Allelopathic effort of penguin excrements and guanos on the growth of Antarctic soil algae

An experiment was carried out to ascertain the effect of substances in the soil of Adelie penguin rookery on the growth of algae isolated from the Antarctic soil. In the paper disc test, both of acetone and water extracts of guano soil gave an inhibitive effect on the algal growth. It was recognized that acrylic and oxalic acids were the algal growth inhibitors. The function of the oxalic acid as a new growth inhibitor of algae was examined by comparing it with that of acrylic acid

Environmental changes in Syowa Station area of Antarctica during the last 2300 years inferred from organic components in lake sediment cores

rganic components in sediment cores from Namazu Ike(lake)(length 40cm) and O-ike(lake)(length 32cm) from Syowa Station area, Antarctica were studied to clarify their features in relation to paleoenvironmental changes, together with carbon-14 dating by Tandetron accelerator mass spectrometry. Namazu Ike sediment core was mainly composed of algal(mainly cyanobacteria) and aquatic moss debris, whereas O-ike sediment core was comprised of coarse and fine sands with the influence of algal(mainly cyanobacteria) debris. The ages of core bottoms of Namazu Ike and O-ike were estimated to be 1550 and 2330 years before present(yBP), respectively. The sedimentation rates of Namazu Ike and O-ike were calculated to be 30 and 59 years/cm, respectively. Very high total organic carbon(TOC) contents(average 24.5%) of Namazu Ike revealed that the sediment core was mainly composed of organic matter. Dramatic increase of TOC/total nitrogen ratios at a depth of 25cm in Namazu Ike strongly suggests that aquatic moss increased from 1100yBP to the core top. Changes in n-alkanes, n-alkanoic and n-alkenoic acids, and sterol compositions in the O-ike sediment core, suggest that microbial composition changed considerably, but their source organisms are not clear and further studies are required

Antarctic Tardigrada

For studying the Antarctic tardigrades, a variety of 31 samples including mosses, lichens and algae were examined. These samples were supplied by the staff of the National Institute of Polar Research in Japan, having been collected mostly at several stations close to Japanese Syowa Station in Antarctica. Tardigrades sorted out were mounted in Gum-chloral for phase-contrast microscope observation. Five species were found in 15 samples collected from 7 stations. Hypsibius arcticus was widely found in all of the samples from 5 stations (Ongul Island, Langhovde, Skarvsnes, Einstoingen and Rundvagshetta). The other 4 species were rarely found; Macrobiotus harmsworthi from Rundvagshetta and Einstoingen, Diphascon chilenensis from Einstoingen and the S0r Rondane Mountains, D. ongulensis from Langhovde, and Pseudechiniscus sp. from Strandnibba. Of these tardigrades, P. sp. was reported from Antarctica probably for the first time

Visual observations of the Antarctic sea birds during the FIBEX cruise of the KAIYO MARU

The KAIYO MARU, a research vessel of the Fishery Agency, made the FIBEX survey in the Indian sector of the Antarctic Ocean during the austral summer of 1980-1981. At the same time, visual observations of sea birds were carried out along the cruise tracks of the survey. Sea birds were observed in the area from 30°E to 85°E longitudinally and on the south of 55°S, particularly from 61°S to the ice edge. Species and number of the sea birds recognized in a ten minutes observation were recorded in the sheets prepared for these observations. The ten-minute observations were usually made every four hours, six times a day. The bird species observed frequently were as follows : antarctic petrel, white-chinned petrel, cape pigeon, light-mantled sooty albatross, prions, and so on. These birds were evenly observed longitudinally and showed a circumpolar distribution. Latitudinally, however, they showed a different distribution, though they extended to the south with the retreat of the ice edge. The distribution of these birds was also considered with the records of acoustic estimation of krill

Notes on the free-living mites in the ice-free areas around Syowa Station

Three species of free-living mites were discovered from the chalikosystem in the Syowa Station area. They are Nanorchestes antarcticus, Tydeus erebus and Protereunetes minutus. Nanorchestes was dominant. It is ascertained that the high density of Nanorchestes was supported by the sufficient water supply and that soil in which high density of mite was maintained was a soft deposit of fine sand. The population density of mites was also influenced by the salt content and the amount of organic matters in soil

Activities of the wintering party of the 28th Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition, 1987-1988

The wintering party of the 28th Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition performed its activities at Syowa and Asuka Stations from 1987 to 1988. The wintering activities at Asuka Station had commenced from this season by eight men, and have already been reported by M. AYUKAWA. The wintering party at Syowa Station composed of 29 personnel has newly started two long-term scientific programs. One was the Antarctic Climate Research which was recommended by the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research with reference to the World Climate Research Program. The other was the Studies of Terrestrial Ecosystems which was the Japanese program in response to the international program of Biological Investigations of Terrestrial Antarctic Systems. The routine and fundamental observations comprising aurora, geomagnetism, ionosphere, meteorology, oceanography and seismology were performed as in the preceding years. A seismic observation using the triangular telemetric system was carried out. Two circum-Antarctic balloons were launched in December 1987

Activities of the summer party of the 24th Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition in 1982-1983

