Research Projects

The Earth's cryosphere is comprised of vast areas of sea ice, ice sheets, glaciers, permafrost and snow. Due to the extremely harsh conditions, such habitats are generally considered less diverse to be devoid of life. Cryoconite holes and the presence of different microbes in it darken ice surfaces, decrease albedo thereby accelerate glacier melting. In order to fully understand of the development of cryoconite holes, there is a merit to study the cryoconite sediments, presence and interactions amongst the biota, the local geological and ecohydrological regimes that influence the formation, geometry and biogeochemical cycling with the cryoconite holes and their feedbacks on ice albedo. Glaciers in the northwest Himalaya have been reported to experience rapid shrinkage compared to other regions of high Asia. The cryoconite holes, hotspots of microbial diversity, on the glaciers are usually active during the summer months sometimes covering up substantial glacier surface. While some authors have identified that cryoconite holes exist on glacial surfaces. But their potential to harbour microbiota which displays large genetic pool, taxonomic and functional diversity have received little attention. Furthermore, there have very fragmentary work carried out in Himalayas in general and very basic work on two glaciers of Indian Himalayas in particular. The proposed project is intended towards studying the impact of climate change on permafrost soils and cryoconite holes in North Western Himalaya. The study will fill the knowledge gap on the geomicrobiology (Bacterial, and Fungal communities) and Physicochemical characteristics of these unique and unexplored habitats that existed in the region over the years. Metagenomics and culture-based approaches will be applied for spatial distribution patterns and composition of microbial communities in North Western Himalaya. The composition of organic and inorganic components of permafrost and cryoconites will be analyzed using relevant techniques. Potential and novel microbial strains will be subjected to biochemical and whole genome sequencing studies to understand survival strategies and biotechnological potentials. Cryoconites and permafrost are exciting habitats on earth to understand the horizontal gene transfer in micro-ecosystem. Many species of these habitats may have higher economic value as sources of antifreeze proteins and other unique molecules. Considering immense potential of microbes and climate in general, it is essential that the community should be systematically characterized, and habitats must be mapped.