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Diversity and abundance of soil algae in the polar desert, Sverdrup Pass, central Ellesmere Island

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 October 2009

Josef Elster ,
Alena Lukesová ,
Josef Svoboda ,
Jirí Kopecky  and
Hiroshi Kanda
Josef Elster
Affiliation:
Institute of Botany, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic and Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of South Bohemia, Trebon, Czech Republic
Alena Lukesová
Affiliation:
Institute of Soil Biology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Ceské Budejovice, Czech Republic
Josef Svoboda
Affiliation:
Department of Botany, University of Toronto, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
Jirí Kopecky
Affiliation:
Institute of Microbiology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Trebon, Czech Republic
Hiroshi Kanda
Affiliation:
National Institute of Polar Research, Tokyo, Japan
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Abstract

Cyanobacteria and eukaryotic algae were investigated during three seasons in 18 plots established across Sverdrup Pass valley of central Ellesmere Island, 79°N, Canada. The sites differed in altitude, substratum, and other characteristics. A high species diversity totalled 136 taxa. Cyanobacteria accounted for 52 and eukaryotic algae 84 species. In both groups, numerous species did not correspond to any taxa described. However, high diversity did not always coincide with high algal abundance or biomass. On older and stable landscapes, visible crusts developed, containing mostly cyanobacteria, fungi, and other microbial components. Considerable variation in algal diversity and abundance was found among the sites. Also the southern, granitic portion of the pass was richer in green algae compared to its northern, dolomitic portion where motile cyanobacteria were more prominent. These micro-autotrophs occupied the soil profile to a depth of 7 cm. Their highest density was not at the surface but at 3–4 cm depth. One plot was contaminated by windblown copper-rich dust from a nearby outcrop and soil here was poorest in content of photosynthetic pigments, suggesting a local heavy-metal toxicity.

Type
Articles
Information
Polar Record , Volume 35 , Issue 194 , July 1999 , pp. 231 - 254
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1999

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