• Title/Summary/Keyword: Antarctic Science

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Genomic DNA Extracted from Ancient Antarctic Glacier Ice for Molecular Analyses on the Indigenous Microbial Communities

  • Lee, Sang-Hoon;Bidle, Kay;Falkowski, Paul;Marchant, David
    • Ocean and Polar Research
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    • v.27 no.2
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    • pp.205-214
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    • 2005
  • From ancient Antarctic glacier ice, we extracted total genomic DNA that was suitable for prokaryotic 16S rDNA gene cloning and sequencing, and bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) library and end-sequencing. The ice samples were from the Dry Valley region. Age dating by $^{40}Ar/^{39}Ar$ analysis on the volcanic ashes deposited in situ indicated the ice samples are minimum 100,000-300,000 yr (sample DLE) and 8 million years (sample EME) old. Further assay proved the ice survived freeze-thaw cycles or other re-working processes. EME, which was from a small lobe of the basal Taylor glacier, is the oldest known ice on Earth. Microorganisms, preserved frozen in glacier ice and isolated from the rest of the world over a geological time scale, can provide valuable data or insight for the diversity, distribution, survival strategy, and evolutionary relationships to the extant relatives. From the 16S gene cloning study, we detected no PCR amplicons with Archaea-specific primers, however we found many phylotypes belonging to Bacteria divisions, such as Actinobacteria, Acidobacteria, Proteobacteria $({\alpha},\;{\beta},\;and\;{\gamma})$, Firmicutes, and Cytophaga-Flavobacterium-Bacteroid$. BAC cloning and sequencing revealed protein codings highly identical to phenylacetic acid degradation protein paaA, chromosome segregation ATPases, or cold shock protein B of present day bacteria. Throughput sequencing of the BAC clones is underway. Viable and culturable cells were recovered from the DLE sample, and characterized by their 16S rDNA sequences. Further investigation on the survivorship and functional genes from the past should help unveil the evolution of life on Earth, or elsewhere, if any.

Decrease of Fluoride Content of Antarctic Krill (남빙양 크릴육중에 함유된 불소의 감량에 관한 연구)

  • Park, Hyun-Jin;Ham, Kyung-Sik;Kim, Dong-Man;Kim, Kil-Hwan
    • Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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    • v.20 no.1
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    • pp.19-22
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    • 1988
  • For decreasing the level of fluoride content in Antarctic krill, the changes of the content in solubel protein from the krill muscle depended on pH, ion species and ionic strength of the extracting solutions were investigated. The content of total fluoride of boiled muscle was higher than that of raw material, and the portions of fluoride with ionic form to the total content were 70% and 49%, respectively. In the effect of pH, fluoride contents of soluble protein from raw and boiled muscle showed the lowest values near 10. The effective ionic strength for decrease of fluoride content was 0.05M as NaCl at pH 11, and the content in the protein from raw material in this conditions was about 8 ppm.

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Application of the Empirical Orthogonal Functions on the GRACE Spherical Harmonic Solutions

  • Eom, Jooyoung;Seo, Ki-Weon
    • Journal of the Korean earth science society
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    • v.39 no.5
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    • pp.473-482
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    • 2018
  • During the period of 2002 to 2017, the Gravity Recovery And Climate Experiment (GRACE) had observed time-varying gravity changes with unprecedented accuracy. The GRACE science data centers provide the monthly gravity solutions after removing the sub-monthly mass fluctuation using geophysical models. However, model misfit makes the solutions to be contaminated by aliasing errors, which exhibits peculiar north-south stripes. Two conventional filters are used to reduce the errors, but signals with similar spatial patterns to the errors are also removed during the filtering procedure. This would be particularly problematic for estimating the ice mass changes in Western Antarctic Ice Sheet (WAIS) and Antarctic Peninsula (AP) due to their similar spatial pattern to the elongated north-south direction. In this study, we introduce an alternative filter to remove aliasing errors using the Empirical Orthogonal Functions (EOF) analysis. EOF can decompose data into different modes, and thus is useful to separate signals from noise. Therefore, the aliasing errors are effectively suppressed through EOF method. In particular, the month-to-month mass changes in WAIS and AP, which have been significantly contaminated by aliasing errors, can be recovered using EOF method.

