Plant and invertebrate ecology

The pioneer studies of Skottsberg (1912), supported by the observations of Bertram (1938) and Bryant (1945), showed that a range of bryophyte and lichen communities are developed in many localities along the west coast of the Antarctic Peninsula and on its offshore islands. In contrast, the terrestrial vegetation over much of the Antarctic continent is apparently restricted to sparse, widely scattered communities of lichens, with mosses playing only a subordinate role, particularly in inland areas (Siple 1938; Rudolph 1963; Greene 1964). Holdgate (1964) thus proposed a division of the Antarctic botanical zone into Maritime and Continental areas, the former having an oceanic rather than a continental climate, and supporting liverworts and two species of vascular plants in addition to well-developed moss and lichen communities. The Maritime area, which can thus be characterized in vegetational and floristic terms, has yet to be clearly defined geographically, but extends over much of the Scotia Ridge-Antarctic Peninsula sector. The present paper aims at giving a preliminary account of the vegetation in this area, based on observations made in a variety of localities from Candlemas Island south to Neny Island. The distribution of these sites is indicated in figure 17, and the extent of observations at each locality has been described elsewhere (Longton 1966 #). Because of taxonomic difficulties a detailed analysis of the vegetation in each area was impracticable, since many of the taxa can at present be named only to the generic level (Greene 1964). The major divisions of the vegetation have been defined, however, and their distribution is discussed in relation to climatic, edaphic and biotic factors, enabling an attempt to be made at outlining the geographical boundaries of the Maritime Antarcti

septentrionalis

Androsace septentrionalis Linnaeusnorthern fairy-candelabra;hairy northern fairy-candelabra;pygmyflower rock jasmine;northern androsace;northern pygmyflower;northern rock jasmine;pygmyflowerandrosace septentrionale;androsace du Nord;androsace septentrionalseptentrionalisTwin Lakes, ChurchillDisturbed ground on gravel ridge

integrifolia

Dryas integrifolia Vahlentire-leaved mountain avens;entire-leaved white mountain avens;white mountain avensdryade à feuilles entières;dryade à feuille entièreBetween Fort Churchill and Rocket launchin open tundra on well-drained stony groundAbundan

pusilla

Tofieldia pusilla (Michaux) Persoonsmall tofieldia;small false asphodel;least asphodel;common false asphodel;Scotch false asphodel;tiny false asphodeltofieldie naine;tofieldie boréale;tofieldie fluetteTwin Lakes, ChurchillAmong mosses in wet hollows on the ground in burnt over black Spruce stan

parviflora

Luzula parviflora (Ehrhart) Desvauxsmall-flowered woodrushluzule parvifloreparvifloraTwin Lakes, ChurchillAmong mosses in wet hollows on the ground in burnt over black spruce stand.Moss, Black spruc

lividium

Geocaulon lividum (Richardson) Fernaldnorthern comandracomandre livideTwin Lakes, ChurchillThin peat over gravel at margin of road through white spruce standwhite spruc

uliginosum

Vaccinium uliginosum Linnaeusalpine bilberry;bog bilberry;alpine blueberry;bog blueberry;western huckleberryairelle des marécages;airelle des marais;bleuet traînard;myrtille de loupVaccinium uliginosumTwin Lakes, ChurchillThin peat over gravel at margin of road through white spruce stand.White spruc