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Studies have shown that animals exposed to the stress of extreme cold have an increased need for ascorbic acid. The objective of this paper is to present the relationship between ascorbic acid plasma levels and gingival health as studied in men exposed to the stress of wintering over in Antarctica during the International Geophysical Year, 1957-58. Gingival tissue was selected as an indicator of tissue health, since it seems to reflect ascorbic acid deficiencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents information on several Antarctic expeditions concerning ichthyology. The first Antarctic fishes reported, were collected at Kerguelen Island during the expedition of the EREBUS and TERROR under scientist James Clark Ross from 1839-1843. The first reported sighting of a fish from the Antarctic Circle was also made during this expedition. The CHALLENGER expedition from 1872-1876 collected and researched fishes at Kerguelen, Marion, and Prince Edward Islands. The SOUTHERN CROSS expedition from 1899-1900 explored in the areas of EREBUS and TERROR and provided numerous biological collections. The Swedish South Polar Expedition from 1901-1904 collected research information from South Georgia and along the Antarctic Peninsula.

A group of fourteen men on an Antarctic Station had fortnightly measurements made of the sebaceous excretion of an area of the skin on the forehead and back (under room temperature conditions) for a period of six and eight months respectively. There were significant downward trends on both skin areas, possibly as a result of ultra-violet radiation. There was no evidence of an increase in sebaceous excretion resulting from possible adrenocortical stimulation in the Polar environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A letter to the editor is presented in response to the article "Putting Radioactive Wastes on Ice: A Proposal for an International Radionuclide Depository in Antarctica," by E. J. Zeller, D. F. Saunders and E. E. Angino that was published in the January 1973 issue.

The article discusses the largest group of plants in the Antarctic regions, the bryophytes, which are stated to outnumber vascular plants in species. Several scientists have earlier reviewed the bryophytes of Antarctica and have issued literature on the subject like "Biologie antarctique," and "Antarctic Research." The earliest bryologists to study Antarctic material are stated to hold narrower concepts of species. The article states that in spite of the numerous names given to the bryophytes of Antarctica, the actual number of species in Antarctic Continent is much smaller than at equally higher latitudes in the Arctic. The flowering plants and lichens are of small stature and grow in compressed tufts.

The article examines the proposal for an international radionuclide depository in Antarctica. It states that permanent disposal of radioactive wastes under the Antarctic ice cap would remove the wastes from populated areas and would remove the wastes from all contact with biosphere. The section also lists several major problems to be solved to develop the feasibility of the approach, which includes complete literature and laboratory studies of basic principles involved in the study, followed by experiments and field surveys to achieve its objective.

The article presents the author's discussion regarding the two new thrusts for science in the future, first scientists must learn to participate in the solution of problems and second, scientists must help to demonstrate the value of international science. He states that predicting the future of Antarctica, a region primarily dedicated to science, might seem to be mainly a task of extending the existing patterns, but the world consists of the sum of all its parts. He stresses that it should not be assumed that even remote areas such as Antarctica do not or should not play some part in the shaping of the future of mankind.

The article presents the author's discussion regarding what kind of biological research is being conducted in Antarctica and what science is learning from it. He says that to biologists, the animals of the antarctic seas are among the most fascinating on Earth. He reveals that a glycoprotein antifreeze has been found in the blood of Trematomus fishes and it keeps them from freezing in seawater which is below the freezing point. He presumes that perhaps the glycoprotein interacts with the water to keep it from freezing, it may be useful as a refrigerant for red blood cells, sperm, tissue and other biological materials.

The article presents the author's perspective on the evolution of a venture in Antarctic science. He states that Antarctica, at last, had become an international laboratory, a far cry from the days when plans and movements were discussed in code or cypher lest someone else should forestall the next move. He describes the development of the British Antarctic Survey from a paramilitary operation in World War II and its present work. He hopes that scientists are allowed to continue their studies uninterrupted by outside influences from an over-populated world. INSET: THE CROSSING OF ANTARCTICA.

The article presents the author's view on the development of meteorological knowledge about Antarctica. He says that the question of world-wide pollution is a pressing one and promises to become even more serious and the increase of carbon dioxide, DDT and lead in Antarctica indicates that it is becoming contaminated by man-made pollutants. He emphasizes that it is time to establish stations to measure all aspects of this contamination in order to provide a base line against which to compare future conditions.

The article focuses on the Antarctic Treaty of 1959. In the treaty, after reaffirming the basic rights of the U.S. in Antarctica, the note proposed that the 12 countries having a direct interest in that area conclude a treaty which would have the peaceful purposes. First, freedom of scientific investigation throughout Antarctica by citizens, organizations and governments of all countries and a continuation of the international scientific cooperation which is being carried out so successfully during the current International Geophysical Year. Second, international agreement to ensure that Antarctica be used for peaceful purposes only. Lastly, any other peaceful purposes not inconsistent with the Charter of the United Nations.

The article reports on the proposed scientific policy programs for Antarctica. In 1967, the U.S. legislative and executive branches of government have formulated national policies for the ice cold region of Antarctica, but plans have never been enacted. Detailed research programs about the biological and geological aspects, meteorology and oceanography of the unknown continent are still in the process. Lawmakers are having difficulties in formulating the right scientific policies for the region because of conflicting interests and ideas. Moreover, Congress is focused on the problems about the lack of coordination among agencies involved in studying the continent.

