The breeding season diet of the three surface-nesting petrel species on the Rauer Islands, Prydz Bay were examined. The stomach contents of cape petrel (Daption capense), Antarctic petrel (Thalassoica antarctica), and southern fulmar (Fulmarus glacialoides) were sampled by collecting regurgitates and by stomach flushing during the 1987/88 early chick-rearing period. Pleuragramma antarcticum and Euphausia superba dominated the diets of all species. By mass they constituted 78% and 22% of Antarctic petrel diet, 63% and 36% of southern fulmar diet, and 14% and 85% of cape petrel diet respectively. P. antarcticum increased in importance in the diet of Antarctic petrels during the course of the study, while E. superba became increasingly important in the diets of southern fulmars and cape petrels. Previous studies conducted during incubation consistently reported the diets as comprising chiefly cephalopods and euphausiids, whilst studies during chick-rearing have reported fish and euphausiids dominating, and very little cephalopod material.

Müller Ice Shelf (67°15′S, 66°52′W) is situated at the southern end of Lallemand Fjord. It is a small ice shelf (∼80 km2) fed by Brückner and Antevs glaciers, which both flow northward off the central peaks of Arrowsmith Peninsula; the ice shelf contains an ice rise (Humphreys Ice Rise). Data sources have indicated that not only has the ice front retreated since 1947 but also that there have been two advances. This paper describes how these changes were recorded using simple photogrammetric techniques.

Palynological analyses of the Marambio Group sediments of Humps Island (Santa Marta and López de Bertodano formations) indicates that there is minor displacement across a prominent NW–SE trending normal fault which passes beneath the southern bluff. No major compositional differences were perceived between the palynomorph assemblages either side of the fault. A late Campanian age is suggested for both sequences, based on comparison with Australasian dinoflagellate cyst zonations. A new species of the dinoflagellate cyst Bourkidinium has been recorded from strata on either side of the fault. A significant number of recycled Permian and Early Cretaceous palynomorphs were recorded. Most are miospores and exhibit significant variation in preservational states, implying derivation from several sources. More thermally mature Permian gymnosperm pollen is most likely derived from the nearby Trinity Peninsula Group, exposed on the Antarctic Peninsula. The source of the relatively well preserved Permian pollen is problematic.

Fixed-point and probabilistic sampling designs were compared to investigate which design best detected known contamination gradients in the marine ecosystem adjacent to McMurdo Station, Antarctica. The fixed-point sampling design included transects along historical contamination and physical disturbance gradients. The probabilistic sampling design used randomly selected hexagons spaced at 50 m intervals. In both designs, 15 stations were sampled over a small area (~1 km2) that extended from Winter Quarters Bay to Cape Armitage. Sediment quality triad components (sediment chemical contaminants, sediment toxicity, and a benthic index of biotic integrity) were measured to indicate chemical, toxicological, and biological effects. There were higher correlations between sediment quality triad components for the fixed-point sampling design than for the probabilistic design. The fixed-point design was better at detecting the intensity of alteration because disturbance of the marine ecosystem at McMurdo Station is localized within a small area. Based on these results, a limited fixed-point design with nine stations detected no significant change in macrofaunal community structure over a four year period from 2000–2004. However, the macrofaunal assemblages present in the contaminated portions of Winter Quarters Bay are indicative of a disturbed benthic community that has been subject to organic enrichment and toxic chemical exposure.

On the basis of observations of Weddell seals (Leptonychotes weddellii Lesson) made in the course of studying shallow-water benthic communities in McMurdo Sound, Antarctica, we suggest that caching and/or defence of uneaten food may be a strategy practiced by this animal. Such a phenomenon is uncommon but taxonomically widespread among vertebrates. Depending on circumstances, it is termed hoarding, caching, or storage and may be short- or long-term, include defence of the resource, or have other variable expressions, with the common threads being deferred consumption and deterrence of consumption by others (Vanderwall 1990). Many vertebrate taxa exhibit hoarding behaviour, including rodents (e.g. Sciuridae), carnivores (e.g. Canidae, Felinidae) and birds (e.g. Corvidae, Picidae). No form of food caching, to our knowledge, has ever been reported in a wild pinniped.

