Relationships between periglacial features and vegetation development in Victoria Land, continental Antarctica

2010 ◽  
Vol 22 (6) ◽  
pp. 703-713 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Cannone ◽  
M. Guglielmin
Keyword(s):  
Ground Surface ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Ecological Niches ◽  
Vegetation Patterns ◽  
Patterned Ground ◽  
Vegetation Development ◽  
Victoria Land ◽  
Continental Antarctica ◽  
Different Types ◽  
The Antarctic

AbstractThe relationships between vegetation patterns and periglacial features and their underlying ecology are still poorly understood and lack specific investigations in Antarctica. Here we present the results of vegetation colonization of different types of sorted patterned ground and gelifluction features (lobes and terracettes) at four sites in northern Victoria Land. This paper aims to understand the relationships between vegetation and the most widespread periglacial features in Victoria Land, discuss the role of periglacial features and vegetation in determining the ground surface temperature, and assess whether periglacial features provide ecological niches for vegetation colonization and development. Vegetation patterns are influenced by the feature type, mainly relating to patterned ground and debris island versus gelifluction features. The relations between vegetation and the periglacial features investigated in continental Antarctic are similar to those described for the Arctic, although in this part of the Antarctic vegetation is exclusively composed of cryptogams. Frost heave, ground texture and relief associated with different types of periglacial features provide a range of ecological niches sustaining vegetation biodiversity. Our data confirm the importance of periglacial features in shaping flora and vegetation biodiversity, as previously assessed only for the soil fauna in continental Antarctic.

scholarly journals Additions to the lichen flora of Victoria Land, Antarctica

2011 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 123-138 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jerzy Smykla ◽  
Beata Krzewicka ◽  
Karina Wilk ◽  
Steven Emslie ◽  
Lucyna Śliwa
Keyword(s):  
Ross Sea ◽  
Land Area ◽  
Victoria Land ◽  
Continental Antarctica ◽  
The Antarctic ◽  
Lichen Flora

Additions to the lichen flora of Victoria Land, Antarctica Lichens of relict penguin colonies and sites affected by active penguin colonies were investigated in Victoria Land, Ross Sea sector, continental Antarctica. A total of 17 coastal sites, seven in northern and ten in southern Victoria Land, have been investigated across 7° of latitude from 71° to 78°S. Altogether 40 taxa of lichens have been identified. Four of the recorded species are new to the Antarctic - Caloplaca erecta, C. soropelta, C. tominii and Physcia tenella; two species are new to the Victoria Land area - Lecania nylanderiana and Lecanora polytropa. The first lichen records from Beaufort Island are also provided. Data presented here expand the knowledge on the occurrence, diversity and distribution of Victoria Land lichens.

Diversity and distribution of tardigrades in soils of Edmonson Point (Northern Victoria Land, continental Antarctica)

2012 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 61-70 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jerzy Smykla ◽  
Nataliia Iakovenko ◽  
Miloslav Devetter ◽  
Łukasz Kaczmarek
Keyword(s):  
Water Content ◽  
Austral Summer ◽  
High Water ◽  
Soil Samples ◽  
High Water Content ◽  
Strong Constraint ◽  
Antarctic Soils ◽  
Victoria Land ◽  
Continental Antarctica ◽  
The Antarctic

This work contributes to the knowledge on distribution, diversity and ecology of the Antarctic soil biota. Different soil habitats from several ice-free coastal sites were sampled along the Victoria Land across 7° of latitude from 71° to 78°S during five austral summer seasons between 2003/04 and 2011/12. In this paper we report preliminary data on soil tardigrades (water bears) from Edmondson Point, Northern Victoria Land. Tardigrades were found to be present in 23 of the 41 examined soil samples (56%). Their presence was associated exclusively with soil samples collected from bryophytes communities and under cyanobacterial mats, whereas they were completely absent in fellfield and ornithogenic soils. Tardigrades were least numerous among all soil micrometazoans, their abundance in the positive samples was very variable and ranged from 3 to 1824 individuals per 100 g of soil DW. High water content seemed to be the major factor determining occurrence of tardigrades in the soils investigated. On the other hand low water content and toxic compounds from penguin guano seemed to act as a strong constraint on their existence in the Antarctic soils. Taxonomic evaluation of the extracted tardigrades revealed presence of only two species belonging to class Eutardigrada: Acutuncus antarcticus (Richters, 1904) and Milnesium antarcticum Tumanov, 2006. While A. antarcticus has already been reported previously as the most widespread and abundant tardigrade across the Victoria Land, the information on M. antarcticum is novel, both for Victoria Land and the continental Antarctica.

