Scientists find evidence of 187 taxonomic orders in 20 liters of water collected from one of the harshest environments on Earth.
A team of scientists led by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and Appalachian State University have used environmental DNA (eDNA) to document the alpine biodiversity of the tallest mountain on earth, the 29,032-foot (8,849 meters) wide Mount Everest. This important work is part of the groundbreaking 2019 National Geographic and Rolex Perpetual Planet Everest Expedition, the largest ever scientific Everest expedition.
Writing about their findings in the journal iScience, the team collected eDNA from water samples from ten ponds and streams at depths ranging from 14,763 feet (4,500 meters) to 18,044 feet (5,500 meters) over four weeks. These sites include areas of alpine belts that exist above the tree line and contain a range of flowering plant and shrub species, as well as aeolian belts that extend beyond flowering plants and shrubs upstream in the biosphere. They identified organisms belonging to 187 taxonomic orders from just 20 liters of water, equivalent to 16.3%, or one sixth, of the total number of known orders in the Tree of Life, the family tree of Earth’s biodiversity.
eDNA searches for trace amounts of genetic material left behind by organisms and wildlife and provides a more affordable, faster and more comprehensive method to improve research capabilities for assessing biodiversity in the aquatic environment. Samples are collected using a sealed box containing a filter that traps genetic material, which is then analyzed in a laboratory using DNA metabarcoding and other sequencing techniques. WCS uses eDNA to discover rare and endangered species from humpback whales to Swinhoe softshell turtles, one of the rarest species on Earth.
Heat map of sequence reads of bacteria identified and classified in taxonomic order using SingleM and the Greengenes database from each site.
Although Everest’s research focused on order-level identification, the team was able to identify many organisms down to the genus or species level.
For example, the team identified rotifers and tardigrades, two tiny animals known to thrive in some of the harshest and most extreme environments and are considered some of the most resilient animals known on Earth. In addition, they discovered the Tibetan snow chick found in the Sagarmatha National Park and were surprised to find species such as domestic dogs and chickens that represent the impact of human activities on the landscape.
They also found pine trees that can only be found on hillsides very far from where they sampled, showing how wind-blown pollen travels high into these watersheds. Another creature they found in several places was the mayfly, a well-known indicator of environmental change.
The eDNA inventory will help future biomonitoring of the high Himalayas and retrospective molecular studies to assess changes over time as climate-induced warming, glacier melt and human impacts change this rapidly changing, world-famous ecosystem.
Dr. Tracey Seimon of the WCS Animal Health Program, co-lead of the Everest Biofield team and lead researcher, said: “There is a lot of biodiversity. The alpine environment, including Mount Everest, should be considered as subject to continuous long-term monitoring of alpine biodiversity, in addition to bioclimatic monitoring and climate change impact assessment. ”
Dr Marisa Lim of the Wildlife Conservation Society said: “We went to the roof of the world in search of life. Here’s what we found. However, the story does not end there. help inform future intelligence.”
Field research co-director, National Geographic researcher and Associate Professor at Appalachian State University Dr. Anton Simon said: “A century ago, when asked, ‘Why go to Everest?’, British climber George Mallory replied, ‘Because it was there. Our 2019 team had a very different opinion: we went to Mount Everest because it was informative and could teach us about the world we live in.”
By making this open source dataset available to the research community, the authors hope to contribute to the ongoing effort to build molecular resources to study and track changes in biodiversity in Earth’s highest mountains.
