Characterization and mapping of plant communities at Hennequin Point, King George Island, Antarctica

In this study, we investigated the relationship between relative water content (RWC) of N. commune colonies recorded during gradual dehydration and (i) normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), (ii) photochemical reflectance index (PRI), and (iii) primary photochemical processes of photosynthesis, effective quantum yield of photosynthetic processes ( PSII ) in photosystem II particular. PRI increased from -0.05 to 0.02 with RWC decrease from 100% (full hydration) to 0% (dry state). NDVI showed somewhat curvilinear relationship with desiccation with minimum value of 0.25 found at 10% RWC. Negative effect of suprasaturation of N. commune colony with water on effective quantum yield ( PSII ) was found at RWC range 80-100%. At the RWC range,  PSII reached only 50 % of maximum found at RWC of 30%. In general, desiccation-response curve of showed polyphasic character with three main phases (phase I -constant  PSII values, phase II -an increase with desiccation at RWC 80-30%, and phase IIIsigmoidal decrease with desiccation at RWC 0-30%). Non-photochemical quenching (qN) of absorbed light energy showed triphasic dependence on RWC as well. qN showed constant values in the phase I, an increase (phase II), and constant values at severe dehydration (phase III).

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“…It is reported from maritime Antarctica (Victoria et al 2013) as well as from continental Antarctica (e.g. Novis et Smissen 2006).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Dehydration-induced responses of primary photosynthetic processes and spectral reflectance indices in Antarctic Nostoc commune

Barták¹,

Hazdrová²,

Skácelová³

et al. 2016

Czech Polar Rep.

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“…Regarding the ecological relationships of D. antarctica, Smykla et al (2007) pointed out that, although it is widely distributed in maritime Antarctica landscapes, it shows a preference for old rookeries and their vicinities, gradually reducing its frequency away from these rich nutrient spots. Victoria et al (2013) found that grasses and mosses in shallow soil developed on the surface of basalt dyke, strongly influenced by L. dominicanus colonies. Overall, mixed plant communities are preferably associated with ornithogenic sites (Simas et al, 2008), and are probably dependent on high nutrient status, as observed in P13, P16 and P12.…”

Section: Moss Turf and Grass Sub-formationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The most important sites are coastal penguin rookeries, which provide suitable conditions for plant diversity in their marginal areas (Allen et al, 1967;Tatur and Myrcha, 1989;Tatur et al, 1997;Michel et al, 2006;Smykla et al, 2007;Simas et al, 2007;Victoria et al, 2013). As one moves inland, the vegetation becomes progressively sparse and less structured.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…At regional scales and low resolution, the application of NOAA AVHRR for vegetation analysis in Antarctica has failed to detect the highly fragmented and dispersed nature of local vegetation (Fretwell et al, 2011). At greater scales, most previous studies have focused on field floristic surveys aided by GPS (Kim et al, 2007;Schaefer, C. E. G. R. et al, 2004;Victoria et al, 2013), and the identification of aerial photograph mosaics (Francelino et al, 2011) resulting in vegetation maps of large scales in small ice-free areas, or large areas with remote sensing images at low resolution (Fretwell et al, 2011). On the other hand, in isolated areas with heterogeneous distribution of vegetation in maritime Antarctica, traditional vegetation mapping is more difficult at large scales.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Soil–landform–plant-community relationships of a periglacial landscape on Potter Peninsula, maritime Antarctica

et al. 2015

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Abstract. Integrated studies on the interplay between soils, periglacial geomorphology and plant communities are crucial for the understanding of climate change effects on terrestrial ecosystems of maritime Antarctica, one of the most sensitive areas to global warming. Knowledge on physical environmental factors that influence plant communities can greatly benefit studies on the monitoring of climate change in maritime Antarctica, where new ice-free areas are being constantly exposed, allowing plant growth and organic carbon inputs. The relationship between topography, plant communities and soils was investigated on Potter Peninsula, King George Island, maritime Antarctica. We mapped the occurrence and distribution of plant communities and identified soil-landform-vegetation relationships. The vegetation map was obtained by classification of a QuickBird image, coupled with detailed landform and characterization of 18 soil profiles. The sub-formations were identified and classified, and we also determined the total elemental composition of lichens, mosses and grasses. Plant communities on Potter Peninsula occupy 23 % of the ice-free area, at different landscape positions, showing decreasing diversity and biomass from the coastal zone to inland areas where sub-desert conditions prevail. There is a clear dependency between landform and vegetated soils. Soils that have greater moisture or are poorly drained, and with acid to neutral pH, are favourable for moss sub-formations. Saline, organic-matterrich ornithogenic soils of former penguin rookeries have greater biomass and diversity, with mixed associations of mosses and grasses, while stable felsenmeers and flat rocky cryoplanation surfaces are the preferred sites for Usnea and Himantormia lugubris lichens at the highest surface. Lichens sub-formations cover the largest vegetated area, showing varying associations with mosses.

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“…The plant communities formed by Deschampsia Antarctica and Colobanthus quitensis and mixed lichen and mosses are very common in areas close to bird nests (Victoria et al, 2013). They are always associated with increasing SOC (Figure 4).…”

Section: Several Factors May Be Influencing the Ionic Concentration Amentioning

confidence: 99%

Environmental Correlation and Spatial Autocorrelation of Soil Properties in Keller Peninsula, Maritime Antarctica

Moraes

Francelino

Carvalho

et al. 2018

Rev. Bras. Ciênc. Solo

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ABSTRACT:The pattern of variation in soil and landform properties in relation to environmental covariates are closely related to soil type distribution. The aim of this study was to apply digital soil mapping techniques to analysis of the pattern of soil property variation in relation to environmental covariates under periglacial conditions at Keller Peninsula, Maritime Antarctica. We considered the hypothesis that covariates normally used for environmental correlation elsewhere can be adequately employed in periglacial areas in Maritime Antarctica. For that purpose, 138 soil samples from 47 soil sites were collected for analysis of soil chemical and physical properties. We tested the correlation between soil properties (clay, potassium, sand, organic carbon, and pH) and environmental covariates. The environmental covariates selected were correlated with soil properties according to the terrain attributes of the digital elevation model (DEM). The models evaluated were linear regression, ordinary kriging, and regression kriging. The best performance was obtained using normalized height as a covariate, with an R 2 of 0.59 for sand. In contrast, the lowest R 2 of 0.15 was obtained for organic carbon, also using the regression kriging method. Overall, results indicate that, despite the predominant periglacial conditions, the environmental covariates normally used for digital terrain mapping of soil properties worldwide can be successfully employed for understanding the main variations in soil properties and soil-forming factors in this region.

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Characterization and mapping of plant communities at Hennequin Point, King George Island, Antarctica

Cited by 25 publications

References 9 publications

Dehydration-induced responses of primary photosynthetic processes and spectral reflectance indices in Antarctic Nostoc commune

Dehydration-induced responses of primary photosynthetic processes and spectral reflectance indices in Antarctic Nostoc commune

Soil–landform–plant-community relationships of a periglacial landscape on Potter Peninsula, maritime Antarctica

Environmental Correlation and Spatial Autocorrelation of Soil Properties in Keller Peninsula, Maritime Antarctica

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