Geoecology of Antarctic Ice-Free Coastal Landscapes

434 Pages·2002·3.13 MB·English

by  M. Bölter

Ecological Studies,Vol. 154
Analysis and Synthesis
Edited by
I.T.Baldwin,Jena,Germany
M.M.Caldwell,Logan,USA
G.Heldmaier,Marburg,Germany
O.L.Lange,Würzburg,Germany
H.A.Mooney,Stanford,USA
E.-D.Schulze,Jena,Germany
U.Sommer,Kiel,Germany
Ecological Studies
Volumes published since 1996 are listed at the end ofthis book.
Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg GmbH
L.Beyer M.Bölter (Eds.)
Geoecology of
Antarctic Ice-Free
Coastal Landscapes
With 54 Figures and 59 Tables
123
Prof.Dr.Lothar Beyer
Prof.Dr.Manfred Bölter
Institut für Polarökologie
Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel
Wischhofstr.1–3
24148 Kiel
Germany

Cover illustration:Graph:T.F.Claassen,Photo:A.Tatur
ISSN 0070-8356
ISBN 978-3-642-62674-6
Library ofCongress Cataloging-in-Publication Data.
Geoecology ofAntarctic ice-free coastal landscapes / L.Beyer,M.Bölter (eds.)
p.cm.– (Ecological studies ;v.154)
Includes bibliographical references (p.).
ISBN 978-3-642-62674-6 ISBN 978-3-642-56318-8 (eBook)
DOI 10.1007/978-3-642-56318-8
1.Soil ecology–Antarctica.2.Coastal ecology–Antarctica.I.Beyer,Lothar,1959- II.
Bölter,M.III.Series.
QH84.2 .G46 2002
577.5'7'09989–dc21 2001049872
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Foreword
Research in Antarctica in the past two decades has fundamentally changed
our perceptions of the southern continent.The new information coming in
makes it increasingly evident that the ecology ofAntarctica is much more dis-
tinctive, much more complex, and much more diverse than any one could
have expected – witness the long list ofbooks and reviews in the Preface that
summarize,from varying points of view,the growing body of information.
One could therefore ask whether a new book on the geoecology ofAntarctic
soils is really necessary.The answer is a definite yes,for several reasons.The
editors and authors ofthe present volume approached the vast field ofAntarc-
tic research from a refreshingly new and original angle,not considered by ear-
lier compilations.They also cover many new subjects and include information
on geographic areas of the vast Antarctic continent not treated in earlier
books.Nearly all ofthe authors are unrepresented in earlier reviews,and their
fresh perspective alone assures that the present work offers new insights and
new points ofview.Last,but not least,the present work covers the most recent
results ofthe fast-growing literature and gives the reader an excellent picture
ofthe present state ofAntarctic science.
This well-produced and authoritative book fills a gap and will become
indispensable for all researchers and students interested in Antarctic ecology.
Tallahassee,Florida
Autumn 2001 E.Imre Friedmann
Preface
Polar regions have become a centre of interest during discussions on global
change and global climate warming in the last decade.In the Antarctic,cli-
mate change is not only important for glaciology and atmospheric science
(e.g. Weller 1992), but it also affects ecological aspects (e.g. Smith and
Steenkamp 1990;Lewis Smith 1994;Kennedy 1995).Further,although many
aspects of the terrestrial ecosystem, such as biodiversity, physiological and
biochemical adaptations to habitats, general environmental conditions and
related effects on life and habitat formations have been given much attention,
overviews on the ecosystem scale are still rare;this holds especially true for
links between the abiotic and biotic parts.
Antarctic terrestrial ecosystems have only limited extent,and only a small
share of earth’s living biomass.Therefore they play only a minor role in the
global carbon cycle and in driving global climatic trends.So,what is the pur-
pose of Antarctic terrestrial ecosystem research? Steven Chown addressed
this question facing Antarctic researchers during the 7th SCAR Biology Con-
ference held in Christchurch,New Zealand,in September 1998 (Chown et al.
2000).He summarised that Antarctic research is undoubtedly expensive,the
results obtained are either specific to this region (hence,not transferable),or
ofa general nature (hence,the studies could be performed in any region out-
side Antarctica).However,on the other hand,there are several good reasons
for carrying out ongoing research in Antarctica:the remoteness from human
civilisation means that the Antarctic is a vast and unique laboratory for many
scientific purposes,for example,understanding processes ofcold adaptations
in plants and insects,the spread and development of microbes,plants,and
micro-arthropods, colonisation of deglaciated terrains in regions remote
from sources of propagules,the global spread of pollutants,the fate of soil
phosphorus and processes on initial soil formation under extreme cold con-
ditions,as well as the effects ofhuman disturbance in pristine environments.
Individual aspects ofthese themes have been summarised in books or review
articles,e.g.Campbell and Claridge (1987),Vincent (1988),Wynn-Williams
(1990),Friedmann (1993),Lewis Smith (1993a,b),Priscu (1998).
Another initiative for this compilation is that most studies on Antarctic
issues focus on local aspects ofthe continent or have tried to understand sin-
VIII Preface
gle processes or individual groups of organisms.We have attempted here to
collate a variety ofstudies covering ecological aspects from landscape to habi-
tats,from groups oforganisms to individual plants and animals.A main fea-
ture is the development and genesis ofsoil in a real primary state.
The term geoecology points out the close interactions between soils,the
actual state and processes ofsoil development,and their role in a polar envi-
ronment with respect to its use as the basis of life processes for organisms.
Geoecology means that we use soil ecology in its widest sense: soils are
viewed at the centre ofprocesses acting at scales ofmicrobes,plants,and ani-
mals,but they are also viewed in relation to impacts from climate,geology and
geography.This means that we look for a wide range of scales,as defined by
necessity for geoecology by Blumenstein et al. (2000), from habitats for
microbes and other soil-dwelling organisms across plant associations to land-
scape evolution via glacier retreat.We describe such features for three areas of
the Antarctic,but have to mention that the broad sense ofgeoecology,namely
human impact on nature,is not the main aim.
All three places;King George Island in the maritime Antarctic and the two
continental sites, Ongul Islands and the Windmill Islands, share many fea-
tures in common,despite being located far from each other.The places have
