Diversity of cyanobacteria in seepages of King George Island, maritime Antarctica

0129761 - BU-J 20035026 RIV SIGLE NL eng C - Conference Paper (international conference)
Komárek, Jiří - Komárek, O.
Diversity of cyanobacteria in seepages of King George Island, maritime Antarctica.
Antarctic Biology in a Global Context. Leiden: Backhuys Publishers, 2003 - (Huiskes, A.), s. 244-250. ISBN 90-5782-079-X.
[SCAR International Biology Symposium /8./. Amsterdam (NL), 27.08.2001-01.09.2001]
R&D Projects: GA AV ČR KSK6005114; GA AV ČR IAA6005002
Institutional research plan: CEZ:AV0Z6005908
Keywords : cyanobacteria * seepages * Antarctica
Subject RIV: EF - Botanics

Microalgal communities with dominant cyanobacteria (cyanoprokaryotes) develop in meltwater seepages in deglaciated areas of the maritime Antarctica during the Antarctic summer season. Our results from King George Island show that these communities have a characteristic succession, vertical structure and species composition. About 15 cyanobactcrial species were found dominant in this habitat. The developed community formed thick, stratified mats with different species in layers. Dominant cyanoprokaryotes belonged to the genera Leptolyngbya, Phormidium, Nostoc and Tolypothrix, whose diversity and ecology were evaluated by statistical methods. The main environmental factors (temperature from 2.2o-8.2oC , light regime, nutrition) were described. Cyanobacterial communities in seepages in maritime Antarctica represent a unique biocenosis important in terrestrial successional processes. The communities appear to be endemic to coastal Antarctic regions in terms of species composition, distinctive mat structure and seasonality. They are a unique feature of Antarctic living resources, and should be protected from human impacts.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0027934