Japan-China Collaborative research of terrestrial biology at Great Wall Station, King George Island in 1989/90

Abstract

The collaboration between Japanese and Chinese biologists has started from the 1988/89 season with a three-year program at Great Wall Station, King George Island. Two Japanese zoologists participated in the 6th Chinese Antarctic Research Expedition for the second year, and carried out the ecological survey of terrestrial invertebrates and the study on cold-hardiness of some terrestrial arthropods. The ecological survey comprised the measurement of microclimatic conditions of moss communities and sampling of invertebrates from various habitats. An oribatid mite, a springtail and a podonomine midge were examined for the study on the cold-hardiness with respect to the adaptation to the cold climate in the Antarctic summer.