Ecology features of coastal saline lakes related to environmental evolution in the area of Antarctic continental ice edge

• Main Authors: Zipan, Wang, Deprez, Patrick
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Polar Research Institute of China - PRIC 1998
• Subjects: Antarctic; The Antarctic; East Antarctica; Vestfold Hills; Vestfold; Advances in Polar Science; Antarc*; Antarctica; Ice Sheet; Polar Science
• Online Access: http://library.arcticportal.org/2162/; http://library.arcticportal.org/2162/1/A802.006.pdf

An investigation has been made on the ecology of some saline lakes in the Vestfold Hills (60°38'S, 78°06'E), East Antarctica. The results indicate that changes of natural environment and physico-chemical factors, as well as the variation and evolution of biological species do occur in some lakes. This can be attributed to seasonal and local climate changes and geographic differences in this region. These findings are believed to be indicative to the effects from the processes of global climate change, ice sheet retreat, and isostatic uplift, are presently occurring, and a study of the chemistry and biology of these Antarctic lakes may be a significant means of monitoring effects of global climate change in the Antarctic.