BELGIAN MICROBIAL DIVERSITY PROJECT IN ANTARCTICA (BELDIVA) (EA/00/05)

A. Context Little is known about the diversity and geographic distribution of biota in Antarctica. This is in part underlain by the lack of systematic sampling and geographical coverage, and the problems associated with species definition, cryptic diversity and cultivability. Particularly the Dronning Maud Land region is understudied in terms of its biodiversity. As a result, we largely lack the ‘baseline’ data needed to understand the contribution of various processes that are responsible for the geographical patterns present in the diversity and composition of microbiota, lichens, mosses and... Mehr ...