Microbial communities and carbon cycling in subglacial ecosystems and their analogues

• Thesis title in Czech: Microbial communities and carbon cycling in subglacial ecosystems and their analogues
• Thesis title in English: Microbial communities and carbon cycling in subglacial ecosystems and their analogues
• Key words: subglaciální prostředí, ledovce, mikrobiální aktivita, organický materiál, koloběh uhlíku
• English key words: subglacial environment, glaciers and ice sheets, microbial activity, organic matter, carbon cycling
• Academic year of topic announcement: 2015/2016
• Thesis type: Bachelor's thesis
• Thesis language: angličtina
• Department: Department of Ecology (31-162)
• Supervisor: Mgr. Marek Stibal, Ph.D.
• Author: hidden - assigned by the advisor
• Date of registration: 29.10.2015
• Date of assignment: 29.10.2015
• Date of electronic submission: 19.08.2016
• Date of proceeded defence: 09.09.2016
• Opponents: RNDr. Klára Řeháková, Ph.D.

Preliminary scope of work

Subglacial ecosystems at the interface of glacial ice and the bedrock and/or underlying sediment represent one of the major ecosystems associated with glaciers and ice sheets, and they contain considerable amounts of organic matter overridden during periods of ice advance. However, our knowledge of biogeochemical and biological processes beneath glacial ice and their changes associated with glacial melting is far from complete, and many questions remain unanswered. The aim of this thesis is to review the current state of knowledge of the microbial communities and their role in carbon cycling in subglacial ecosystems and to find suitable better known ecosystems that could serve as analogues to subglacial systems and so help focus future research questions.

Preliminary scope of work in English

Subglacial ecosystems at the interface of glacial ice and the bedrock and/or underlying sediment represent one of the major ecosystems associated with glaciers and ice sheets, and they contain considerable amounts of organic matter overridden during periods of ice advance. However, our knowledge of biogeochemical and biological processes beneath glacial ice and their changes associated with glacial melting is far from complete, and many questions remain unanswered. The aim of this thesis is to review the current state of knowledge of the microbial communities and their role in carbon cycling in subglacial ecosystems and to find suitable better known ecosystems that could serve as analogues to subglacial systems and so help focus future research questions.