Bacterial communities as sedimentary indicators of anthropogenic impact in lakes from Fildes Peninsula, King George Island, Maritime Antarctica

The aim of the present study was to determine the extent of the anthropogenic impact on lake ecology through the assessment of bacterial community structure from seven lakes in Fildes Peninsula. We applied a top-bottom snapshot approach, which is conceived to assess changes in pre- and post-impact conditions across multiple sites, such that the surface, or top section represents modern conditions, while the bottom core section predated the construction of the research stations.