We have collaborated on a number of major expeditions (with colleagues from Nepal) to the Annapurna and Everest regions of Nepal. Data from these trips have so far been used primarily in comparative, global, biogeographic studies that have highlighted the remarkable similarities of microbial life in high valleys of the Himalayas to life in similar barren areas of the Dry Valleys of Antarctica (e.g. Schmidt et al. 2011, 2015) and to sites in the Rockies and high Andes (e.g. Darcy et al. 2011, Freeman et al. 2009, King et al. 2010, Naff et al. 2013).
Darcy, J.L. et al. 2011. Global distribution of Polaromonas phylotypes - evidence for a highly successful dispersal capacity. PLoS one. 6: e23742.
Freeman, K.R., et al. 2009. Evidence that chytrids dominate fungal communities in high-elevation soils. Proc. Natl. Acd. Sci. 106: 18315-18320.
King, A.J., et al. 2010. Biogeography and habitat modelling of high-alpine bacteria. Nature Comm. 1:53 doi: 10.1038/ncomms1055.
King, A.J. et al. 2010. Microbial biomass and activity in high elevation (>5100 meters) soils of the Annapurna and Sagarmatha regions of the Nepalese Himalayas. Himalayan J. Sciences 6: 11-18.
Naff C.N., J.L. Darcy, S.K. Schmidt. 2013. Phylogeny and biogeography of an uncultured clade of snow chytrids. Environmental Microbiology. doi:10.1111/1462-2920.12116
Schmidt, S.K., A.J. King, D. Karki, M.S. Robeson, L. Nagy, et al. 2011. Phylogeography of microbial phototrophs in the dry valleys of the high Himalayas and Antarctica. Proc. Roy Soc. B 278: 702-708.
Schmidt S.K. and J.L. Darcy. 2015. Phylogeny of ulotrichalean algae from extreme high-altitude and high-latitude ecosystems. Polar Biology doi 10.1007/s00300-014-1631-6
Schmidt, S.K.,et al. 2012. Fungal communities at the edge: Ecological lessons from high alpine fungi. Fungal Ecology. 5: 443-452.
Darcy, J.L. et al. 2011. Global distribution of Polaromonas phylotypes - evidence for a highly successful dispersal capacity. PLoS one. 6: e23742.
Freeman, K.R., et al. 2009. Evidence that chytrids dominate fungal communities in high-elevation soils. Proc. Natl. Acd. Sci. 106: 18315-18320.
King, A.J., et al. 2010. Biogeography and habitat modelling of high-alpine bacteria. Nature Comm. 1:53 doi: 10.1038/ncomms1055.
King, A.J. et al. 2010. Microbial biomass and activity in high elevation (>5100 meters) soils of the Annapurna and Sagarmatha regions of the Nepalese Himalayas. Himalayan J. Sciences 6: 11-18.
Naff C.N., J.L. Darcy, S.K. Schmidt. 2013. Phylogeny and biogeography of an uncultured clade of snow chytrids. Environmental Microbiology. doi:10.1111/1462-2920.12116
Schmidt, S.K., A.J. King, D. Karki, M.S. Robeson, L. Nagy, et al. 2011. Phylogeography of microbial phototrophs in the dry valleys of the high Himalayas and Antarctica. Proc. Roy Soc. B 278: 702-708.
Schmidt S.K. and J.L. Darcy. 2015. Phylogeny of ulotrichalean algae from extreme high-altitude and high-latitude ecosystems. Polar Biology doi 10.1007/s00300-014-1631-6
Schmidt, S.K.,et al. 2012. Fungal communities at the edge: Ecological lessons from high alpine fungi. Fungal Ecology. 5: 443-452.
|
Karma Gurung points the way, below Zun Tal, October, 2008
|
|
Entering Zun Tal (Moon Lake) Valley, Annapurna Conservation Area (2008) |
|
|
Karma and Nima Sherpa (2008)
|
|
Zun Tal Valley (5200 m), Gangapurna in background (7400 m)
|
|
|
Sample site above Throng-La |
|
Debendra Karki and Schmidt above Thorong La, 2008. "Soils" sampled at this site represent some of the high site (>5500 meters) samples used in: Proc. Royal Soc. B 278: 702-708 (2011)[Reprint]. Note, Thorong pass in lower left corner. Photo courtesy of D. Karki. |
|
|
Debendra Karki, Schmidt and Laszlo Nagy after two weeks of trekking and sampling. Photo taken outside Muktinath Temple, Mustang Region, Nepal (October 2008). Photo courtesy of D. Karki. |
