Cyanobacterial and algal diversity in the vicinity of two different seabird colonies in Spitsbergen

Pietryka, Mirosława; Richter, Dorota; Matuła, Jan

doi:10.1515/popore-2016-0015

Cited by 5 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 50 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…This macroscopic alga colonizes nests because it is an extremely nitrophilous taxon, found in nesting areas of birds in the north pole, being common in all habitats rich in organic nitrogen (Broady et al 2012, Richter et al 2014. Unfavorable habitat conditions caused by constant treading by birds change the algal mat to a monostromatic lamellar, cracked form, which was also observed in our study (Pietryka et al 2016). In our study 38,5% of the nests a ring of this alga is found in the first ring together with the rock fragments of the nest (including inactive nests), where feces deposition is higher.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 84%

The diversity and structure of plant communities in the maritime Antarctic is shaped by southern giant petrel’s (Macronectes giganteus) breeding activities

Putzke

Schaefer

Villa

et al. 2022

An. Acad. Bras. Ciênc.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Southern giant petrels (Macronectes giganteus) are found in the Antarctic.They build their nests with rock fragments, disturbing large areas during incubation and chick feeding periods; however, their impact on vegetation is unknown. Thus, we aimed to evaluate the effect of Petrel nests and associated breeding activities on the diversity and structure of cryptogam communities of Stinker Point, Elephant Island. We selected 13 nests in February and March 2012 and continue the monitoring in 2018. The area of direct influence of breeding activities was photographed to calculate plant community coverage. The results demonstrated that species richness, community coverage and composition, and beta diversity showed significant differences between active and inactive nests. The linear mixed-effect models revealed that the positive effect of nest area mainly caused variation in community coverage, but had a negative effect on beta diversity. Sphaerophorus globosus (lichen) grew around the inactive nests, sometimes forming a ring up to 1 m in diameter. This ring was then surrounded by the Chorisodontium acyphyllum moss colonized by S. globosus, and a final ring of Sanionia uncinata, colonized by the same lichen. Recently constructed nests are generally surrounded by Prasiola crispa and Sanionia uncinata carpets.

show abstract

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 84%

The diversity and structure of plant communities in the maritime Antarctic is shaped by southern giant petrel’s (Macronectes giganteus) breeding activities

Putzke

Schaefer

Villa

et al. 2022

An. Acad. Bras. Ciênc.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The growth of microalgae and plants in Arctic regions is limited by factors such as temperature, water availability, and nutrient supply. Therefore, these parameters are usually taken into account in studies focusing on the relationships between algae or plants and habitat conditions (e.g., [26,[70][71][72][73]). Some studies conducted in polar habitats indicated the major influence of basic nutrients in the formation of cyanobacterial and algal assemblages [23,41,46].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Seabird guano is a rich source of nitrogen (NO 3 − , NH 4 + ), potassium (K + ) and phosphate (PO 4 3− ), and affects other physicochemical properties, e.g., soil/water conductivity and reactivity; thus, it is the most important driver of ecological conditions [49][50][51][52]65,72]. Hence, this factor has a strong effect on the structure of plant and phycoflora communities in the Hornsund Fjord area [46,70,71].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cyanobacterial and green algal assemblages in various tundra habitats in the high Arctic (West Spitsbergen, Norway)

