Aquatic moss vegetation at the bottom of Antarctic lakes

• Imura S.

  National Institute of Polar Research

• Kanda H.

  National Institute of Polar Research

Bibliographic Information

Other Title

• 南極湖沼底の水生蘚類群落
• ナンキョク コショウテイ ノ スイセイセンルイ グンラク

Abstract

Characteristics of bryophyte vegetation in Antarctic lakes are reviewed. At the bottom of lakes, rich benthic vegetation mainly composed of cyanobacteria, green algae and diatoms are observed. In the vicinity of Syowa Station, two species of mosses, Bryum sp. and Leptobryum sp., are found in the lakes. Unique pillar-like colonies of aquatic mosses, rising from cyanobacterial and algal mats, are discovered in some freshwater lakes. These moss pillars are about 30 cm in diameter and up to 60 cm high, and occur at the lake bottoms mainly between 3 and 5 m in depth. They are composed of dense shoots of Leptobryum sp., and some shoots of Bryum pseudotriquetrum are often found among them. In longitudinal section the pillars reveal several whitish layers formed by mineral sediments and dead cyanobacteria. Preliminary dating analysis shows that the growth interval between top and base parts of moss pillar was expected to be ca. 300 years. The biology group in National Institute of Polar Research is promoting REGAL (Research on Ecology and Geohistory of Antarctic Lakes) project, focusing on structure of the lake ecosystem, origin and history of the lakes, and influence of global climate change.

Journal

• Bryological Research

  Bryological Research 8 (3), 69-73, 2002

  The Bryological Society of Japan

Details

• CRID: 1390845712969803392
• NII Article ID: 110009781191
• NII Book ID: AA12152497
• DOI: 10.24474/bryologicalresearch.8.3_69
• ISSN: 24242624
• ISSN: 13430254
• NDL BIB ID: 6242850
• Web Site: https://ndlsearch.ndl.go.jp/books/R000000004-I6242850
• Text Lang: ja
• Data Source:
  • JaLC
  • NDL
  • CiNii Articles
• Abstract License Flag: Disallowed