About this Research Topic
Terrestrial, marine and freshwater habitats of the three poles (Arctic, Antarctica and high altitude regions) have striking similarities in their environmental properties. The harsh conditions permit the survival of a limited selection of (micro) organisms. Yet, their diversity and biogeographic patterns are still unresolved. The aim of this research topic therefore is to go beyond descriptive and geographically limited studies and to encourage broad, comparative and process-oriented microbiological research towards large-scale biogeographic patterns, environment-diversity relationships, and ecological drivers of microbial diversity patterns. This may also include studies on natural and anthropogenic dispersal pathways, ecological niches as well as present and future climatic-driven habitat and diversity change.
This Research Topic encourages original research, reviews and opinions using high-throughput ‘omics’ techniques to resolve the large-scale diversity of microbes and viruses and their biogeographic patterns across the three poles. Works may involve and/or combine either genomics/metagenomics, transcriptomics, proteomics and metabolomics, along with traditional methods discussing the advantages and inconveniences of different approaches. All marine freshwater and terrestrial ecosystems are included, such as melt water ponds, streams, perennially ice-covered lakes and supraglacial ecosystems as well as soils, glacier forefields and other terrestrial and aquatic biotopes.
This Research Topic encourages original research, reviews and opinions using high-throughput ‘omics’ techniques to resolve the large-scale diversity of microbes and viruses and their biogeographic patterns across the three poles. Works may involve and/or combine either genomics/metagenomics, transcriptomics, proteomics and metabolomics, along with traditional methods discussing the advantages and inconveniences of different approaches. All marine freshwater and terrestrial ecosystems are included, such as melt water ponds, streams, perennially ice-covered lakes and supraglacial ecosystems as well as soils, glacier forefields and other terrestrial and aquatic biotopes.
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
