Matter and energy flow in Spitsbergen ornithogenic tundra

Investigations were carried out on matter and energy flow through ornithogenic Spitsbergen tundra (Hornsund area, Vestspitsbergen, Svalbard). Data are given on the inflow and dispersion of nutrients in tundra, vegetation, distribution and primary production, organic matter destruction, microfauna ab...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Polar Research
Main Authors: Klekowski, Romuald Z., Opaliński, Krzysztof W.
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Norwegian Polar Institute 1986
Subjects:
Online Access:https://polarresearch.net/index.php/polar/article/view/2503
https://doi.org/10.3402/polar.v4i2.6931
Description
Summary:Investigations were carried out on matter and energy flow through ornithogenic Spitsbergen tundra (Hornsund area, Vestspitsbergen, Svalbard). Data are given on the inflow and dispersion of nutrients in tundra, vegetation, distribution and primary production, organic matter destruction, microfauna abundance and its classification into trophic groups, and the metabolic rate of the dominant species of microfauna. It was found that in the ecosystem examined herbivorous invertebrates are almost backing, the dominant food chain is detritus type, and the majority of the plant matter produced is removed beyond the system to the sea, in the form of detritus. A qualitative model of matter cycling in the ecosystem is given.