大亚湾澳头水域浮游植物群落结构及周年数量动态

对1997年至1998年广东省大亚湾澳头水域的浮游植物群落进行调查和分析。结果发现浮游植物65属198种;硅藻在种类组成和数量上都比甲藻占有优势,存在春季和秋季高峰,主要优势类群依次是角毛藻、骨条藻、拟菱形藻等;甲藻只存在春季高峰,代表种类有裸甲藻、原甲藻等。主要优势种类的生长与调查水域的盐度没有明显关系,但全年水温的季节性变化对优势种类的消长影响显著。Simpson多样性指数、Shannon-Weaver多样性指数、均匀度的年平均值分别是0.611、2.107、0.557,多样性指数没有明显的季节变化规律和水平分布规律。       

南麂列岛海洋自然保护区浮游植物的种类多样性及其生态分布

于2006年5月至2007年2月之间,对南麂列岛海域的浮游植物类群进行了4个季节的调查,分析了该海域浮游植物的种类组成、优势种类、群落结构以及水平分布等特征参数的季节变化。共鉴定浮游植物80种,隶属于4个门,硅藻种类最多,甲藻其次。浮游植物可划分为3个生态类群,以广温类群为主。春季和夏季分别以三角棘原甲藻和中肋骨条藻为绝对优势种,秋冬季的优势种类组成多样化。共鉴定57种赤潮生物,占浮游植物种类数的71.25%。调查期间,三角棘原甲藻和中肋骨条藻分别于春季和夏季形成赤潮。浮游植物的物种丰富度呈现春、夏、秋、冬递减的趋势。浮游植物细胞丰度的年平均值为1.03×106cells/L,春夏季显著高于秋冬季。春季和夏季时,浮游植物高值区集中在南麂岛西北近岸海域;秋季和冬季时,浮游植物高值区相对集中在南麂岛东南近岸海域。浮游植物群落的多样性指数(H')以秋季最高,冬季最低。春季的三角棘原甲藻赤潮期间,水体中N/P值显著升高;夏季的中肋骨条藻赤潮期间,水体中N/P值显著降低。     

熊河水库浮游植物群落结构的周年变化

自2007年5月至2008年4月对湖北省枣阳市熊河水库的浮游植物群落进行调查和分析.调查共发现浮游植物49属74种,绿藻在种类组成上占绝对优势,共40种,其次为蓝藻,有15种,硅藻11种,甲藻3种,金藻和裸藻各2种,隐藻仅1种.蓝藻存在夏季(7月)高峰,优势种为卷曲鱼腥藻(Anabaena circinalis);硅藻、隐藻和甲藻均存在一个春季(3或4月)高峰,优势种分别为双头针杆藻(Synedra amphicephala)、羽纹脆杆藻(Fragilaria pinnata)、卵形隐藻(Cryptomonas ovata)和二角多甲藻(Peridinium bipes).Simpson多样性指数、Shannon-Wiener多样性指数、Pielou均匀度指数和Margalef丰富度指数的年平均值分别是0.60、2.20、0.76和1.15.多样性指数和均匀度指数具有明显的季节变化规律,但无明显的空间分布规律.     

1998年秋季渤海中部及其邻近海域的网采浮游植物群落

研究了1998年秋季覆盖渤海中部和渤海海峡及其邻近海域30个测站两遍大面调查的网采浮游植物物种及其群落特征。经初步分析,共发现浮游植物3门类38属84种(不包括未定名物种),物种主要以硅藻为主,但甲藻在群落中的比重也很明显,在个别站位上会成为优势类群。优势物种主要为偏心圆筛藻(Coscinodiscus excentricus)、梭状角藻(Ceratium fusus)、洛氏角毛藻(Chaetoceros lorenzianus)、浮动弯角藻(Eucampia zodiacus)、叉状角藻(Ceratium furca)、佛氏海线藻(Thalassionema frauenfeldii)、中华半管藻(Hemiaulus sinensis)、尖刺伪菱形藻(Pseudo-nitzschia pungens)、布氏双尾藻(Ditylum brightwellii)、粗刺角藻(Ceratium horridum)、掌状冠盖藻(Stephanopyxis palmeriana)和萎软几内亚藻(Guinardia flaccida)。细胞丰度的平面分布由主要浮游硅藻的分布所决定,其高值区分布在渤海湾、渤海中部、莱州湾北部和渤海海峡南部。浮游甲藻在渤海湾北部和莱州湾北部等局部区域形成高值区,并影响浮游植物的平面分布。两遍大面站调查期间渤海浮游植物群落的结构是相对保守的,渤海浮游植物群落季节和周年的变化主要是物种演替过程。调查期处于浮游植物群落的负增长时期,其主要原因是物理水文作用的结果。与1982年的历史同期浮游植物群落相比,角毛藻属衰退,浮游甲藻、圆筛藻属和浮动弯角藻兴起。但与1992年的历史同期浮游植物群落相比,群落优势种组成相近。同1982年和1992年同期资料相比,浮游植物细胞丰度和平面分布大致相等。渤海秋季浮游植物群落结构在近20a是相对保守的,影响秋季浮游植物群落发展的主要因素是物理水文作用。     

