FMARS Sponsors	Biology Report - July 26, 2005 Tiffany Vora Reporting Two Transects Narrative: Today I present the results from two 1x1 meter transects I have performed yesterday and today. Neither one of them constitutes what I would consider a micro-oases; recall that micro-oases are regions of locally enriched nutrients and biomass. However, I went ahead and did the transects to have a comparison with the micro-oases. Square 2, at Orange Rock. Square 2 was performed at Orange Rock (0421497E 8377259N) during EVA10-11. I formed the transect squarely around the orange rock. I found jewel lichen (Xanthoria elegans) on the majority of the rocks in the square. I was also able to pinpoint a single species of green moss and several small colonies of black lichen; I have seen both these species in other locations near the Hab. Square 2 is provided as a (rather poor) mosaic. I spent some time sweeping the ridge for life, but it was only as we were leaving that Judd noticed a tiny patch of Whitlow-grass tucked under a rock. However, many of the rocks we turned over had stripes of green on their sides and lower faces. In addition to these microbes, we see clumps of what I believe to be cryptogamic soil all over this area. We are very careful not to disturb these organisms, as they are crucial to enriching nutrients such as nitrogen in this nutrient-poor environment. Square at SW Haynes Ridge. During EVA10-13, I laid out square 3 SW down Haynes Ridge (0420614E 8373294N). This location is very close to the Hab, but far enough off that, to a first approximation, our residence has very little impact on the area. In the one square meter plot I counted 8 vascular plants (Draba corymbosa, the ubiquitous Whitlow-grass). The area had caught my eye because in the past three days the species of green moss there has erupted into a riot of orange and yellow reproductive bodies. Truly, the seasons are compacted here! I didn't want to count the individual stalks, so I counted "colonies" - I found three moss "colonies" that were identifiably green, nine colonies with orange reproductive bodies, and 5 colonies with yellow stalks. I show square 3 in the labeled figure. The composite figure, part A, shows the reproductive stalks. See text for references. I concluded EVA10-13 by sweeping the north end of Haynes Ridge, and I found a few 2 cm diameter Arctic poppy leaves poking through the rocks. I have seen no Arctic poppy blooms, although a fellow crewmember brought me a flower from a far EVA that I could identify as poppy. While I was minutely examining a fossil, my eye was caught by tiny (less than 5mm across) black disks with white rims. I loosened one from the soil and found a short stalk under it. I believe I can identify this organism as a species of pixie cup lichen (Cladonia). I show these in part B of the composite image. A final note on these rough biodiversity studies. When I first arrived on this island I was devastated by the apparent lack of life. Now, less than two weeks later, I am stunned by the robustness of the life I see all around me. I really have to squint to see them (and the helmet certainly makes this more challenging), but tiny stars of Whitlow-grass smaller than 1cm in diameter are sprinkled about the landscape. The little Whitlow-grass plant that I've been keeping in a Falcon tube on my bench has sprouted a seedpod. In fact, we see the life forms around us moving steadily through their life cycles during this short growing season. Our bird count is up to two; Anthony observed a snow bunting over by Trinity Lake, and our glaucous gull continues to visit us. This land is alive all around us, and I feel privileged to be able to observe it. Return to Daily Index Page
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