In: Chemistry
What are the sources of chemicals in the glacial ecosystems?
The sources of chemicals depends on the type of ecosystem and microorganism inhabiting in that ecosystem and their metabolic role. So first lets see the types of Glacial ecosystems and the microorganisms growing in them. There are three key Glacial ecosystems -
1. Supraglacial Ecosystem - Ecosystem inhabited on the glacier surface. It is characterised by growth of various microorganisms sucg as Algae, bacteria, virus, Fungi, Phytoflagellates etc.
2. Subglacial Ecosystem - Ecosystem inhabited at the ice-bed interface. It is characterized by growth of Aerobic and/or Anaerobic bacteria.
3. Englacial ecosystem - This ecosystem survives on the metabolic activity of the micoorganisms and depends on dynamics of nutrients.
All the Glacial ecosystem consists of Dissolved organoic matter (DOM). The lability of DOM varies with age, as younger organic matter is easily metabolized by Aquatic Heterotrophs than older modified DOM.