D - F
DVS
Dry valley plant-soil systems are very stressed and rely on external resources (spatial subsidies). The effect(s) of such subsidies on these ecosystems is largely unexplored, but may influence community and ecosystem level properties. We plan to conduct an experiment at two sites in Antarctica - a stressed site (Garwood Valley) and an extreme site (Beacons) where resources may enter by aerial deposition. We will estimate and use resources of differing quality (bird droppings, microbial mats, surface foams and dust) and measure how the decomposer subsystem develops including community composition and diversity, microbial activity and key decomposer processes including decomposition and nitrogen release patterns. For additional information about the Antarctic Dry Valley Soils Project, please see http://www.biol.canterbury.ac.nz/dvs/dvs_index.htm [Abstract taken from http://www.biol.canterbury.ac.nz/dvs/dvs_aims.htm]