Science and earth science

Polish Polar Research

Content

Polish Polar Research | 2023 | vol. 44 | No 1

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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.
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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
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Abstract

The paper provides a comparison of minimum air temperature (TN), maximum air temperature (TX), mean air temperature (T mean) and a few derived temperature indices for Herschel Island (Qikiqtaruk) in the Yukon Territory, Canada for the periods 1899–1905 and 2008–2014. A significant increase in the TN was noted at +4.2°C, which was a larger increase than that for both T mean (+3.7°C) and TX (+3.5°C). Air temperature increased the most in October, November, and December. In addition, the length of the frost-free season increased by 26 days and the length of the growing season increased by 25 days from the early 20th century to the early 21st century. The increase in the TN also triggered a change in the plant hardiness zone where Herschel Island is located. However, the daily air temperature range declined over the course of the study period as well as the annual total of heating degree days and the number of exceptionally cold days. No statistically significant change in the number of freeze-thaw days was found for the studied periods.
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Authors and Affiliations

Krzysztof Jarzyna
1
ORCID: ORCID

  1. Faculty of Geography and Regional Studies, University of Warsaw, Krakowskie Przedmieście 30, 00-927 Warszawa, Poland
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Abstract

This review presents the results of multi-year efforts for the development and integral investigation of the collection of Deschampsia antarctica É. Desv. plants originated from the maritime Antarctic. To create the collection, we have optimized the procedures and conditions for germination of seeds and generation of aseptic plants in vitro together with their subsequent clonal propagation, long-term in vitro culture, and acclimatization of plants to pot culture, and finally produced fertile plants able to set viable seeds. The collection of plants cultivated in vitro and in pots is consisted of clones of 22 different genotypes originated from eight island populations from the Argentine Islands – Kyiv Peninsula region. Some of these clones have been successfully cultured for more than ten years and were found to be genetically stable over this period. The collection was shown to be heterogeneous in a number of variables. The morphological and anatomical characteristics of the plants, as well as the data of karyological, molecular cytogenetic, molecular genetics, and biochemical analysis are presented. The created collection of D. antarctica plants can provide a valuable plant material with well-studied characteristics grown under controlled conditions to perform experimental research on the mechanisms for plant adaptation and resistance to various abiotic factors of Antarctic environment. Furthermore, development of the collection and its comprehensive characterization form the basis for further biotechnological developments focused on the use of this Antarctic plant as a source of biologically active substances, which can potentially be used for therapeutic and prophylactic purposes.
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Authors and Affiliations

Viktor Kunakh
1
ORCID: ORCID
Maryana Twardovska
1
ORCID: ORCID
Igor Andreev
1
ORCID: ORCID
Nadia Drobyk
2
Daria Navrotska
1
ORCID: ORCID
Nataliia Nuzhyna
3
ORCID: ORCID
Oksana Poronnik
1
ORCID: ORCID
Iryna Konvalyuk
1
ORCID: ORCID
Ganna Myryuta
1
ORCID: ORCID
Roman Ivannikov
4
ORCID: ORCID
Ivan Parnikoza
1 5
ORCID: ORCID

  1. Department of Cell Population Genetics, Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, 150 Acad. Zabolotnogo Str., 03143, Kyiv, Ukraine
  2. Ternopil Volodymyr Hnatiuk National Pedagogical University, М. Kryvonosa str., 2, Ternopil, 46027, Ukraine
  3. Educational and Scientific Centre “Institute of Biology and Medicine” Kyiv Taras Shevchenko National University, 1 Symona Petlyury str., Kyiv, 01032, Ukraine
  4. M.M. Gryshko National Botanic Garden of National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, 1 Timiryazevska str., 01014, Kyiv, Ukraine
  5. State Institution National Antarctic Scientific Center, Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, 16 Shevchenko Ave., 01601, Kyiv, Ukraine
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Abstract

Previously, only three Candelariella species were known from Antarctica: C. aurella, C. flava and C. vitellina. After morphologically and phylogenetically examining our collections on soil from James Ross Island, located in the north-east Antarctic Peninsula region, and Horseshoe Island, a small rocky island in Bourgeois Fjord, Marguerite Bay in the south-west Antarctic Peninsula, we describe the lichen species Candelariella ruzgarii as new to science. Sequences of the nrITS, mtSSU and RPB1 gene regions of the new species were amplified and revealed that the phylogenetic position of the new species is in the C. aurella group, which is characterised by 8-spored asci and ± granular thalli. Candelariella ruzgarii is phylogenetically most closely related to C. aurella s. lat. but differs mainly in ecology as the new species grows on soil or on terricolous lichens, whereas the latter species grows on calcareous rocks, rarely on wood. Morphologically, C. ruzgarii is very similar to C. aggregata, a Northern Hemisphere species that grows on mosses and plant debris. Apart from the different phylogenetical position, C. ruzgarii has a thicker and sometimes slightly crenulated thalline margin and somewhat shorter ascospores than C. aggregata. We also report C. plumbea for the first time from Antarctica, a species with a thick and grey thallus that was previously known from Europe and Asia.
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Authors and Affiliations

Mehmet Gökhan Halici
1
ORCID: ORCID
Merve Kahraman Yiğit
1
ORCID: ORCID
Ekrem Bölükbaşı
2
ORCID: ORCID
Mithat Güllü
1
ORCID: ORCID

  1. Erciyes University, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Kayseri, Türkiye
  2. Amasya University, Department of Environmental Protection Technologies, Suluova Vocational School, Amasya, Türkiye

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