scholarly journals Scottish National Antarctic Expedition. “Scotia” Collections. Collembola from the South Orkney Islands

1906 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 473-483 ◽  
Author(s):  
George H. Carpenter ◽  
William Evans
Keyword(s):  
Present Writer ◽  
Tierra Del Fuego ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Careful Study ◽  
Orkney Islands ◽  
Arctic Regions ◽  
Victoria Land ◽  
Antarctic Expedition ◽  
South Orkney Islands ◽  
The Antarctic

Our knowledge of Antarctic Aptera has been growing rapidly during the last few years, a number of species from remote southern regions having been described by Willem (1902) from the countries south of Patagonia explored by the Belgica, by Schaffer (1897) from Tierra del Fuego, by Enderlein (1903) from Kerguelen, and a single Isotoma by the present writer (1902) from South Victoria Land. We find in the Antarctic as in the Arctic regions that in our advance towards the most remote and inhospitable lands, where winged insects eease to be represented, the primitive Aptera are still found fairly numerous in species, and often multitudinous in individuals. A careful study of these small frail insects fully repays the naturalist, both on account of the interest of their structure and the light which their distribution throws on geographical problems.

scholarly journals Uncovered Microbial Diversity in Antarctic Cryptoendolithic Communities Sampling Three Representative Locations of the Victoria Land

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (6) ◽  
pp. 942 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claudia Coleine ◽  
Nuttapon Pombubpa ◽  
Laura Zucconi ◽  
Silvano Onofri ◽  
Benedetta Turchetti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Microbial Diversity ◽  
Fungal Diversity ◽  
Rock Matrix ◽  
Remote Locations ◽  
Victoria Land ◽  
Continental Antarctica ◽  
Minimum Number ◽  
The Antarctic ◽  
Different Altitudes

The endolithic niche represents an ultimate refuge to microorganisms in the Mars-like environment of the Antarctic desert. In an era of rapid global change and desertification, the interest in these border ecosystems is increasing due to speculation on how they maintain balance and functionality at the dry limits of life. To assure a reliable estimation of microbial diversity, proper sampling must be planned in order to avoid the necessity of re-sampling as reaching these remote locations is risky and requires tremendous logistical and economical efforts. In this study, we seek to determine the minimum number of samples for uncovering comprehensive bacterial and fungal diversity, comparing communities in strict vicinity to each other. We selected three different locations of the Victoria Land (Continental Antarctica) at different altitudes and showing sandstone outcrops of a diverse nature and origin—Battleship promontory (834 m above sea level (a.s.l.), Southern VL), Trio Nunatak (1,470 m a.s.l., Northern VL) and Mt New Zealand (3,100 m a.s.l., Northern VL). Overall, we found that a wider sampling would be required to capture the whole amplitude of microbial diversity, particularly in Northern VL. We concluded that the inhomogeneity of the rock matrix and the stronger environmental pressure at higher altitudes may force the communities to a higher local diversification.

