Successional patterns along soil development gradients formed by glacier retreat in the Maritime Antarctic, King George Island

Abstract

Background: Maritime Antarctica is severely affected by climate change and accelerating glacier retreat forming temporal gradients of soil development. Successional patterns of soil development and plant succession in the region are largely unknown, as are the feedback mechanisms between both processes. Here we identify three temporal gradients representing horizontal and vertical glacier retreat, as well as formation of raised beaches due to isostatic uplift, and describe soil formation and plant succession along them. Our hypotheses are (i) plants in Antarctica are able to modulate the two base parameters in soil development, organic C content and pH, along the temporal gradients, leading to an increase in organic carbon and soil acidity at relatively short time scales, (ii) the soil development induces succession along these gradients, and (iii) with increasing soil development, bryophytes and Deschampsia antarctica develop mycorrhiza in maritime Antarctica in order to foster interaction with soil. Results: All temporal gradients showed soil development leading to differentiation of soil horizons, carbon accumulation and increasing pH with age. Photoautptroph succession occurred rapidly after glacier retreat, but occurrences of mosses and lichens interacting with soils by rhizoids or rhizines were only observed in the later stages. The community of ground dwelling mosses and lichens is the climax community of soil succession, as the Antarctic hairgrass D. antarctica was restricted to ornithic soils. Neither D. antarctica nor mosses at the best developed soils showed any sign of mycorrhization. Conclusion: Temporal gradients formed by glacier retreat can be identified in maritime Antarctic, where soil development and plant succession of a remarkable pace can be observed, although pseudo-succession occurs by fertilization gradients caused by bird feces. Thus, the majority of ice-free surface in Antarctica is colonized by plant communities which interact with soil by litter input rather than by direct transfer of photoassimilates to soil.

Distribution patterns of plant communities and their associations with environmental soil factors on the eastern shore of Lake Taihu, China

“…Understanding the relationships between such environmental variables and vegetation distribution can help improve the management, reclamation, and development of wetland ecosystems. In the process of succession, the spatial distribution and aggregation of vegetation communities corresponded to the vegetation community dynamic state and spatial heterogeneity (Sui et al 2010;Boy et al 2016). So, understanding the current vegetation and the distribution patterns of plant communities can promote the succession of vegetation restoration.…”

Diversity of algae and lichens in biological soil crusts of Ardley and King George islands, Antarctica

“…'AB01' is well dated due to its direct vicinity to the Yanou and Gaoshan lakes (6000-7000 yr BP, Watcham et al 2011). 'Ardley Palaeo' lies on a raised storm beach built up by isostatic uplift and is dated to 4400-2300 yr BP (Boy et al 2016). 'Ardley' is a BSC that grows along a tributary to Ardley Lake, which meanders on the partially frozen soils, leading to temporary bogs and by this to saturated water conditions.…”

Soil microbial abundance and activity across forefield glacier chronosequence in the Northern Patagonian Ice Field, Chile

“…Some of these microbial heterotrophs are decomposers, and their activity is very important for organic C accumulation and soil formation (Bardgett et al 2007;Wietrzyk-Pełka et al 2019). Therefore, understanding the role of microbial communities is essential to comprehend the process of OM accumulation in young soils, a condition that is pivotal for plant colonization and establishment (Nemergut et al 2007;Boy et al 2016).…”