Ecophysiological experiments on the springtail Gressitacantha terranova to determine genetic variation, antifreeze proteins and cold tolerance studies

This study sought to carry out primary ecophysiological experiments - cold tolerance - on the springtail Gressitacantha terranova. Bulk collections were made using aspirators and paintbrushes from under rocks in the foothills surrounding Gondwana Station, to assay for and isolate an antifreeze protein. Samples were also collected for investigation of genetic variation (DNA isolated and patterns of variation analysed) across an altitudinal transect. A portion of collected animals were assayed for cold tolerance (critical thermal minima and crystallisation temperature) using cold stage microscopy and PicoLoggers. An alcohol bath was used to control cooling of samples. This is the first study of its kind in Antarctic Collembola.