Investigation into the environmental factors that drive microbial diversity in the soils of the Meirs Valley mineral soils

Sights included a well-defined altitudinal gradient set (150 samples) on the northern flank of the valley from valley floor to summit (482m elevation), 15 seal carcasses from the valley and the associated Northern access to the Marshall Valley (113 samples), different mineral outcrops or unusual site in the valley (37 samples), and hypolithic communities beneath translucent rocks (25 samples).

The gradient was set to exploit the greatest moisture gradient in the valley. The seal carcasses represented an obvious introduction of carbon and nitrogen to an otherwise nutrient depleted ecosystem. The hypolithic community, mineral outcrops and otherwise unusual sites were for a general valley image of microbial biodiversity.