Changes in lichen diversity and community structure with fur seal population increase on Signy Island, South Orkney Islands

Favero-Longo, Sergio E.; Cannone, Nicoletta; Worland, M. Roger; Convey, Peter ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8497-9903; Piervittori, Rosanna; Guglielmin, Mauro. 2011 Changes in lichen diversity and community structure with fur seal population increase on Signy Island, South Orkney Islands. Antarctic Science, 23 (1). 65-77. 10.1017/S0954102010000684

Before downloading, please read NORA policies.

Preview

Text _ANS_ANS23_01_S0954102010000684a.pdf - Published Version Download (375kB) | Preview

Abstract/Summary

Signy Island has experienced a dramatic increase in fur seal numbers over recent decades, which has led to the devastation of lowland terrestrial vegetation, with the eradication of moss turfs and carpets being the most prominent feature. Here we demonstrate that fur seals also affect the other major component of this region’s typical cryptogamic vegetation, the lichens, although with a lower decrease in variability and abundance than for bryophytes. Classification (UPGMA) and ordination (Principal Coordinate Analysis) of vegetation data highlight differences in composition and abundance of lichen communities between areas invaded by fur seals and contiguous areas protected from these animals. Multivariate analysis relating lichen communities to environmental parameters, including animal abundance and soil chemistry (Canonical Correspondence Analysis), suggests that fur seal trampling results in the destruction of muscicolous-terricolous lichens, including several cosmopolitan and bipolar fruticose species. In addition, animal excretion favours an increase in nitrophilous crustose species, a group which typically characterizes areas influenced by seabirds and includes several Antarctic endemics. The potential effect of such animal-driven changes in vegetation on the fragile terrestrial ecosystem (e.g. through modification of the ground surface temperature) confirms the importance of indirect environmental processes in Antarctica.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	10.1017/S0954102010000684
Programmes:	BAS Programmes > Polar Science for Planet Earth (2009 - ) > Ecosystems
ISSN:	0954-1020
Additional Information. Not used in RCUK Gateway to Research.:	Copyright 2011 Antarctic Science Ltd
Additional Keywords:	community change; habitat disturbance; nitrophilous lichens; pinnipeds; terricolous-muscicolous lichens; vegetation trampling
NORA Subject Terms:	Botany Meteorology and Climatology Zoology Ecology and Environment
Date made live:	17 Mar 2011 14:33 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/13384

Actions (login required)

View Item

Document Downloads

More statistics for this item...