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Soil Fauna of Antarctic Coastal Landscapes

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Geoecology of Antarctic Ice-Free Coastal Landscapes

Part of the book series: Ecological Studies ((ECOLSTUD,volume 154))

Abstract

The endemic soil fauna of the maritime and continental Antarctic is taxonomically limited and consists almost entirely of arthropods, particularly the springtails (Collembola), and mites (Acari). Chironomid midges (Diptera) and beetles (Coleoptera) have also been recorded from the Antarctic Peninsula and the South Shetland, and Orkney Islands (Gressitt 1964; Balfour Browne and Tilbrook 1966; Wirth and Gressitt 1967). Notable exceptions to this generalisation are the smaller protozoans, tardigrades, rotifers and nematodes, which are also commonly found in both continental and maritime areas (Gressitt 1965; Utsugi and Ohyama 1989; Bullini et al. 1994). Unfortunately, ecological work on these latter taxa is limited, and our focus here will be primarily on the larger, soil-dwelling arthropods.

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  1. I. D. Hogg
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  2. M. I. Stevens
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  1. Institut für Polarökologie, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, Wischhofstr. 1-3, 24148, Kiel, Germany

    Lothar Beyer  & Manfred Bölter  & 

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Hogg, I.D., Stevens, M.I. (2002). Soil Fauna of Antarctic Coastal Landscapes. In: Beyer, L., Bölter, M. (eds) Geoecology of Antarctic Ice-Free Coastal Landscapes. Ecological Studies, vol 154. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-56318-8_15

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