Líquenes del entorno de la base científica Antártica Artigas, Bahía Collins, Isla Rey Jorge, Antártida: Estudio preliminar

King George Island is in the South Shetlands archipelago and is one of the most maritime Antarctic representative areas. Therefore this area is suitable for monitoring cryptogams (lichens) and plant communities as indicators of global environmental changes. In this study a lichen patches survey was conducted in four zones around the Uruguayan Antarctic Scientifi c Station (UASS), located at Fildes Peninsula, King George Island (62o10´ S/ 58o50´ W). In each zone, we determined the frequency and coverage of each lichen species. Thirteen species were identifi ed by morphological characteristics and chemical constituents. Cladonia gender is represented by four species, while the rest of the genera recorded only one species. Usnea aurantiaco-atra was the most abundant species and the rarest was Leptogium puberulum, only present in one of surveyed zones. This work is the fi rst survey of lichen communities in this area.