Microbial and Ecological Investigations of Recent Cinder Cones, Deception Island, Antarctica‐‐A Preliminary Report

Abstract

Cinder cones that arose December 1967 within Telefon Bay, Deception Island, Antarctica, were investigated 1 year later to determine the establishment of microorganisms and cryptogams. Culture media were inoculated to determine the presence and abundance of algae, fungi, heteorotrophic and chemoautotrophic, aerobic, microaerophilic, and anaerobic bacteria. No mosses or lichens had become established on the cones. Algae, fungi, and bacteria were generally most abundant around fumaroles emitting moisture and CO 2 . Several samples contained few or no culturable microorganisms. "Soil" properties of coarse—textured, relatively unweathered acid volcanic materials were unfavorable for growth, despite the presence of moisture. Microorganisms were identified from the cinder cones and included primarily soil diphtheroids and Bacillus spp., Chlorococcum humicola, and Penicillium spp. Most of the bacteria could grow at 2°C as well as at 20°C.