Geoecology of Antarctic Ice-Free Coastal Landscapes [Paperback]

Research in Antarctica in the past two decades has fundamentally changed our perceptions of the southern continent. This volume describes typical terrestrial environments of the maritime and continental Antarctic. Life and chemical processes are restricted to small ranges of ambient temperature, availability of water and nutrients. This is reflected not only in life processes, but also in those of weathering and pedogenesis. The volume focuses on interactions between plants, animals and soils. It includes aspects of climate change, soil development and biology, as well as above- and below-ground results of interdisciplinary research projects combining data from botany, zoology, microbiology, pedology, and soil ecology.Research in Antarctica in the past two decades has fundamentally changed our perceptions of the southern continent. This volume describes typical terrestrial environments of the maritime and continental Antarctic. Life and chemical processes are restricted to small ranges of ambient temperature, availability of water and nutrients. This is reflected not only in life processes, but also in those of weathering and pedogenesis. The volume focuses on interactions between plants, animals and soils. It includes aspects of climate change, soil development and biology, as well as above- and below-ground results of interdisciplinary research projects combining data from botany, zoology, microbiology, pedology, and soil ecology.I The Environment.- Preface.- Antarctic Coastal Landscapes: Characteristics, Ecology and Research.- The Antarctic Environments and Ecosystems.- Characteristics of Antarctic Coastal regions.- The Former Use of Oasis as a Synonym for Ice-Free Landscapes.- Characteristics of Antarctic Coastal Landscapes.- Localities and Topography.- Soils of Antarctic Coasts.- Conditions for Colonisation of Soils.- Development and Maturation.- Research Programmes and Objectives.- References.- Maritime and Continental Antarctic: The Sites of Investigation ilSY