Potential greenhouse gases emissions by different plant communities in maritime Antarctica

Abstract

Antarctic plant communities show a close relationship with soil types across the landscape, where vegetation cover changes, biological infl uence, and soil characteristics can affect the dynamic of greenhouse gases emissions. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate greenhouse gases emissions in lab conditions of ice-free areas along a topographic gradient (from sea level up to 300 meters). We selected 11 distinct vegetation compositions areas and assessed greenhouse gases production potentials through 20 days of laboratory incubations varying temperatures at -2, 4, 6, and 22 °C.High N 2 O production potential was associated with the Phanerogamic Community under the strong ornithogenic infl uence (ph osphorus, nitrogen, and organic matter contents).Seven different areas acted as N 2 O sink at a temperature of -2 °C, demonstrating the impact of low-temperature conditions contributing to store N in soils. Moss Carpets had the highest CH 4 emissions and low CO 2 production potential. Fruticose Lichens had a CH 4 sink effect and the highest values of CO 2 . The low rate of organic matter provided the CO 2 sink effect on the bare soil (up to 6 °C). There is an overall trend of increasing greenhouse gases production potential with increasing temperature along a toposequence.

A new issue of the AABC focused on Antarctic research

“…Last year, the Annals of the Brazilian of Sciences (AABC), the sole broad multidisciplinary edited in Brazil, published a special issue on Antarctic research (Simões et al 2022). In total, there were 57 articles in different areas, ranging from the adaptation researchers in camping activities during fieldwork (Martins et al 2022), studies on the characteristics of Antarctic bacteria and their resistance to freezing (Moreira et al 2022), to the dynamics of greenhouse gas emissions (Ferrari et al 2022) and the consequences of global warming on iceberg melting rates (Barbat & Mata 2022). Additionally, articles on paleontology (e.g., Santos et al 2022a) and legal issues regarding the protection of this region (e.g., Santos 2022b) were also presented.…”