Desarrollo de la Antártica

EL DESARROLLO DE LA ANTÁRTICA biology in the Antarctic Ocean still at present. Tihe significant marine biological characterístics in this ocean such as a considerably short life of tihe food ohain and a simple structure of ecosystem were already found by this research expedition. Further, the fundamental biological 'knowledge of Antarctic kríll (Euphausia superba) also was discovered by Discovery Ii1. Sínce the time of lGY, ~ystematic studies of fauna and flora in the Antarctíc continent and its' vicinity as well as the marine biological researches in the Antarctic Ocean [}ave been markedly developed. though the structure and function of Antarctic ecosystem have llot yet been fully quantitatively clarified at presento a) Terrestrial Biology in ¡he Antarctic continent In general, Antarctic fauna and flora comprise the mzcro-organís1tl\ and the lJ(nveT plants respectively. Starting witih the taxonomical researches of these fauna and flora in earIy times, the ecological and physiological researches also have recently been remarkably developed. It has 'been iknown, in particular, that the terrestrial ecosystem in researches of these fauna ano flora in earIy times, the ecological ':lnd Antarctica is very closely related to the marine' ecosystem in the surrounding sea. The flora and fauna in Antarctica are simple and poor. Only two specie~ of fue tlowering planq have been discovered to datle ~.n AntarCtic Penins~la. T1he other Antarctic flora consist of only mosses, lichenoS and algae. Moreover, t'he vegetations of these mo&ses, lichens and algae are developed only in limíted areas of exposed rocks near the Antarctic coast. For example, the moss community is deveIoped mostly over sand area on the hill slope behind the prevailing wind; the vegetation of mosses, lichens and algae are frequently found in the neighbourhood of penguine rookeries and nests of snow petrels. These observed facts may sugg,est th.1t the Antarctic plant vegetations can be developed mostly in the areas where the necessary water is properly supplied and the necessary nutritive elements can be adequately supplied from the excrements of the&e Antarctic birds. Recently large groups of mites and coUembolans have been found in the moss vegetations ::md their ceighbouring soils. It has been further found that Iprotozoans and rotifers are living in the mO!ls water. It is believed t11at these micro-organism& are dependent on bacteria in the vegetation of the lower plants and neighbouring soils. Antarctic birds, such as penguins (Emperor, Adelie. Chinstrap and C.,-entoo penguins> south-polar SkíU.a, snow petrel, rund others are get-