Biodiversity of periphytic cyanobacteria and algae assemblages in polar region: a case study of the vicinity of Arctowski Polish Antarctic Station (King George Island, Antarctica)

This study was carried out on periphytic cyanobacteria and algae assemblages of microbial mats in streams and small water bodies during the Antarctic summer of 2019 in the vicinity of Ecology Glacier (King George Island, Antarctica). The significantly diversified assemblages between the microbial mats of small water bodies and streams were observed. The higher biomass and proportion of periphytic cyanobacteria with Planktothix agardhii as dominant species were found in the streams at lower mean water temperature and higher nutrient content while diatoms generally dominated in the small water bodies (primarily Fragilaria capucina). Chlorophyta also reached a significant proportion in the total biomass of periphyton with dominant species of Prasiola crispa and Keratococcus mucicola. The growth of periphytic cyanobacteria and algae was determined mainly by type of substrate, water temperature and nutrient concentrations. The results also suggest the phenomenon of nutrient uptake by these assemblages from the waters, confirmed by the negative correlations between some species and nutrients (TN, TP, N-NH4, P-PO4). A large share of commonly occurring periphytic species and limitation of typically polar ones, suggest progressive changes in the eutrophication of Antarctic waters caused by the global climate change and increased pollution in the environment. Therefore, these areas should be subject to a special legal protection, preceded by detailed research of these ecosystems.