The article describes the effects of rabbit grazing on the grasslands of Macquarie Island, located mid-way between New Zealand and Antarctica. The two widespread dominant species in the grasslands are the Poa foliosa and Stilbocarpa polaris, while the Polystichum vestitum and Poa hamiltoni are the co-dominants that are not widely developed. The article states that the effects of rabbits are due to the selective grazing of only the most number of species. In addition, remote plant communities consisting of few species are likely to be susceptible to rabbit invasion.

A study was made of the selection of Scott Base personnel, and the successful applicants were followed up in Antarctica. Material from observations, discussions, questionnaires, and personality tests indicated that the men were selected for their ability, stability and social adjustment. Performance in Antarctica established the value of the selection methods. Further studies were begun of the personality of the 'professional isolate' and of the psychological effects of wintering-over. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents an analysis of personal and social characteristics of men who volunteered for a special type of hazardous duty, wintering-over at scientific stations in Antarctica. Since 1957, the United States has maintained several year-round stations on the Antarctic continent to implement the Antarctic Research Program supported by the National Science Foundation and the U. S. Navy. Civilian scientists and technicians are directly engaged in research projects while Navy personnel provide necessary logistic support. Groups of Navy and scientific personnel live and work together in close association and interdependence at these stations for approximately a year. Men are selected for Antarctic assignments primarily on the basis of competence in an occupational specialty. Since the station must be a completely self-sustaining community, a wide variety of scientific, technical, and military occupations, such as glaciologist, ionospheric physicist, meteorologist, electronics technician, physician, mechanic, and cook, are represented.

The article presents information about stateside services for scientists attached with the U.S. Antarctic Research Program (USARP). The National Science Foundation provides grant support and logistic assistance to scientists on USARP. The services include maintenance of the BioLabs at McMurdo, Hallett and Palmer Station and medical examinations of scientists. Some services are meant to assist the researcher in his analysis of data. The National Science Foundation works as source of information about the existence of antarctic files, records and documents.

The article presents information about the physiological ecology of marine mammals at McMurdo Sound in Antarctica. The marine mammals in the region can be divided in some categories. They include Pinnipedia which includes seals, sea lions and walruses, Cetacea which includes whales and dolphins and Sirenia which includes dugongs. The seals are half terrestrial and half aquatic mammalians. They live in salt water. Some of them, however, live in the polar seas. The article elaborates on why the Antarctic is one of the best areas for the biological study of marine mammals.

The article presents information about entomological research in Antarctica. The region is good for such research as it has very few plants and animals. For entomologists, Antarctica has well-equipped laboratories and logistics including helicopters, planes, ships and surface vehicles. The U.S. National Science Foundation and the U.S. Navy has provided facilities and logistics for entomologists. About 60 species of terrestrial arthropods are found on the continent. The entomology department of Bishop Museum has participated in the U.S. Antarctic Research Program (USARP).

The article presents information about the U.S. Antarctic Research Program in biology. In 1790, U.S. vessels joined English sealers in the Falklands and South Georgia. James Eights, a New York naturalist, became the first American to visit Antarctica. National expeditions, however, began toward the close of the 19th century. The U.S. Antarctic Research Program has set up a modern biological laboratory to meet the requirements for biological and medical investigations. The U.S. research vessel ELTANIN is a mobile station for oceanographic research.

Provides information related to the Filchner Ice Shelf in Antarctica. Historical background; Presentation of the map of the ice shelf; Discussion on the major geographical features;

The Weddell Sea in the Antarctica is one of the two indentations of the continent and lies to the east of Palmer Land and west of Coat's Land. It is a major feature of the earth with length of about 700 miles and breadth about 1200 miles. While these strong winds of the glacial anticyclones are sufficiently powerful to force the pack away from the shore, they at the same time bring out snow measured by the millions of tons and at very low temperatures. This, added to the seawater, causes it to congeal quickly when the relatively warm blizzard has been succeeded by the cold calm.

The article discusses two elements of the terrestrial vegetation in the Antarctic region, those that show the greatest differences, the flowering plants and the lichens. The flowering plants on the Antarctic Continent belong to two species, the Colobanthus crassifolius in the pink family and the Deschampsia antarctica in the grass family. In Antarctica these flowering plants grow in wet, protected places, towards the north of the Antarctic Circle. The lichens are the other major vegetational element and the flora contains about 350 species. They are found in dry localities and are distributed throughout the continent wherever rocks are exposed. The flowering plants and lichens are of small stature. The flowering plants grow in compressed tufts.

The article presents information about the biological facilities provided by the U.S. in Antarctica. There is a biological laboratory at McMurdo Station. The station consists of three prefabricated buildings. The first unit in the complex was built in 1959. That was the first year of biological work of the U.S. Antarctic Research Program (USARP). Two of the buildings are devoted to general research work while the third one is for microbiological research. A wet laboratory with salt-water aquaria has been added to the station.

A small, loose lying, unbranched, filamentous alga from the Ross Sea, Antarctica, is described as a new species, Lola irregularis. The genus Lola is closely related to the genera Hormiscia, Rhizoclonium, and Chaetomorpha in the family Cladophoraceae. A key to all known species of Lola is included. This is the first record of a species of Lola south of the Antarctic convergence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]