SCUBA diving for Antarctic lake research in Syowa Station area

Abstract

Biological surveys of lake bottom vegetation, sediments structure, and photosynthesis activity by SCUBA diving were performed in January 2004, in two lakes in the Skarvsnes area, about 50km south of Syowa Station. Two biologists of the 45th Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition (JARE) participated in the surveys. B-4 Ike (tentative name) is a freshwater lake with only 3m depth maximum. Structures of moss pillars and algal mats were investigated in detail, and photosynthesis activity was measured on-site. Namazu Ike (tentative name) is a freshwater lake with 20m depth maximum. Mosses were found from 3m to the deepest bottom of the lake. A crest-like vegetation structure was found at the bottom deeper than 10m.