Panagrolaimus magnivulvatus Boström, 1995 in nest material, algae and soils from inland nunataks in western Dronning Maud Land, Antarctica

Abstract

Panagrolaimus magnivulvatus Boström, 1995 is reported from habitats on inland nunataks in western Dronning Maud Land, continental Antarctica. This species was recorded in lithosols of three of the 11 nunataks (Marsteinen, Lorentzenpiggen and Valterkulten) sampled during the 1992-93 summer. In addition, it was found in high numbers in material from inside the nests of the snow petrel Pagodroma nivea and in the algae Prasiola crispa at nest entrances on nunataks of the Robertskollen group. Panagrolaimus magnivulvatus from Roberts-kollen is described, scanning electron micrographs of its morphology are given and the specimens are compared with the type population from the Steinnabben nunatak in Dronning Maud Land, as described by Boström (I995). It is especially those Robertskollen specimens found in nest material that differ from specimens of the type population, mainly in longer and thicker bodies, longer tails and longer spicules in males. Novelty characters of the present specimens are the single adanal papilla situated on the anterior lip of the cloaca and the tail tips which are either pointed or bifurcated.