The bacterial communities in rocks and soils of three different localities (Battleship Promontory, Richard Nunatak, Trio Nunatak), where stations are collecting climatic data, have been compared with a DNA metabarcoding approach. In addition samples have been trated with Propidium Mono-Azide (PMA) which binds to DNA of damaged cells and inhibit its replication via PCR. The comparison between samples treated with PMA and samples not treated allows to check the bacterial cells that are intact and potentially alive in these substrates. The results showed a strong differentiation in the communities diversity and composition between the two substrates, with an higher diversity in soils compared to rocks. In addition, the PMA treatment revealed the presence of an high proportion of death cells, whose amplification in traditional metabarcoding approaches obscures the correlation trends in this environment.

The observatory created within the project AMICO records microenvironmental parametrs in rocks and soils of 4 localities in Northern Victorial Land: Battleship Promontory, Richard Nunatak, Trio Nunatak, Mount Bowen. The observatory records in each locality moisture, solar radiation, PAR, wind speed, wind direction, gist speed, and rock, soil and air temperature. Data are collected every two hours and are trasmitted remotely daily. On the website it is possible to navigate and visualize the data.

The fungal communities in rocks and soils of three different localities (Battleship Promontory, Richard Nunatak, Trio Nunatak), where stations are collecting climatic data, have been compared with a DNA metabarcoding approach. The results showed a strong differentiation in the communities diversity and composition between the two substrates, with an higher diversity in soils compared to rocks.