Structure and dynamics of the Ceratodon purpureus-Bryum pseudotriquetrum community in the Yukidori Valley, Langhovde, continental Antarctica

• Main Authors: Susumu Okitsu, Satoshi Imura, Eri Ayukawa
• Format: Report
• Language: English
• Published: Faculty of Horticulture, Chiba University/National Institute of Polar research/Guraduate University for Advanced Studies, Department of Polar Science, National Institute of Polar Research 2003
• Subjects: Bryum pseudotriquetrum; Ceratodon purpureus; micro-relief; vegetation dynamics; vertical structure; Langhovde; Syowa Station; Antarc*; Antarctica; Polar bioscience
• Online Access: https://nipr.repo.nii.ac.jp/?action=repository_uri&item_id=6199; http://id.nii.ac.jp/1291/00006199/; https://nipr.repo.nii.ac.jp/?action=repository_action_common_download&item_id=6199&item_no=1&attribute_id=18&file_no=1

The structure and dynamics of the Ceratodon purpureus-Bryum pseudotriquetrum community along the Yukidori Valley, Langhovde near Syowa Station, continental Antarctica have been documented. This moss community showed a clear vegetation structure with a micro-relief distribution, consisting of three different sites; a mound, a slope and a hollow. On the hollow site a sand-covered Bryum pseudotriquetrum patch dominated. On the slope site a pure Ceratodon purpureus patch, a Bryum pseudotriquetrum patch, and a Ceratodon purpureus-Bryum pseudotriquetrum mixed patch abundantly occurred. On the mound site a cyanobacteria-mixed Ceratodon purpureus patch prevailed. The dynamics of this community was basically unclear. However, some change patterns were infered from the results. The sand-covered Bryum pseudotriquetrum patch and the cyanobacteria-mixed Ceratodon purpureus patch generally showed no clear change. It is also speculated that some of the patches of this community undergo cyclic changes. A suggested cyclic pattern is as follows; some of the sand-covered Bryum pseudotriquetrum patches turned on Ceratodon purpureus-Bryum pseudotriquetrum mixed patches, and finally those patches became a cyanobacteria-mixed Ceratodon purpureus patch. Some of them, on the other hand, degraded into sand-covered Bryum pseudotriquetrum patches, probably because of strong wind or water flow. However, more detailed studies will be needed to confirm these inferences.