Vegetational distribution and habitats on West Ongul and Teoya Islands, Antarctica

Abstract

The vegitational distributions and habitats were investigated on West Ongul and Teoya Islands, Antarctica, during the wintering period of 16th Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition (1975-1976). The results obtained were as follows: 1) About 150 moss colonies in the region were newly confirmed besides about 150 colonies described previously. Lichen colonies were very sparsely distributed, and all of them occurred on rock faces used by birds as perches. 2) The moss communities which consisted of Bryum pseudo-triquetrum (HEDW.) GAERTH. (this species has been treated as B. inconnexum CARD.) and/or Ceratodon purpureus (HEDW.) BRID, are very abundant to western parts of West Ongul Island. 3) The stands confirming these moss communities are topographically classified into the following 4 types: Stand type I, ground moistened by melt water trickling from snow-drift: Stand type II, ground by snow-drift; Stand type III, periphery ground of snow-drift or snow patch; Stand IV, rock base lying at more upper slope than snow-drift. 4) The moss communities show preference of southwestern to northwestern slopes where they get supply of water from snow-drift melted by solar radiation.