Antarctic marine secondary production and the phenomenon of cold adaptation

For several years marine biologists of British Antarctic Survey have been studying the nearshore communities at Signy Island and South Georgia. Most of these studies have been continued throughout the year so that variations in production in both the long and short term have been investigated. In this paper changes in the rate of growth of selected crustacean, molluscan and fish species are considered throughout their life histories. Variations in growth rates are considered in relation to temperature, food availability and mode of life and comparisons are made with species from outside antarctic waters.