Establishment of permanent plots with lichens and mosses for monitoring local human impact on environment in Heimefrontfjella and Vestfjella,Dronning Maud Land, Antarctica

Abstract

Results from a biological investigation reveal that all three Swedish Antarctic Stations in western Dronning Maud Land (i. e. the main station Wasa at Basen in Vestfjella, a small field station at Fossilryggen in Vestfjella, and the field station Svea at Haldorsentoppen in Heimefrontfjella) are located in areas having a rich and vulnerable lichen and moss vegetation. As part of a project to monitor local human environmental impacts associated with activities at the Swedish stations, a long-term monitoring study using lichens and mosses was designed. Eleven transects consisting of 120 permanent plots (and 3000 subplots) were established at different distances from the three stations. The transects and plots are described and the principles used in recording them are given. All records made within the plots are presented to facilitate future comparisons. The transects were not intended to be representative for all habitats at the nunataks. The species recorded in the plots thus represent only a selection of the lichens present within the study area. Eighteen lichen species were recorded within the plots in Heimefrontfjella from a total of 1293 observations, and in Vestfjella thirteen species were recorded from a total of 704 observations.