Understanding the impact of change on Australia's World Heritage subantarctic islands - Anatomy studies of vascular plants Macquarie Island

• Other Authors: BERGSTROM, DANA M. (hasPrincipalInvestigator), BERGSTROM, DANA M. (processor), BALL, MARILYN (processor), Australian Antarctic Data Centre (publisher)
• Format: Dataset
• Language: unknown
• Published: Australian Antarctic Data Centre
• Subjects: biota; ANGIOSPERMS (FLOWERING PLANTS); EARTH SCIENCE; BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION; PLANTS; ISLANDS; BIOSPHERE; TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS; Macquarie Island; Anatomy; Azorella macquariensis; Colobanthus muscoides; Stilbocarpa polaris; Agrostis magellanica; CAMERA; FIELD SURVEYS; LABORATORY; FIELD INVESTIGATION; OCEAN > SOUTHERN OCEAN; SOUTHERN OCEAN > GEOGRAPHIC REGION > POLAR; Hurd; Southern Ocean
• Online Access: https://researchdata.ands.org.au/understanding-impact-change-macquarie-island/700126; https://doi.org/10.4225/15/54AF2ECD05BBD; https://data.aad.gov.au/metadata/records/ASAC_3095_Anatomical_Data; http://nla.gov.au/nla.party-617536

The dataset contains a series of anatomical images of plant specimens collected as part of AAS (ASAC) project 3095 at Macquarie Island during the summer of the 2011/2012 season. Species The four species examined were Azorella macquariensis, Colobanthus muscoides, Stilbocarpa polaris and Agrostis magellanica. Samples labelled 'South' were from Hurd point either near the hut (Colobanthus Stilbocarp and Agrostis) or from near the track at the top of the Hurd Point jump-up. The remaining plants were collected from the northern end of the island near the station. Anatomy and Leaf area The anatomy of the four species were investigated by taking hand cut sections and where necessary, staining with Toluidine Blue (0.05% in distilled water). Both transverse and longitudinal sections were taken. Photographic images were taken using Nikon Coolpic camera with eye tube adjustment. Images were accompanied with stage micrometre images. Two microscopes were used: a dissecting Leica MZ 8 and a Zeiss Axioscope. In some samples corresponding leaf surfaces were photographed of leaves removed from branches above the location of the transverse sections to calculate xylem surface area to leaf area ratios. Leaves were removed from the branches and places on graph paper under glass slides and photographed. Scales of the graph paper is 1 x 1 mm. Rehydration sequence Rehydration sequences of xylem vessels in both Colobanthus and Azorella samples were created by dissecting out xylem strands from longitudinal sections and drying on a glass slide. Water was then applied to rehydrate the cells and the sequence of embolism collapse was observed and photographed at defined time intervals. Interval measure had some non-measured margin of error as the shutter control on the camera was manually operated. Repeat drying and rehydration sequences were performed on the same sample. Two plants labelled Azorella macquariensis MC Ball experimental plant 1 and MC Ball Azorella no 2 Kleaf have associated physiological experimental data collected from them by Marilyn Ball.