New Zealand Journal of Botany abstract

Lichens and mosses from the Kar Plateau, Southern Victoria Land, Antarctica

R. D. SEPPELT

Australian Antarctic Division
Channel Highway
Kingston 7050, Tasmania, Australia

T. G. A. GREEN

Biological Sciences
University of Waikato
Hamilton, New Zealand

B. SCHROETER

Botanisches Institut
Universität Kiel
Olshausenstrasse 40
Kiel, D-2300, Germany

Abstract  The Kar Plateau, southern Victoria Land, Antarctica, is an ice-free area of about 4 km², at 600 m altitude, and covered with a frost-shattered felsenmeer. Mosses occur sporadically at low density on debris islands (one species) and in sheltered rock crevices (four species). Lichens (22 species) also occur throughout but with one area (0.1 km²) of exceptional richness. The plateau is a floristically rich locality for the latitude (near 77deg.S). The new combination Rhizoplaca priestleyi (Dodge) Seppelt is made to accommodate Omphalodina priestleyi (Dodge) Dodge following earlier transfer of Omphalodina to Rhizoplaca. Phytogeography of the species in Antarctica is briefly discussed.

Keywords  Antarctica; Victoria Land; lichens; bryophyte; moss; biogeography

New Zealand Journal of Botany, 1995, Vol. 33: 203-220

0028-825X/95/3302-0203 $2.50/0 (c) The Royal Society of New Zealand 1995

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