Microorganisms dominate terrestrial environments in the polar regions and Arctic soils are
known to harbour significant microbial diversity, far more diverse and numerous in the …

The loss of cellular water (desiccation) and the resulting low cytosolic water activity are
major stress factors for life. Numerous prokaryotic and eukaryotic taxa have evolved …

Polar ice sheets hold a significant pool of the world's carbon reserve and are an integral
component of the global carbon cycle. Yet, organic carbon composition and cycling in these …

Rapid disintegration of alpine glaciers has led to the formation of new terrain consisting of
mineral debris colonized by microorganisms. Despite the importance of microbial pioneers …

Snow environments can occupy over a third of land surface area, but little is known about
the dynamics of snowpack bacteria. The effect of snow melt on bacterial community structure …

Snow and ice environments cover up to 21% of the Earth's surface. They have been
regarded as extreme environments because of their low temperatures, high UV irradiation …

Snow ecosystems represent a large part of the Earth's biosphere and harbour diverse
microbial communities. Despite our increased knowledge of snow microbial communities …

Runoff from the Greenland Ice Sheet (GrIS) has increased in recent years due largely to
changes in atmospheric circulation and atmospheric warming. Albedo reductions resulting …

Microbial communities in alpine environments are exposed to several environmental factors
related to elevation and local site conditions and to extreme seasonal variations. However …

Snow is the largest component of the cryosphere, with its cover and distribution rapidly
decreasing over the last decade due to climate warming. It is imperative to characterize the …