Summary
Beaufort Island, Ross Sea, Antarctica, is a Specially Protected Area originally designated on account of, and still supporting, a small winter sea ice breeding colony of Emperor penguins, a large summer breeding colony of Adélie penguins, and several colonies of Skuas. A substantial area of moss, approximately 2.5 ha and probably the largest continuous patch of moss in the McMurdo region, has now been discovered and found to be almost entirely composed of Bryum subrotundifolium (=B. argenteum). No lichens were found although many parts of the island are impassible due to steep cliffs. This contrasts strongly with the much more complex vegetation at Botany Bay, Granite Harbour, which is at an almost identical latitude (around 77°S) but where seven mosses, one hepatic and over thirty species of lichens have been reported. Genetic analysis of Beaufort Island moss populations using RPDS procedures revealed a mixture of genotypes which could be divided into two groups that are related to populations at Cape Bird and Cape Royds on Ross Island and to coastal populations of the Dry Valleys. This suggests at least two introductions of moss to the island followed by considerable mixing, both processes probably being accomplished by the large skua population. Continued specially reserved status is warranted, as much for the vegetation as for the bird life. Zusammenfassung Beaufort Island, Ross Sea, Antarktis, ist als antarktisches Schutzgebiet (Special Protected Area) ausgewiesen, da sich hier Brutkolonien von Kaiserpinguinen und Adélie Pinguinen sowie mehrere Brutkolonien der antarktischen Raubmöwe befinden. Auf Beaufort Island wurde nun eine ca. 2.5 ha große zusammenhängend von Moosen bewachsene Fläche entdeckt, die Moosgesellschaft besteht fast vollständig aus Bryum subrotundifolium (=B.argenteum) und bildet den flächenmäßig wohl größten zusammenhängenden Moosbestand in der McMurdo Region. Es konnten keine Flechtenarten nachgewiesen werden, allerdings waren die