The influence of brown and south polar skua on the content of plant nutrient in the soils from the Fildes Peninsula (King George Island, West Antarctica)

The biogeochemical effect of birds can influence the paedogenic processes in the Antarctica soils. The content of nutrients (phosphorus, potassium, nitrate and ammonium) and the total carbon and nitrogen contents in soils were determined at the nesting and feeding sites of flying and non-flying birds in the Fildes Peninsula (King George Island, West Antarctica). The results showed that the difference between soils affected by birds (both flying and non-flying) and the background soils was observed with the higher content of biogenic elements (e.g. C, N, P, K) and fine-earth content, variable soil pH values, more expressed soil structure and specific morphology of the uppermost organogenic and organo-mineral horizons. Additional chemical indices are suggested for diagnostics of current and recent effect of birds on paedoenvironments.