Draft genome sequence of Caballeronia sordidicola strain PAMC 26633 isolated from an antarctic lichen, Psoroma species (남극 지의류 Psoroma 종에서 분리한 Caballeronia sordidicola 균주 PAMC 26633의 초벌 유전체 서열 분석)

  • Kim, Junghee;Hong, Soon Gyu;Oh, Hyun-Myung
    • Korean Journal of Microbiology
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    • v.53 no.4
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    • pp.337-339
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    • 2017
  • Here we report the draft genome sequence of the Caballeronia sordidicola strain PAMC 26633, isolated from Psoroma species, a lichen material from Barton Peninsula, King George Island in Antarctica. As we have observed in previous genomic studies in the genus Caballeronia from polar lichen, draft genomic sequences of PAMC 26633 had an assortment of genes of ecological importance and of biotechnical potentials, which include diverse metabolic genes for carbohydrates, amino acids, and genes for nitrogen/sulfur metabolisms, stress responses, membrane transporters, antibiotic resistance, and heavy metal resistance. CRISPR genes and sequences were not found and there were some phage remnants and transposons.

Target strength of juvenile Antarctic silverfish (Pleuragramma antarcticum) (남극 은암치(Pleuragramma antarcticum) 치어의 음향산란특성)

  • Sara, LEE;Wooseok, OH;Hyoung Sul, LA;Wuju, SON;Jeong-Hoon, KIM;Kyounghoon, LEE
    • Journal of the Korean Society of Fisheries and Ocean Technology
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    • v.58 no.4
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    • pp.345-351
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    • 2022
  • In this study, the target strength for multi-frequency (38 kHz, 120 kHz, 200 kHz) of juvenile silverfish (Pleuragramma antarcticum) was estimated using by the KRM (Kirchhoff-ray mode) model. The body shape of the silverfish was described by a picture and the body length of nine individuals ranged in 1.8 cm to 8.8 cm. The maximum TScm according to the total length for the constant term (b20) was -92.93 dB at 38 kHz, -86.63 dB at 120 kHz, and -85.89 dB at 200 kHz, respectively. The averaged TScm according to total length for the constant term (b20) was -100.0 dB at 38 kHz, -93.0 dB at 120 kHz, and -106.9 dB at 200 kHz, respectively.

Relationship between rainfall in Korea and Antarctic Oscillation in June (6월의 남극진동이 한국의 6월 강우량에 미치는 영향)

  • Choi, Ki Seon;Kim, Baek Jo;Lee, Jong Ho
    • Journal of the Korean earth science society
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    • v.34 no.2
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    • pp.136-147
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    • 2013
  • This study examined the effect of the Antarctic Oscillation (AAO) in June on the June rainfall in Korea by using a correlational statistical analysis. Results showed that there is a highly positive correlation between the two variables. In other words, the June rainfall in Korea is influenced by the Mascarene High and Australian High that are strengthened in the Southern Hemisphere, which is a typical positive AAO pattern. When these two anomalous pressure systems strengthen, the cold cross-equatorial flows in the direction from the region around Australia to the equator are intensified, which in turn, force a western North Pacific subtropical high (WNPSH) to develop northward. This pressure development eventually drives the rain belt to head north. As a result, the Changma begins early in the positive AAO phase and the June rainfall increases in Korea. In addition, a WNPSH that develops more northward increases the landfall (or affecting) frequency of tropical cyclones in Korea, which plays an important role in increasing the June rainfall.

A Basic Study on Chitin from Krill and Kruma Prawn for Industrial Use (Chitin의 산업적 이용을 위한 기초연구)

  • Yang, Ryung;Hyon, Joon-Ho;Whang, Yoon-Hee
    • Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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    • v.24 no.1
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    • pp.14-24
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    • 1992
  • An attempt was made to prepare chitin from kuruma prawn shell and antarctic krill for industrial use, and new procedure for the preparation of chitin was developed. When antarctic krill powder and kuruma prawn shell powder were treated through the new procedures developed in this study, purified chitin, identified by IR spectrum and nitrogen content, was obtained. Molecular weight in formic acid of purified chitin was $1.56{\times}10^{5}$ for krill and $1.78{\times}10^{5}$ for kuruma prawn respectively. Degree of polymerization of N-acetylglucosamine was 750 for krill chitin and 850 for kuruma prawn chitin. Purified chitin showed a higher degree of acetylation, and was relatively rich in methionine residue.