Late Cretaceous sedimentary rocks assigned to the Santa Marta (Herbert Sound Member) and López de Bertodano (Cape Lamb and Sandwich Bluff members) formations of the Marambio Group, crop out on Cape Lamb, Vega Island. Although previous studies have recognized that these sedimentary rocks were derived from the northern Antarctic Peninsula region, the work presented here allows the provenance and palaeogeographical evolution of the region to be described in detail. On the basis of both sandstone petrography and clay mineralogy, the Herbert Sound and Cape Lamb members reflect sediment input from a low relief source area, with sand grade sediment sourced from low grade metasediments, and clay grade sediment ultimately derived from the weathering of an andesitic source area. In contrast, the Sandwich Bluff Member reflects a switch to a predominantly andesitic volcaniclastic source. However, this sediment was largely derived from older volcanic suites due to renewed source area uplift, with only a minor component from coeval volcanism. Regional uplift of both the arc terrane and the western margin of the James Ross Basin was likely during the Maastrichtian.

The distribution of the icefish Champsocephalus gunnari on the Kerguelen Plateau is confined to the inner shelves of Heard and Kerguelen islands and outlying banks where the water depth is less than 350 m. For fisheries management purposes, it is necessary to know whether fish from the various shelves and banks belong to one single or several separate populations. Analysis of the mitochondrial DNA of fish from various localities using restriction endonclease enzymes revealed no significant genetic heterogeneity between any of the localities. This does not preclude the existence of isolated stocks at the present time but indicates that the populations have been separated too recently for genetic isolation to be manifested, or that low-level interchange of fish between the populations may be maintaining genetic homogeneity.

The identities of the 12 lichenicolous fungi described as new to science from the Antarctic and sub-Antarctic islands by Carroll W. Dodge between 1938 and 1968 are reassessed on the basis of the original publications, and where extant the original collections and slides in the Farlow Herbarium and Reference Library (Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA). Typifications are discussed and lectotypes and neotypes designated as necessary. Only one species is accepted in its original placement (Phacopsis usneae) and one had already been transferred to an appropriate genus (Didymella cladoniae to Zwackhiomyces). Six prove to be synonyms of previously described species, and four are combined into other genera here: Arthonia parmeliae (syn. Diplonaevia parmeliae), Carbonea antarctica (syn. Alectoria antarctica), Sphaerellothecium buelliae (syn. Orbicula buelliae), and Weddelomyces gasparriniae (syn. Phaeospora gasparriniae) combs. nov. The generic name Thelidiola is also confirmed as a synonym of Muellerella. In addition, as a result of earlier misinterpretations of Dodge’s taxa, two new species are described: Endococcus matzeri, and Zwachkiomyces diederichii spp. nov. Intralichen lichenum is also reported from the Antarctic for the first time. Descriptions and illustrations are included where appropriate.

Four distinctive morphological types can be found among living Globocassidulina in surface sediments of Admiralty Bay (King George Island, South Shetland Islands). The molecular analysis of the SSU and ITS rDNA indicates that they are monospecific and belong to Globocassidulina biora, except for minute forms from deeper than 200 m water depth which probably represent G. subglobosa. The morphological types of G. biora that show doubled or branched apertures, varied test size and shape as well as colour of cytoplasm, represent populations at different stages of ontogenetic development. However, the variability among large G. biora from the same locations is difficult to comprehend. It seems probable that G. biora is the only recent, large, shallow water Globocassidulina represented throughout the Antarctica, while G. crassa is typical for the Magellan region.

Western Wright Valley, from Wright Upper Glacier to the western end of the Dais, can be divided into three broad geomorphic regions: the elevated Labyrinth, the narrow Dais which is connected to the Labyrinth, and the North and South forks which are bifurcated by the Dais. Soil associations of Typic Haplorthels/Haploturbels with ice-cemented permafrost at < 70cm are most common in each of these geomorphic regions. Amongst the Haplo Great Groups are patches of Salic and Typic Anhyorthels with ice-cemented permafrost at > 70 cm. They are developed in situ in strongly weathered drift with very low surface boulder frequency and occur on the upper erosion surface of the Labyrinth and on the Dais. Typic Anhyorthels also occur at lower elevation on sinuous and patchy Wright Upper III drift within the forks. Salic Aquorthels exist only in the South Fork marginal to Don Juan Pond, whereas Salic Haplorthels occur in low areas of both South and North forks where any water table is> 50 cm. Most soils within the study area have an alkaline pH dominated by Na+ and Cl- ions. The low salt accumulation within Haplorthels/Haploturbels may be due to limited depth of soil development and possibly leaching.

The seasonal and spatial variation of downward longwave radiation (L↓) at the surface of the Antarctic ice sheet is studied using data from four stations. L↓ is found to depend on the fourth power of the surface temperature but on the sixth power of the temperature at the top of the surface inversion layer. The former result is shown to be a consequence of the dominance of longwave radiation in the surface energy balance while the latter raises some questions concerning the radiative properties of Antarctic clouds. Simple parametrizations of L↓ as a function of temperature are suggested; these may find application in validating General Circulation Model radiation calculations over Antarctica.

