Chemical and biological characterization of soils from the Antarctic east coast

In a study of pedogenesis, soil samples from five sites were taken along an almost 6,000-km-long zone of coast in the northeast Antarctic continent (b etween 70 degrees 46 'S-11 degrees 50 'E and 66 degrees 33 'S-93 degrees 01 'E). A poor microflora (bacteria, fungi and algae) was evidenced. Indicato rs of vital and enzymatic activities, as well as the Biological Synthetic I ndicator, show the existence of certain potentials of mineralization and bi osynthesis, capable of soil-forming processes, but the almost year-round fr ost and the scarcity of weathered rock accumulated in the small depressions under the stone shelter do not permit the humification of organic material .