Biological soil crusts of Arctic Svalbard and of Livingston Island, Antarctica

Biological soil crusts (BSCs) occur in arid and semi-arid regions worldwide including the Polar Regions. They are important ecosystem engineers, and their composition and areal coverage should be understood before assessing key current functional questions such as their role in biogeochemical nutrient cycles and possible climate change scenarios. Our aim was to investigate the variability of BSCs from Arctic Svalbard and the Antarctic Island, Livingston, using vegetation surveys based on classification by functional group. An additional aim was to describe the structure of BSCs and represent a classification system that can be used in future studies to provide a fast and efficient way to define vegetation type and areal coverage. Firstly, this study demonstrates huge areas occupied by BSCs in Arctic Svalbard, with up to 90 % of soil surface covered, dominated by bryophytes and cyanobacteria, and showing an unexpectedly high variability in many areas. Livingston Island has lower percentage coverage, up to 55 %, but is dominated by lichens. Our findings show that both Polar Regions have varied BSC coverage, within the sites and between them, especially considering their harsh climates and latitudinal positions. Secondly, we have classified the BSCs of both areas into a system that describes the dominant functional groups and local geography, creating a simple scheme that allows easy identification of the prevailing vegetation type. Our results represent the first contribution to the description of BSCs based on their functional group composition in Polar Regions

Calculation of the external factors influence indices on plants and its application to Deschampsia antarctica Ė. Desv. populations

The main objective of the research is developing and describing in detail the calculation algorithm of the United Temperature Influence Index (UTII) and United Macroelements content in Soil Influence Index (UMCSII) on basic plant characteristics in sample populations. Additionaly, we present an example of its application in Deschampsia antarctica È Desv. research at Galindez Island, Argentine Islands, maritime Antarctic under natural condition based on experimental data sets. The final goal of the research was to evaluate the UTII and UMCSII, based on the sample plant populations contribution to the United Quality Latent Index of adaptability (UQLI).Мета дослідження — розробити і детально описати алгоритми розрахунку зведених показників впливу температури поверхні ґрунту та вмісту макроелементів у ґрунті на основні характеристики судинних рослин на прикладі Deschampsia antarctica È. Desv. з о. Галіндез, Аргентинські острови, Морська Антарктика. Кінцева мета роботи полягає в оцінці внеску у зведений латентний показник пристосовуваності рослин досліджуваних популяцій (ЗЛПП) зведених показників впливу таких факторів довкілля, як температура поверхні (ЗПВТ) та вміст макроелементів у ґрунті (ЗПВГ)

Studies on the Activity and Composition of Soil Microbial Communities in Rescource Limited Soils.

Soils from two resource limited sites were sampled and various chemical and microbial parameters measured. The sites chosen were Signy Island in the maritime Antarctic and the southern slopes of Mt Etna in Sicily. The soil from the Antarctic was resource limited due to the severe nature of its habitat, very cold and windy. There were several soils analysed from Mt Etna from young developing soils to older more established soils. The soils from the Antarctic had low concentrations of carbon and nitrogen and with a carbon to nitrogen ratio of 10. Initial analyses showed that they had a low microbial diversity but after the addition of plant residues the diversity increased with time. The young soils from Mount Etna behaved in a similar way to the soils from Antarctica. They had low carbon and nitrogen levels and a low microbial biomass. When plant material was added to the soil they were able to decompose it readily. By contrast the older volcanic soils had higher levels of carbon and nitrogen and a more diverse microbial community

Changes in Holocene climate and the intensity of Southern Hemisphere Westerly Winds based on a high-resolution palynological record from sub-Antarctic South Georgia

Sub-Antarctic South Georgia is a key region for studying climate variability in the Southern Hemisphere, because of its position at the core of the Southern Hemisphere Westerly Wind belt and between the Antarctic Circumpolar Current and the Polar Frontal Zone. Here, we present a 5.8-m long high-resolution pollen record from Fan Lake on Annenkov Island dominated by local sub-polar vegetation, with Acaena and Poaceae being present throughout the last 7000 years. Palynological and sedimentological analyses revealed a warm late Holocene ‘climate optimum’ between 3790 and 2750 cal. yr BP, which was followed by a gradual transition to cool and wet conditions. This cooling was interrupted by slightly warmer environmental conditions between 1670 and 710 cal. yr BP that partly overlap with the Northern Hemisphere ‘Medieval Climate Anomaly’. Increases in non-native and long-distance pollen grains transported from South America (e.g. Nothofagus, Podocarpus) indicate that stronger Southern Hemisphere Westerly Winds over South Georgia possibly occurred during some ‘colder’ phases of the late Holocene, most notably between c. 2210 and 1670 cal. yr BP and after 710 cal. yr BP

Planning for a changing environment: administration and management of South Georgia

The administration and management of South Georgia's fauna developed through the regulation of the sealing and whaling industries of the late 19th and 20th centuries. These regulations began as economic measures to benefit the industry with little thought given to preserving stocks. The relative success of the elephant sealing and whaling industries brought into focus the necessity of conservation measures to preserve stocks. Other measures to protect wild animals and birds were introduced on South Georgia as well. The first comprehensive approach to conservation came in 1975, when the Falkland Islands Dependencies Conservation Ordinance was established to protect the island's fauna and flora. This ordinance used as its basis the Agreed Measures for the Conservation of Antarctic Fauna and Flora but additionally provided for Areas of Special Tourist Interest, anticipating the growth of tourism on South Georgia. The growth of tourism is one of the new challenges facing the island's ecosystems and raises the question of whether the 1975 Ordinance provides sufficient control. Specific information on the numbers of tourists and other visitors, the sites visited, and the measures controlling it are presented. Administrative response to tourism and other changes, including those caused by fur seal and reindeer populations and the fisheries industry surrounding the island, is assessed in light of other management plans: Macquarie Island Nature Reserve Management Plan and the Graefe et al model of Visitor Impact Management. Recommendations and conclusions are made based on that assessment.Digitisation of this thesis was sponsored by Arcadia Fund, a charitable fund of Lisbet Rausing and Peter Baldwin