Description of plant communities on Half Moon Island, Antarctica

Author:
Schmitz D., Putzke J., de Albuquerque M.P., Schünemann A.L., Vieira F.C.B., Victoria F.D.C. & Pereira A.B.
Year:
2018
Journal:
Polar Research
Pages:
37(1): 1523663
Url:
https://doi.org/10.1080/17518369.2018.1523663
thumb
During February–March of the austral summers of 2013/14 and 2014/2015, fieldwork was performed on Half Moon Island, South Shetland Archipelago, Antarctica, to evaluate the distribution and abundance of mosses and lichens, as well as to describe and map the plant communities there. The quadrat (20 × 20 cm) sampling method was employed in a phytosociological study that aimed to describe these communities. The area was mapped using an Astech Promark II® DGPS, yielding sub-metric precision after post-processing with software. The number of species totalled 38 bryophytes, 59 lichens, only one flowering plant (Deschampsia antarctica Desv.), and two macroscopic terrestrial algae. Five types of plant communities were identified on the island, as follows: (1) fruticose lichen and moss cushion, (2) moss carpet, (3) muscicolous lichen, (4) crustose lichen and (5) moss turf.
Id:
38943
Submitter:
jph
Post_time:
Tuesday, 30 September 2025 11:54