---

Research in Antarctica in the past two decades has fundamentally changed our perceptions of the southern continent. This volume describes typical terrestrial environments of the maritime and continental Antarctic. Life and chemical processes are restricted to small ranges of ambient temperature, availability of water and nutrients. This is reflected not only in life processes, but also in those of weathering and pedogenesis. The volume focuses on interactions between plants, animals and soils. It includes aspects of climate change, soil development and biology, as well as above- and below-ground results of interdisciplinary research projects combining data from botany, zoology, microbiology, pedology, and soil ecology.

---

´I The Environment.- Preface.- Antarctic Coastal Landscapes: Characteristics, Ecology and Research.- The Antarctic Environments and Ecosystems.- Characteristics of Antarctic Coastal regions.- The Former Use of ´Oasis´ as a Synonym for Ice-Free Landscapes.- Characteristics of Antarctic Coastal Landscapes.- Localities and Topography.- Soils of Antarctic Coasts.- Conditions for Colonisation of Soils.- Development and Maturation.- Research Programmes and Objectives.- References.- Maritime and Continental Antarctic: The Sites of Investigation in Context 17.- Geography and Geology.- Climate.- The Effects on Soil Ecosystems.- References.- King George Island - South Shetland Islands, Maritime Antarctic.- Geographical Features.- Cartographic and Topographic Features.- Surroundings.- Shores.- The Sea Basin.- Changes of Climate.- Temperature.- Radiation.- Climatic Differentiations.- Climatological Effects.- Periglacial Features and Processes.- Variability in the Terrestrial Ecosystem.- References.- Wilkes Land (Casey Station).- The Windmill Islands - Physical.- Geology and Geomorphology.- Holocene Emergence.- Climate.- References 46.- Dronning Maud Land and Its Environments.- Geographical Zone of Dronning Maud Land.- Climatic Zonations.- Distribution of Mosses, Lichens and Soil Algae.- Soil Properties.- Particle Size Distributions.- Electrical Conductivity and pH(H20).- Water Availability.- Nutrients.- Environmental Monitoring.- Human Activity and Long-Range Dispersal.- References.- II Soils, Soil Development and Soil Properties.- Preface.- Glacial Changes in the Areas of Admiralty Bay, Potter Cove, King George Island, Maritime Antarctica.- Climate Change Indications in the of the Antarctic Peninsula.- Satellite Images and Historical Maps.- Glacier Retreat in Admiralty Bay and Potter Cove.- Tidewater Glaciers.- Glaciers Terminating on Land.- Possible Reasons for the Differences in Glacier Retreat of the Tidewater Glaciers in Admiralty Bay.- Conclusion.- References.- Soils and Soilscapes.- Sites and Analyses.- Soil Conditions.- Windmill Islands (Casey Area).- King George Island (Arctowski Area).- Soil Classifications.- Soilscapes.- Windmill Islands.- King George Island.- Conclusions.- References.- Weathering and Soil Formation.- Sites and Methodology.- Soil Analyses.- Lithology of the Sites and Mineralogy of Soils.- Soil Forming Processes and Their Products.- Weathering, Acidification and Mineral Formation.- Humus Accumulation and Biotic Aggregation.- Podzolisation.- Carbonisation, Salinisation and Alkalisation.- Redoximorphism.- Conclusions.- References.- Refractory Soil Organic Matter - Formation, Accumulation, Translocation and Transformation.- Sites and Analyses.- Soil Organic Matter - Distribution and Accumulation.- Soil Formation and SOM Translocation.- 13C-NMR Spectroscopy.- PyGC/MS Analysis.- Soil Formation and SOM Transformation.- Conclusions.- References 156.- Ornithogenic Ecosystems in the Maritime Antarctic Formation, Development and Disintegration.- Colonisation of Antarctic Coast by Sea Vertebrates.- Marine Vertebrates in the Maritime Antarctic Paleoecosystem.- Colonisation of Land by Sea Vertebrates During Glacial/ Interglacial Cycles.- Impact of Sea Animals on Terrestrial Ecosystem Formation.- Ornithogenic (Penguin) Soils in the Maritime Antarctic.- Mineralisation of Guano.- Ornithogenic Waters.- Phosphatisation - the Main Ornithogenic Soil Forming Process in the Maritime Antarctic.- Ornithogenic Soils of Active Rookeries.- Ornithogenic Soils of Abandoned Rookeries.- Development of Terrestrial Ornithogenic Ecosystems.- Biogeochemical Cycle of Ornithogenic Matter on the Land/Sea Boundary.- References.- III Soil Microbes, Plants and Soil Fauna.- Preface.- Heterotrophic Soil Microbes, Microbial and Enzymatic Activity in Antarctic Soils.- The Microbial Community.- Bacterial Counts.- Bacterial Biomass.- Fungi and Yeasts.- Microbia

---