Search results

Filters

  • Journals
  • Authors
  • Keywords
  • Date
  • Type

Search results

Number of results: 19
items per page: 25 50 75
Sort by:
Download PDF Download RIS Download Bibtex

Abstract

Investigations were carried out in the regions of the Hornsund Station, Spitsbergen at summer 1979. The aim of the studies was to determine the effect of the Station on the natural environment around the Station. After taking an inventory of the sources of pollution and in result of the determination of the range of the pressure of anthropogenic factors the whole area under degradation was divided into three parts: an area without possibilities of recultivation, a devastated area and an area of normal natural environment. It was found thąt the main source of the contamination of tundra are fuels derived from mineral oil. The distribution of fuel concentrations in the soil corresponds to the direction of the slope of the ground and the flow of the surface waters. Mechanical transformation of the surface of the tundra is also an outcome of the degradation.

Go to article

Authors and Affiliations

Anna Krzyszowska
Download PDF Download RIS Download Bibtex

Abstract

Soils of Russian European North were investigated in terms of stability and quality of organic matter as well as in terms of soils organic matter elemental composi-tion. Therefore, soil humic acids (HAs), extracted from soils of different natural zones of Russian North-East were studied to characterize the degree of soil organic matter stabilization along a zonal gradient. HAs were extracted from soil of different zonal environments of the Komi Republic: south, middle and north taiga as well as south tundra. Data on elemental composition of humic acids and fulvic acids (FAs) extracted from different soil types were obtained to assess humus formation mechanisms in the soils of taiga and tundra of the European North-East of Russia. The specificity of HAs elemental composition are discussed in relation to environmental conditions. The higher moisture degree of taiga soils results in the higher H/C ratio in humic substances. This reflects the reduced microbiologic activity in Albeluvisols sods and subsequent conser-vation of carbohydrate and amino acid fragments in HAs. HAs of tundra soils, shows the H/C values decreasing within the depth of the soils, which reflects increasing of aromatic compounds in HA structure of mineral soil horizons. FAs were more oxidized and contains less carbon while compared with the HAs. Humic acids, extracted from soil of different polar and boreal environments differ in terms of elemental composition winch reflects the climatic and hydrological regimes of humification.
Go to article

Authors and Affiliations

Evgeny Abakumov
Evgeny Lodygin
Vasily Beznosikov
Download PDF Download RIS Download Bibtex

Abstract

The annual rate of decomposition in five soil types of tundra situated in the Fugleberget drainage area (Hornsund Fjord, South Spitsbergen) was investigated by use of the method of standard cellulose samples. The rate of decomposition varied from 15% to over 65% a year and was closely connected with a contents of nitrogen in soil, amount of which varied from 0.33% to 3.44%. The results presently obtained are much higher than those obtained by the same method in other polar regions.

Go to article

Authors and Affiliations

Piotr Bieńkowski
Download PDF Download RIS Download Bibtex

Abstract

In the Fugleberget catchment area (Spitsbergen, Hornsund Fiord region) the growing season lasted 95 days, with growth beginning under the snow. In this time shoots of moss Calliergon stramineum reached a mean length of 19 mm and mean biomass of 0.593 mg dry weight. Annual primary production of moss communities amounts to 220-270 g dry weight per square meter per year. In the first year of destruction the dead plant material lost 30-45% of its initial value, after 10 years only ca 25% of the initial amount of organic matter was left.

Go to article

Authors and Affiliations

Krzysztof W. Opaliński
Download PDF Download RIS Download Bibtex

Abstract

Studies were performed in the summer of 1989 in the vicinity of the Polish Polar Station at Hornsund, Svalbard, in an attempt to characterize the functioning of selected tundra soils in terms of bioenergetics. The intensity of bioenergetical processes in the soil was evaluated by the rates of O2 consumption and CO2 production, measured in the laboratory under controlled hydrothermic conditions. Soils metabolic processes are markedly correlated with soil water content and dependent upon soil structure, water capacity and character of plant cover. The strongest correlation was observed in the more aerated soils with small water capacity and without vegetation. The respiratory quotient (RQ) decreased with the growth of soil moisture content. Soil metabolic activity began directly after the summer melting of the ground, when the soil temperature reached 0°C, and ceased in autumn, when temperatures fell below 0°C again.

