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This paper documents the occurrence of the genus Umbilicaria in the Argentine Islands–Kyiv Peninsula region of the Graham Coast in the maritime Antarctic. The presence of seven Umbilicaria species (U. africana, U. antarctica, U. aprina, U. decussata, U. kappenii, U. nylanderiana and U. umbilicarioides) in the ice-free areas of the Argentine Islands–Kyiv Peninsula region were confirmed. The species of U. africana and U. aprina are documented from the studied region for the first time. This study moves the southern distribution limit of U. africana about 300 km to the south: to the Argentine Islands–Kyiv Peninsula region. The distribution maps of Umbilicaria species for the studied region and maritime Antarctica are prepared. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New distributional data are presented for 12 species of moss collected from the Graham Coast and Danco Coast together with their offshore islands on the west side of the Antarctic Peninsula. Pohlia wahlenbergii (F.Weber & D.Mohr) A.L.Andrews is new to the Antarctic Peninsula and the Graham Coast and it is the southernmost station of the species, whereas Warnstorfia sarmentosa (Wahlenb.) Hedenäs is new to the Danco Coast. Schizymenium pusillum (Hook. & Wilson) A.J.Shaw is recorded for the first time on the Antarctic Peninsula mainland, and Schistidium rivulare (Brid.) Podp. is found at its southernmost locality on Cape Pérez on the mainland Graham Coast. Andreaea regularis Müll.Hal., Kiaeria pumila (Mitt.) Ochyra, Bucklandiella sudetica (Funck) Bedn.-Ochyra & Ochyra, Warnstorfia fontinaliopsis (Müll.Hal.) Ochyra and Pohlia nutans (Hedw.) Lindb. are new for Hovgaard Island in the Wilhelm Archipelago, and the latter is additionally recorded for the first time from Point Rasmussen on the mainland Graham Coast. Bryum pallescens Schleich. ex Schwägr. is new to Darboux Island, while Polytrichum juniperinum Hedw. and Brachythecium austroglareosum (Müll. Hal.) Kindb. are new to Lahille Island in the Grandidier Channel. Updated distribution maps for all species in the study areas of the Danco and Graham Coasts and the northern Antarctic Peninsula are presented. The moss floras of the Graham and Danco Coast regions consist currently of 51 and 47 species, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Birds are one of the most likely dispersal vectors for plants in Antarctica. We studied the nesting behavior of south polar skua Catharacta maccormicki and brown skua Catharacta antarctica lonnbergi to assess their potential role in ornithochory in the Argentine Islands – Kyiv Peninsula region. Nest samples were collected during 2009–2020 years in the Argentine Islands – Kyiv Peninsula region including all islands and coasts of the Graham Land from the Lemaire Channel to the islands of Berthelot Islands from north to south and extending from west to east from the Roca Islands, Cruls Islands, Rasmussen Point to the coast. We found that skuas utilize different nest building materials, including bryophytes, vascular plants (hairgrass Deschampsia antarctica) and lichens. In south polar skua nests, mosses and lichens dominate in the nest material; in brown skuas Deschampsia antarctica and mosses dominate. Both bird species likely collect nest components from nearby vegetation formations (< 1 m distant). We conclude that C. maccormicki and C. antarctica lonnbergi are not selective in their choice of plant species, simply using the materials that dominate near the nest. Therefore, both species carry these materials from nearby sites, and only occasionally bring them from distant places. In conclusion, for both species we did not find any evidence to support their involvement in long‐distance ornithochory (stomatochory) in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]