Microfauna surveys of the vegetation of the Fryxell Stream flush area, Taylor Valley

Mosses were sampled from the Canada Glacier flush area, Taylor Valley, for included animals (major groups of microfauna in Antarctica are the protozoa, nematoda, tardigrada and rotifers) to attempt to relate their occurrence to either moss species or some environmental factor. Mosses were sampled by coring (10mm diameter) with the cores being subdivided into three layers 5mm thick. Cores were wetted and held at 2°C for one hour. Animal counts were made by microscope. Transects were surveyed across the flush and diel runs made to discover changes in numbers through the day.