Abstract:

In order to study the elemental composition and distribution of various mosses and different parts of Antarctica, we have analyzed the heavy elements of 3 species of Polytrichum by synchrotron radiation X ray fluorescence in Fildes Peninsula. The experimental specimens are P. alpinum, P. juniperinum and P. alpestre , and their elements are same nearly, including mainly K, Ca, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn and Sr and so on. It'll show us the habitats of 3 species of Polytrichum are sililar in Fildes Peninsula. But the peak of K is very high than one of Ca, and the peak of Ca is higher than one of Fe in P. alpinum . In P. juniperinum the peak of K is higher than one of Ca, and the peak of Ca is close to one of Fe. The peak of K is nearly equal to them of Ca and Fe in P. alpestre . By X ray fluorescence analyzing different parts of P. alpestre and counting relative concentration of elements by fluorescence counts, we found that the difference of the parts is clear. The concentration of K of apical bud is the highest among parts, the proportion of K/Ca is 1.30, but that are all below 1 in the other parts. The concentration of Mn of pseudo root is the highest among parts, and the ratio of Mn/Fe is the largest, and the proportion is 0.21. In the parts of older leaf and pseudo root, the ratios of Cu/Zn are separately 1.20 and 1.84, but that are not enough 1 in the other parts. The element of Br is arisen specially in the older leaf and pseudo root parts, and that may has something to do with the organs aged.