Studies were continued to investigate the ability of secondary metabolites sequestered in Antarctic sponges to cause feeding deterrent responses (tube foot retractions) in a common predator of Aritarctic sponges, the sea star Perknaster fuscus. Lipophilic (dichloromethane/methanol) and hydrophilic (methanol/water) extracts of 15 new species of Antarctic marine sponges were tested for their ability to induce sustained tubefoot retraction. One additional species, Cinchyra antarctica, was re-tested from a previous study because we discovered a colour morph that was of comparative interest. Employing established protocols, sponge extracts were imbedded in silicone and presented to an extended tube-foot on the tip of a glass rod. Extracts of ten of the 15 new species of sponges (67%) caused significantly longer tube-foot retractions than controls. Among all sponges tested, significant tube-foot retraction activity was primarily associated with dichloromethane/methanol extracts (eleven sponge species or colour morphs), while significant tube-foot retraction activity was less common in response to methanol/water extracts (three sponges species or colour morphs). Both lipophilic and hydrophilic extracts from the sponges C. antarctica (yellow morph) and Scolymastia joubini elicited significant tube-foot retraction activity, suggesting that more than one compound from these speciesmight elicit tube-foot retractions in P. fuscus. Overall these findings lend considerable support to the hypothesis that there has been significant evolutionary selection for chemical defences among Antarctic marine sponges in McMurdo Sound, in contrast to earlier biogeographic selection models that predicted low levels of chemical defences in polar marine invertebrates.

The Maritime Antarctic is one of the regions where regional climate change is most intense and the reproductive performance of plants may be enhanced. Reporting the distribution of Deschampsia antarctica and Colobanthus quitensis on Byers Peninsula (Livingston Island, South Shetland Islands), our results confirm that D. antarctica is more widespread than C. quitensis. Flower and seed development of both species varied between sites. Deschampsia antarctica produced more viable seeds than C. quitensis, although fully developed seeds were not found at all locations. Seed production in C. quitensis was low in comparison with other Antarctic locations. The largest cushions of Colobanthus observed in 2002 were 15 cm in diameter, suggesting that the populations may have established at least 50 years ago. Deschampsia antarctica tussocks were very often 20 cm in diameter, although turf areas up to 1.5 m across were also observed, probably due to coalesced aggregates of individuals. This study shows that, although seed production is low, the presence of seedlings and young individuals suggests an expansion process.

This investigation attempts to determine which environmental parameters of the bottom water and sediment control recent foraminifera fauna at Ezcurra Inlet (King George Island, Antarctica), using data collected during four summers (2002/03, 2003/04, 2004/05 and 2006/07). The study revealed that Ezcurra Inlet contain typical Antarctic foraminifera fauna with three distinct assemblages and few differences in environmental parameters. The species Bolivina pseudopunctata, Fursenkoina fusiformis, Portatrochammina antarctica, and Adercotryma glomerata were abundant in the samples. An elevated abundance, richness and diversity were common at the entrance of the inlet at depths greater than 55 m, where the inlet was characterized by low temperatures and muddy sand. In the inner part of the inlet (depth 30–55 m), richness and diversity were low and the most significant species were Cassidulinoides parkerianus, C. porrectus, and Psammosphaera fusca. Shallow waters showed low values of richness and abundance and high temperatures coupled with coarser sediment. In areas with high suspended matter concentrations and pH values associated with low salinity the most representative species were Hippocrepinella hirudinea and Hemisphaerammina bradyi.

Radiocarbon dating of marine, lacustrine or terrestrial biogenic deposits is the main technique used to determine when deglaciation of the oases of East Antarctica occurred. However, at many of the oases of East Antarctica, including the Schirmacher Oasis, Stillwell Hills, Amery Oasis, Larsemann Hills, Taylor Islands and Grearson Oasis, snow and ice presently forms extensive blankets that fills valleys and some lake basins, covers perennial lake ice and in places overwhelms local topography to form ice domes up to hundreds of square kilometres in area. Field observations from Larsemann Hills and Taylor Islands suggest that under these conditions, terrestrial and lacustrine biogenic sedimentation is neither widespread nor abundant. If similar conditions prevailed in and around the oases immediately following retreat of the ice sheet, then a lengthy hiatus might exist between deglaciation and the onset of widespread or abundant biogenic sedimentation. As a result, radiocarbon dating might be a clumsy tool with which to reconstruct deglaciation history, and independent dating methods that record emergence of the hilltops from the continental ice must be employed as well.