Go to article

Authors and Affiliations

Zofia Fischer
Download PDF Download RIS Download Bibtex

Abstract

Humification plays an important role in stabilization of organic matter in soils of the cryolithic zone. In this context, the degree of organic matter stabilization has been assessed, using instrumental methods, for permafrost peat soils of the eastern European Arctic, based on selected plots from within the Komi Republic (Russian Federation). Humic substances (HSs) isolated from the mire permafrost peats of the forest-tundra subzone of the European Arctic have been characterized in terms of molecular composition. This was accomplished using elemental and amino acid fragments (AAFs) composition. Solid-state 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (13C NMR) spectroscopy was utilized to identify the structure of HSs. Changes in the molar x(H) : x(C) ratio, ratio of aromatic to paraffin fragments and ratio of hydroxy AAFs to heterocyclic AAFs along the peat profiles have been revealed. They are due to the activation of cryogenic processes in the upper part of the seasonally thawing layer, the natural selection of condensed humic molecules, the botanical composition and degree of degradation of peat, which reflect the climatic features of the area in the Holocene. Humic acids and fulvic acids of the peat soils showed the prevalence of compounds with a low degree of condensation and a low portion of aromatic fragments. The aromaticity degree showed the trend to increase within the depth. Changes of quantitative and qualitative parameters of specific organic compounds occur at the permafrost boundary of peatlands, which can serve as an indicator of recent climate changes in environments from the high latitudes. The presented data can be useful in the evaluation of soil organic matter stabilization degree in the active layer and below the permafrost table.

Go to article

Authors and Affiliations

Roman Vasilevich
Evgeny Lodygin
Evgeny Abakumov
Download PDF Download RIS Download Bibtex

Abstract

Physical and chemical properties (granulometric composition, pH, carbonates, organic carbon, nitrogen etc.) as well as bioenergetic activity of Spitsbergen tundra soils were studied at three chosen stations situated near Polish polar station "Hornsund". It was found that biological activity of Arctic tundra soils depended mainly on its physical properties, whereas the chemical composition of organic matter did not effect directly the bioenergetics of these soils. This bioenergetic activity depends mainly on the richness of micro- and mesofauna communities inhabiting the soil.

Go to article

Authors and Affiliations

Zofia Fischer
Stefan Skiba
Download PDF Download RIS Download Bibtex

Abstract

Saprotrophic filamentous microfungi were isolated by means of the soil dilution method from soil samples collected from four locations in the Bellsund region of Spitsbergen (77°33’N, 14°31’E) representing the following forms of surface micro-relief: an old stormbank, a sorted circle, a frost fissure between tundra polygons, and the central part of a tundra polygon. The fungal isolates were identified and screened for their ability to grow at low temperatures. The oligotrophy of psychrophilic and psychrotrophic strains was then determined as the ability of growth on silica gel without a C source added. Differences in some physico-chemical properties were found between the soils sampled from the four sites. A total of 89 taxa from 17 genera were isolated. Most of the isolates were species of Mortierella, Penicillium, Chrysosporium and Phialophora, and half of them were psychrophiles. Fungal communities isolated from a frost fissure between tundra polygons (site 3) and from the central part of a tundra polygon (site 4) were dominated by psychrophiles but those isolated from an old stormbank (site 1) and a sorted circle (site 2) were predominantly psychrotrophic. Oligopsychrophilic taxa accounted for 27% and oligopsychrotrophic for 20% of all the isolated taxa but only from 0.7% to 11.7% and from 1.2% to 6.3% of the total number of cfu (colony forming unit) isolated from an individual site, respectively. The results of the present study suggest that the abundance of fungi in Arctic soil is mostly affected by the content of organic matter in the A horizon and the plant cover, but other factors, such as the stage of soil development and the micro-relief of the surface, are more important for species richness of fungal communities.

