Summary
The aim of this investigation was to provide a general description of the biota and environment of fumarolic ground close to the summit (2733 m) of Mt Melbourne. Heat flow through the ground was examined and analyses made of the physico-chemical properties of the soil. Bryophyte vegetation comprisedCampylopus pyriformis (K.F. Schultz) Brid. andCephaloziella exiliflora (Tayl.) Steph. The former is a new antarctic record. These grew as scattered and confluent cushions where surface ground temperatures ranged between 14°–31°C. Algae were epiphytic on bryophytes and formed crusts over most other areas of warm ground. Six species of cyanophytes and five unicellular chlorophytes are described. The majority were mesophilic butMastigocladus laminosus showed a strong preference for soil temperatures >30°C. A loosely lichenised chlorophyte was also encountered. The only soil fauna was a testate amoeba,Corythion dibium. Heterotrophic microorganisms included thermotolerant fungi, actinomycetes and bacteria as well as typical mesophilic microflora. Nitrogen fixation, analysed using both C2H2 reduction and15N2 enrichment, occured in bryophyte cushions and surface algal crusts containingM. laminosus and in sub-surface samples lacking cyanophytes. The biota are compared with those found at other thermal localities in Antarctica and the dispersal of propagules to these areas is discussed.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Explore related subjects
Discover the latest articles, news and stories from top researchers in related subjects.Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Adamson RG, Cavaney RJ (1967) Volcanic debris layers near Mount Melbourne, northern Victoria Land, Antarctica. NZJ Geol Geophys 10:418–421
Akiyama M (1968) A list of terrestrial and subterranean algae from the Ongul Islands, Antarctica. Antarct Rec 32:71–77
Black CA, (ed) (1965) Methods of soil analysis, vols 1 and 2. American Society of Agronomy Inc, Wisconsin
Broady PA (1976) Six new species of terrestrial algae from Signy Island, South Orkney Islands, Antarctica. Br Phycol J 11:387–405
Broady PA (1982) New records of chlorophycean micro-algae cultured from antarctic rerrestrial habitats. Nova Hedwigia 36:445–484
Broady PA (1984) Taxonomic and ecological investigations of algae on steam-warmed soil on Mt Erebus, Ross Island, Antarctica. Phycologia 23:257–271
Broady PA (1987) The morphology, distribution and ecology ofPseudococcomyxa simplex (Mainx) Fott (Chlorophyta, Chlorellaceae) a widespread terrestrial antarctic alga. Polar Biol 7:25–30
Cameron RE, Benoit RE (1970) Microbial and ecological investigations of recent cinder cones, Deception Island, Antarctica—a preliminary report. Ecology 51:802–809
Castenholz RW, (1972) The occurrence of the thermophilic blue-green alga,Mastigocladus laminosus, on Surtsey in 1970. Surt Res Prog Rep 6:14–19
Castenholz RW (1973) Ecology of blue-green algae in hot springs. In: Carr NG, Whitton BA (eds) The biology of blue-green algae. Blackwell, London, pp 379–414
Collins NJ (1969) The effects of volcanic activity on the vegetation of Deception Island. Br Antarct Surv Bull 21:79–94
Corley MFV, Frahm J-P (1982) Taxonomy and world distribution ofCampylopus pyriformis (Schultz) Brid. J Byrol 12:187–190
Croome RL (1973) Nitrogen fixation in the algal mats on Marion Island. S Afr J Antarct Res 3:64–67
Davey A (1982)In situ determination of nitrogen fixation in Antarctica using a high sensitivity portable gas chromatograph. Aust J Bot 7:395–402
Davey A (1983) Effects of abiotic factors on nitrogen fixation by bluegreen algae in Antarctica. Polar Biol 2:95–100
Dawson GB (1964) The nature and assessment of heat flow from geothermal areas. NZJ Geol Geophys 7:155–171
Decloitre L (1960) Thecamoebiens de la 8ème Expédition Antarctique Française. Bull Mus Nat Hist Nat Paris, Ser 2, 32:242–251
Ellis DH (1980) Thermophilous fungi isolated from some Antarctic and sub-Antarctic soils. Mycologia 72:1033–1036
Engelskjøn T (1981) Terrestrial vegetation of Bouvetøya: a preliminary account. Nor Polarinst Skri 175:17–28
Fott B, Nováková M (1969) A monograph of the genusChlorella the freshwater species. In: Fott E (ed) Studies in phycology. Schweizerbart'sche Verlagsbuchhandlung, Stuttgart, pp 10–74
Geitler L (1932) Cyanophyceae. Kryptogamen-Flora von Deutschland, Österreich und der Schweiz 14, pp 1196
Giggenbach WF, Kyle PR, Lyon GG (1973) Present volcanic activity on Mount Erebus, Ross Island, Antarctica. Geology 1:135–136
Given DR (1980) Vegetation on heated soils at Karapiti, central North Island, New Zealand, and its relation to ground temperature. NZJ Bot 18:1–13
