High altitude Antarctic soil propagule bank yields an exotic moss and potential colonist

摘要: Soil samples from the summit of Coulman Island in northern Victoria Land, continental Antarctica (lat. 73o28'S, 169o45'E) were cultured and after nine weeks they have yeilded sterile shoots a funarialean moss. Its identity is discussed and, on basis leaf shape, it determined, with some reservations, as Entosthodon subnudus (Taylor) Fife, species native to Australia-New Zealand biogeographical province. This example provides further evidence existence soil propagule banks, sometimes containing taxa not known flora Antarctic biome. Because severity polar climate permanently frigid dry desert conditions, many such propagules may never succeed growing situ. The occurrence E. represents highest elevation (2930m) at which viable plant has been recorded Antarctica.