A foundational biodiversity map of the terrestrial microbiome of a sub-Antarctic island. Siddarthan Venkatachalam 1 , Robert Pienaar 1 , Gwynneth Matcher 1 , Nasipi Mtsi 1 , Peter le Roux 2 , Michelle Greve 2 , Bettine Jansen van Vuuren 3 , Sudharshan Sekar 3 , Rosemary Dorrington 1 1 Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Rhodes University, Grahamstown 2 Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Pretoria 3 Department of Zoology, University of Johannesburg
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A foundational biodiversity map of the terrestrial
microbiome of a sub-Antarctic island.
Siddarthan Venkatachalam1, Robert Pienaar1, Gwynneth Matcher1, Nasipi Mtsi1,
Peter le Roux2, Michelle Greve2, Bettine Jansen van Vuuren3, Sudharshan
Sekar3, Rosemary Dorrington1
1Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Rhodes University, Grahamstown 2Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Pretoria 3Department of Zoology, University of Johannesburg
Marion Island (46° 54´ S, 37° 45´ E)
Prince Edward Island (46° 38´ S, 37°
Marion Island (290 km2) and Prince Edward (45 km2)1
PEIs are of volcanic origin
Important breeding site for seabirds and mammals2
Gradual increase 0.04°C per year
Decrease in annual precipitation
Fragile ecosystem
Sub-Antarctic Island: Prince Edward Islands
(courtesy of I. Meiklejohn).
Marion Island Vegetation
The vascular flora (N.J.M. Gremmen, pers. comm.)
22 native species,
18 introduced species
3 unknown species
Indigenous plant
Azorella selago Hook. f.
Invasive plant
Sagina procumbens L.
Courtesy of Robert Pienaar
Research Questions
1. Does different habitat complexes in the Marion island contains different
microbial communities?
2. What microbial groups are associated with the root tissues of plants
(rhizosphere), surrounding soils and how do plants benefit from their
microbiome?
3. Do different soils and plants types host different microbial communities?
4. Is there any significant differences among rhizosphere microbial communities
of indigenous Azorella selago and invasive Sagina procumbens plant species?
If so how they are influencing the sub-Antarctic ecosystems.
Over all objective
To map the genetic diversity of microbial communities and plant species
present in the Marion Island under different habitat complexes.