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Number of results: 14
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Abstract

The results of several years of studies concerning the role of penguin rookeries in the functioning of the land ecosystems in the maritime Antarctic are summarized. The origins of phosphatic ornithogenic soil in the areas of currently active penguin rookeries arc presented. In the maritime Antarctic occurs relatively fast microbiological decomposition and mineralization of large amounts of excrements carried into coastal area by penguins during breeding period. Chemically aggressive water solutions of guano react with underlaying rocks. This process brings about the occurrence of wide zones of phosphatization. These processes cause the appearance of the series of phosphate minerals whose composition and properties depend on the changing physical and chemical conditions of the soil environment. It has been discovered that in the rookeries for various reasons abandoned by penguins phosphates are still present in large amounts and, gradually changed and washed out, have been for hundreds, or even thousands years a source of nutrients for plants growing in poor Antarctic land ecosystems. These soils came to be called the relic ornithogenic soils of the maritime Antarctic. The stages of plant colonization in the abandoned penguin rookeries were traced. The differences in the fate of the organic matter carried out from the sea to the coastal area by sea-birds in various climatic zones were discussed.

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Authors and Affiliations

Andrzej Myrcha
Andrzej Tatur
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Abstract

Throughout 1978 regular counts of pinniped mammals were conducted along as 12-kilometre-long stretch of the Admiralty Bay coasts. The occurrence of all the six species of antarctic seals was noted, among them the most numerous were Mirounga leonina, Arctocephalus tropicalis and Lobodon carcinophagus. The number of these animals varied within a year-cycle. M. leonina and Leptonychotes weddelli breed at Admiralty Bay.

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Authors and Affiliations

Andrzej Myrcha
Karol Teliga
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Abstract

Analysis was made of ornithogenic soils being formed around rookeries of krill-eating pygoscelid penguins on elevated volcanic island in Maritime Antarctic Zone. The profiles in the bird colony and in its close proximity have been described, explored chemically and characterized mineralogically, especially in the zone of deep metasomatic phosphatization of stony and clayish weathered covers. The semantics of ornithogenic soils was discussed in terms of their genesis and morphology as well as the dependence of phosphatization with species selectivity of breeding sites of the pygoscelid penguins.

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Authors and Affiliations

Andrzej Tatur
Andrzej Myrcha
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Abstract

Changes in water and ash contents in the body and calorific values of dry and wet body weight during nestling development of Pygoscelis antarctica and P. papus. were examinted. It was found that water content in the tissues of both species decreases from 85% to less than 65% whereas the content of mineral substances in dry body weight increases from 9<Vo to about 12%, at the time. Caloricity indices are high and increase during the development of nestlings. A particularly intense increase (from 0.8 kcal x g-1 to 2.2 kcal x g-1 ) characterizes calorific value of 1 gram of biomass.

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Authors and Affiliations

Andrzej Myrcha
Piotr Kamiński
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Abstract

Changes in chemical composition of the surface waters percolated through the soil and running off from the penguin rookeries are described. It was found, that the chemical composition of waters flowing from the breeding places depends on the size and rate of precipitation, and also on the location of rookeries. The longer and more complicated is the run off route of waters from the terrain of rookery, the more diluted are the solutions that reach the sea. In such case a significant part of phosphorus contained in the fecal materials may be retained on land, while most of ammonia volatilizates into the atmosphere.

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Authors and Affiliations

Andrzej Tatur
Andrzej Myrcha
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Abstract

The period of nesting development of Wilson's storm petrels (approx. 60 days) could be divided into three stages: first from hatching to 8th—10th day of development; second, from 10th to approx. 25th day and third from 25th day until nestlings leave the nests. During the first stage hemoglobin concentration in the blood decreases significantly while total surface of erythrocytes and the hematocrit increases. At that time nestlings do not grow very fast. In the second stage of development the values of all studied parameters do not change, while the growth of body weight is very intensive. The last stage is characterized by significantly reduced growth rate accompanied by important changes of all hematological parameters responsible for the respiratory function of blood volume unit.

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Authors and Affiliations

Alina Kostelecka-Myrcha
Andrzej Myrcha
Keywords Antarctic birds blood
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Abstract

The red blood picture was studied in 7 species of the Antarctic birds from the regions around Arctowski Station. King George Island (South Shetland Islands). The values of hematological indices were analysed, dependent on the mode of life and body weight of the examined species.

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Authors and Affiliations

Andrzej Myrcha
Alina Kostelecka-Myrcha
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Abstract

Changes in the red blood picture were studied during the development of Pygoscelis adeliae, P. antarctica and P. papua. It has been found that the respiratory function of a unit of the blood volume increases with the age of the investigated birds. The mechanism of this changes is described.

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Authors and Affiliations

Alina Kostelecka-Myrcha
Andrzej Myrcha
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Abstract

Bacterial, enzymatic and chemical analyses pointed to active microbiological mineralization and transformation of penguin excrements at "maritime Antarctic". The following physiological groups of bacteria were found: proteolitic, amonifying, nitrifying, lecithin degrading, Са3(Р04 ) 2 dissolving, chitin degrading and spore forming ones. The number of molds was not significant. The nitrate reducers and N2 — fixing bacteria were not detected. About 50% of С and N were volatilized during three weeks. Some parts of N — NH3 was oxidized to N — NO3 in surface layer of the soil. The content of P increased during degradation of penguin excrements. About 1/3 part of total organic carbon content in bird excrements residues was derived from chitin.

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Authors and Affiliations

Stanisław J. Pietr
Andrzej Tatur
Andrzej Myrcha
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Abstract

At the turn of October 1985, the abundance of breeding Adelie penguins was estimated at the Hope Bay oasis on the Antarctic Peninsula and on Seymour Island. In the Hope Bay rookery, 123850 pairs of penguins were recorded, beginning their breeding at the end of October. Data so far obtained indicate a continuous increase in the number of birds sat this rookery. On the other hand, the Seymour Island colony consisted of 21954 pairs of Adélie penguins. Clear differences in the geomorphological structure of areas occupied by penguins in those two places are discussed. No gentoo penguins were detected in either of the colonies.

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Authors and Affiliations

Andrzej Myrcha
Andrzej Tatur
Rodolfo del Valle
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Abstract

The authors describe the scope of Polish studies in the field of biology and ecology carried on during 20 years of activity of Polish Antarctic Station. Principal results are briefly summarized and ample literature is presented.

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Authors and Affiliations

Stanisław Rakusa-Suszczewski
Krzysztof Jażdżewski
Andrzej Myrcha
Maria Olech
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Abstract

Eocene penguin remains from Seymour Island (Antarctica) are so far the oldest−known record of extinct Sphenisciformes. Rich Argentineand Polish collections of penguin bones from the La Meseta Formation are taxonomically revised on tarsometatarsal morphology. Two genera and four species are erected: Mesetaornis polarisgen. et sp. n., Marambiornis exilisgen. et sp. n., Delphinornis arctowskiisp. n. and D. gracilissp. n. Moreover, the diagnoses of already described species: Anthropornis nordenskjoeldi, A. grandis, Palaeeudyptes klekowskii, P. gunnari, Archaeospheniscus wimani and Delphinornis larseniare revised as well. Gradual cooling of climate, changes of environment andtrophic relationships, that lasted several millions years, were most probably responsible forthe intense speciation and taxonomic diversification of the Middle–Late Eocene La Meseta penguins.

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Authors and Affiliations

Andrzej Myrcha
Piotr Jadwiszczak
Claudia P. Tambussi
Jorge I. Noriega
Andrzej Gaździcki
Andrzej Tatur
Rodolfo A. del Valle

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