Lichen and moss communities of Botany Bay, Granite Harbour, Ross Sea, Antarctica

Abstract Botany Bay is one of the richest sites for lichen and bryophyte biodiversity in continental Antarctica. A total of 29 lichen, nine moss and one liverwort species have been identified. The most extensive vegetation occurs on a sheltered raised beach terrace. Vegetation associations are descr...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Antarctic Science
Main Authors: Seppelt, Rodney D., Türk, Roman, Green, T.G. Allan, Moser, Gerald, Pannewitz, Stefan, Sancho, Leo G., Schroeter, Burkhard
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 2010
Subjects:
Geology
Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
Oceanography
Antarctic
Ross Sea
Raised Beach
Granite Harbour
Botany Bay
Antarc*
Antarctic Science
Antarctica
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0954102010000568
https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0954102010000568
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Summary:Abstract Botany Bay is one of the richest sites for lichen and bryophyte biodiversity in continental Antarctica. A total of 29 lichen, nine moss and one liverwort species have been identified. The most extensive vegetation occurs on a sheltered raised beach terrace. Vegetation associations are described and compared to other continental Antarctic localities that also possess a rich vegetation cover. Ordination analysis clearly indicates the importance of the type of water supply, its regularity, the substrate type, and particularly in Botany Bay, the influence of nutrients derived from the local bird population in governing plant distribution and associations. A vegetation map has been produced and can be used as a baseline to assess vegetation changes over time.

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