Relationship of cyanobacterial and algal assemblages with vegetation in the high Arctic tundra (West Spitsbergen, Svalbard Archipelago)

• Published in: Polish Polar Research
• Main Authors: Richter Dorota, Pietryka Mirosława, Matuła Jan
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Polish Academy of Sciences 2015
• Subjects: Arctic; cyanobacteria; algae; community classification; Geology; QE1-996.5; Svalbard; Svalbard Archipelago; Hornsund; Polar Research; Tundra; Spitsbergen
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1515/popore-2015-0013; https://doaj.org/article/16bd29f55b3d44d48f077f3be0b448ce

The paper presents the results of a study of cyanobacteria and green algae assemblages occurring in various tundra types determined on the basis of mosses and vascular plants and habitat conditions. The research was carried out during summer in the years 2009-2013 on the north sea-coast of Hornsund fjord (West Spitsbergen, Svalbard Archipelago). 58 sites were studied in various tundra types differing in composition of vascular plants, mosses and in trophy and humidity. 141 cyanobacteria and green algae were noted in the research area in total. Cyanobacteria and green algae flora is a significant element of many tundra types and sometimes even dominate there. Despite its importance, it has not been hitherto taken into account in the description and classification of tundra. The aim of the present study was to demonstrate the legitimacy of using phycoflora in supplementing the descriptions of hitherto described tundra and distinguishing new tundra types. Numeric hierarchical-accumulative classification (MVSP 3.1 software) methods were used to analyze the cyanobacterial and algal assemblages and their co-relations with particular tundra types. The analysis determined dominant and distinctive species in the communities in concordance with ecologically diverse types of tundra. The results show the importance of these organisms in the composition of the vegetation of tundra types and their role in the ecosystems of this part of the Arctic.