SUBANTARCTIC MARION ISLAND AS A MODEL FOR BIOGEOCHEMICAL STUDIES AT THE AKADEMIK VERNADSKY STATION

• Published in: Біорізноманіття, екологія та експериментальна біологія
• Main Author: Бедернічек, Т. Ю.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: Ukrainian
• Published: Biodiversity, ecology and experimental biology 2021
• Subjects: the maritime Antarctic; sub-Antarctic; Marion Island; Prince Edward Island; biogeochemical cycles; морська Антарктика; Субантарктика; острів Маріон; острів Принца Едварда; біогеохімічні цикли; Akademik Vernadsky Station; Antarctic; Arctic; Argentine; Argentine Islands; Guano; The Antarctic; Vernadsky Station; Antarc*; Antarctica; Elephant Seals; Tundra; Антарктика
• Online Access: http://journals.hnpu.edu.ua/index.php/biology/article/view/3616; https://doi.org/10.34142/2708-5848.2021.23.1.10

The terrestrial ecosystems of the Arctic, Antarctic and alpine tundra are vulnerable to global and regional climate changes, including high summer temperatures. In order to conduct long-term observations of the dynamics of plant communities, as well as the temperature of the soil, a network of stationary GLORIA research sites has been established in the highlands. In the Arctic, many research stations participate in the INTERACT network and conduct studies according to the same protocols. There are no similar networks that conduct long-term studies of biogeochemical fluxes following the same protocol in the Antarctic region. One of the most perspective prototypes for such research is the subAntarctic Marion Island. The long-term research of the terrestrial ecosystems has been lasting there for more than 50 years and includes studies on energy flows and biogeochemical cycles. In 1978-1985, a number of articles were published on the quantification of the zoogenic biogeochemical flows and land-sea interaction for Marion Island. Some of them evaluated energy and nutrient flow from sea to land with the help of guano, feathers, and eggs of various seabird species, carcasses of seabirds, and elephant seals urine and excrements. Based on the data obtained, a conceptual model of matter and energy flows for Marion Island was developed in 1977. In 2008, it was revised and enriched with new data, and the most important priority areas for further research were identified. In addition, the research on aeolian processes as a factor affecting Marion Island's terrestrial ecosystems was started. Strong winds can significantly affect the transport of matter from the ocean to land and vice versa, as well as facilitate the redistribution of matter within the land. The approaches and principles that were applied to long-term monitoring of the sub-Antarctic Marion Island should be used as a methodological basis for research in maritime Antarctica, particularly in the vicinity of the Akademik Vernadsky Station (the Argentine Islands, ...