The illustrated moss flora of Antarctica

Abstract

This is the first modern flora to provide a comprehensive description of all known species and varieties of moss in the Antarctic biome. It complements The liverwort flora of Antarctica (Bednarek-Ochyra et al., 2000), so that now Antarctica can boast the best bryophyte floras of anywhere in the world. A beautiful, self-contained account of what is the major component of the Antarctic flora, this book represents the culmination of many years of meticulous research and extensive fieldwork. The authors' intimate knowledge of the Antarctic biome and of mosses shines through: Ryszard Ochyra is a renowned moss taxonomist; Halina Bednarek-Ochyra is a renowned illustrator and bryophyte taxonomist; and Ronald I. Lewis Smith, until recently a senior ecologist with the British Antarctic Survey, Cambridge, has worked extensively on cryptogam research in Antarctica for over 40 years. Prior to the publication of this volume, identification of Antarctic mosses was often marred by nomenclatural inaccuracies in the literature and misdeterminations of specimens. Similarly, information on the biogeographic zones, environment and moss-dominated communities of the Antarctic could only be obtained by delving into numerous original papers in many journals, often difficult to access. This work now fills a major lacuna not only in bryology but also in plant science as a whole, by accompanying what is a coherent and comprehensive moss flora with extensive information on the biogeography, ecological provinces, climate, geology and vegetation of the Antarctic biome. Bryophytes, and in particular mosses, are the dominant component of the vegetation in ice-free coastal regions of Antarctica. Thus an understanding and appreciation of mosses, their diversity and distribution, is fundamental in any assessment of the effects of climate change in Antarctica. The importance of mosses as model organisms to study the effects of environmental stresses such as cold and water stress (not to mention the impact of changes in natural UV-B radiation as a result of ozone depletion) on land plants is well established and has received a further boost recently with the sequencing of the Physcomitrella genome. Reliable and comprehensive information on Antarctic mosses is also indispensable for any conservation strategy to protect the fragile ecosystems of the Antarctic biome, threatened not only by the changing climate but also by socio-economic pressures, including ever-increasing tourism. The flora describes in detail 111 species and two varieties of mosses in 55 genera from 17 families. It comprises six chapters, together with a glossary of terms and an exhaustive bibliography. Chapters 1 to 5 form an extensive introduction: Chapter 1 includes sections on the biogeography, climate and geology of the Antarctic biome, Chapter 2 is dedicated to the history of muscological investigations in Antarctica, whilst Chapter 3 covers ecology and conservation. Chapter 4 focuses on diversity and phytogeography of the moss flora; it presents theories on the origins of the flora and includes 42 coloured plates illustrating the principal Antarctic moss-dominated communities. These lovely colour pictures and their legends provide important details of habitat features and how these influence the occurrence and development of moss communities (as discussed in Chapter 3). Chapter 5 discusses with clarity the aims and objectives of the work and provides guidance to users of the flora as well as listing comprehensive details of all the specimens examined. The systematic accounts of the taxa are given in Chapter 6; the keys are excellent, the detailed species descriptions are of the highest standard, and the same is true of the superb line drawings. These drawings are not only beautiful but also highly informative, and are provided for each of the species described. The additional comments, including notes on reproduction, habitat and distribution (both Antarctic and global), together with a discussion on diagnostic characters, peculiarities of morphology, taxonomic problems and possible sources of confusion during identification, are invaluable since Antarctic mosses are often environmentally modified and sterile. Armed with this book and its companion volume, The liverwort flora of Antarctica (Bednarek-Ochyra et al., 2000), researchers visiting Antarctica (and with access to a microscope) should be confident that they will be able to identify correctly each and every bryophyte they encounter. This critical assessment of the diversity and biogeography of the Antarctic moss flora will also prove indispensable for other regions, particularly the cool-temperate and cold zones of the Southern Hemisphere, e.g. Tierra del Fuego and The Falklands, which lack modern regional moss floras. In conclusion, this is a highly informative and practical book that will greatly benefit researchers undertaking applied and ecological research on the Antarctic bryoflora, as well as conservation organizations. The first five chapters are very readable and interesting and the systematic treatment of the taxa in Chapter 6 is of the highest standard. I cannot recommend this flora too highly.