Moss communities in some ice-free areas along the Soya Coat, East Antarctica

The moss vegetation in three ice-free areas, Einstoingen, Rundvagshetta and Strandnibba along the Soya Coast, Antarctica, was investigated phytosociologically and the vegetation was classified into the following nine communities : Bryum pseudotriquetrum Sociation, Ceratodon purpureus Sociation, C. purpureus-B. pseudotriquetrum Sociation, B. argenteum Sociation, B. argenteum-B. pseudotriquetrum Sociation, Pottia heimii Sociation, P. heimii-B. pseudotriquetrum Sociation, Grimmia lawiana Sociation, and G. lawiana-C. purpureus Sociation. The B. argenteum Sociation and the P. heimii Sociation were newly recorded in this study. The moss vegetation on the small island, Einstoingen, consists of five sociations, and it is characterized by the P. heimii-B. pseudotriquetrum Sociation and the B. argenteum Sociation. Rundvagshetta is characterized by pure communities of the P. heimii Sociation and the G. lawiana Sociation. The moss vegetation of Rundvagshetta, where seven sociations were recognized, may be one of the most prominent in both of the Soya Coast and the Prince Olav Coast