Freshwater invertebrates of subantarctic South Georgia

Abstract

Twenty‐one lakes, ten pools, seven coastal pools, three streams, two seal wallows, a penguin wallow, and three flooded moss carpets on South Georgia were sampled for aquatic invertebrates. More than 100 invertebrate species were found comprising 59 species of Rotifera, 29 Arthropoda (including five Anomopoda, three Calanoida, two Harpacticoida, three Ostracoda, 12 Acarina and four Insecta) and at least 22 other invertebrate species (including four Platyhelminthes, three Gastrotricha, six Tardigrada, six Nematoda, and two species of Annelida). The fauna of South Georgia, although similar to that of the other Scotia Arc Islands, particularly Signy Island, is much richer by virtue of its lower latitude and milder climate.