Biological Soil Crusts of Antarctica

摘要: For the purposes of this chapter, Antarctica will be defined as main continent plus islands immediately adjacent to Antarctic Peninsula. Within area, terrestrial vegetation is predominantly composed lichens, bryophytes, algae, and cyanobacteria. Only two species phanerogams occur, Colobanthus quitensis Deschampsia antarctica, these are confined northwestern parts Conditions seem, therefore, appropriate for development biological soil crusts, but extreme desert conditions continental must emphasized, it should not forgotten that only 0.8% area ice-free, with remainder being permanent ice or snow.