# DNA Metabarcoding Focusing on Eukaryote Communities on Langhovde Glacier, East Antarctica

## TL;DR

This study explores the eukaryotic communities on Langhovde Glacier in Antarctica and finds that their diversity is influenced by the chemical properties of the water environment.

## Contribution

The study provides new insights into the eukaryotic biodiversity and ecological structures of supraglacial environments in East Antarctica.

## Key findings

- Diverse eukaryotic taxa, including Chlorophyta and Chrysophyceae, were identified on Langhovde Glacier.
- Microbial diversity was higher in off-ice ponds with elevated dissolved ion concentrations.
- Many gene sequences on the glacier matched those from remote snow and ice fields, indicating a cosmopolitan nature.

## Abstract

Ecological structures and habitats of eukaryote communities in supraglacial environments have attracted attention because of their unique biodiversity and potential impact on glacial surface melt. In this study, we investigated the microbial community on Langhovde Glacier in East Antarctica, wherein few molecular biological studies have been conducted. We performed a comprehensive environmental DNA analysis and dissolved ion measurements focusing on various types of supraglacial waters scattered on Langhovde Glacier, as well as ponds in the adjacent off‐ice area. 18S rRNA gene analysis revealed the presence of diverse eukaryotic taxa on the glacier, including Chlorophyta, Chrysophyceae, Cercozoa, Choanoflagellatea and Streptophyta. Distinct ecological structures were observed between large perennial supraglacial lakes and small transient supraglacial puddles on the glacier. Moreover, microbial diversity was greater in the off‐ice ponds with elevated concentrations of dissolved ions. Only a limited number of eukaryotic gene sequences were shared on‐ and off‐ice sites, and many of the gene sequences detected on Langhovde Glacier matched those from remote snow and ice fields worldwide. These results highlight the cosmopolitan nature of ice/snow algae and suggest that the physicochemical properties of the supraglacial water environment play a crucial role in shaping microbial diversity on glacier surfaces.

Based on comprehensive 18S rRNA gene analysis, this study characterises the eukaryotic communities inhabiting the supraglacial environments of Langhovde Glacier, East Antarctica, in relation to the associated aquatic chemistry. Genetic differences between organisms found in the surrounding ice‐free areas and those in distant snow and ice fields are also discussed.