Spatio-temporal variability of soil surface temperature affects adaptation of Antarctic hairgrass populations. 1. Fluctuations of average monthly local temperature near plants influence biometrical, biochemical, and ecological characteristics

A spatial-temporal temperature influence on Deschampsia antarctica populations adaptation was studied in the Galindez Island (Argentine Islands, the maritime Anatrctic) during seven consecutive Antarctic summer seasons (2017/19 – 2023/24). The subject of the research is the evaluation of complex adaptability (Iqki) characteristic for eleven populations of Deschampsia antarctica. Another goal was to analyze the temperature variables obtained with the help of microlimate loggers located at eleven sites, and their effects on the measured plant populations adaptability indices and to determine the united indices Itki of their influence on them. Determination of the Itki contribution to the complex index Iqki for eleven populations in the dynamics of seven summer seasons was calculated. Methods of determining the plants number in populations and measuring the morphometric indices of D. antarctica plants populations were used. Reserve and protective seed proteins were studied by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE). The spatial variables of these indices extreme grouping method were applied for eleven populations to obtain an IqkI and Itki. Sets of complex indices were compared by regression technique. The populations forming general population (G-population) were found to develop unevenly depending on microconditions. In particular, individual populations with different frequencies matched into an asynchronous group, the populations of which were not matched of the general development trend of the G-population rest. The Itki contributions to Iqki were shown be not always positive. Negative contributions were observed in the season k=3 (2019/20) and in some individual months of the seasons k=5, 6, 7.