Oxford Scholarship Online: The Biology of Polar Regions

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The Biology of Polar Regions Thomas, D.N. University of Wales, Bangor, UK Fogg, G.E. University of Wales, Bangor, UK. Deceased 2005 Convey, P. British Antarctic Survey, Cambridge, UK Fritsen, C.H. Desert Research Institute, Nevada, USA Gili, J.-M. Institut de Ciències del Mar (CSIC), Spanish National Research Council, Spain Gradinger, R. University of Fairbanks, Alaska, USA Laybourn-Parry, J. University of Tasmania, Australia Reid, K. Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources, Tasmania, Australia Walton, D.W.H. British Antarctic Survey, Cambridge, UK Print publication date: 2008 (this edition) Published to Oxford Scholarship Online: May 2008 Print ISBN-13: 978-0-19-929811-2
3 Periglacial and terrestrial habitats in polar regions doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199298112.003.0003 David N. Thomas G.E. (Tony) Fogg Peter Convey Christian H. Fritsen Josep-Maria Gili Rolf Gradinger Johanna Laybourn-Parry Keith Reid David W.H. Walton Abstract: This chapter discusses the terrestrial ecosystems of the Arctic and Antarctic. It begins discussing some of their physical and chemical characteristics and then subsequent subsections detail the ecosystems and their component biota. Topics covered include substrata (exposed rock surfaces, endolithic habitat, rock debris, permafrost, and polar soils); communities of the Continental Antarctic, Maritime Antarctic, High Arctic, Arctic tundra, and Antarctic tundra; the physiological ecology of polar plants and invertebrates, specialized communities; and comparison of Arctic and Antarctic terrestrial habitats and communities. Keywords: terrestrial ecosystems, Arctic, Antarctic, biota, substrata, tundra, polar plants, invertebrates, specialized communities,