| Summary: | Flora and vegetation communities have been analysed in 24 sites, located across a latitudinal gradient from 72° to 77°S, in Victoria Land (Continental Antarctica). The study areas have been selected in different geographical, lithological and environmental conditions, in order describe the flora and vegetation associated to the widest range of ecological and environmental conditions occurring in Victoria Land. The field surveys have been carried out following a research protocol developed within the RiSCC Programme. Totally, 8 species of mosses, 50 of lichens have been observed in all the study areas. The obtained results indicate that, for what concerns the floristic composition and richness, the latitudinal gradient does not seem to affect the species biodiversity, at least along the coastal sites, with hot spots of biodiversity occurring along all the study transect. The gradient from coast to inland seems to exert higher influence on the species types and number and on the occurring vegetation communities. The data achieved, referred to the phytosociological surveys and to the description of 20 permanet plots, will provide the bases for the long term monitoring and the impact assessment of climate change effects as well as of other significant environmental forces. In addition, these data will be useful to evaluate eventual changes of the geographical distribution of some target species and/or of changes of their ecological requirements and distribution patterns.
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