Diversity of Holocene life forms in fossil glacier ice

E. Willerslev; Anders J. Hansen; B. Christensen; J. P. Steffensen; P. Arctander

Diversity of Holocene life forms in fossil glacier ice

E. Willerslev, Anders J. Hansen, B. Christensen, J. P. Steffensen, P. Arctander

94 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Studies of biotic remains of polar ice caps have been limited to morphological identification of plant pollen and spores. By using sensitive molecular techniques, we now demonstrate a much greater range of detectable organisms; from 2000- and 4000-year-old ice-core samples, we obtained and characterized 120 clones that represent at least 57 distinct taxa and reveal a diversity of fungi, plants, algae, and protists. The organisms derive from distant sources as well as from the local arctic environment. Our results suggest that additional taxa may soon be readily identified, providing a plank for future studies of deep ice cores and yielding valuable information about ancient communities and their change over time.
Udgivelsesdato: 1999 Jul 6

Original language	English
Journal	Proceedings of the National Academy of Science of the United States of America
Volume	96
Issue number	14
Pages (from-to)	8017-21
ISSN	0027-8424
Publication status	Published - 1999

Cite this

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title = "Diversity of Holocene life forms in fossil glacier ice",

abstract = "Studies of biotic remains of polar ice caps have been limited to morphological identification of plant pollen and spores. By using sensitive molecular techniques, we now demonstrate a much greater range of detectable organisms; from 2000- and 4000-year-old ice-core samples, we obtained and characterized 120 clones that represent at least 57 distinct taxa and reveal a diversity of fungi, plants, algae, and protists. The organisms derive from distant sources as well as from the local arctic environment. Our results suggest that additional taxa may soon be readily identified, providing a plank for future studies of deep ice cores and yielding valuable information about ancient communities and their change over time. Udgivelsesdato: 1999 Jul 6",

author = "E. Willerslev and Hansen, {Anders J.} and B. Christensen and Steffensen, {J. P.} and P. Arctander",

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year = "1999",

language = "English",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Diversity of Holocene life forms in fossil glacier ice

AU - Willerslev, E.

AU - Hansen, Anders J.

AU - Christensen, B.

AU - Steffensen, J. P.

AU - Arctander, P.

N1 - 214RV Times Cited:51 Cited References Count:27

PY - 1999

Y1 - 1999

N2 - Studies of biotic remains of polar ice caps have been limited to morphological identification of plant pollen and spores. By using sensitive molecular techniques, we now demonstrate a much greater range of detectable organisms; from 2000- and 4000-year-old ice-core samples, we obtained and characterized 120 clones that represent at least 57 distinct taxa and reveal a diversity of fungi, plants, algae, and protists. The organisms derive from distant sources as well as from the local arctic environment. Our results suggest that additional taxa may soon be readily identified, providing a plank for future studies of deep ice cores and yielding valuable information about ancient communities and their change over time. Udgivelsesdato: 1999 Jul 6

AB - Studies of biotic remains of polar ice caps have been limited to morphological identification of plant pollen and spores. By using sensitive molecular techniques, we now demonstrate a much greater range of detectable organisms; from 2000- and 4000-year-old ice-core samples, we obtained and characterized 120 clones that represent at least 57 distinct taxa and reveal a diversity of fungi, plants, algae, and protists. The organisms derive from distant sources as well as from the local arctic environment. Our results suggest that additional taxa may soon be readily identified, providing a plank for future studies of deep ice cores and yielding valuable information about ancient communities and their change over time. Udgivelsesdato: 1999 Jul 6

M3 - Journal article

SN - 0027-8424

VL - 96

SP - 8017

EP - 8021

JO - Proceedings of the National Academy of Science of the United States of America

JF - Proceedings of the National Academy of Science of the United States of America

IS - 14

ER -