[Environmental Microbiology] Atmospheric transport is hypothesized to be the primary vector connecting isolated Antarctic terrestrial habitats to global microbial pools, yet the mechanisms governing this connectivity still have important gaps.
We systematically reviewed the present knowledge on how the atmosphere acts not merely as a passive conduit, but potentially as a selective ecological filter and a particular ecosystem.
Analysis of 53 studies reveals a three-pathway framework: (1) long-range advection via the free troposphere, (2) marine aerosolization from the Southern Ocean, and (3) local resuspension of soils, rock outcrops and cryoconite. Crucially, we identify indirect evidence suggesting that atmospheric transport imposes a strict selection regime dominated by UV irradiation and desiccation.
This potential barrier likely ensures that successful colonizers are disproportionately enriched for stress-tolerance traits, including DNA repair and cold-active metabolism. Consequently, atmospheric deposition may not just add biomass; it could actively shape Antarctic ecosystems by seeding them with functionally distinct, stress-adapted pioneers capable of altering local nutrient cycling.
We conclude that future research must move beyond simple detection to focus on the viability and metabolic competence of these airborne immigrants to predict their role in a warming Antarctic.
Map of Antarctica showing major atmospheric microbial transport pathways. Schematic map illustrating the primary pathways delivering airborne microorganisms to Antarctica. Long‐range advection (red) represents well documented episodic air‐mass incursions from South America (da Matta Agostini et al. 2017; Cataldo et al. 2023) and Australasia (Uetake et al. 2020) that cross the circumpolar westerlies. Inferred episodic air mass incursion (magenta) from South Africa (Parro et al. 2025). Marine aerosolization (blue) indicates continuous sea‐spray injection and ocean–atmosphere coupling around the Southern Ocean (Dall’Osto et al. 2017, 2019, 2022; Zeppenfeld et al. 2021; Malard et al. 2022; Boyer et al. 2025). Local resuspension (green) depicts recycling of microorganisms from Antarctic soils, cryoconite, and coastal margins under high wind stress (Sterflinger et al. 2012; Hodson et al. 2017; Rosa et al. 2020). The map was generated using the Cartopy library (v0.22) with the South Polar Stereographic projection. — Environmental Microbiology
- Atmospheric Microbial Transport to Antarctica and Its Ecological Implications: A Systematic Review, Environmental Microbiology via PubMed (open access)
- Atmospheric Microbial Transport to Antarctica and Its Ecological Implications: A Systematic Review, Environmental Microbiology (open access)
Astrobiology
