MICROFLORA OF THE DEEP GLACIER HORIZONS OF CENTRAL ANTARCTICA

Microorganisms were detected in samples taken from different horizons of the glacier of Central Antarctica (at depths of 1500-2750 m), whose age is over 240 000 years. Microscopic studies of microorganisms from thawed water samples taken from the center of the glacier core (preci pitated on membrane filters and stained with fluorescent dyes) reveale d that they contained a wide variety of microorganisms. Bacteria preva iled, although yeasts, fungi, and microalgae also occurred. Some horiz ons also contained the pollen of higher plants and dust particles of v arious origins. Consumption of C-14-labeled organic compounds by most thawed samples testified to the presence of viable cells in them. The total microorganism number at depths of 1500-2750 m was 0.8 x 10(3) to 10.8 x 10(3) cells/ml. Fluctuations in the number of microorganisms t hroughout the glacier correlated with changes in the number of mineral particles detected by glaciologists in the respective glacier horizon s, which, according to their calculations, depended on alternations of warm and cold periods an Earth.