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Flora and vegetation of Cape Hallett and vicinity, northern Victoria Land, Antarctica

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Abstract

Cape Hallett (72°19′S; 170°13′E) lies at the northern end of the western coastline of the Ross Sea region, and, to date, there appears to be no full description of its terrestrial flora despite its probable importance in understanding links between biodiversity and latitude. Here we present information about lichens and mosses from published papers, herbarium collections and personal surveys for Cape Hallett and seven nearby sites. A total of 59 lichen and 11 moss species are reported for these eight sites. Cape Hallett is one of the richest sites for terrestrial biodiversity in the Ross Sea region with about 46 lichen species and nine species of bryophytes. Lichens have their greatest diversity on the upper scree and summit area (30 species, 330 m), the least within the large penguin colony at sea level (one species). The station at Cape Hallett was established in 1957, and some of the earliest ecological and ecophysiological studies in Antarctica were carried out there. Historical comparisons are possible and have revealed considerable changes in vegetation in the lower flush area, a high level of frost heave disturbance, new lichen growth rate estimates for northern Victoria Land and extreme stability of the snow banks on the scree slopes. Cape Hallett represents a very important site for studies on links between terrestrial flora and the environment as well as on possible effects of climate change.

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful to Antarctica New Zealand (AntNZ) for logistical support over several years as part of the Latitudinal Gradient Project coordinated by Shulamit Gordon. Logistics support was also provided by the Australian Antarctic Programme and the US Coastguard Reserve. These are all gratefully thanked. The New Zealand Foundation for Research, Science, and Technology (FRST), the University of Waikato Vice Chancellor’s Fund and the Department of Biological Sciences, University of Waikato provided financial support. During completion of the research, TGAG and LB were supported by the FRST grant, “Understanding, valuing and protecting Antarctica’s unique terrestrial ecosystems: predicting biocomplexity in Dry Valley ecosystems”. Field research in 1966 of OLL was financed by the US National Science Foundation under the US Antarctic Research Programme (USARP) within the frame of a research project of the late Prof. Dr. V. Ahmadjian, Clarc University, Worcester, Massachusetts. We are indebted to Dr. R.L. Stuckey who carefully archived Professor E. D. Rudolph’s research material in the Herbarium of Ohio State University.

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Author notes

  1. Rod D. Seppelt

    Present address: Tasmanian Herbarium, UTAS LPO, PO Box 5058, Sandy Bay, TAS, 7005, Australia

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Vegetal II, Farmacia Facultad, Universidad Complutense, 28040, Madrid, Spain

    T. G. Allan Green

  2. Biological Sciences, University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand

    T. G. Allan Green

  3. Australian Antarctic Division, Channel Highway, Kingston, TAS, 7050, Australia

    Rod D. Seppelt

  4. Department of Geography, University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand

    Lars R. Brabyn

  5. Department of Conservation - Te Papa Atawhai, Hamilton, 3240, New Zealand

    Catherine Beard

  6. Fachbereich Organismische Biologie, Arbeitsgruppe Ökologie und Diversität der Pflanzen, Universität Salzburg, Hellbrunnerstraße 34, 5020, Salzburg, Austria

    Roman Türk

  7. Julius-von-Sachs-Institut für Biowissenschaften, Universität Würzburg, 97084, Würzburg, Germany

    Otto L. Lange

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Green, T.G.A., Seppelt, R.D., Brabyn, L.R. et al. Flora and vegetation of Cape Hallett and vicinity, northern Victoria Land, Antarctica. Polar Biol 38, 1825–1845 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-015-1744-6

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