CharcotianaandAmundsenia, two new genera inTeloschistaceae(lichenized Ascomycota, subfamilyXanthorioideae) hosting two new species from continental Antarctica, andAustroplaca frigida, a new name for a continental Antarctic species

2014 ◽  
Vol 46 (6) ◽  
pp. 763-782 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ulrik SØCHTING ◽  
Isaac GARRIDO-BENAVENT ◽  
Rod SEPPELT ◽  
Miris CASTELLO ◽  
Sergio PÉREZ-ORTEGA ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
New Genus ◽  
Morphological Characters ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
New Genera ◽  
Antarctic Species ◽  
New Name ◽  
Continental Antarctica ◽  
Two New Species ◽  
The Antarctic

AbstractBased on a combined three locus analysis two new genera,CharcotianaandAmundsenia,are proposed in the lichen familyTeloschistaceae, subfamilyXanthorioideae.Charcotianaincludes the new speciesC. antarctica, which is known only from continental Antarctica. The bipolar genusAmundseniaincludes the new speciesA. austrocontinentalis, which is also known only from continental Antarctica, and the Arctic speciesCaloplaca approximatawhich is here combined into the new genus. The two new genera are phylogenetically distinct, but poor in morphological characters; the new species consist mainly of minute apothecia in cracks of rocks located in the climatically harshest regions of the Antarctic. They are somewhat similar to another continental Antarctic species,Austroplaca frigida,which is described as a new name based on the illegitimate nameCaloplaca frigidaSøchting. The distribution of the four species is mapped.

scholarly journals Overlooked Species Diversity and Distribution in the Antarctic Mite Genus Stereotydeus

Diversity ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (10) ◽  
pp. 506
Author(s):  
Claudia Brunetti ◽  
Henk Siepel ◽  
Peter Convey ◽  
Pietro Paolo Fanciulli ◽  
Francesco Nardi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Terrestrial Ecosystems ◽  
Free Living ◽  
Antarctic Species ◽  
Victoria Land ◽  
Continental Antarctica ◽  
Limited Dispersal ◽  
Dispersal Abilities ◽  
The Antarctic ◽  
New Distribution ◽  
Mite Genus

In the harsh Antarctic terrestrial ecosystems, invertebrates are currently confined to sparse and restricted ice free areas, where they have survived on multi-million-year timescales in refugia. The limited dispersal abilities of these invertebrate species, their specific habitat requirements, and the presence of geographical barriers can drastically reduce gene flow between populations, resulting in high genetic differentiation. On continental Antarctica, mites are one of the most diverse invertebrate groups. Recently, two new species of the free living prostigmatid mite genus Stereotydeus Berlese, 1901 were discovered, bringing the number of Antarctic and sub-Antarctic species of this genus up to 15, of which 7 occur along the coast of Victoria Land and in the Transantarctic Mountains. To examine the biodiversity of Stereotydeus spp., the present study combines phylogenetic, morphological and population genetic data of specimens collected from nine localities in Victoria Land. Genetically distinct intraspecific groups are spatially isolated in northern Victoria Land, while, for other species, the genetic haplogroups more often occur sympatrically in southern Victoria Land. We provide a new distribution map for the Stereotydeus species of Victoria Land, which will assist future decisions in matters of the protection and conservation of the unique Antarctic terrestrial fauna.

scholarly journals Two New Species of the Mite Genus Stereotydeus Berlese, 1901 (Prostigmata: Penthalodidae) from Victoria Land, and a Key for Identification of Antarctic and Sub-Antarctic Species

Taxonomy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 116-141
Author(s):  
Claudia Brunetti ◽  
Henk Siepel ◽  
Pietro Paolo Fanciulli ◽  
Francesco Nardi ◽  
Peter Convey ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Scanning Electron Microscopy ◽  
Mite Species ◽  
Apical Segment ◽  
Antarctic Species ◽  
Victoria Land ◽  
Continental Antarctica ◽  
Two New Species ◽  
Mite Genus ◽  
Scanning Electron

