Burkhard Becker
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View article: Correction to: From genes to ecosystems: omics insights into algae and cyanobacteria
Correction to: From genes to ecosystems: omics insights into algae and cyanobacteria Open
View article: From genes to ecosystems: omics insights into algae and cyanobacteria
From genes to ecosystems: omics insights into algae and cyanobacteria Open
View article: Launch of Phycology Journal
Launch of Phycology Journal Open
View article: Altitude-Driven Variation in Fungal Diversity and Functional Traits in Arctic Biocrusts
Altitude-Driven Variation in Fungal Diversity and Functional Traits in Arctic Biocrusts Open
Arctic biological soil crusts (biocrusts) are known to host diverse fungal communities that facilitate nutrient cycling and soil stabilisation in these harsh environments. In this study, the diversity and composition of fungi were assessed…
View article: Detecting Environmental Stress In Situ Using Molecular Data: A Case Study with the Filamentous Green Alga Klebsormidium and Antarctic Biocrusts
Detecting Environmental Stress In Situ Using Molecular Data: A Case Study with the Filamentous Green Alga Klebsormidium and Antarctic Biocrusts Open
The polar environment is one of the most extreme environments of our world. However, even in the cold deserts of Antarctica, life thrives, often in the form of biocrusts (biological soil crusts)—complex communities consisting of hundreds o…
View article: Summer and autumn photosynthetic activity in High Arctic biological soil crusts and their winter recovery
Summer and autumn photosynthetic activity in High Arctic biological soil crusts and their winter recovery Open
Introduction Biological soil crusts, found in arid and semi-arid areas worldwide, play a crucial role in the carbon cycle. This study analysed biocrusts from three different altitudes in Svalbard (High Arctic) in 2022–2024. Methods and Res…
View article: Unveiling the molecular mechanisms of the stress resilience of High Arctic <i>Klebsormidium flaccidum</i> : a multifaceted study
Unveiling the molecular mechanisms of the stress resilience of High Arctic <i>Klebsormidium flaccidum</i> : a multifaceted study Open
The green alga Klebsormidium is found worldwide in terrestrial and freshwater habitats. A novel strain was isolated from biological soil crusts on Breinosa Mountain in Svalbard (High Arctic, 78°N) to investigate its adaptation to extreme A…
View article: Detecting Environmental Stress In Situ Using Molecular Data: A Case Study with the Filamentous Green Alga <em>Klebsormidium </em>and Antarctic Biocrusts
Detecting Environmental Stress In Situ Using Molecular Data: A Case Study with the Filamentous Green Alga <em>Klebsormidium </em>and Antarctic Biocrusts Open
The polar environment belongs to the most extreme environments of our world. However, even in the cold deserts of Antarctica life thrives, often in the form of biocrusts (biological soil crusts), complex communities consisting of hundreds …
View article: Arctic Biocrusts Highlight Genetic Variability in Photosynthesis as a Key Driver of Biodiversity
Arctic Biocrusts Highlight Genetic Variability in Photosynthesis as a Key Driver of Biodiversity Open
View article: Arctic Biocrusts Highlight Genetic Variability in Photosynthesis as a Key Driver of Biodiversity
Arctic Biocrusts Highlight Genetic Variability in Photosynthesis as a Key Driver of Biodiversity Open
View article: Role of Climate and Edaphic Factors on the Community Composition of Biocrusts Along an Elevation Gradient in the High Arctic
Role of Climate and Edaphic Factors on the Community Composition of Biocrusts Along an Elevation Gradient in the High Arctic Open
Biological soil crusts are integral to Arctic ecosystems, playing a crucial role in primary production, nitrogen fixation and nutrient cycling, as well as maintaining soil stability. However, the composition and complex relationships betwe…
View article: Role of Climate and Edaphic Factors on the Community Composition of Biocrusts Along an Elevation Gradient in the High Arctic
