Factors Affecting the Availability of Plant Nutrients on an Antarctic Island

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Abstract
An examination of material from Signy Island, in the South Orkney group, shows that large amounts of plant nutrients are moving through the ecosystem of the island. Physical weathering is a dominant process and the rocks are an important source of K and Ca. The ocean provides a steady supply of Na and Mg distributed via the atmosphere while the fauna provide a large reservoir of P, N and cations. Atmospheric distribution of N from the fauna sites is important but P appears to depend more on direct droppings and drainage for distribution. The capacity of the bryophyte vegetation to retain ions was demonstrated by experiment. This pattern of nutrient supply probably applies to much of the Antarctic perimeter zone.