Greene SW (1967) Bryophyte distribution. In: Greene SW, Gressitt JL, Koob D, Llano GA, Rudolph ED, Singer R, Steere WC, Ugolini FC (eds) Terrestrial life of Antarctica, folio 5. Antarct Map Folio Ser. Washington, American Geophysical Society, pp 11–13
Hirano M (1979) Freshwater alage from Yukidori Zawa, near Syowa Station, Antarctica. Mem Nat Inst Polar Res, Spec Issue 11:1–25
Janetschek H (1963) On the terrestrial fauna of the Ross Sea area, Antarctica. Pac Insects 5:305–311
Kappen L (1985) Vegetation and ecology of ice-free areas of northern Victoria Land, Antarctica. 1. The lichen vegetation of Birthday Ridge and an inland mountain. Polar Biol 4:213–225
Komárek J, Fott B (1983) Chlorophyceae (Grünalgen) Ordnung: Chlorococcales. Das Phytoplankton des Süsswassers, vol 16 pp 1044
Le Masurier WE, Rex DC (1982) Eruptive potential of volcanoes in Marie Byrd Land. Antarct J US 17:34–36
Longton RE (1973) A classification of terrestrial vegetation near McMurdo Sound, continental Antarctica. Can J Bot 51:2339–2346
Lonton RE, Holdgate MW (1979) The South Sandwich Islands. 4. Botany. Br Antarct Surv Sci Rep 94:53
Lyon GL, Giggenbach WF (1974) Geothermal activity in Victoria Land, Antarctica. NZJ Geol Geophys 17:511–521
Nathan S, Schulte FJ (1967) Recent thermal and volcanic activity on Mount Melbourne, northern Victoria Land, Antarctica. NZJ Geol Geophys 10:422–430
Nichols HW (1973) Growth media—freshwater. In: Stein JR (ed) Handbook of phycological methods, vol 1. Culture methods and growth measurements. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp 7–24
Parker BC, Samsel GL, Prescott GW (1972) Freshwater algae of the Antarctic Peninsula. 1 Systematics and ecology in the U.S. Palmer Station area. In: Llano GA (ed) Antarct Res Ser 20, Antarctic Terrestrial Biology. American Geophysical Union, Washington DC, pp 69–81
Prescott GW (1979) A contribution to a bibliography of Antarctic and Subantarctic algae. Bibl Phycol 45:312
Quility P, Keage P (1985) Volcanic eruption on Heard Island. Polar Rec 22:552
Reisigl H (1969) Bodenalgen-Studien II. Österr Bot Z 116:492–506
Ross JC (1847) Voyage to the Southern Seas, vol 1. John Murray, London
Scott GMA, Stone IG, Rosser C (1976) The mosses of southern Australia. Academic Press, London
Seaburg KG, Parker BC, Prescott GW, Whitford LA (1979) The algae of southern Victorialand. A taxonomic and distributional study. Bibl Phycol 46:169
Seppelt RD (1984) The bryoflora of the Vestfold Hills and Ingrid Christensen Coast. Antarctica. ANARE Res Notes 20:31
Smith HG (1978) The distribution and ecology of terrestrial protozoa of sub-Antarctic and maritime Antarctic islands. Br Antarct Surv Sci Rep 95:104
Smith HG (1985) The colonization of volcanic tephra on Deception Island by Protozoa: long-term trends. Br Antarct Surv Bull 66:19–33
Smith RIL (1984a) Colonization and recovery by cryptogams following recent volcanic activity on Deception Island, South Shetland Islands. Br Antarct Surv Bull 62:25–51
Smith RIL (1984b) Colonization by bryophytes following recent volcanic activity on an Antarctic island. J Hattori Bot Lab 56:53–63
Smith RIL (1984c) Terrestrial plant biology of the sub-Antarctic and Antarctic. In: Laws RM (ed) Antarctic ecology, vol 1. Academic Press, London, pp 61–162
Smith VR, Russell S (1982) Acetylene reduction by bryophytecyanobacteria associations on a sub-Antarctic island. Polar Biol 1:153–157
Sudzuki M (1964) On the microfauna of the Antarctic region. 1. Mosswater community at Langhoyde. JARE Sci Rep, Ser E 19:41
Tansey MR, Brock TD (1978) Microbial life at high temperatures: ecological aspects. In: Kushner DJ (ed) Microbial life in extreme environments. Academic Press, London, pp 159–216
Ugolini FC (1965) Soils of Mt Erebus, Antarctica. NZJ Geol Geophys 10:431–442
Ugolini FC, Starkey RL (1966) Soils and micro-organisms from Mt Erebus, Antarctica. Nature 211:440–441
Walton DWH (1984) The terrestrial environment. In: Laws RM (ed) Antarctic ecology, vol 1. Academic Press, London, pp 1–60
Watanabe S (1977) The genusChlorella (Chlorococcales) from Japanese soils (3). J Jpn Bot 52:169–178
Young SB, Kläy JR (1971) Bryophytes in the 1969 crater of Deception Island, Antarctica: an apparent case of rapid long distance dispersal. Ohio J Sci 71:358–362
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Broady, P., Given, D., Greenfield, L. et al. The biota and environment of fumaroles on Mt Melbourne, northern Victoria Land. Polar Biol 7, 97–113 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00570447
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00570447