Abstract:

Investigation of the characteristics and adaptive strategies of life beneath ice sheets and glaciers is at the forefront of polar research. Many studies have reported that liquid water and organic matter coexist in subglacial regions, providing a suitable microbial habitat. Furthermore, the presence of microbes beneath polar glaciers can modulate geochemical weathering processes, although this is likely to be affected by climate-forced environmental changes. Considering the diversity of ecosystems beneath polar glaciers and their responses to climate change, this study elucidated the microbial characteristics, their possible origins, the mechanisms of the biogeochemical processes occurring beneath polar glaciers, and the influences of subglacial microbial life on the C and N cycles. The objective was to provide a reference resource for future subglacial research.

Key words: beneath polar ice sheet/glacier, microbial life characteristics, biogeochemical weathering, climate change