Freshwater stream ecosystems of James Ross Island, Antarctica
The freshwater streams of James Ross Island share many of the features common to other Antarctic streams. There is a diel variation in temperature and discharge, which follows the daily insolation cycle; catchments are barren; stream vegetation is predominantly algal, comprising mat-forming cyanobac...
| Published in: | Antarctic Science |
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| Main Authors: | , |
| Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
| Language: | unknown |
| Published: |
Cambridge University Press
1991
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/519999/ https://doi.org/10.1017/S0954102091000329 |
| Summary: | The freshwater streams of James Ross Island share many of the features common to other Antarctic streams. There is a diel variation in temperature and discharge, which follows the daily insolation cycle; catchments are barren; stream vegetation is predominantly algal, comprising mat-forming cyanobacteria and filamentous chlorophytes; and physical factors, particularly turbidity and bed stability are important in determining biomass and composition of algal assemblages. Nutrient concentrations vary from stream to stream and over a diel cycle, with minimum dissolved N in late afternoon. Biomass attained and photosynthetic and respiratory rates are also comparable to those recorded in other Antarctic streams, with low productivity/biomass ratios in perennial assemblages. |
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