Abstract:

Sea ice provides an extensive but transient habitat for the extensive microbial communities, referred to as uhe sea ice microbial community (SIMC). Bacteria represent a major group within these communities, as evidenced by measures of bacterial production and the microbial loop. They play a fundamental role in polar ecosystems. Apart from their ecological importance, the bacterial species found in sea ice have become the focus for novel biotechnology, as well as for the basic research on life forms diversity. This review introduces the subjects of bacterial phylogenetic diversity, ecophysiology, ecology, and adaptation. But some scientific questions remain and more study should been done in the future.