There is probably something buried deeply within the human genome that urges man to collect, sort, and classify. How else is it possible to explain a child's collection of matchbook covers or Mendeleev's periodic classification of the elements? Systematic palaeontology and biostratigraphy turn this natural urge to very practical purposes, for the geologist and the evolutionist are dependent on the results. However, anyone reading the pages of certain palaeobiological journals, or a certain type of article on extinction, might be forgiven for concluding that we now have reached the point where further systematic description of fossils and further refining of our biostratigraphic classification had reached the point of diminishing returns.

Over the past twenty years, nine legs of the Ocean Drilling Programme (ODP) and its predecessor the Deep Sea Drilling Project have been conducted at high southern latitudes (>45°S). Only four have taken place near the margins of the Antarctic continent (>60°S), the last off the Amery Ice Shelf in 1988. At present, JOIDES Resolution is drilling on the Chile Rise-Chile Trench triple junction (46°S), but she will return to lower latitudes at the end of this leg (#141). The Planning Committee of ODP has already approved a schedule that precludes a return to the Antarctic prior to the 1994–95 austral summer at the earliest. Few proposals for Antarctic drilling have even been submitted in recent years; none has received high ranking. This should be a matter of considerable concern to the Antarctic earth sciences community. The JOIDES Resolution is an international asset with a unique sampling capability but the lifetime of the ODP may not extend beyond 1998.

In 1972 the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment called for a ten year moratorium on commercial whaling. The International Whaling Commission (IWC, then made up of 14 member governments) did not accept this resolution, taking the view that regulation by species and stocks was the more practical method of whale conservation. In the following years it reduced catches, introduced a new management procedure, and embarked on an international decade of cetacean research.

One year ago, at the Bremerhaven Colloquium, we celebrated the end of BIOMASS. Its primary and inspiring goal had been to reach a “deeper understanding” of the structure and functioning of the Antarctic Marine Ecosystem as a basis for the future management of potential living resources. Fifteen years of intense studies in the Southern Ocean have produced a great wealth of information and some increase in understanding. We are now far more cautious before making sweeping statements on Southern Ocean productivity. We doubt that the question, “How much krill is in the Southern Ocean?” can ever be answered. Instead, we think in terms of regional stocks and of their production rates; we are interested in the fluxes between the compartments of the ecosystem and we consider variability more important than averages and steady rates.

The James Ross Island area is recognized as one of the geological treasures of Antarctica. It exposes a section of over 6 km of Cretaceous and Tertiary marine sedimentary strata with an important content of reworked Upper Jurassic rocks near the base. This sequence has produced some of the most remarkable fossil finds in the Southern Hemisphere. The list is extensive and includes a wealth of marine invertebrates, plesiosaurs, dinosaurs, land mammals and birds, giant penguins, whales, and fossil leaves and wood. The sediments record a long history of submarine fan, shelf and deltaic deposition in a back-arc environment, and the contained fossils provide valuable information on Cretaceous and Tertiary climates, and biological evolution at high palaeolatitudes.

Scales and whole otoliths were used for age estimation of juvenile Notothenia rossii specimens collected at Potter Cove, King George Island, South Shetland Islands, between 1983 and 1988. Results from the analysis of both types of material showed 96.7% agreement. Likewise, the examination of otolith cross sections of chosen specimens confirmed in all the cases the age readings obtained from the second whole sagittal otolith. Although the commonly accepted 1 July was used as the birth date of the fish for age calculations, data indicate that 1 October is closer to the biological birth date, since this species hatches in Spring. The length-age range of the fish was 18–44 cm and 3–7 years respectively, which fits well with the known length-age distribution of juvenile specimens of the species in the fjord. A comparison between observed and back-calculated mean length of age group 3 (24.6 and 25 cm respectively) indicated that not only the larger fish but the full size range of this age group was represented in our samples. Mean length data at age presented here are similar to the ones reported for fish from Admiralty Bay, King George Island, but differ from those of fish caught off Elephant Island. The use of whole otoliths for age estimation of juvenile N. rossii proved to be a reliable method with a precision of one year but, this might not be an appropriate technique for adult specimens.

The James Ross Island area is recognized as one of the geological treasures of Antarctica. It exposes a section of 5–6 km of Cretaceous and Tertiary marine sedimentary strata with an important content of reworked Upper Jurassic rocks near the base. This succession is probably one of the most important Cretaceous sequences in the Southern Hemisphere.

