Parameters affecting sensory and metabolic adaptations in Antarctic vertebrates and invertebrates

Pigmented spots around the oral cavity of nemertean worms, the lateral line tissue of two fish species and the spinal cord from Pagothenia borchgrevinki were fixed for microscopy. Retinal samples of 8 species of Antarctic fish, the Antarctic octopus and some crustaceans were freeze dried for visual pigment analysis.

The fluctuations in photopigment quantities over a 72 hour period in two species of Antarctic crustaceans using freeze dried samples of eyes from animals in their natural environment was investigated. The effects of elevated temperature on photopigment levels within the cell membrane and the crytoplasm was studied to determine the mechanism by which photopigment molecules are held in the membrane. Various tissues (spleen, liver, blood, etc) of two species of fish were sampled and freeze dried for studies on the nature of cold active enzymes.