Go to article

Authors and Affiliations

Ewa Kurek
Teresa Korniłłowicz-Kowalska
Anna Słomka
Jerzy Melke
Download PDF Download RIS Download Bibtex

Abstract

Communities of soil invertebrates were studied in 4 types of tundra ecosystems on Spitsbergen (Hornsund area) during the vegetative season of 1989. Taxonomic composition, density and biomass of soil fauna were evaluated in the sites along a gradient of increase in the biogenic impact of bird colonies, i.e. in polygonal tundra, mossy/lichenous tundra, Calliergon stramineum moss association, and mossy associations near a colony of Little Auks (Alle die). Average total biomass of soil invertebrates increased in this site sequence from 1.1 to 25.0 g wet weight x m-2 (mainly due to collembolans and nematodes). Seasonal dynamics of all groups of soil meso- and macrofauna (Nematoda, Enchytraeidae, Aranei, Acarina, Collembola, Coleoptera, Diptera larvae) is presented and discussed.

Go to article

Authors and Affiliations

Julia B. Byzova
Alexei V. Uvarov
Adelaida D. Petrova
Download PDF Download RIS Download Bibtex

Abstract

Species diversity of Collembola was studied in the vicinity of Polish Polar Station, Hornsund area, West Spitsbergen. A list of 32 species has been compiled, and their distribution over microlandscapes and microhabitats in the study area has been presented.

Go to article

Authors and Affiliations

Alexei V. Uvarov
Julia B. Byzova
Download PDF Download RIS Download Bibtex

Abstract

In surface horizons of Gelic Regosols. Gelic Gleysols and Gelic Cambisols from 5 sites in Kaffiöyra. 26 taxa of blue-green algae have been determined. Species of the genera Gleocapsa, Schizothrix, Tolypothrix and Calothix were the most common. In Gelic Regosols blue-green algae formed during the last 100 years the 0.5 cm thick horizon A, containing 8.6% of humus.

Go to article

Authors and Affiliations

Witold Plichta
Marta Luścińska
Download PDF Download RIS Download Bibtex

Abstract

On the basis of a year-long series of actinometric measurements performed in the vicinity of Polish Polar Station at Hornsund, this paper presents the characteristic of the value of solar radiation incoming at the active surface, of absorbed and net radiation. The maximum intensity of the direct solar radiation was 822 Wm-2, the annual sum total of total radiation was 2611 MJm-2, whereas the mean yearly albedo was 59%. The zero-crossing of the 24-hour sums of the net radiation towards negative values occurred at the turn of September and October.

Go to article

Authors and Affiliations

Bronisław Głowicki
Download PDF Download RIS Download Bibtex

Abstract

Ornithogenic tundra developing near large seabird colonies with its dense vegetation creates sites for foraging, hiding and breeding of herbivores. Grazing, trampling and faeces deposition are considered as the most important ways that vertebrate herbivores influence the plants. Excrement deposition level informs us on the intensity of grazing i.e. foraging ground attractiveness. We have compared vertebrate herbivores’ faeces deposition (biomass) in the vicinity of big colonies of piscivorous (kittiwake Rissa tridactyla and Brünnich’s guillemot Uria lomvia) and planktivorous (little auk Alle alle) seabirds and the control area was in Hornsund, SW Spitsbergen. Much higher level of faeces deposition was recorded nearby seabird colonies as compared to the control area. These finding points out that vertebrate herbivores concentrate and feed more intensively on rich ornithogenic pastures. Number of herbivores and their faeces deposition level recorded nearby planktivorous seabird colony were greater as compared to those found nearby the colony of piscivores. The highest number of geese (Branta bernicla and Anser brachyrhynchus) and of their faeces biomass were found near the colony of planktivorous little auk, where distinct gradient in faeces deposition level along the colony-seashore axis was recorded. Reindeers Rangifer tarandus were observed in considerable numbers near the little auk colony, and were not recorded at all near cliff-nesting sites of kittiwakes and guillemots. Total deposition of excrements produced by geese was generally higher if compared to reindeers.

