Strategies of survival and resource exploitation in the Antarctic fellfield ecosystem
Antarctic fellfields present organisms with a heterogeneous habitat characterised by a wide variety of environmental stresses. These include low temperatures, limited moisture availability, frequent and often rapid freeze-thaw and hydration-dehydration cycles, exposure to high photosynthetic photon...
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Cambridge Philosophical Society
2009
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Online Access: | http://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/10790/ https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-185X.2009.00084.x |
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ftnerc:oai:nora.nerc.ac.uk:10790 2023-05-15T13:45:10+02:00 Strategies of survival and resource exploitation in the Antarctic fellfield ecosystem Block, W. Smith, R.I. Lewis Kennedy, A.D. 2009 http://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/10790/ https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-185X.2009.00084.x unknown Cambridge Philosophical Society Block, W.; Smith, R.I. Lewis; Kennedy, A.D. 2009 Strategies of survival and resource exploitation in the Antarctic fellfield ecosystem. Biological Reviews, 84 (3). 449-484. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-185X.2009.00084.x <https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-185X.2009.00084.x> Meteorology and Climatology Ecology and Environment Publication - Article PeerReviewed 2009 ftnerc https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-185X.2009.00084.x 2023-02-04T19:26:54Z Antarctic fellfields present organisms with a heterogeneous habitat characterised by a wide variety of environmental stresses. These include low temperatures, limited moisture availability, frequent and often rapid freeze-thaw and hydration-dehydration cycles, exposure to high photosynthetic photon flux density and ultraviolet (uv) irradiance, seasonal snow cover, high winds, cryoturbation and, depending on location south of the Antarctic Circle, considerable daylight in summer. Most of these factors vary both predictably and unpredictably in spatial and temporal planes. In response to this adverse environment, fellfield organisms have developed a variety of strategies to overcome physiological stress and to exploit the limited resources available during the short austral growing season. A high degree of synchronisation exists, so that investment in non-essential activity and adaptations is minimised. Here, we review the combined suites of co-adapted traits used by different fellfield taxa to achieve energy acquisition, growth and reproduction under adverse levels of two principal limiting factors: low temperatures and the scarcity of water. To this end, a detailed characterisation of the Antarctic fellfield microenvironment is followed by a synthesis of available data on the morphology, physiology, life history and behaviour of successful Antarctic flora and fauna. Tolerance of low temperatures by fellfield organisms is achieved by elevation of standard metabolism, production and accumulation of cryoprotectants, supercooling, melanic pigmentation, behavioural avoidance, compact growth forms and synchronised reproduction and extended life cycles. Low moisture conditions are overcome by dehydration resistance, anhydrobiosis, development of resting stages and by behavioural avoidance of desiccating conditions. Occupancy of the Antarctic fellfield habitat is considered to require the ability to respond rapidly to ephemeral resources and to tolerate severe environmental stresses. During summer, organisms rely on ... Article in Journal/Newspaper Antarc* Antarctic Natural Environment Research Council: NERC Open Research Archive Antarctic Austral The Antarctic Biological Reviews 84 3 449 484 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Natural Environment Research Council: NERC Open Research Archive |
op_collection_id |
ftnerc |
language |
unknown |
topic |
Meteorology and Climatology Ecology and Environment |
spellingShingle |
Meteorology and Climatology Ecology and Environment Block, W. Smith, R.I. Lewis Kennedy, A.D. Strategies of survival and resource exploitation in the Antarctic fellfield ecosystem |
topic_facet |
Meteorology and Climatology Ecology and Environment |
description |
Antarctic fellfields present organisms with a heterogeneous habitat characterised by a wide variety of environmental stresses. These include low temperatures, limited moisture availability, frequent and often rapid freeze-thaw and hydration-dehydration cycles, exposure to high photosynthetic photon flux density and ultraviolet (uv) irradiance, seasonal snow cover, high winds, cryoturbation and, depending on location south of the Antarctic Circle, considerable daylight in summer. Most of these factors vary both predictably and unpredictably in spatial and temporal planes. In response to this adverse environment, fellfield organisms have developed a variety of strategies to overcome physiological stress and to exploit the limited resources available during the short austral growing season. A high degree of synchronisation exists, so that investment in non-essential activity and adaptations is minimised. Here, we review the combined suites of co-adapted traits used by different fellfield taxa to achieve energy acquisition, growth and reproduction under adverse levels of two principal limiting factors: low temperatures and the scarcity of water. To this end, a detailed characterisation of the Antarctic fellfield microenvironment is followed by a synthesis of available data on the morphology, physiology, life history and behaviour of successful Antarctic flora and fauna. Tolerance of low temperatures by fellfield organisms is achieved by elevation of standard metabolism, production and accumulation of cryoprotectants, supercooling, melanic pigmentation, behavioural avoidance, compact growth forms and synchronised reproduction and extended life cycles. Low moisture conditions are overcome by dehydration resistance, anhydrobiosis, development of resting stages and by behavioural avoidance of desiccating conditions. Occupancy of the Antarctic fellfield habitat is considered to require the ability to respond rapidly to ephemeral resources and to tolerate severe environmental stresses. During summer, organisms rely on ... |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Block, W. Smith, R.I. Lewis Kennedy, A.D. |
author_facet |
Block, W. Smith, R.I. Lewis Kennedy, A.D. |
author_sort |
Block, W. |
title |
Strategies of survival and resource exploitation in the Antarctic fellfield ecosystem |
title_short |
Strategies of survival and resource exploitation in the Antarctic fellfield ecosystem |
title_full |
Strategies of survival and resource exploitation in the Antarctic fellfield ecosystem |
title_fullStr |
Strategies of survival and resource exploitation in the Antarctic fellfield ecosystem |
title_full_unstemmed |
Strategies of survival and resource exploitation in the Antarctic fellfield ecosystem |
title_sort |
strategies of survival and resource exploitation in the antarctic fellfield ecosystem |
publisher |
Cambridge Philosophical Society |
publishDate |
2009 |
url |
http://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/10790/ https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-185X.2009.00084.x |
geographic |
Antarctic Austral The Antarctic |
geographic_facet |
Antarctic Austral The Antarctic |
genre |
Antarc* Antarctic |
genre_facet |
Antarc* Antarctic |
op_relation |
Block, W.; Smith, R.I. Lewis; Kennedy, A.D. 2009 Strategies of survival and resource exploitation in the Antarctic fellfield ecosystem. Biological Reviews, 84 (3). 449-484. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-185X.2009.00084.x <https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-185X.2009.00084.x> |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-185X.2009.00084.x |
container_title |
Biological Reviews |
container_volume |
84 |
container_issue |
3 |
container_start_page |
449 |
op_container_end_page |
484 |
_version_ |
1766214297207177216 |