Fitossociologia de vegetação associada a Deschampsia antarctica DESV. nas Ilhas Shetland do Sul – Antártica

Abstract

Antarctica is the second largest continent on planet Earth, has approximately 14 million km², covered by a large and dense layer of ice, reaching 23 million km² due to the freezing of adjacent oceans during the winter period. Despite the severe environmental conditions, which hinder the establishment of life on Earth, there are plant species adapted to this type of environment, such as cryptogam and phanerogam species. In recent decades, several studies on Antarctic vegetation have been conducted, but more detailed information on associated plant species Deschampsia antarctica Desv. The objective of this thesis was to gather data on the ecological aspects of species associated with Deschampsia antarctica, as well as to carry out a phytosociological survey of substrate vegetation (marine animal bones - sea wolf and whale), and to evaluate the presence of vegetation in pellets (food waste of carnivorous birds) of seabirds as a form of dispersal. For this, field data collections were carried out during OPERANTAR XXXVIII 2019/2020 during the months of February and March. The results of this thesis are presented in the form of 4 scientific articles.