Contribution to the Floral Diversity of Schirmarcher Oasis and Larsemann Hills, Antarctica

Abstract

In continental Antarctica, algae, fungi, lichen and mosses are the major floristic elements. To understand their distribution and diversity pattern in ice free areas of Schirmacher Oasis and Larsemann Hills investigations were conducted during various Indian Antarctic Expeditions. Due to the extreme environmental conditions in Antarctica, lichens and bryophytes undergo sever morphological changes and occur in mostly in sterile condition that makes them difficult group to identify. A total of 69 species of lichens were encountered in the Schirmacher Oasis and 25 species in the region of Larsemann Hills. Most lichens known from these two areas are microlichens. The ecophysiological studies on lichens indicated Rhizoplaca melanophthalma as the most desiccation tolerant species in Schirmacher Oasis. The studies on moss flora contributed only 12 species under eight genera and five families from Schirmacher Oasis. The sub-fossil moss Pohlia nutans of Holocene period was recorded from lake sediment cores from Schirmacher Oasis. There are several studies on algal flora of Schirmacher Oasis and in one of the studies a total of 109 species of cyanobacteria belonging to 30 genera and 9 families were recorded from Schirmacher Oasis. Similarly, a total of 19 species of fungi belonging to 13 genera and seven families were recorded from Schirmacher Oasis soils and 5 species of yeasts were recorded from Larsemann Hills. Furthermore, Thelebolus microsporus was characterized for adaptation strategies and biotechnological potentials.