Diversity, ecology and biogeography of the freshwater diatom communities from Ulu Peninsula (James Ross Island, NE Antarctic Peninsula)

The diversity, ecology and biogeography of diatoms in lakes, seepage areas and streams on the Ulu Peninsula, a large ice-free area in the northern part of James Ross Island (Weddell Sea), were studied. A diverse diatom flora of 123 taxa was observed, dominated by several Nitzschia taxa, Psammothidiu...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Polar Biology
Main Authors: Kopalová, K. (Kateřina), Nedbalová, L. (Linda), Nývlt, D., Elster, J. (Josef), Van de Vijver, B.
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: 2013
Subjects:
diatoms
lakes
seepages
Antarctic
Antarctic Peninsula
Ross Island
Ulu Peninsula
Weddell
Weddell Sea
Antarc*
Antarctica
James Ross Island
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-013-1317-5
http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0223316
Description
Summary:The diversity, ecology and biogeography of diatoms in lakes, seepage areas and streams on the Ulu Peninsula, a large ice-free area in the northern part of James Ross Island (Weddell Sea), were studied. A diverse diatom flora of 123 taxa was observed, dominated by several Nitzschia taxa, Psammothidium papilio, Eolimna jamesrossensis, Fragilaria capucina and Fistulifera saprophila. The results from the similarity and diversity analysis suggest James Ross Island to be biogeographically positioned within the Maritime Antarctic region, yet with some affinities with the flora of Continental Antarctica, as shown by the presence of Luticola gaussii and Achnanthes taylorensis. Based on our data, James Ross Island can thus be located close to the boundary of the two main Antarctic biogeographical regions. Diatom communities present in streams and seepage areas could be clearly distinguished from those in lakes, the latter being much more species rich.

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