Estimation of primary production in moss community on East Ongul Island, Antarctica

Abstract

This investigation is a part of the works to make clear the function of an Antarctic ecosystem. The photosynthetic activity and the respiration of moss community sampled on East Ongul Island, East Antarctica, were measured in January 1982 at Syowa Station with an infrared gas analyzer. Three species of mosses, Ceratodon purpureus, Pottia heimii and Bryum pseudotriquetrum were included in the community. The surface of all moss communities was covered with blue-green algae and lichens, and the growth condition of moss communities looked very poor. Positive correlations were observed between the gross photosynthetic rate or respiration rate and the R-T index, which is the product of daily radiation amount and daily mean air temperature. The net production rates in summer, from November to March, were estimated by the use of meteorological data for 17 years. Mean net production rate of moss community was 3.7g dw/m^2・yr, and the maximum and the minimum rates were 12.8 and -16.2g dw/m^2・yr, respectively.