DISTRIBUTION AND ECOLOGY OF THE TESTATE RHIZOPOD FAUNA OF THE CONTINENTAL ANTARCTIC ZONE

New records are presented of the occurrence of seven testate rhizopod species in terrestrial habitats in Dronning Maud Land and the Ross Dependency regions of Antarctica: Arcella arenaria, Centropyxis aerophila, Corythion dubium, Difflugia lucida, Diplochlamys timida, Heleopera petricola, Trigonopyxis arcula. All materials examined showed very low species-richness and very low populations (except Arcella arenaria in Bryum moss in Southern Victoria Land) compared with records from other parts of the world. Pooling present results with previous records gives a species list to date of 26 for continental Antarctica. These data are interpreted in light of knowledge of species records from peri-Antarctic islands, Arctic and Alpine regions. It is suggested that temperature, moisture (and the frequency and amplitude of fluctuations in these), pH, and biogeographical factors may be significant influences on the distribution and abundance of testate rhizopod species in continental Antarctica.