Microscopic Creatures in Hudson Strait: A Warming World's Impact

The Arctic's Hudson Strait is experiencing some big changes due to climate change. It's getting warmer, rivers are discharging more water, and sea ice is melting faster than ever before. This means the area stays ice-free for longer during the summer. Scientists decided to check out the tiny microbes that call this strait home. They did this by collecting samples and using a special technique called high throughput 16s rRNA gene sequencing. They found that where the water is saltier and warmer, certain types of microbes called Polaribacter were more common. But the total diversity of microbes didn't change much with temperature or saltiness. Understanding these microbial communities can help us predict how future changes in temperature and salinity might affect these tiny critters in the Hudson Strait.