The spatial distribution of microalgae on Antarctic fellfield soils
The horizontal and vertical distributions of cyanobacteria and algae on soil polygons on Signy Island were investigated. Soil chlorophyll concentrations increased from the centre to the edge of the polygons. Similar distributions of the non-motile genera, such as Pseudanabaena and Nostoc, were obser...
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Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
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Cambridge University Press
1991
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Online Access: | http://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/519770/ https://doi.org/10.1017/S0954102091000317 |
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ftnerc:oai:nora.nerc.ac.uk:519770 2023-05-15T13:49:34+02:00 The spatial distribution of microalgae on Antarctic fellfield soils Davey, M.C. Clarke, K.J. 1991-09 http://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/519770/ https://doi.org/10.1017/S0954102091000317 unknown Cambridge University Press Davey, M.C.; Clarke, K.J. 1991 The spatial distribution of microalgae on Antarctic fellfield soils. Antarctic Science, 3 (03). 257-263. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0954102091000317 <https://doi.org/10.1017/S0954102091000317> Publication - Article PeerReviewed 1991 ftnerc https://doi.org/10.1017/S0954102091000317 2023-02-04T19:46:24Z The horizontal and vertical distributions of cyanobacteria and algae on soil polygons on Signy Island were investigated. Soil chlorophyll concentrations increased from the centre to the edge of the polygons. Similar distributions of the non-motile genera, such as Pseudanabaena and Nostoc, were observed, whereas the motile taxa, Phormidium and Pinnularia, were evenly distributed across the polygon. Phormidium autumnale was the most widespread taxon, and other Oscillatoriaceae were also important, although large differences in community composition between polygons were observed. Most of the algal biomass was concentrated near the surface of the soil, although chlorophyll degradation products were found to depths of up to 8 cm. Examination of the soil profile by fluorescence microscopy indicated that a large proportion of the microflora occurred in the zone 0–1 mm below the surface, and scanning electron microscopy confirmed that few algae occurred on the soil surface. It is suggested that this may be a desiccation-avoidance strategy. Vertical migration of the motile microalgae to the soil surface was not observed in the field, but could be induced in the laboratory in the presence of excess water, although no diel cycle to this movement was observed. Article in Journal/Newspaper Antarc* Antarctic Antarctic Science Signy Island Natural Environment Research Council: NERC Open Research Archive Antarctic Signy Island ENVELOPE(-45.595,-45.595,-60.708,-60.708) Antarctic Science 3 3 257 263 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Natural Environment Research Council: NERC Open Research Archive |
op_collection_id |
ftnerc |
language |
unknown |
description |
The horizontal and vertical distributions of cyanobacteria and algae on soil polygons on Signy Island were investigated. Soil chlorophyll concentrations increased from the centre to the edge of the polygons. Similar distributions of the non-motile genera, such as Pseudanabaena and Nostoc, were observed, whereas the motile taxa, Phormidium and Pinnularia, were evenly distributed across the polygon. Phormidium autumnale was the most widespread taxon, and other Oscillatoriaceae were also important, although large differences in community composition between polygons were observed. Most of the algal biomass was concentrated near the surface of the soil, although chlorophyll degradation products were found to depths of up to 8 cm. Examination of the soil profile by fluorescence microscopy indicated that a large proportion of the microflora occurred in the zone 0–1 mm below the surface, and scanning electron microscopy confirmed that few algae occurred on the soil surface. It is suggested that this may be a desiccation-avoidance strategy. Vertical migration of the motile microalgae to the soil surface was not observed in the field, but could be induced in the laboratory in the presence of excess water, although no diel cycle to this movement was observed. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Davey, M.C. Clarke, K.J. |
spellingShingle |
Davey, M.C. Clarke, K.J. The spatial distribution of microalgae on Antarctic fellfield soils |
author_facet |
Davey, M.C. Clarke, K.J. |
author_sort |
Davey, M.C. |
title |
The spatial distribution of microalgae on Antarctic fellfield soils |
title_short |
The spatial distribution of microalgae on Antarctic fellfield soils |
title_full |
The spatial distribution of microalgae on Antarctic fellfield soils |
title_fullStr |
The spatial distribution of microalgae on Antarctic fellfield soils |
title_full_unstemmed |
The spatial distribution of microalgae on Antarctic fellfield soils |
title_sort |
spatial distribution of microalgae on antarctic fellfield soils |
publisher |
Cambridge University Press |
publishDate |
1991 |
url |
http://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/519770/ https://doi.org/10.1017/S0954102091000317 |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(-45.595,-45.595,-60.708,-60.708) |
geographic |
Antarctic Signy Island |
geographic_facet |
Antarctic Signy Island |
genre |
Antarc* Antarctic Antarctic Science Signy Island |
genre_facet |
Antarc* Antarctic Antarctic Science Signy Island |
op_relation |
Davey, M.C.; Clarke, K.J. 1991 The spatial distribution of microalgae on Antarctic fellfield soils. Antarctic Science, 3 (03). 257-263. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0954102091000317 <https://doi.org/10.1017/S0954102091000317> |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1017/S0954102091000317 |
container_title |
Antarctic Science |
container_volume |
3 |
container_issue |
3 |
container_start_page |
257 |
op_container_end_page |
263 |
_version_ |
1766251758259011584 |