The presence and extent of interstitial meiofauna in sandy beaches and stream and coastal water sampling to determine the nutrient input to the sea from penguin colonies

The presence and extent of the interstitial meiofauna that developed in the sandy beach when the push-ice had melted or rafted out was investigated. The timing of melting was late and only a short period of time was available for sampling. The nutrient levels from the meltwater streams that flow from the ice face and down across the moraine at Cape Bird was also investigated. The river 300m north of the Cape Bird hut was regularly sampled at 3 points; the origin at the base of the Mt Bird ice cap, before the flow enters the penguin colony and after its passage through the colony where it enters the sea. Samples were analysed for reactive phosphate and nitrates (unsuccessful for nitrates). Flow rates were measured using a v-notch weir, water depth transects and flow velocity. Comparisons were made with a second meltwater stream to the south of Cape Bird hut where the water flowed only through glacial remain. The coastal seawater was also regularly sampled and analysed. Trial collations of freshwater fauna showed dense growths of Protozoa. Tardigrads and rotifers were found to abound in patches of mass and algae on the seepage that emerge on the beach at Cape Bird.

本研究针对推冰（push-ice）融化或浮离后于沙滩中繁衍的间隙小型底栖动物（interstitial meiofauna）的存在情况与分布范围展开了调查。推冰融化的时间较晚，仅留有极短的采样窗口期。
同时，本研究还对源自冰面、沿伯德角（Cape Bird）冰碛物（moraine）径流的融水溪流中的营养盐水平开展了调查。位于伯德角小屋以北300米处的融水溪流，于三个固定点位开展定期采样：分别为伯德山冰盖（Mt Bird ice cap）山麓的源头处、径流进入企鹅栖息地（penguin colony）前的河段，以及径流穿过栖息地后入海前的河段。
对采集的水样开展了活性磷酸盐（reactive phosphate）与硝酸盐（nitrates）的检测分析，但硝酸盐检测未获有效结果。水流流速通过V形缺口堰（v-notch weir）、水深断面（water depth transects）测量法与流速测定完成量化。
本研究同时以伯德角小屋以南的另一处融水溪流作为对照：该溪流的径流仅流经冰川遗迹（glacial remain）区域。研究还对沿岸海水开展了定期采样与检测分析。
淡水动物群的初步编目结果显示，原生动物（Protozoa）存在密集增殖现象。在伯德角海滩出露的渗流区的团块与藻类斑块中，研究人员发现缓步动物（Tardigrads）与轮虫（rotifers）大量聚集。