PHYTOSOCIOLOGICAL STUDY IN ICE-FREE AREAS OF ARCTOWSKI REGION, ADMIRALTY BAY, KING GEORGE ISLAND, ANTARCTICA

Abstract

This study was undertaken in ice-free areas adjacent to the Polish Antarctic Station Henryk Arctowski, during the austral summer 2013/2014. Phytossociological surveys were made in vegetation patches in the region, where a total of 332 20x20cm quadrats were launched in 10m transects. The five most frequent species in the samples were selected and their data are presented in this work. To check the most frequent species in the samples the index of ecological significance (IES) was used. The most important species were Deschampsia antarctica Desv. and Colobanthus quitensis (Kunth) Bartl the only one angiosperms occurring in Antarctica. Sanionia uncinata (Hedw.) Loeske Politrichastrum alpinum (Hedw.) G.L.Sm. and Syntrichia magellanica (Mont.) R.H. Zander. were the most representative moss species. The data of ecological significance of these species were compared to previous results in order to evaluate the changes in the vegetation in 10 year long-time monitoring.