Desiccation and recovery of antarctic cyanobacterial mats |
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Authors: | Ian Hawes Clive Howard-Williams Warwick F Vincent |
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Institution: | (1) Taupo Research Laboratory, DSIR Marine & Freshwater, P.O. Box 415, Taupo, New Zealand;(2) Present address: Département de Biologie, Université Laval, G1K 7P4 Québec, Canada |
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Abstract: | Summary The ability of cyanobacterial mats from Antarctic ponds and streams to recover from desiccation is described. Mats dominated by Nostoc dehydrated rapidly and were dry within 5 h of exposure. Nostoc mats recovered to pre-desiccation rates of photosynthesis and respiration within as little as 10 min of rewetting. Recovery of acetylene reduction activity was slower (>24 h). Phormidium dominated mats were less tolerant of desiccation, and recovery on rewetting from air-drying was not complete after 10 days. Viable diaspores were, however, found in Phormidium mats which had been exposed for 3 years. Partial hydration during aerial exposure improved the survival of Phormidium mats, but appeared to slow the recovery of Nostoc mats on subsequent rewetting. |
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