This report outlines the summer activities of the 24th Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition (JARE-24) in 1982-1983. The expedition consisted of 35 wintering members led by Dr. Shinji MAE and 10 members of the summer party led by the present author. Three American exchange scientists under the Antarctic Treaty provisions joined the summer party from Tokyo to Fremantle (Dr. T. GOSINK and Mr. T. GREEN) and from Fremantle to Singapore (Mr. G. LANDRETH). The icebreaker FUJI left Tokyo on November 25,1982. After calling at Fremantle, she arrived at the ice edge off Syowa Station on December 31,when the first flight to the station was made. All the cargo for the expedition was transported to the station till January 22,1983 and the wintering members of the JARE-24 took over the duties at the station on February 1. After accomplishment of summer operations in the Syowa Station area, FUJI visited Breid Bay about 600km west of the station. Then she returned to Tokyo on April 20,1983 via Port Louis and Singapore. Oceanographic and ionospheric observations were carried out throughout the voyage. Several field parties for geological, biological and geodetic survey were sent to ice-free areas around Syowa Station. Biological and oceanographical observations under sea ice were carried out at Syowa Station. A party was dispatched to Mizuho Station to take over it and to resupply the materials for wintering. A new power station building at Syowa Station was constructed during the relief period. In the Breid Bay area, the condition of sea ice was observed and some glaciological surveys were carried out in the snow field 30 miles from the ice shelf edge. Also aerial reconnaissance was carried out to find the access route to the Sor Rondane Mountains

Population density of free-living mites in the ice-free areas around Syowa Station, East Antarctica

Population density of free-living mites was surveyed in the ice-free areas of Ongul Islands, Langhovde and Skarvsnes in the vicinity of Lutzow-Holm Bay, Antarctica. Sampling of mites was carried out on the sandy ground without macrophytic vegetation quantitatively using a petri dish of 6 cm in diameter and 1 cm in depth in January and February 1976. Mites were isolated from the sand by the floatation method. The highest density of mite population in each ice-free area was as follows: 57 mites in a petri dishful of sand in East Ongul Island, 75 mites in West Ongul Island and 82 mites in Skarvsnes. A preliminary observation on the relationship between the population density and the habitat moisture was made along the margin of the Yukidori Valley in Langhovde. Sampling was made at 1 m intervals from the waterside. The highest density of mite population was observed at the sampling point 2-3 m away from the waterside

ダイ 24 ジ ナンキョク チイキ カンソク タイ ナツタイ ホウコク 1982-1983

第24次観測隊は前 晋爾隊長以下45名(うち夏隊は大山佳邦副隊長以下10名)で構成され, そのほか南極条約に基づく米国人交換科学3名およびオブザーバー2名が同行した。1982年11月25日「ふじ」で東京港を出港した観測隊は, 途中オーストラリアのフリマントル港に寄ったのち, 12月末昭和基地沖の氷海に達した。12月31日昭和基地への第1便を送ったのち, 基地の北西約43km地点に達し, 空輸拠点とした。1983年1月2日から輸送を開始し, 以後好天に恵まれ, 輸送, 基地建設, 野外調査などすべて順調に進み, 1月22日昭和基地への輸送完了, 2月1日予定通り第23次越冬隊と越冬交代を行った。その後, 昭和基地西方約600kmのブライド湾に寄り, 海氷状況, セールロンダーネ山地への接近ルートなどの調査を行ったのち, 海洋観測を実施しながら帰路についた。3月11日ボートルイスに入港し, 第23次越冬隊は下船した。3月17日ポートルイスを出港し, シンガポール経由, 4月20日東京港に帰着した。This report outlines the summer activities of the 24th Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition (JARE-24) in 1982-1983. The expedition consisted of 35 wintering members led by Dr. Shinji MAE and 10 members of the summer party led by the present author. Three American exchange scientists under the Antarctic Treaty provisions joined the summer party from Tokyo to Fremantle (Dr. T. GOSINK and Mr. T. GREEN) and from Fremantle to Singapore (Mr. G. LANDRETH). The icebreaker FUJI left Tokyo on November 25,1982. After calling at Fremantle, she arrived at the ice edge off Syowa Station on December 31,when the first flight to the station was made. All the cargo for the expedition was transported to the station till January 22,1983 and the wintering members of the JARE-24 took over the duties at the station on February 1. After accomplishment of summer operations in the Syowa Station area, FUJI visited Breid Bay about 600km west of the station. Then she returned to Tokyo on April 20,1983 via Port Louis and Singapore. Oceanographic and ionospheric observations were carried out throughout the voyage. Several field parties for geological, biological and geodetic survey were sent to ice-free areas around Syowa Station. Biological and oceanographical observations under sea ice were carried out at Syowa Station. A party was dispatched to Mizuho Station to take over it and to resupply the materials for wintering. A new power station building at Syowa Station was constructed during the relief period. In the Breid Bay area, the condition of sea ice was observed and some glaciological surveys were carried out in the snow field 30 miles from the ice shelf edge. Also aerial reconnaissance was carried out to find the access route to the Sor Rondane Mountains