Plant biodiversity survey of the Granite Harbour, Darwin Glacier and Cape Crozier regions

The distribution and identity of lichens, mosses and endolithic algae were examined at sites around Granite Harbour, the Darwin Glacier and Igloo Spur at Cape Crozier to extend sampling of the Ross Sea Region to assess levels of biodiversity and to provide information on the origin, evolutionary relationships and present day dispersal pathways of Antarctic moss and lichen taxa. Each area was searched carefully and specimens were sampled for DNA analyses while GPS readings were taken for each sampling site.

Descriptions and maps of the vegetation were prepared and included with the geology. Sampling sites include: Mt Suess, Sperm Bluff, Granite Harbour, Cape Geology, Botany Bay and the flat area above it, Discovery Bluff, Battleship Promontory, Mt Falconer, the Foggydog Glacier, Diamond Hill, Lake Wellman, Dusky Ridge, Smith Valley and Igloo Spur at Cape Crozier.