Two new mite species belonging to the genus Stereotydeus Berlese, 1901 were discovered from locations along the coast of Victoria Land, continental Antarctica. Previous records of this genus in the area under study only reported the presence of S. belli and S. mollis. Although those studies included no morphological analyses, it has since been assumed that only these species were present within the area. Specimens of S. ineffabilis sp. nov. and S. nunatakis sp. nov. were obtained, sometimes in sympatry, from four different localities in Central and South Victoria Land and are here described and illustrated using optical and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques. Features useful for identification of the two new Stereotydeus species include the size of the specimens, the length of the apical segment of pedipalps, the presence/absence of division of the femora, the position of solenidia, the shape and disposition of the rhagidiform organs on the tarsi, the shape of the apical setae of the tarsi, the numbers of aggenital setae and the position of the anal opening. A key to 14 of the 15 currently described Antarctic and sub-Antarctic Stereotydeus species is provided.

scholarly journals Metagenomic Analysis of Stress Genes in Microbial Mat Communities from Antarctica and the High Arctic

2011 ◽  
Vol 78 (2) ◽  
pp. 549-559 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thibault Varin ◽  
Connie Lovejoy ◽  
Anne D. Jungblut ◽  
Warwick F. Vincent ◽  
Jacques Corbeil
Keyword(s):  
High Arctic ◽  
Environmental Stresses ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Functional Responses ◽  
Protein Coding ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Stress Genes ◽  
Cyanobacterial Genes ◽  
Shock Proteins ◽  
The Antarctic

ABSTRACTPolar and alpine microbial communities experience a variety of environmental stresses, including perennial cold and freezing; however, knowledge of genomic responses to such conditions is still rudimentary. We analyzed the metagenomes of cyanobacterial mats from Arctic and Antarctic ice shelves, using high-throughput pyrosequencing to test the hypotheses that consortia from these extreme polar habitats were similar in terms of major phyla and subphyla and consequently in their potential responses to environmental stresses. Statistical comparisons of the protein-coding genes showed similarities between the mats from the two poles, with the majority of genes derived fromProteobacteriaandCyanobacteria; however, the relative proportions differed, with cyanobacterial genes more prevalent in the Antarctic mat metagenome. Other differences included a higher representation ofActinobacteriaandAlphaproteobacteriain the Arctic metagenomes, which may reflect the greater access to diasporas from both adjacent ice-free lands and the open ocean. Genes coding for functional responses to environmental stress (exopolysaccharides, cold shock proteins, and membrane modifications) were found in all of the metagenomes. However, in keeping with the greater exposure of the Arctic to long-range pollutants, sequences assigned to copper homeostasis genes were statistically (30%) more abundant in the Arctic samples. In contrast, more reads matching the sigma B genes were identified in the Antarctic mat, likely reflecting the more severe osmotic stress during freeze-up of the Antarctic ponds. This study underscores the presence of diverse mechanisms of adaptation to cold and other stresses in polar mats, consistent with the proportional representation of major bacterial groups.

scholarly journals Ground ice in the Northern Foothills, northern Victoria Land, Antarctica

2004 ◽  
Vol 39 ◽  
pp. 495-500 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mauro Guglielmin ◽  
Hugh M. French
Keyword(s):  
Oxygen Isotope ◽  
Ross Sea ◽  
Progress Report ◽  
Ground Ice ◽  
Lake Ice ◽  
Near Surface ◽  
Victoria Land ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Glacier Ice ◽  
Surface Ice

AbstractThis progress report classifies the different types of ground-ice bodies that occur in the Northern Foothills, northern Victoria Land, Antarctica. Oxygen isotope variations are presented, but interpretation is kept to a minimum pending further investigations. Surface ice, as distinct from moving glacier ice, occurs in the form of widespread buried (‘dead’) glacier ice lying beneath ablation (sublimation) till, together with perennial lake ice, snow banks and icing-blister ice.’Dry’ permafrost is uncommon, and interstitial ice is usually present at the base of the active layer and in the near-surface permafrost. This probably reflects the supply of moisture from the Ross Sea and limited sublimation under today’s climate. Intrusive ice occurs as layers within perennial lake-ice covers and gives rise to small icing blisters. Small ice wedges found beneath the furrows of high-centered polygons appear to agree with the model of sublimation-till development proposed by Marchant and others (2002).

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