Tafoni have long been recognized, measured and discussed within the Antarctic context. However, with respect to the formative processes tafoni still remain somewhat of an enigma. In terms of the weathering attributes of tafoni, one problem is the monitoring of environmental conditions without the transducers themselves altering that environment. The application of ultra-small thermocouples provides an avenue for monitoring of rock surface temperatures without influence on the tafoni environment. At an Antarctic site temperatures were measured both inside and outside of a tafone, with data at 20 second intervals. These data show a spatial variability that may help explain tafoni development, at least in terms of weathering. Humidity data indicate that moisture conditions are very low such that water-based weathering processes are temporally and spatially constrained. The presence of several episodes of extreme temperature variations indicates that thermal stress may be an important contributor to weathering here. It is argued that the absence of any endolithic communities (at this site) within the sandstone, in which the tafoni develop, is a reflection of weathering rates that exceed the ability of organisms to invade and colonize the rock. At the present time, weathering appears to be primarily in the form of granular disintegration and flaking.

In order to quantify the temporal variations of ocean properties, the MINERVE programme was designed to perform time-series measurements in the Southern Indian Ocean south of Australia. In the sub-Antarctic region (SAR, 48.5 ± 6.0°S), the mean CO2 flux increased from spring to summer from -6.8 mmol.m-2.d-1 in October 2005 to -9.9 mmol.m-2.d-1 in February 2006. In the Permanent Open Ocean Zone (POOZ, 57.5 ± 3.0°S), we observed lower pCO2 in summer than in spring (340 and 398 μatm, respectively). The mean CO2 flux showed large temporal variations from -0.2 mmol.m-2.d-1 in October 2005 to -8.2 mmol.m-2.d-1 in February 2006. The large temporal variation was associated with increased phytoplankton biomass. In the Continental Antarctic Zone (66.0 ± 1.0°S), the mean CO2 flux decreased from +14.9 mmol.m-2.d-1 in October 2005 to -8.4 mmol.m-2.d-1 in February 2006. In winter and spring, deep water mixing and seasonal sea-ice strongly increase pCO2sea above atmospheric level. In contrast, during summer, the effect of biological CO2 uptake decreased pCO2sea. Furthermore, these data allowed us to parameterize AT and CT as a function of temperature and salinity.

The Bransfield Strait, located between the South Shetland Islands and the north-western end of the Antarctic Peninsula, is a back-arc basin transitional between rifting and spreading. We compiled a geomorphological structural map of the Bransfield Basin combining published data and the interpretation of bathymetric images. Several analogue experiments reproducing the interaction between the Scotia, Antarctic, and Phoenix plates were carried out. The fault configuration observed in the geomorphological structural map was well reproduced by one of these analogue models. The results suggest the establishment of a transpressional regime to the west of the southern segment of the Shackleton Fracture Zone and a transtensional regime to the south-west of the South Scotia Ridge by at least c. 7 Ma. A probable mechanism for the opening of the Bransfield Basin requires two processes: 1) Significant transtensional effects in the Bransfield Basin caused by the configuration and drift vector of the Scotia Plate after the activity of the West Scotia Ridge ceased at c. 7 Ma. 2) Roll-back of the Phoenix Plate under the South Shetland Islands after cessation of spreading activity of the Phoenix Ridge at 3.3 ± 0.2 Ma, causing the north-westward migration of the South Shetland Trench.

The reflectance spectroscopic characteristics of cyanobacteria-dominated microbial mats in the McMurdo Dry Valleys (MDVs) were measured using a hyperspectral point spectrometer aboard an unmanned aerial system (remotely piloted aircraft system, unmanned aerial vehicle or drone) to determine whether mat presence, type and activity could be mapped at a spatial scale sufficient to characterize inter-annual change. Mats near Howard Glacier and Canada Glacier (ASPA 131) were mapped and mat samples were collected for DNA-based microbiome analysis. Although a broadband spectral parameter (a partial normalized difference vegetation index) identified mats, it missed mats in comparatively deep (> 10 cm) water or on bouldery surfaces where mats occupied fringing moats. A hyperspectral parameter (B6) did not have these shortcomings and recorded a larger dynamic range at both sites. When linked with colour orthomosaic data, B6 band strength is shown to be capable of characterizing the presence, type and activity of cyanobacteria-dominated mats in and around MDV streams. 16S rRNA gene polymerase chain reaction amplicon sequencing analysis of the mat samples revealed that dominant cyanobacterial taxa differed between spectrally distinguishable mats, indicating that spectral differences reflect underlying biological distinctiveness. Combined rapid-repeat hyperspectral measurements can be applied in order to monitor the distribution and activity of sentinel microbial ecosystems across the terrestrial Antarctic.