Biochemical and biological activity of soils from a penguin colony at Cape Bird and soil description, classification and measurements of water content, soil temperature and depth to frozen ground

Biochemical markers of decomposition of penguin guano were studied by in situ incubation studies and analysis of samples in the laboratory. Five sites with guano of different ages were selected for this study including a) a presently occupied penguin colony, b) a recently abandoned penguin colony, c) re-deposited guano in a low swale between colonies, d) a long abandoned colony and e) a never colonised area.

Samples of surface guano from sites a-d and the 2-8 cm soil horizon from site e were incubated for 10-12 days buried at the sites to test a range of parameters of decomposition and biological activity including the enzymes urease, phosphatase and protease, respiratory activity and evolution of ammonia. In addition to the samples buried in the field, a similar set of respiration samples were incubated in the Cape Bird Hut giving an estimated mean incubation temperature of 10C as opposed to the estimated 4C in the field.