CEMENT DUST CONTAMINATION OF CERATODON PURPUREUS AT CASEY, EAST ANTARCTICA - DAMAGE AND CAPACITY FOR RECOVERY

Vegetation downwind of a concrete batching platform at Casey, East Ant arctica, has been severely contaminated by cement dust. This paper dra ws attention to the resilience of the bryophyte Ceratodon compared to lichens in the area. Plant and soil samples collected along a 90 m tra nsect passing directly through the most damaged area and running paral lel to the predominantly strong easterly winds indicate a strong posit ive correlation between chlorophyll and carotenoid concentration and h igh soil pH. The results suggest that elevated pigment levels in plant s close to the batching platform are due to enhanced thylakoid product ion rather than a disproportionate loss of dry matter. Variable (Fv/Fm ) fluorescence measurements and growth cabinet experiments indicate th at Ceratodan from even the mast heavily contaminated sites is photosyn thetically competent and capable of rapid growth under favourable cond itions.