Surveys using rRNA-targeted probes specific for the 3 domains of life (Euca
rya, Archaea, and Bacteria) indicated the presence, and at times high abund
ance, of archaeal rRNA in a variety of water masses surrounding Antarctica.
Hybridization signals of archaeal rRNA contributed significantly to that o
f total picoplankton rRNA both north and south of the Polar Front in Drake
Passage. Late winter surface water populations collected around the South S
hetland Islands also yielded relatively high archaeal rRNA hybridization si
gnals, approaching 10% or greater of the total rRNA. Summer samples collect
ed in the western region of the Antarctic Peninsula and at McMurdo Sound in
the Ross Sea region of Antarctica yielded lower amounts of archaeal rRNA i
n the surface waters, and higher levels of archaeal rRNA at depth (150 to 5
00 m). The hybridization data were compared to biological, chemical, and hy
drographic information when possible. In surface waters, archaeal rRNA and
chlorophyll a varied inversely. The data presented here further supports th
e hypothesis that planktonic archaea are a common, widespread and likely ec
ologically important component of Antarctic picoplankton assemblages. The p
resence of these archaea in circumpolar deep water suggests a conduit for t
heir circumpolar transport around Antarctica via the Antarctic Circumpolar
Current, as well as their export to the deep sea, or to intermediate waters
of the South Atlantic via mixing at the polar front.