The McMurdo Dry Valleys are the largest single ice-free area in Antarctica, and of considerable scientific and conservation value as an extreme polar desert. This is recognised through the McMurdo Dry Valleys Antarctic Specially Managed Area (ASMA), where management’s goals focus on protection of its unique features, while facilitating science access. Using a mix of remote sensing and existing cartography, we have identified over 6000 lakes and ponds in the ASMA. This study develops a classification of those aquatic ecosystems to provide a framework for management. It uses a limited top-down, hierarchical classification to define 13 class separations based on physical attributes that could largely be ascribed from existing databases or remotely sensed information. The first hierarchical level was based on landscape position, separating coastal kettle holes (reflecting recent glacial history), from other “topographic” water bodies. The second level was based on endorheic vs exorheic drainage, the third on mid-summer ice condition (no-ice cap; ice capped; frozen to base) and the fourth on source of inflow (glacial or non-glacial). Kettles were sub-classed by mid-summer ice only. Classes were tested against a set of field observations and an expert workshop validation process considered management implications for the ASMA. This study shows how the classification assists our understanding of Dry Valley landscapes and addresses management issues faced by researchers, environmental managers and policy makers. The approach to classification, rather than the detailed classes that may be specific to the Dry Valleys, has potential for wider use in other polar landscapes.

麦克默多干谷是南极洲最大的单一无冰区，作为极地沙漠具有相当大的科学和保护价值。这一点通过麦克默多干谷南极特别管理区 (ASMA) 得到认可，管理的目标集中在保护其独特的功能，同时促进科学获取。使用遥感和现有制图的组合，我们在 ASMA 中确定了 6000 多个湖泊和池塘。本研究对这些水生生态系统进行了分类，以提供管理框架。它使用有限的自上而下的分层分类来定义基于物理属性的 13 个类别分隔，这些属性主要来自现有数据库或遥感信息。第一层级基于景观位置，将沿海水壶洞（反映最近的冰川历史）与其他“地形”水体分开。第二个级别基于内流与外流排水，第三个基于仲夏冰条件（无冰盖；冰盖；冻结到底部），第四个基于流入源（冰川或非冰川）。水壶仅按仲夏冰进行分类。根据一组实地观察和专家研讨会验证过程对课程进行了测试，该过程考虑了对 ASMA 的管理影响。本研究展示了分类如何帮助我们了解干谷景观并解决研究人员、环境管理者和政策制定者面临的管理问题。分类方法，而不是可能特定于干谷的详细分类，有可能在其他极地景观中得到更广泛的应用。