The Cretaceous period is often regarded as one of "greenhouse" warmth, with perhaps its acme occurring in the late Albian stage (100 Ma ago). However, it is now apparent that, even at this time, there were significant meridional temperature gradients and distinct temperate biotas in the highest latitude regions. This is particularly so in the Southern Hemisphere, where an extensive Albian fossil record from Antarctica, Australia and New Zealand has revealed the presence of austral floras and faunas. With the recent improvements in stratigraphical correlations, it has become possible to trace the later Cretaceous palaeoenvironmental record in the Antarctic Peninsula region. Unfortunately, resolution of the early Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian–Coniacian stages) is still imprecise; there are some indications of strongly differentiated palynological assemblages, but studies of both macrofaunas and palaeotemperature estimates are incomplete. By the Santonian–Campanian, high-latitude biotas are well developed in the James Ross Island region and their enhancement through the final stages of the Cretaceous can be linked to a phase of global cooling. The persistence of low diversity temperate communities in high latitude regions may be of considerable ecological and evolutionary significance. For example, there is evidence to suggest that these communities may have been more resistant to mass extinction events; they may also have been important source regions for replacement taxa that arose after such events.

Temperatures within soil and plant habitats on Signy Island in the maritime Antarctic were measured during 1987. Four sites were monitored using minithermistors attached to a data logging system. Three main periods within the annual temperature cycle were identified. In spring/summer (November–March) there was much inter-day variation in maximum temperatures, but minimum daily temperatures were always close to 0°C. However, there were very few freeze-thaw cycles extending below the −0.5°C threshold during this period, and those that occurred were not severe. It is considered that freeze-thaw cycling is unlikely to be a significant factor in organism survival during summer. All sites showed a long period of relatively mild subzero temperatures during autumn (March–May). This may be of importance in promoting cold-hardiness of organisms living in these ecosystems before the decline to lower winter temperatures. Minimum winter temperatures varied markedly between sites; lowest temperatures occurring in areas where there was little insulating snow cover. Within site temperature variation was generally small, confirming the validity of the use of small numbers of probes to monitor environmental temperatures in such habitats.

Tintinnid ciliates were present throughout the upper (100m) water column of the ice-edge zone when sampled in autumn 1986 in the Weddell Sea. Biomass ranged from 0.02 μgC1−1 under the sea-ice to 1.3 μgC1−1 in the ice-free water column. Cymatocylis, Codonellopsis, Laackmaniella and a small Salpingella were the most abundant and/or largest biomass contributors. The under ice assemblage was characterized by low biomass and dominated by small species (Salpingella and Codonellopsis); the ice edge stations were dominated by these same taxa but in higher abundances while the open water assemblage was characterized by high biomass and dominated by Cymatocylis, the largest taxa. All taxa exhibited maximum concentrations in the upper 50m of the water column. Both krill and salps grazed upon the Cymatocylis and Codonellopsis without preference in both the ice covered and open water regimes.

About 1500 photographs from three different areas along the eastern Weddell Sea shelf and slope were analysed with respect to their sponge fauna. On the basis of material collected in concurrent bottom trawls, 34 sponge taxa were identified. Cluster and multidimensional scaling analysis showed the sponges to belong to different associations. Spatial extension of the associations is judged to be between several hundred meters and about 2 km. A deeper association (390–1125 m) on predominantly muddy substrates along a transect at Halley Bay is characterized by four opportunistic demosponge species; a second association on harder substrate in shallower depths (99–225m) off Kapp Norvegia is more diverse, with hexactinellids as one dominant component. A third cluster, comprising both Halley Bay and Kapp Norvegia stations (458–626 m), is dominated by four species which constitute a subcluster within the Kapp Norvegia sponge association. Densities vary strongly within clusters and in between geographically close stations. The species associations are related to different substrates, not to depth. Within single stations most species are patchily distributed. Both association structure and species distribution within single stations can be explained on the basis of the biology of the single sponge species.

A sedimentary sequence, c. 5–6 km thick, extending from the Kimmeridgian–Upper Eocene crops out in the James Ross Island area, northern Antarctic Peninsula. This succession is the most important onshore Late Cretaceous–Tertiary sequence in Antarctica and is probably one of the most significant Cretaceous sequences in the Southern Hemisphere. However, the understanding of the geological and palaeontological evolution of the area has been limited by an incomplete knowledge of the biostratigraphy of this region. Palynological studies are providing a finer resolution biostratigraphical zonation scheme than previously possible. This paper reviews the stratigraphy of the basin fill succession and provides a framework for the papers published in this Special Issue.

Brown trout were introduced to the Van den Boogaard River on subantarctic Marion Island in 1964, and a small population became established. The last individual was seen in 1984, and the species is now considered to be extinct on the island. Their diet was exclusively allochthonous, with snails and spiders predominating. Ages estimated at six to eleven years showed that spawning must have occurred since the original introduction. Since the Van den Boogaard River enters the sea via a waterfall, it is postulated that trout were not able to practice an anadromous life-style, and that this, as well as other factors connected with the impoverished nature of the stream, led to dwarfing of the resident population. No further introductions of alien fish to Marion Island should be contemplated.

Icefish (Champsocephalus) were taken as bycatch during krill fishing operations from a research vessel. The data indicate that the bycatch of fish in the commercial krill fishery may be significant in some areas of the South Georgia shelf. The problem is thought to be least in open ocean krill fishing.

