Signy Island as a Paradigm of Biological and Environmental Change in Antarctic Terrestrial Ecosystems

摘要: Terrestrial ecosystems throughout much of Antarctica are exhibiting local changes in their environment which are, either directly or indirectly, influencing biological processes. Central to these is the present climatic warming being experienced, especially more northerly regions, causing substantial recession glaciers and ice fields creating new surfaces on biota may become established. Other temporal occur as a function natural process colonisation, growth ecosystem development but be strongly influenced by minor variations climate other components environment. Examples such environmental, consequently biological, presented for one climatically ecologically sensitive locality, Signy Island South Orkney Islands, illustrate diversity affect structure dynamics Antarctic general. These discussed terms ecological change resulting from long-term trends, short-term (especially summer temperature) fluctuations, plant colonisation growth, community development, environmental perturbation. A plea made implementing monitoring studies determine direction rate changes, with particular regard assessing resiliance recovery phenomena. The offers probably most significant baseline global atmospheric related. predicted trend implies disturbing consequences future integrity Antarctica’s, indeed world’s, biota. However, it ideal opportunities study cause-and-effect relationship and, this, develop strong management policy active use conservation biome.