HUMAN IMPACT ON TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS IN WEST ANTARCTICA (17th Symposium on Polar Biology)

• Main Author: Maria OLECH
• Format: Report
• Language: English
• Published: Proceeding 1996
• Subjects: Candelaria; South Shetland Islands; West Antarctica; Antarc*; Antarctica; Polar Biology; Proceedings of the NIPR Symposium on Polar Biology
• Online Access: https://nipr.repo.nii.ac.jp/?action=repository_uri&item_id=5323; http://id.nii.ac.jp/1291/00005323/; https://nipr.repo.nii.ac.jp/?action=repository_action_common_download&item_id=5323&item_no=1&attribute_id=18&file_no=1

Examples of synanthropization of flora in the South Shetland Islands (West Antarctica) are presented. Investigations on man's impact were carried out between 1986 and 1993. Human impact on plant cover takes place in two parallel processes: some species (plantae hemerophobae) decrease their geographical range, as a result of direct and indirect habitat destruction; while others extend their area of occurrence (plantae hemerophilae) due to man's activity. The latter process is a consequence of introduction of anthropophytes (e.g. Lecidella elaeochroma, Lecanora symmicta and Poa annua) or creation of man-made habitats suitable for the native species (apophytes) colonization (e.g. Muriella terrestris, Prasiola crispa, Acarospora macrocyclos, Amandinea coniops, Caloplaca citrina, C. sublobulata, Physcia caesia, Xanthoria candelaria and Tortula grossiretis).