On Populations in Antarctic Meltwater Pools

Abstract

In meltwater pools of the Clark Peninsula area of Antarctica fresh water biota spend most of the year frozen into the ice or in underlying sediments. In the absence of dynamic pressure (as is the case in pools), ice exerts no pressure on organisms. Survival of organisms appears to be a function of their ability to dehydrate: or encyst. Brachionus and cosmopolitan forms have been introduced into Antarctica. The most likely agency of transport is skua gulls.