carried permanently maintained stations for a long time and thus provide
long records of environmental variables.Nevertheless,it was difficult to find
directly comparable issues of research in these environments, due to
national and local research interests, expertise and preferences. Biological
issues can be found at all sites.Monitoring of meteorological conditions has
been carried out at all stations since their inception.Many sites in Antarc-
tica,and all these three,also have well-described vegetation.However,phys-
ical,biological and chemical processes in the soils,the soil biological com-
ponent, processes central to the visible expression of the terrestrial biota,
have been widely neglected, despite good geological background informa-
tion. Thus, it seemed worthwhile to bring such data and information
together to link these ecological components.Further,to complete soil sci-
entific studies in the Antarctic, comparable extensive studies on soils have
been carried out only in the areas of the McMurdo Dry Valleys, in some
widely dispersed localities of southern and northern Victoria Land,and in
the vicinity of the McMurdo Station with special emphasis on deserts
(Campbell and Claridge 1987;Priscu 1998).
Hence,we have taken the chance to collate our studies from the maritime
and coastal continental Antarctic and present a comprehensive view on land-
scape and biological issues ofmainly three Antarctic places.Further locations
visited during expeditions are mentioned,and relations to data from several
other points are drawn and discussed. Obviously, many points of general
interest can be used to describe processes in other regions of the continent
and other polar or alpine environments.
Preface IX
We have also included features of human impact on a continent which is
often referred to as a pristine environment,although this point cannot be the
main focus of this book.However,despite the remote locality of this conti-
nent,increasing tourist activity,field activities ofscientific programmes,erec-
tion and maintenance ofnational research stations,local and large-scale dis-
persal of pollutants,the introduction of alien organisms,all have significant
effects on the Antarctic environment,individually or in combination.They
cannot be neglected when describing environmental and biological processes
in an area which functions as an indicator for the whole planet.There is much
still to be learned from scientific approaches and results and how to protect
and preserve a great wilderness.
There are enormous amounts of quantitative and qualitative materials
gathered in journals,books,and many local reports.We have tried to compile
some of them regarding the soils of three Antarctic coastal environments.
However,there still remain many questions which cannot be answered by this
contribution.We hope that it may serve as an incentive for scientists looking
for new tasks in Antarctic research.
We have organised the chapters into four main parts,from specific descrip-
tions of individual locations,groups of organisms and processes to general
ecological aspects.
I General descriptions ofsites and the local environmental constraints,
II Processes in the soil environment mainly driven by environmental fac-
tors,
III Organisms and biological processes on the soils (plants) and in the soils
(microorganisms and soil-dwelling animals),
IV A set ofsummarising chapters which put together information about the
soil habitat and its function on life under the constraints of Antarctic
environmental conditions.The final chapter focuses on past and (antici-
pated) future aspects of environmental reactions on increasing anthro-
pogenic effects on the terrestrial environment.
Two further points need to be mentioned.Parts III and IV,which deal with
autotrophic and heterotrophic organisms of different (changing) taxo-
nomic positions, follow the traditional taxonomy, i.e. lichens are still re-
garded as plants,cyanobacteria are combined with other autotrophs,namely
algae.
All data which are used as a basis for our ideas,discussions and conclusions
derive from long traditions of work in these environments;previous contri-
butions in books,journals or reports with many other co-authors form the
basis of this book. Our thanks are extended to all those who contributed
directly or indirectly by numerous discussions,evaluations ofproposals,revi-
sions of papers or long talks at long evenings during our visits to Antarctic
bases or at international symposia.
X Preface
We would like to thank Prof. O.L. Lange and Pof. E. I. Friedmann. Both
stimulated and encouraged the process of compiling this issue of Ecological
Studies, their kind advice was very welcome and promoted our editorial
efforts.The Springer-Verlag in Heidelberg,namely Mrs.A.Schlitzberger and
Mr. F. Kröner, showed great patience – another main point to be greatly
acknowloedged.We also thank our home institution for its help and support.
References
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delberg New York
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Friedmann EI (1993) Antarctic microbiology.Wiley-Liss,New York
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Kiel Lothar Beyer,Manfred Bölter
Autumn 2001
Contents
Part I The Environment
Preface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
1 Antarctic Coastal Landscapes:Characteristics,
Ecology and Research . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
M.Bölter,L.Beyer,B.Stonehouse
1.1 The Antarctic Environments and Ecosystems . . . . . . . . 5
1.2 Characteristics ofAntarctic Coastal regions . . . . . . . . . 8
1.2.1 The Former Use of‘Oasis’as a Synonym
for Ice-Free Landscapes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
1.3 Characteristics ofAntarctic Coastal Landscapes . . . . . . . 9
1.3.1 Localities and Topography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
1.3.2 Soils ofAntarctic Coasts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
1.3.3 Conditions for Colonisation ofSoils . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
1.3.4 Development and Maturation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
1.4 Research Programmes and Objectives . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
2 Maritime and Continental Antarctic:
The Sites ofInvestigation in Context . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
M.Bölter,L.Beyer
2.1 Geography and Geology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
2.2 Climate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
2.3 The Effects on Soil Ecosystems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21