Potential activity of microbial community in the Biological Soil Crusts in the glacial forefield of Werenskioldbreen glacier

The aim of this project is to detect photosynthetic and heterotrophic activity of BSC in High Arctic glacier forefields. The proposed project will be conducted in glacial forefield of Werenskioldbreen glacier in the SW Svalbard (June/July). It will be ba sed at the Polish Polar Station at the Hornsund fjord and it will be conducted at the Werenhus Field Station or the hut Hyttevika. The fieldwokr will consist of the measurements of microbial activity of biological soil crusts. The activity will be determi ned as a rate of a gas exchange (CO2/O2) between soil crusts and atmosphere. The basic environmental condition will be assed in pararel (soil temperature, moisture, photosyntetic activ radiation, bulk density). Additional soil samples of BSCs will be coll ected for subsequent laboratory analyses. They will be analysed for different forms of soil C, N, P and for pH. The phylogenetic structure of microbial communities will be determined by 454-pyrosequencing of the 16S rRNA gene.