Field measurements of carbon dioxide exchange of the Antarctic lichen Usnea sphacelata in the frozen state

Field measurements of CO 2 exchange were made with an infra-red gas analyser system on lichens at Bailey Peninsula, Wilkes Land, continental Antarctica. It has been demonstrated that Usnea sphacelata , a prominent element of the cryptogamic vegetation of this area, became photosynthetically active a...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Antarctic Science
Main Author: Kappen, L.
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 1989
Subjects:
Geology
Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
Oceanography
Antarctic
The Antarctic
Wilkes Land
Bailey Peninsula
Antarc*
Antarctic Science
Antarctica
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0954102089000064
https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0954102089000064
Description
Summary:Field measurements of CO 2 exchange were made with an infra-red gas analyser system on lichens at Bailey Peninsula, Wilkes Land, continental Antarctica. It has been demonstrated that Usnea sphacelata , a prominent element of the cryptogamic vegetation of this area, became photosynthetically active at temperatures below 0°C when the thalli were covered by drifted snow. Carbon dioxide uptake was detected down to −10°C. The carbon production during such a ‘frost’ day was considerable for a slow-growing Antarctic lichen. The importance of snow for production in lichens is emphasized. The mechanism of water uptake when the thalli are frozen needs further investigation.

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