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Testing Functional Variation In Thermal Properties For Antarctic Mosses, Andrew Forrest Clements

Dissertations and Theses

As the maritime Antarctic ecosystem continues to warm, glacial retreat will further expose subterranean permafrost to warmer conditions. One of the most visible changes in the ecosystem is the colonization of the new ice-free areas by bryophytes, particularly mosses. These bryophytes are having important effects on terrestrial thermal properties, but little is known about differences among Antarctic moss species in their thermal properties. Here, I measured the thermal conductivity, specific heat capacity, and the water content of moss species on King George Island to understand the insulation ability of Antarctic mosses, Polytrichastrum alpinum, Sanionia georgicouncinata, Chorisodontium aciphyllum, …