Richter¹,

Matuła²,

Pietryka³

et al. 2018

Acta Soc Bot Pol

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The diversity of cyanobacteria and algae from various microhabitats in Spitsbergen is comparatively well known. However, the relationships between environmental factors and the structure of microflora communities remain largely unclear. This study was conducted in Hornsund Bay, which exhibits large variability in the physicochemical characteristics of habitats, particularly with regard to the availability of nitrogen and phosphorus. This variability, to a large degree, is caused by seabird colonies, which fertilize nutrient-poor terrestrial ecosystems near their nesting areas. The large variations in ecological conditions and vegetation types in the study area aid assessment of habitats representing different combinations of factors potentially influencing the formation of cyanobacterial and algal assemblages. The aim of this study was to examine the influence of physicochemical parameters on the taxonomic composition and diversity of green algae and cyanobacteria (particularly the coccoid, oscillatorialean, and heterocystous taxa). The study encompassed two groups of habitats – soil surface habitats and water-saturated habitats, both characterized by diverse influences of seabird colonies, vegetation cover, and moisture. Our results showed that taxonomic diversity and composition of cyanobacteria and algae were mainly influenced by P–PO43−, N–NH4+ and Ca2+ (soil surface habitats), and NO3−, as well as moisture (index of wetness) and pH (water-saturated habitats). The variability of these physicochemical properties was largely due to the variability of the seabird colony influence. Taken together, our findings aid in understanding the processes of formation of phycoflora assemblages in Arctic tundra.

show abstract

“…(Matuła et al, 2007; Richter et al, 2009). However, the detailed qualitative and quantitative studies conducted in the same locations revealed that cyanobacterial and algal assemblages were also differentiated by the colony type (Pietryka et al, 2016). The ornithogenic communities G1 and G2 were largely devoid of lichens, except for the ornithocoprophilous Physcia spp.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Differential Responses of Arctic Vegetation to Nutrient Enrichment by Plankton- and Fish-Eating Colonial Seabirds in Spitsbergen

Zwolicki

Zmudczyńska-Skarbek

Matuła³

et al. 2016

Front. Plant Sci.

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The role of seabirds as sea-land biovectors of nutrients is well documented. However, no studies have examined whether and how colonial seabirds that differ in diet may influence terrestrial vegetation. Therefore, the purpose of the study was to describe and compare plant communities located in the vicinity of the two most common types of seabird colonies in Arctic, occupied by piscivorous or planktivorous species. Within 46 plots arranged in four transects in the vicinity of planktivorous (little auk, Alle alle) and piscivorous colonies (mixed colony of Brunnich’s guillemot, Uria lomvia, and black-legged kittiwake, Rissa tridactyla) we measured the following: guano deposition, physical and chemical characteristics of soil, total nitrogen and its stable isotope signatures in soil and plants, ground vegetation cover of vascular plants and mosses, and the occurrence of lichens, algae and cyanobacteria. Using LINKTREE analysis, we distinguished five plant communities, which reflected declining influence along a birds fertilization gradient measured as guano deposition. SIMPROOF test revealed that these communities differed significantly in species composition, with the differences related to total soil nitrogen content and δ15N, distinctive levels of phosphates, potassium and nitrates, and physical soil properties, i.e., pH, conductivity and moisture. The communities were also clearly distinguished by distance from the bird colony. The two colony types promoted development of specific plant communities: the immediate vicinity of the planktivorous colony characterized by a Deschampsia alpina–Cerastium arcticum community while under the piscivorous colony a Cochlearia groenlandica–Poa alpina community was present. Despite the similar size of the colonies and similar magnitude of guano input, differences between ornithogenic communities were connected mostly to phosphate content in the soil. Our results show that the guano input from seabirds which have different diets can affect High Arctic vegetation in specific and more complex ways than previously realized.

show abstract

Cyanobacterial and algal diversity in the vicinity of two different seabird colonies in Spitsbergen

Cited by 5 publications

References 50 publications

The diversity and structure of plant communities in the maritime Antarctic is shaped by southern giant petrel’s (Macronectes giganteus) breeding activities

The diversity and structure of plant communities in the maritime Antarctic is shaped by southern giant petrel’s (Macronectes giganteus) breeding activities

Cyanobacterial and green algal assemblages in various tundra habitats in the high Arctic (West Spitsbergen, Norway)

Differential Responses of Arctic Vegetation to Nutrient Enrichment by Plankton- and Fish-Eating Colonial Seabirds in Spitsbergen

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About