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Moss colonies composed of two species Sanionia uncinata and Bryum pseudotriquetrum are abundant in the vicinity of Great Wall Station on King George Island. Vertical cross-sections of these colonies were examined to know the colony structure indicating the interaction between the two species. In several colonies, a layer composed of B. pseudotriquetrum was partially covered with shoots of S. uncinata (pattern 1). In some other colonies, a layer composed of S. uncinata was partially covered with shoots of B. pseudotriquetrum (pattern 2). For the rest of the colonies, both species coexisted without covering each other (pattern 3). It is concluded that the proportion of the two species in a colony has changed through the colony growth, but the direction of the change varies among the colonies at each site.

The collaboration between Japanese and Chinese biologists started in the 1988/89 season with a three-year program at Great Wall Station, King George Island. For the third year of the program (1990/91), two Japanese botanists carried out the field survey on freshwater algae and bryophytes in the 7th Chinese National Antarctic Expedition (CHINARE-7). Taxonomic study of freshwater algae was carried out at the Fildes Peninsula. About 110 taxa were recognized in the samples collected from a variety of freshwater habitats. Distribution of snow algae was studied with reference to microhabitat and snow properties as a co-operative study with a Chinese scientist. The microclimate and photosynthetic activities of moss colonies around Great Wall Station were studied. Vertical cross-sections of moss colonies were examined to study the structure and dynamics of moss colonies.