Role of Climate and Edaphic Factors on the Community Composition of Biocrusts Along an Elevation Gradient in the High Arctic Open
Biological soil crusts are integral to Arctic ecosystems, playing a crucial role in primary production, nitrogen fixation and nutrient cycling, as well as maintaining soil stability. However, the composition and complex relationships betwe…
View article: Microbial response to seasonal variation in arctic biocrusts with a focus on fungi and cyanobacteria
Microbial response to seasonal variation in arctic biocrusts with a focus on fungi and cyanobacteria Open
Biocrusts are crucial components of Arctic ecosystems, playing significant roles in carbon and nitrogen cycling, especially in regions where plant growth is limited. However, the microbial communities within Arctic biocrusts and their stra…
View article: Microalgal Diversity and Molecular Ecology: A Comparative Study of Classical and Metagenomic Approaches in Ponds of the Eifel National Park, Germany
Microalgal Diversity and Molecular Ecology: A Comparative Study of Classical and Metagenomic Approaches in Ponds of the Eifel National Park, Germany Open
While molecular methods have begun to transform ecology, most algal biodiversity is still studied using the classical approach of identifying microalgae by light microscopy directly in sample material or using cultures. In this study, we c…
View article: Microalgal Diversity and Molecular Ecology: A Comparative Study of Classical and Metagenomic Approaches in Ponds of the Eifel National Park, Germany
Microalgal Diversity and Molecular Ecology: A Comparative Study of Classical and Metagenomic Approaches in Ponds of the Eifel National Park, Germany Open
While molecular methods have begun to transform ecology, most algal biodiversity is still studied using the classical approach of identifying microalgae by light microscopy directly in sample material or using cultures. In this study, we c…
View article: Microbial community composition of terrestrial habitats in East Antarctica with a focus on microphototrophs
Microbial community composition of terrestrial habitats in East Antarctica with a focus on microphototrophs Open
The Antarctic terrestrial environment harbors a diverse community of microorganisms, which have adapted to the extreme conditions. The aim of this study was to describe the composition of microbial communities in a diverse range of terrest…
View article: Microbial Response to Seasonal Variation in Arctic Biocrusts with a Focus on Fungi and Cyanobacteria
Microbial Response to Seasonal Variation in Arctic Biocrusts with a Focus on Fungi and Cyanobacteria Open
View article: Multi-omics for studying and understanding polar life
Multi-omics for studying and understanding polar life Open
Polar ecosystems are experiencing amongst the most rapid rates of regional warming on Earth. Here, we discuss ‘omics’ approaches to investigate polar biodiversity, including the current state of the art, future perspectives and recommendat…
View article: Metagenomic Analysis of Antarctic Biocrusts Unveils a Rich Range of Cold-Shock Proteins
Metagenomic Analysis of Antarctic Biocrusts Unveils a Rich Range of Cold-Shock Proteins Open
Microorganisms inhabiting Antarctic biocrusts develop several strategies to survive extreme environmental conditions such as severe cold and drought. However, the knowledge about adaptations of biocrusts microorganisms are limited. Here, w…
View article: Metagenomics Provides a Deeper Assessment of the Diversity of Bacterial Communities in Polar Soils Than Metabarcoding
Metagenomics Provides a Deeper Assessment of the Diversity of Bacterial Communities in Polar Soils Than Metabarcoding Open
The diversity of soil bacteria was analyzed via metabarcoding and metagenomic approaches using DNA samples isolated from the biocrusts of 12 different Arctic and Antarctic sites. For the metabarcoding approach, the V3-4 region of the 16S r…
View article: Biocrusts from Iceland and Svalbard: Does microbial community composition differ substantially?
