Some Environmental Features of Hallett Station, Antarctica, with Special Reference to Soil Arthropods

Introduction: Since Cook's voyage of 1772-1775, numerous expeditions, nationally and independently supported, have explored coastal and inland areas of Antarctica. The primary purpose of most early scientific expeditions was directed toward a study of the physical nature of the continent. In most instances, biologists were not included as expedition personnel and a large portion of the information concerning the flora and fauna of the continent has been contributed by investigators trained in a variety of scientific disciplines. A very few systematic investigations of land flora and soil fauna have been made. In spite of the obvious inadequacy of such investigations, a considerable number of arthropod species have been reported from various part of Antarctica.