The place of the Antarctic in biological sciences

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Abstract
The Antarctic offers a number of special features and opportunities for biological science. The dominating marine ecosystem is rich in nutrients and biologically very productive. The relatively few species of plants and animals are highly adapted to the rigorous climatic conditions and to the extreme annual pattern of day length and light intensity. The terrestrial and freshwater communities are even more restricted in species composition and are adapted to an even more rigorous climate. The understanding of ecological processes and trophic relations in such systems is of fundamental importance, and is essential before technology is developed to exploit the vast biological resources of the Southern Ocean. Special environmental features of the Antarctic have led to the development of remarkable adaptations in plants and animals, and there is opportunity for detailed study at the levels of the life cycle, behaviour, physiology and biochemistry. Further, with the recent developments in the understanding of plate tectonics, and the increasing acceptance of the concept of continental drift there is now an increasing need for knowledge about the biological history of this area.

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