Fungal hyphal length in litter of Dryas octopetala in a high- Arctic polar semi-desert, Svalbard

• Main Authors: Robinson, C. H., Borisova, O. B., Callaghan, T. V., Lee, J. A.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 1996
• Subjects: Arctic; Antarctic; Svalbard; Antarc*; Dryas octopetala; Polar Biology; Tundra
• Online Access: https://research.manchester.ac.uk/en/publications/191d4616-84a1-4c14-b885-006021291af8; http://://A1996TG15500009

Mean fungal hyphal length was estimated in the surface horizons of a lithosol under Dryas octopetala in a polar semi-desert ecosystem at Ny- Alesund, Svalbard (78 56'N, 11 '50'E). This site is the most northerly from which such values have been collected and provides the only record from polar semi-desert sites in the Eurasian high Arctic. Although mean (± SE) fungal hyphal length was the lowest recorded in surface horizons of northern tundra (23 ± 1 mg-1), it was of the same order as results from a Canadian high- Arctic soil and Antarctic soils of high pH and low moisture and organic matter content, with little vegetation cover.