Article citation: Lim et al., Using environmental DNA to assess the biodiversity of the Tree of Life on the south side of Mount Everest, iScience (2022) Marisa K.V. Lim, 1Anton Seimon, 2Batya Nightingale, 1Charles S.I. Xu, 3Stefan R.P. Holloy, 4Adam J. Solon, 5Nicholas B. Dragon, 5Steven K. Schmidt, 5Alex Tate, 6Sandra Alvin, 6Aurora K. Elmore,6,7 and Tracey A. Simon1,8,
1 Wildlife Conservation Society, Zoological Health Program, Bronx Zoo, Bronx, NY 10460, USA 2 Appalachian State University, Department of Geography and Planning, Boone, NC 28608, USA 3 McGill University, Redpath Department of Museums and Biology, Montreal, H3A 0G4 , CanadaQ94 Department of Primary Industries, Wellington 6011, New Zealand 5 University of Colorado, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Boulder, CO 80309, USA 6 National Geographic Society, Washington, DC, 20036, USAQ107 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Silver- Spring, MD 20910, USA 8 Lead Contact* Communications
Mission: WCS saves wildlife and wildlife around the world through science, conservation efforts, education and inspiring people to appreciate nature. To fulfill our mission, WCS is based at the Bronx Zoo, using the full power of its global conservation program, which is visited annually by 4 million people in almost 60 countries and all oceans of the world, as well as five wildlife parks in New York. WCS brings together its expertise in zoos and aquariums to achieve its conservation mission. Visit: newsroom.wcs.org Follow: @WCSNewsroom. For more information: 347-840-1242. Listen to the WCS Wild Audio podcast here.
As the premier public institution in the Southeast, Appalachian State University prepares students to live fulfilling lives as global citizens who understand and take responsibility for creating a sustainable future for all. The Appalachian experience fosters a spirit of inclusion by bringing people together in inspiring ways to acquire and create knowledge, grow holistically, act with passion and determination, and embrace diversity and difference. The Appalachians, located in the Blue Ridge Mountains, are one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina system. With nearly 21,000 students, Appalachian University has a low student-faculty ratio and offers over 150 undergraduate and graduate programs.
National Geographic’s partnership with Rolex supports expeditions to explore the most critical places on earth. Using world-renowned scientific expertise and cutting-edge technology to uncover new insights into systems critical to life on Earth, these expeditions help scientists, policy makers and local communities plan and find solutions to climate and climate impacts. The environment is changing, telling the wonders of our world through powerful stories.
For almost a century, Rolex has supported pioneering explorers who seek to push the boundaries of human possibility. The company has moved from advocating research for discovery to protecting the planet by making a long-term commitment to supporting individuals and organizations using science to understand and develop solutions to today’s environmental problems.
This engagement was strengthened with the launch of Forever Planet in 2019, which initially focused on people who contribute to a better world through the Rolex Awards for Enterprise, protect the oceans through a partnership with Mission Blue, and make climate change a reality. understood as part of its relationship with the National Geographic Society.
The expanded portfolio of other partnerships adopted under the Perpetual Planet initiative now includes: polar expeditions that push the boundaries of underwater exploration; One Ocean Foundation and Menkab protecting cetacean biodiversity in the Mediterranean; Xunaan-Ha Expedition revealing water quality in Yucatan, Mexico; BIG expedition to the Arctic in 2023 to collect data on Arctic threats; Hearts In The Ice, also to gather information on climate change in the Arctic; and the Monaco Blue Initiative, bringing together experts in marine conservation solutions.
Rolex also supports organizations and initiatives that nurture the next generation of explorers, scientists and conservationists through scholarships and grants such as the World Underwater Scholarship Association and the Rolex Explorers Club Grant.
The National Geographic Society is a global non-profit organization that uses the power of science, research, education, and storytelling to illuminate and protect the wonders of our world. Since 1888, National Geographic has been pushing the boundaries of research, investing in bold talent and transformative ideas, providing more than 15,000 employment grants on seven continents, reaching 3 million students annually with educational offerings, and capturing worldwide attention through signatures. , stories and content. To learn more, visit www.nationalgeographic.org or follow us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.
Mission: WCS saves wildlife and wildlife around the world through science, conservation efforts, education and inspiring people to appreciate nature. Based at the Bronx Zoo, WCS uses the full power of its global conservation program to fulfill its mission, with 4 million visitors annually in nearly 60 countries and all the world’s oceans, as well as five wildlife parks in New York City. WCS brings together its expertise in zoos and aquariums to achieve its conservation mission. Visit newsroom.wcs.org. Subscribe: @WCSNewsroom. Additional information: +1 (347) 840-1242.
Co-founder of SpaceRef, member of the Explorers Club, ex-NASA, visiting team, journalist, space and astrobiologist, failed climber.
Post time: Sep-10-2022