Freshwater stream ecosystems of James Ross Island, Antarctica

Hawes, Ian; Brazier, Paul. 1991 Freshwater stream ecosystems of James Ross Island, Antarctica. Antarctic Science, 3 (03). 265-271. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0954102091000329

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Abstract/Summary

The freshwater streams of James Ross Island share many of the features common to other Antarctic streams. There is a diel variation in temperature and discharge, which follows the daily insolation cycle; catchments are barren; stream vegetation is predominantly algal, comprising mat-forming cyanobacteria and filamentous chlorophytes; and physical factors, particularly turbidity and bed stability are important in determining biomass and composition of algal assemblages. Nutrient concentrations vary from stream to stream and over a diel cycle, with minimum dissolved N in late afternoon. Biomass attained and photosynthetic and respiratory rates are also comparable to those recorded in other Antarctic streams, with low productivity/biomass ratios in perennial assemblages.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1017/S0954102091000329
ISSN:	0954-1020
Additional Keywords:	algal assemblages, cyanobacteria, diel variation, photosynthesis
NORA Subject Terms:	Botany
Date made live:	09 May 2018 10:17 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/519999

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