Chlorinated hydrocarbons were measured in seven species of Antarctic fish (Pagothenia bernacchii, P. hansoni, Trematomus centronotus, T. newnesi, Chionodraco hamatus, Cygnodraco mawsoni, and Gymnodraco acuticeps) from in the Ross Sea near Terra Nova Bay (74°40'S 164°10'E). Hexachlorobenzene (HCB), pp' DDT and its derivatives DDE and DDD, and about 20 congeners of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)were found in muscle and liver. Levels of pp′ DDE were positively correlated with body length in P. bernacchii and the plot of concentrations showed higher values in males than females of the same body weight class. The results confirm the presence of these chlorinated hydrocarbons in the Antarctic marine food chain and an increase of PCBs with respect to DDTs. The “fingerprint” of C. hamatus is different from that of other Antarctic organisms and of fish from other parts of the world, suggesting possible metabolic differences.

An allochthonous block of the Nordenskjöld Formation from north-west James Ross Island, Antarctic Peninsula has yielded a diverse marine palynoflora. Dinoflagellate cyst assemblages from the 185 m thick sequence are described and compared with similar microfloras previously described from Australia, Papua New Guinea and Madagascar. A mid Tithonian (Late Jurassic) age is suggested for the section. One new genus, Helbydinium gen. nov. and four new species, Helbydinium scabratum sp. nov., Leptodinium acneum sp. nov., Leptodinium posterosulcatum sp. nov. and Rhynchodiniopsis foveata sp. nov. are described.

Southern elephant seals (Mirounga leonina) are among the most proficient of mammalian divers and are a major component of the Antarctic food web. Yet little is known of their movements or interaction with their oceanic environment. Specially designed satellite-link data loggers allowed us to visualize the 3-D movements of elephant seals as they swam rapidly from South Georgia to distant (up to 2650 km) areas of Antarctic continental shelf. One seal dived continuously to the sea bed in one small area for a month, implying consumption of benthic prey. Dives here were shorter even though average swimming velocity was lower. It is suggested that the physiological requirements of feeding and digestion reduced the aerobic dive limit. Long distance travel to relocatable hydrographic or topographical features, such as shelf breaks, may allow large predators to locate prey more consistently than from mid-ocean searches.

An obligately anaerobic bacterium that lacked a cell wall was isolated from the hypolimnion of Ace Lake, Antarctica. Cells were very pleomorphic, forming cocci, filaments up to 25 μm in length, and annular shapes. The organism was morphologically very similar to some members of the class Mollicutes which contains two genera of obligately anaerobic bacteria, Anaeroplasma and Asteroleplasma. Like members of the class, the isolate was resistant to high concentrations of penicillin (1000 Units ml-1). Similar to Anaeroplasma, the organism had a low DNA G+C content (29.3±0.4) and produced hydrogen, carbon dioxide, acetic acid, lactic acid and succinic acid from the fermentation of glucose. However, the taxonomic status of the strain remained unclear as, unlike members of the class Mollicutes, the isolate had a relatively large genome size (2.26±0.11 × 109 daltons), did not pass through 0.45 μm pore size filters, and did not form typical mycoplasma-like colonies. The organism was psychrophilic with an optimum temperature for growth between 12°C and 13°C. A phenotypic description of the organism is given and the ecological role of the organism is inferred from its phenotype and the characteristics of its Antarctic habitat.

Palynomorph assemblages are reported from the Kotick Point and Whisky Bay formations in west and north-west James Ross Island, Antarctic Peninsula. The microfloras, particularly the dinoflagellate cyst florules, indicate an Aptian to early/mid Albian age for the Kotick Point Formation and a mid Albian to Turonian age for the Whisky Bay Formation on the basis of comparison with records from other Southern Hemisphere localities. The ages adduced broadly corroborate those previously derived from macrofaunas. The dinoflagellate cyst floras are closely comparable with those previously reported from Australasia to the extent that recognition of certain microplankton zones is possible. The miospore flora is largely composed of long ranging taxa of limited age diagnostic value. The palynoflora comprises 77 dinoflagellate cyst, 52 miospore and 7 acritarch, chlorophyte and prasinophyte taxa.

During a three month research cruise near the island of South Georgia, sea surface temperature (SST) increased from c. 2°C to over 4°C. Satellite derived SST show that this corresponded to a rapid southward and eastward shift of isotherms in the northern Scotia Sea, which could have resulted from changes in the wind field. At the same time, observation from the ship of seabirds close to the island indicated changes in the abundance of some non-resident species, whereas resident breeders from South Georgia, such as black-browed albatrosses (Diomedea melanophris) and prions (Pachyptila spp.) which were foraging locally, were present at consistent density in both halves of the survey. Blue petrels (Halobaena caerulea) left the area after breeding, so were associated only with the low water temperatures during the first part of the cruise. In contrast, great shearwaters (Puffinus gravis) and soft-plumaged petrels (Pterodroma mollis) migrated into the area later in the survey. These birds were almost certainly non-breeders which were feeding in the warmer water which had moved towards the island.