Go to article

Authors and Affiliations

Dariusz Jakubas
Katarzyna Zmudczyńska
Katarzyna Wojczulanis-Jakubas
Lech Stempniewicz
ORCID: ORCID
Download PDF Download RIS Download Bibtex

Abstract

The avifaunistic observations carried out in the tundra valley of the Sob River's upper course (west slopes of the Polar Ural) in July 1995 revealed the occurrence of 39 breeding and 8 non-breeding bird species. The most numerous were Anthus pratensis, Calcarius lapponicus, Phylloscopus trochilus and Anthus cervinus. The great variety of wetland and aquatic habitats had a decisive influence on species-richness and abundance of birds (jointly 30 breeding and 4 non-breeding species). Areas of low humidity were inhabited by 14 whereas anthropogenic habitats by 4 species. Most of them (except for eurytopic A. pratensis and C. lapponicus) occupied one-two habitats irrespective of their numbers. The density of Buteo lagopus was estimated at 1.67-2.00 p/10 km2. Three species of distribution ranges laying to the south from the study area, namely Bucephala clangula, Dendrocopos major, Circus macrourus, were noted in the valley. The results obtained have been compared with available data on the avifauna of the region concerned.

Go to article

Authors and Affiliations

Andrzej Wuczyński
Grzegorz Hada-Jasikowski
Download PDF Download RIS Download Bibtex

Abstract

Solar radiation reflectance was analysed to characterize Arctic ornithogenic tundra developing in the vicinity of large breeding colony of Brunnich‘s guillemots Uria lomvia and kittiwakes Rissa tridactyla at the foot of Gnĺlberget cliff (Hornsund, SW Spitsbergen). Radiometric method was found to be a useful tool for studying structure and functioning of plant formations. We measured reflectance of four wavelengths: 554 nm (YG), 655 nm (RED), 870 nm (NIR) and 1650 nm (SWIR) at 10 plots situated along the transect running from the colony to the sea. Moreover, data of plant community character, species quantitative composition as well as total biomass were collected to relate these parameters with the spectral values. The results showed that radiometric data characterized vegetation well enough to recognize the same plant communities on the basis of spectral reflectance as distinguished with traditional phytosociological methods.

Go to article

Authors and Affiliations

Katarzyna Zmudczyńska
Adrian Zwolicki
Mateusz Barcikowski
Adam Barcikowski
Lech Stempniewicz
ORCID: ORCID
Download PDF Download RIS Download Bibtex

Abstract

The main aim of this study was to determine the morphology, physical and chemical properties of permafrost-affected soils under different types of tundra in the central part of Spitsbergen. This is a preliminary part of detailed studies focused on the relationship between tundra vegetation and permafrost-affected soils in the Spitsbergen. The obtained results indicate that all the studied soils represent an early stage of formation and the main soil-forming process present in these soils is cryoturbation. Most of the studied soils are shallow and contain a high content of coarse rock fragments. Tundra vegetation type plays controlling role in the development and structure of surface soil horizons. All the studied soils are characterized by loamy texture and acidic or slightly acidic reaction, and these properties are not very different under various tundra vegetation types. The contents of soil organic matter are strongly dependent on the type of tundra vegetation. The highest soil organic matter content occurs at sites with well-developed vegetation such as heath and wet moss tundra. The high carbon-to-nitrogen ratio for the surface soil horizons of the majority of the studied soils indicates that organic matter is poorly decomposed under all the studied tundra vegetation types. This is most likely related to low activity of soil microorganisms in the harsh High Arctic environment. However, the lowest carbon-to-nitrogen ratio was noted for surface soil horizons at sites covered with Arctic meadow, and this indicates that there occur the optimum conditions for soil organic matter decomposition.
Go to article