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Distribution of Alexandrium tamarense in Drake Passage and the Threat of Harmful Algal Blooms in the Antarctic Ocean

  • Ho, King-Chung;Kang, Sung-Ho,;Lam Ironside H.Y.;Ho, dgkiss I.John
    • Ocean and Polar Research
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    • v.25 no.4
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    • pp.625-631
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    • 2003
  • While phytoplankton diversity and productivity in the Southern Ocean has been widely studied in recent years, most attention has been given to elucidating environmental factors that affect the dynamics of micro-plankton (mainly diatoms) and nano-plankton (mainly Phaeocystis antarctica). Only limited effects have been given to studying the occurrence and the potential risks associated with the blooming of dinoflagellates in the relevant waters. This study focused on the appearance and toxicological characteristics of a toxic dinoflagellate, Alexandrium tamarense, identified and isolated from the Drake Passage in a research cruise from November to December 2001 The appearance of A. tamarense in the Southern Ocean indicates the risk of a paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) outbreak there and is therefore of scientific concern. Results showed that while the overall quantity of A. tamarense in water samples from 30meters below the sea surface often comprised less than 0.1% of the total population of phytoplankton, the highest concentration of A. tamarense (20 cells $L^{-1}$) was recorded in the portion of the Southern Ocean between the southern end of South America and the Falkland Islands. Waters near the Polar Front contained the second highest concentrations of 10-15 cells $L^{-1}$. A. tamarense was however rarely found in waters near the southern side of the Polar Front, indicating that cold sea temperatures near the Antarctic ice does not favor the growth of this dinoflagellate. One strain of A. tamarense from this cruise was isolated and cultured for further study in the laboratory. Experiments showed that this strain of A. tamarense has a high tolerance to temperature variations and could survive at temperatures ranging from $5-26^{\circ}C$. This shows the cosmopolitan nature off. tamarense. With regard to the algal toxins produced, this strain of A. tamarense produced mainly C-2 toxins but very little saxitoxin and gonyailtoxin. The toxicological property of this A. tamarense strain coincided with a massive death of penguins in the Falkland Islands in December 2002 to January 2003.

A study on calibration for commercial split beam echosounder using the bottom backscattering strength from a fishing vessel near the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica (남극 남쉐틀랜드 군도 주변 해저면 음향신호를 이용한 상업용 어군탐지기 보정 연구)

  • CHOI, Seok-Gwan;LEE, Hyungbeen;LEE, Kyounghoon;LEE, Jaebong
    • Journal of the Korean Society of Fisheries and Ocean Technology
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    • v.52 no.4
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    • pp.318-324
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    • 2016
  • Commercial split beam echosounder (ES70) installed on a krill fishing vessel was calibrated in order to utilize it in estimating biomass of Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba). The method of calibration was to analyze the difference between the bottom backscattering strength of the commercial split beam echosounder (i.e. ES70) and the scientific echosounder (i.e. EK60) at one of transects near South Shetland Islands designated by CCAMLR. 38 kHz and 120 kHz were used for the calibration, and krill swarm signal levels obtained from multi frequencies, was examined to verify the calibration result. The analysis result indicated possibility of calibration by bottom backscattering strength, since the proportion of krill swarm signals within 2 dB < $S_{V\;120\;kHz-38\;kHz}$ < 12 dB (i.e. a common $S_{V\;120\;kHz-38\;kHz}$ range of 38 kHz and 120 kHz to be an indicator of Antarctic krill) over the total acoustic signals were 26.95% and 92.04%, respectively before and after the calibration.

A Note on Magnetic Properties of Volcanic Rocks Collected from King George Island, Antarctic Peninsula

  • Funaki, Minoru;Ogishima, Tomoko
    • Ocean and Polar Research
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    • v.24 no.3
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    • pp.313-318
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    • 2002
  • The basic magnetic properties are reported for Eocene andesite and granitic andesite collected from the King Sejong Station and Marsh Runway at King George Island, South Shetland Islands Antarctic Peninsula. Samples A (andesite), B (granitic andesite) and D (granitic andesite) carry stable component of natural remanent magnetization (NRM), but sample C (andesite) unstable URM. These NRM stabilities are consistent with the domain structures estimated by the ratios of $J_R/J_s\;and\;H_{RC}/H_C$ values. On the basis of their Curie temperature, we infer magnetite as the main magnetic carrier for samples A B and C and titanomagnetite for sample D. Our study reveals that samples A and B are suitable for paleomagnetic investigations, whereas sample D is not.