Tab. 2: Chemical and microbial properties of soils from Casey Station (Wilkes Land) with respect to soil types@en

Mineral constituents and pH were analyzed in water solution (l:5). Soil surfaces are covered by dry moss cushion (sample 1A), moss cushion and microlichens (mainly Candelariella sp.) (2A), moss cushion and microlichens (mainly Buellia sp.) (7A), no visible plant cover (8A), and soil algae (mainly Prasiola crispa and cyanobacteria) (9A). Podzols on leuco gneiss, partly with thin moraine cover: lithic to leptigelic podzols with gelundic phase; leptosols on shist: dystri-gelic leptosols with gelundic phase. Texture of podzols is stony sand, texture of leptosols is gravelly sandy loam.