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Moss, Casey Station, East Antarctica, Sharon A. Robinson

Sharon Robinson

Mosses in Antarctica grow in areas where there is summer melt water. This olive green turf is the dominant moss of the region, Schistidium antarctici, growing along the edge of the melt lake behind Casey Station, East Antarctica. The brighter green colour is Bryum pseudotriquetrum growing over the top, possibly because of climate change. The bleached fragments of moss in the water were probably killed when steam was accidently vented from the pumphouse whilst melting water for the station.