Diatom communities in soils influenced by the wandering albatross (Diomedea exulans)

Abstract

Soil diatom communities within two breeding colonies of the wandering albatross (Diomedea exulans) on Ile de la Possession (Crozet Archipelago) were investigated. A total of 163 diatom taxa has been identified.

Species composition varied markedly between control samples, occupied and abandoned nests. A turnover in the diatom community was also observed when moving away from nests.

Keywords

• Soil diatoms
• Subantarctica
• organic enrichment
• nutrients
• animal impact
• wandering albatross
• perturbed soils