Micro-relief distribution of major mosses in ice-free areas along the Soya Coast, the Syowa Station area, East Antarctica

• Main Authors: Susumu Okitsu, Satoshi Imura, Eri Ayukawa
• Format: Report
• Language: English
• Published: Faculty of Horticulture, Chiba University/National Institute of Polar Research/The Graduate University for Advanced Studies, Department of Polar Science, National Institute of Polar Research 2004
• Subjects: continental Antarctica; Grimmia lawiana; ice-free area; micro-relief distribution; Pottia heimii; East Antarctica; Syowa Station; Antarc*; Antarctica; Polar bioscience
• Online Access: https://nipr.repo.nii.ac.jp/?action=repository_uri&item_id=6211; http://id.nii.ac.jp/1291/00006211/; https://nipr.repo.nii.ac.jp/?action=repository_action_common_download&item_id=6211&item_no=1&attribute_id=18&file_no=1

Micro-relief distribution of five major mosses, Pottia heimii, Ceratodon purpureus, Bryum pseudotriquetrum, Grimmia lawiana and Bryum argenteum, in the ice-free areas along the Soya Coast, continental part of East Antarctica have been compared. Those five mosses showed three different types of micro-relief distribution, at three different types of sites: mounds, slopes and hollows. Pottia heimii and Ceratodon purpureus prevailed on mound sites mixed with cyanobacteria. In dryer mound environments cyanobacteria was supposed to play an important role in nitrogen fixation. Bryum pseudotriquetrum and Grimmia lawiana dominated on hollow sites covered with sand. A more moisture rich condition of the hollow may promote their abundance associated with their high photosynthetic ability at moist sites. Bryum argenteum showed a rather unclear micro-relief distribution pattern. It appeared chiefly on mounds, but on hollows also. Rich nutrient input by sea birds into its habitats may allow various site selection under environments favorable to distribution.