Parameters affecting sensory and metabolic adaptations in Antarctic vertebrates and invertebrates

The sense organs of three species of Antarctic fish and Antarctic octopus, scallops and collembolans were fixed for electron microscopy. Pigmented spots around the oral cavity of nemertean worms, the lateral line tissue of two fish species and the spinal cord from Pagothenia borchgrevinki were fixed for microscopy. Retinal samples of 8 species of Antarctic fish, the Antarctic octopus and some crustaceans were freeze dried for visual pigment analysis. The fluctuations in photopigment quantities over a 72 hour period in two species of Antarctic crustaceans using freeze dried samples of eyes from animals in their natural environment was investigated. The effects of elevated temperature on photopigment levels within the cell membrane and the crytoplasm was studied to determine the mechanism by which photopigment molecules are held in the membrane. Various tissues (spleen, liver, blood, etc) of two species of fish were sampled and freeze dried for studies on the nature of cold active enzymes. Blood samples of Dissostichus mawsoni were used to test the effectiveness of Antarctic fish blood antifreeze in the processing of meat. Digestive tissues from Antarctic nemertean worms were used to study the effectiveness of cold active proteolytic enzymes. The survival ability of different Antarctic species in contaminated water was tested. Water samples were analysed for chemical and biological activity. A freshwater mite was discovered in glacial melt water streams of the Taylor Valley.