UFSC in the Media: Antarctic Bacteria Could Provide Insights into the Evolution of Global Warming
RIO — Brazilian researchers collected 150 kilograms of soil and ice from Antarctica, which may provide new insights into the life of microorganisms inhabiting the frozen continent. The material will also be used to study the impact of climate change on the ecosystem.
The sampling campaign began in January and lasted 24 days. The collected samples will now be analyzed in laboratories at the institutions participating in the Microsfera Project. According to the scientists, the analysis of bacteria is an important tool for studying global warming. These microorganisms respond rapidly to changes in climate and environmental conditions, adapting their metabolism to cope with factors such as extreme cold and winter darkness. Long-term environmental changes can ultimately lead to the disappearance of certain species.
“The microorganisms that live in Antarctica are exposed to a wide range of environmental pressures. For example, they must survive in nutrient-poor environments, as well as endure extreme cold and repeated freeze–thaw cycles,” explains Carolina Alves Fernandes, an agronomy student and researcher at the Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC), one of the universities participating in the Microsfera Project. “Solar radiation is also a major challenge because it damages cellular DNA, affecting the bacteria’s ability to reproduce. However, perhaps their greatest challenge is the scarcity of liquid water, which is essential for all living organisms.”
Vivian Pellizari, the project coordinator and a professor at the Oceanographic Institute of the University of São Paulo (USP), emphasizes that scientists have not yet identified the “oldest link”—the common ancestor shared by all living organisms. Access to primitive organisms preserved in ice samples is essential for bringing researchers closer to understanding the earliest stages of life’s history.
“The life of microorganisms is closely connected to chemical processes and to the history of our planet,” she explains. “The current diversity of species shares a common ancestor. By studying regions such as Antarctica, we gain access to samples that have not been exposed to more recent cells.”
A study coordinated by Vivian concluded that there is a trend toward decreasing bacterial diversity in Antarctic soils. Since the areas most affected are those that have become ice-free over the past 30 years, researchers are now investigating whether the decline in species diversity is driven by climate change or represents a natural trend within this ecosystem.
“Our research has two main objectives: understanding the evolution of these microorganisms and assessing the impacts of climate change,” Vivian explains. “We can also investigate how bacteria adapt to new environmental conditions, including their resistance to ultraviolet radiation.”
Text: Renato Grandelle
Photo: Carolina Fernandes/Disclosure
Source: O Globo
