Detailed descriptions and culturing of Oscillatoriaceae algae from Cape Royds and the Garwood Valley

The sites of the first detailed account of Cyanophyta in the Ross Sea Region (West and West, 1911) collected by Shackleton's 1907-09 expedition were revisited and detailed descriptions of Oscillatoriaceae (the most abundant family of Cyanophyta) occurring in abundance as thick felts covering the bottom of ponds, lakes and streams were recorded. Samples were collected for culturing studies from pond, stream and soil habitats at Cape Royds and in the Garwood Valley. Illustrations were made of representative specimens of all taxa encountered and measurements of the widths of large numbers of trichomes were made. Environmental data was collected and included pH, water conductivity and water temperature.