Biogeomorphic aspects of lichen colonisation in part of western Dronning Maud Land, Antarctica
Ice-free regions in Antarctica provide natural laboratories for investigating and modelling change in landscapes and ecosystems. The terrestrial ecosystems in western Dronning Maud Land are potentially critical to improve current understanding of polar ecosystems, however, they remain poorly represe...
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2017
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ftrhodesunivcory:vital:22477 2023-05-15T13:54:47+02:00 Biogeomorphic aspects of lichen colonisation in part of western Dronning Maud Land, Antarctica Ayres, Gabrielle Alexzena 2017 118 pages pdf http://hdl.handle.net/10962/19713 https://corycommons.ru.ac.za/vital/access/manager/Repository/vital:22477 English eng Rhodes University Faculty of Science, Geography http://hdl.handle.net/10962/19713 vital:22477 https://corycommons.ru.ac.za/vital/access/manager/Repository/vital:22477 Ayres, Gabrielle Alexzena Lichen communities -- Queen Maud Land Lichens -- Ecology -- Queen Maud Land Polar regions Ecology -- Polar regions Antarctica Ecology -- Antarctica Thesis Masters MSc 2017 ftrhodesunivcory 2022-12-26T13:10:12Z Ice-free regions in Antarctica provide natural laboratories for investigating and modelling change in landscapes and ecosystems. The terrestrial ecosystems in western Dronning Maud Land are potentially critical to improve current understanding of polar ecosystems, however, they remain poorly represented and under-protected. Lichen habitats were used to elucidate geomorphic-biological feedbacks that shape the landscape’s topography and biodiversity, which in turn promote environmental heterogeneity. Environmental parameters acting on two landforms were measured to determine the colonisation and growth of lichens in niche habitats. The habitats were identified and characterised, and topographic heterogeneity was found to control lichen colonisation. Micro-topographical niches provide the most stable environments for colonisation, and are preferred habitats. Lichen-habitat interactions were species specific, and closely related to insolation and moisture availability. The bidirectional relationships between rock weathering and lichen colonisation was ascertained. Results showed that lichens are good indicators of landform heterogeneity, but also promote landform heterogeneity. Given the habitat preferences of specific lichen species, they provide proxy to evaluating environmental responses, especially environmental change. The findings of this research are to be used as baseline data for future studies exploring ecosystem development in emerging landforms. Master Thesis Antarc* Antarctica Dronning Maud Land Queen Maud Land Rhodes University Cory: Repository Dronning Maud Land Queen Maud Land ENVELOPE(12.000,12.000,-72.500,-72.500) |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Rhodes University Cory: Repository |
op_collection_id |
ftrhodesunivcory |
language |
English |
topic |
Lichen communities -- Queen Maud Land Lichens -- Ecology -- Queen Maud Land Polar regions Ecology -- Polar regions Antarctica Ecology -- Antarctica |
spellingShingle |
Lichen communities -- Queen Maud Land Lichens -- Ecology -- Queen Maud Land Polar regions Ecology -- Polar regions Antarctica Ecology -- Antarctica Ayres, Gabrielle Alexzena Biogeomorphic aspects of lichen colonisation in part of western Dronning Maud Land, Antarctica |
topic_facet |
Lichen communities -- Queen Maud Land Lichens -- Ecology -- Queen Maud Land Polar regions Ecology -- Polar regions Antarctica Ecology -- Antarctica |
description |
Ice-free regions in Antarctica provide natural laboratories for investigating and modelling change in landscapes and ecosystems. The terrestrial ecosystems in western Dronning Maud Land are potentially critical to improve current understanding of polar ecosystems, however, they remain poorly represented and under-protected. Lichen habitats were used to elucidate geomorphic-biological feedbacks that shape the landscape’s topography and biodiversity, which in turn promote environmental heterogeneity. Environmental parameters acting on two landforms were measured to determine the colonisation and growth of lichens in niche habitats. The habitats were identified and characterised, and topographic heterogeneity was found to control lichen colonisation. Micro-topographical niches provide the most stable environments for colonisation, and are preferred habitats. Lichen-habitat interactions were species specific, and closely related to insolation and moisture availability. The bidirectional relationships between rock weathering and lichen colonisation was ascertained. Results showed that lichens are good indicators of landform heterogeneity, but also promote landform heterogeneity. Given the habitat preferences of specific lichen species, they provide proxy to evaluating environmental responses, especially environmental change. The findings of this research are to be used as baseline data for future studies exploring ecosystem development in emerging landforms. |
format |
Master Thesis |
author |
Ayres, Gabrielle Alexzena |
author_facet |
Ayres, Gabrielle Alexzena |
author_sort |
Ayres, Gabrielle Alexzena |
title |
Biogeomorphic aspects of lichen colonisation in part of western Dronning Maud Land, Antarctica |
title_short |
Biogeomorphic aspects of lichen colonisation in part of western Dronning Maud Land, Antarctica |
title_full |
Biogeomorphic aspects of lichen colonisation in part of western Dronning Maud Land, Antarctica |
title_fullStr |
Biogeomorphic aspects of lichen colonisation in part of western Dronning Maud Land, Antarctica |
title_full_unstemmed |
Biogeomorphic aspects of lichen colonisation in part of western Dronning Maud Land, Antarctica |
title_sort |
biogeomorphic aspects of lichen colonisation in part of western dronning maud land, antarctica |
publisher |
Rhodes University |
publishDate |
2017 |
url |
http://hdl.handle.net/10962/19713 https://corycommons.ru.ac.za/vital/access/manager/Repository/vital:22477 |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(12.000,12.000,-72.500,-72.500) |
geographic |
Dronning Maud Land Queen Maud Land |
geographic_facet |
Dronning Maud Land Queen Maud Land |
genre |
Antarc* Antarctica Dronning Maud Land Queen Maud Land |
genre_facet |
Antarc* Antarctica Dronning Maud Land Queen Maud Land |
op_relation |
http://hdl.handle.net/10962/19713 vital:22477 https://corycommons.ru.ac.za/vital/access/manager/Repository/vital:22477 |
op_rights |
Ayres, Gabrielle Alexzena |
_version_ |
1766260897232191488 |