Precipitation nitrogen at maritime Signy Island and continental Cape Bird, Antarctica

The mineral nitrogen (NH4-N + NO3-N) in precipitation occurring at continental and maritime Antarctic sites has been determined. Precipitation at sites remote from animal activity contained much less mineral N than that occurring at sites influenced by such activity. Estimates for nitrogen input at two contrasting fellfield sites, one at continental Cape Bird (dry site), the other at maritime Signy Island (wet site) are presented. At both sites precipitation N represented the major N input to fellfield biota than did wind blown particulate matter containing organic nitrogen or ammonia volatilized from adjacent guano soils and becoming absorbed by moist artificial soils traps.