MICROORGANISM NUMBERS IN THE DEEP LAYERS OF THE CENTRAL ANTARCTIC ICE-SHEET

Our study of the deep layers of the Central Antarctic ice-sheet reveal ed a constant, and fairly rapid, drift of microorganisms onto the surf ace of the continental ice-sheet. Examination by direct microscopy rev ealed much larger cell numbers than did a plating-out method. It appea rs that the large portion of the microorganisms either perished in the course of the prolonged encasement in the depths of the ice-sheet, or else they failed to grow on the nutrient media employed by us. Photog raphs of cells, obtained by scanning electron microscopy and luminesce nt microscopy, are presented.