CONSERVATION STATUS OF PLANT COMMUNITIES AT ULMANN POINT AND COMANDANTE FERRAZ ANTARCTIC STATION AREA, ADMIRALTY BAY, KING GEORGE ISLAND, ANTARCTICA, BASED ON THE INDEX OF ECOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE

Abstract

The aim of this study has been to research the conservation status of the plant communities in ice-free areas of Ullmann Point and Comandante Ferraz Antarctic Station vicinities, Admiralty Bay, King George Island, Antarctica. The study started with the classification and description of the plant communities based primarily on phytosociological and biodiversity data. The coverage degree and frequency of each species found was used to calculate the index of ecological significance. At Ullmann Point 12 plant species were found in higher frequency, when at Ferraz beach only 9 highly frequent species were found. The most important species in both studied areas were Sanionia uncinata (Hedw.) Loeske. Syntrichia princeps and Bryum pseudotrichetrum were found associated with the most important species at Ullmann Point and Ferraz Station beach respectively. These results have demonstrated the fragility of plant communities in Maritime Antarctica, based on the low frequency and coverage of moss species known in this area.