Authors and Affiliations

Anna Bartos
1
Wojciech Szymański
1
ORCID: ORCID
Magdalena Gus-Stolarczyk
1

  1. Institute of Geography and Spatial Management, Faculty of Geography and Geology, Jagiellonian University, ul. Gronostajowa 7, 30-387 Kraków, Poland
Download PDF Download RIS Download Bibtex

Abstract

Aeolian activity is common on ice free areas in regions with permafrost occurrence. Sparse high-Arctic tundra vegetation, modifying surface air flow and sediments transport, influences the generation of individual landforms and their assemblages. Observations were carried in central Spitsbergen (Svalbard), characterized by quasi-continental polar climate conditions with dry summers and common existence of winds velocities above loamy-sandy sediments transportation threshold. Dryas aeolian landforms created from aeolian material trapped by Dryas octopetala dwarf shrub were diagnosed. Main morphogenetic plants are accompanied by Saxifraga oppositifolia and Bistorta vivipara, rounded out with biological soil crust. Small size of semi-circular and semi-elliptic forms (0.25–0.85 m2) is related to low type of D. octopetala slowly growing on raised marine terraces. Aeolian sediments are characterised by low level of organic matter content. They exhibit diversified mineralogical composition resulting from variable petrography of source glacial and fluvioglacial covers. Eightpetal mountain avens are a dendroflora species composing phytocoenoses of plant communities related to the end stages of biocoenotic succession. Presented data indicate the reference environmental state for any research on plant cover response in the environment of aeolian activity during climate change.

Go to article

Authors and Affiliations

Janina Borysiak
Krzysztof Pleskot
Grzegorz Rachlewicz
Download PDF Download RIS Download Bibtex

Abstract

Humic substances are polydisperse mixtures of structurally complex matters with different molecular weights. The complexity of molecular composition of humic substances is reflected through their physical and chemical properties and results in diverse interactions both with inorganic components and living organisms. The correlation of the molecular composition of humic and fulvic acids and their molecular weight distribution were analyzed by means of CP/MAS 13C NMR spectroscopy and size exclusion chromatography. Humic acids are a dynamic system containing macromolecular, oligomeric and low-molecular components. Fulvic acids are a monodisperse mixture of relatively low-molecular (up to 2 kDa) organic compounds. A significant correlation between the content of high and medium weight molecular fractions with labile fragments and low molecular weight fractions with hydrophobous fragments of humic acids has been revealed.

Go to article

Authors and Affiliations

Evgeny Lodygin
Roman Vasilevich
Download PDF Download RIS Download Bibtex

Abstract

Data on the molecular structure of humic substances (HSs) of zonal soils for the southern, middle, northern taiga and southern tundra of northeastern European Russia have been obtained. This was accomplished using solid-state 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (13C NMR) technique. The soils under study vary in the point of genesis and degree of hydromorphism. The impact of environmental factors (temperature and humidity) on qualitative and quantitative composition of humic (HAs) and fulvic acids (FAs) has been determined. Excess moisture significantly affects HS accumulation and HS molecular structure: hydromorphic taiga soils accumulate HSs enriched by unoxidized aliphatic fragments, tundra soils – the ones enriched by carbohydrate fragments. Various conditions of soil genesis predefine the specific character of structural and functional parameters of HSs in the southern taiga to southern tundra soils, as is expressed through the increased portion of labile carbohydrate and amino acid fragments and methoxyl groups within the structure of HSs. The tundra humification is characterized by levelling-off of structural and functional parameters of major classes of specific organic compounds of soils – HAs and FAs.

Go to article

Authors and Affiliations

Evgeny Lodygin
Roman Vasilevich

This page uses 'cookies'. Learn more