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Preliminary investigation of the thermal biosystem of Mount Rittmann fumaroles (northern Victoria Land, Antarctica)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 May 2004

R. Bargagli
Affiliation:
Department of Environmental Biology, University of Siena, Via delle Cerchia 3, 53100 Siena, Italy
P.A. Broady
Affiliation:
Department of Plant and Microbial Sciences, University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch, New Zealand
D.W.H. Walton
Affiliation:
British Antarctic Survey, Natural Environmental Research Council, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 OET, UK

Abstract

The biota and environment of fumarolic ground recently discovered near Mount Rittmann are described. Three patches (about 1 m2 each) of the moss Pohlia nutans were found in a minor caldera rim. Cyanophytes, chlorophytes, protozoa and bacteria were isolated from the moss and warm ground (30–50°C). The results are compared with those of previous studies on Antarctic volcanoes. The origin of the geothermal flora is discussed in terms of long-distance transport of propagules to the continent.

Type
Papers—Life Sciences and Oceanography
Copyright
© Antarctic Science Ltd 1996

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