, year = {2021}, eissn = {1664-302X} } @article{MTMT:31349884, title = {Cold, dry, windy, and UV irradiated : surveying Mars-relevant conditions in Ojos del Salado Volcano (Andes Mountains, Chile)}, url = {https://m2.mtmt.hu/api/publication/31349884}, author = {Kereszturi, Ákos and Aszalós, Júlia Margit and Heiling, Zs and Ignéczi, Ádám and Kapui, Zsuzsanna and Király, Csilla and Leél-Őssy, Szabolcs and Nagy, Balázs and Nemerkényi, Zsombor and Pál, Bernadett and Skultéti, Ágnes and Szalai, Zoltán}, doi = {10.1089/ast.2019.2165}, journal-iso = {ASTROBIOLOGY}, journal = {ASTROBIOLOGY}, volume = {20}, unique-id = {31349884}, issn = {1531-1074}, year = {2020}, eissn = {1557-8070}, pages = {677-683}, orcid-numbers = {Ignéczi, Ádám/0000-0003-1529-8383; Szalai, Zoltán/0000-0001-5267-411X} } @article{MTMT:31344017, title = {The thermal behavior of ice-bearing ground : the highest cold, dry desert on Earth as an analog for conditions on Mars, at Ojos del Salado, Puna de Atacama-Altiplano Region}, url = {https://m2.mtmt.hu/api/publication/31344017}, author = {Nagy, Balázs and Kovács, József and Ignéczi, Ádám and Beleznai, Szabolcs and Mari, László and Kereszturi, Ákos and Szalai, Zoltán}, doi = {10.1089/ast.2018.2021}, journal-iso = {ASTROBIOLOGY}, journal = {ASTROBIOLOGY}, volume = {20}, unique-id = {31344017}, issn = {1531-1074}, year = {2020}, eissn = {1557-8070}, pages = {701-722}, orcid-numbers = {Kovács, József/0000-0002-6797-2504; Ignéczi, Ádám/0000-0003-1529-8383; Mari, László/0000-0002-3382-7800; Szalai, Zoltán/0000-0001-5267-411X} }