Biocrusts from Iceland and Svalbard: Does microbial community composition differ substantially? Open
A wide range of microorganisms inhabit biocrusts of arctic and sub-arctic regions. These taxa live and thrive under extreme conditions and, moreover, play important roles in biogeochemical cycling. Nevertheless, their diversity and abundan…
View article: Temperature- and light stress adaptations in Zygnematophyceae: The challenges of a semi-terrestrial lifestyle
Temperature- and light stress adaptations in Zygnematophyceae: The challenges of a semi-terrestrial lifestyle Open
Streptophyte green algae comprise the origin of land plants and therefore life on earth as we know it today. While terrestrialization opened new habitats, leaving the aquatic environment brought additional abiotic stresses. More-drastic te…
View article: Desiccation tolerance in streptophyte algae and the algae to land plant transition: evolution of LEA and MIP protein families within the Viridiplantae
Desiccation tolerance in streptophyte algae and the algae to land plant transition: evolution of LEA and MIP protein families within the Viridiplantae Open
The present review summarizes the effects of desiccation in streptophyte green algae, as numerous experimental studies have been performed over the past decade particularly in the early branching streptophyte Klebsormidium sp. and the late…
View article: Metatranscriptomic and metabolite profiling reveals vertical heterogeneity within a <i>Zygnema</i> green algal mat from Svalbard (High Arctic)
Metatranscriptomic and metabolite profiling reveals vertical heterogeneity within a <i>Zygnema</i> green algal mat from Svalbard (High Arctic) Open
Summary Within streptophyte green algae Zygnematophyceae are the sister group to the land plants that inherited several traits conferring stress protection. Zygnema sp., a mat‐forming alga thriving in extreme habitats, was collected from a…
View article: Cold Acclimation Improves the Desiccation Stress Resilience of Polar Strains of Klebsormidium (Streptophyta)
Cold Acclimation Improves the Desiccation Stress Resilience of Polar Strains of Klebsormidium (Streptophyta) Open
Biological soil crusts (BSCs) are complex communities of autotrophic, heterotrophic, and saprotrophic (micro)organisms. In the polar regions, these biocrust communities have essential ecological functions such as primary production, nitrog…
View article: Microorganisms (Bacteria 16S; Eukaryota 18S) from soil crusts in polar (Arctic and Antarctic) ecosystems
Microorganisms (Bacteria 16S; Eukaryota 18S) from soil crusts in polar (Arctic and Antarctic) ecosystems Open
Amplicon sequencing dataset (Illumina MiSeq) of Bacteria and Eukaryotes in Soil crusts on Svalbard and Antarctica
View article: Biodiversity of biological soil crusts from the Polar Regions revealed by metabarcoding
Biodiversity of biological soil crusts from the Polar Regions revealed by metabarcoding Open
Biological soil crusts (BSCs) are amalgamations of autotrophic, heterotrophic and saprotrophic organisms. In the Polar Regions, these unique communities occupy essential ecological functions such as primary production, nitrogen fixation an…
View article: Enhanced Desiccation Tolerance in Mature Cultures of the Streptophytic Green Alga Zygnema circumcarinatum Revealed by Transcriptomics
Enhanced Desiccation Tolerance in Mature Cultures of the Streptophytic Green Alga Zygnema circumcarinatum Revealed by Transcriptomics Open
Desiccation tolerance is commonly regarded as one of the key features for the colonization of terrestrial habitats by green algae and the evolution of land plants. Extensive studies, focused mostly on physiology, have been carried out asse…
View article: New barcoded primers for efficient retrieval of cercozoan sequences in high-throughput environmental diversity surveys, with emphasis on worldwide biological soil crusts
New barcoded primers for efficient retrieval of cercozoan sequences in high-throughput environmental diversity surveys, with emphasis on worldwide biological soil crusts Open
We describe the performance of a new metabarcoding approach to investigate the environmental diversity of a prominent group of widespread unicellular organisms, the Cercozoa. Cercozoa is an immensely large group of protists and although it…
View article: Biological soil crusts of Arctic Svalbard and of Livingston Island, Antarctica
Biological soil crusts of Arctic Svalbard and of Livingston Island, Antarctica Open
Biological soil crusts (BSCs) occur in arid and semi-arid regions worldwide including the Polar Regions. They are important ecosystem engineers, and their composition and areal coverage should be understood before assessing key current fun…