Biomass, stoichiometry, and isotopic signatures of stream microbial mats, McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica (2012-2013)

We conducted a field survey to quantify the biomass (chlorophyll-a and ash-free dry mass), nutrient ratios (molar C:N:P), and isotopic signatures (δ13C and δ15N) of four microbial mat types (green, orange, black, and red) in the glacial meltwater streams of the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica. All samples were taken from late December to late January during the 2011-2012 and 2012-2013 austral summers, and included sites from Taylor, Miers, Garwood, and Wright valleys. Most collection sites were located at the lake outlet of streams, but for a subset (e.g. Delta, Von Guerard, Onyx, Miers, and Canada) more than one sample site is included per stream system.