Chinese Journal of Polar Research

ADVANCES IN POLAR SCIENCE ›› 2002, Vol. 13 ›› Issue (2-English): 111-116.

• Contents • Previous Articles     Next Articles

SR-XRF analysis of Polytrichum in the Fildes Peninsula, Antarctica

Shen Xiansheng1, Kang Shixiu2, Sun Liguang3, Yin Xuebin3, Wu Ziqin2 and He Wei4   

  1. 1 Academy of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, China;
    2 Department of Astronomy and Applied Physics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China;
    3 Institute of Polar Environment, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China;
    4 Beijing Synchrotron Radiation Facility, Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100039, China
  • Online:1952-06-30 Published:1952-06-30
  • Contact: Shen Xiansheng

PDF (PC)

723

Abstract:

In order to study the element contents and distribution of various mosses collected in the Antarctica, we analyzed the heavy elements of 3 species of Polytrichum in the Fildes Peninsula, P. alpinum, P. juniperinum and P. alpestre, by synchrotron radiation X-ray fluorescence ( SR-XRF). The result shows that the elements, such as K, Ca, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn and Sr, are nearly the same in Potytrichum. The peak intensity of K is higher than that of Ca, and the peak intensity of Ca is higher than that of Fe in P. alpinum. In P. juniperinum, the peak intensity of K is higher than that of Ca, and the peak intensity of Ca is close to that of Fe. The peak intensity of K is nearly equal to those of Ca and Fe in P. alpestre. Therefore, the habitats of 3 species of Polytrichum are similar in the Fildes Peninsula. By XRF analyzing of different parts of P. alpestre, we found that the peak intensities of relative concentration of elements are obviously different. The peak intensity of K in apical-bud is the highest in organism. The peak intensity ratio of K/Ca is 1. 30, but they are below 1.0 in all the other parts. The peak intensity of Mn in pseudo-root is the highest in organism , and the peak intensity ratio of Mn/Fe is 0.21, the biggest. In the parts of older leaf and pseudo-root, the ratios of Cu/Zn are 1. 20 and 1. 84 respectively, whereas they are less than 1 in the other parts. The element Br is seen specially in the older leaf and pseudo-root, that may result from the organs aged, and enhance the ability of anti-rottenness itself.

Key words: Antarctica, Polytrichum, heavy elements, X-ray fluorescence