台山附近海域浮游植物的季节变化及其与环境因子的关系

于2015年12月至2016年9月,对台山附近海域浮游植物群落结构及环境因子进行了4个季度调查。记录浮游植物113种,分属6门64属,其中以硅藻种类最多,达31属67种,占59.2%;甲藻次之,10属18种,占15.9%;硅藻的种类组成和丰度均占绝对优势,其次为甲藻、绿藻,甲藻丰度春季最高,而绿藻丰度最高则出现在夏季;浮游植物年平均丰度为7.06×105cells·L~(-1),春季明显高于其他3个季节,呈现春(2.65×106cells·L~(-1))、夏(6.3×104cells·L~(-1))、秋(5.6×104cells·L~(-1))、冬(5.4×104cells·L~(-1))递减的趋势;主要优势种有丹麦细柱藻(Leptocylindrus danicus)、洛氏角毛藻(Chaetoceros lorenzianus)、辐射圆筛藻(Coscinodiscus radiates)、布氏双尾藻(Ditylum brightwellii)、中肋骨条藻(Skeletonema costatum)和球形棕囊藻(Phaeocystis globosa)等,其中中肋骨条藻为全年优势种;浮游植物物种多样性指数、丰富度指数和均匀度年平均值分别为2.98、3.34和0.69;温度、盐度、p H、化学需氧量、硝酸盐及活性磷酸盐在不同季节不同程度影响着浮游植物群落结构,形成春季高峰的关键因子是盐度、p H和硝酸盐。     

阳江核电站邻近水域浮游植物群落结构及其季节变化

报道了2009—2010年阳江核电站Ⅱ期工程邻近水域的浮游植物群落结构与季节动态,估算了温排水的影响范围,并探讨了温排水对浮游植物群落的影响和预测。结果表明:78份样品鉴定浮游植物6门50属125种,季节平均丰度为(111.8±120.6)(103cells·L-1;硅藻主导型群落,占所有物种的75.4%,其次为甲藻,占19.8%;着色鞭毛藻(棕囊藻)在11月增殖,其丰度的数量级尚未达到发生赤潮的程度;主要优势种为丹麦细柱藻(Leptocylindrus danicus)、斯氏几内亚藻(Guinaridia striata)、中肋骨条藻(Skeletonema costatum)、尖刺伪菱形藻(Pseudonitzchia pungens)、念珠直链藻(Melosira moniliformis)、球形棕囊藻(Phaeocystis globosa)、叉分角藻(Ceratium furca)、密联角毛藻(Chaetoceros densus)等;种类组成及丰度分布有明显季节变化,密集中心不同;丰度分布总体呈现东部近岸向西南离岸减低的态势;11月的浮游植物物种多样性指数(H’)和均匀度(J’)均低,棕囊藻优势度极高,细胞丰度的种间分配不均匀,群落结构不稳定,4、8月反之;温排水的扩散范围估算为10km,浮游植物种类的季节更替反映了物种对温度的生态适应性,棕囊藻高丰度的发生需引起重视;阳江核电站Ⅱ期的温排水效应对浮游植物群落结构的作用并不明显。     

莱州湾金城海域网采浮游植物年际变化及与环境因子的关系

为了解莱州湾金城海域浮游植物群落年际变化特征,在该海域设置了15个监测站位,于2009年和2010年采用浅水Ⅲ型浮游生物网逐月连续进行24个航次浮游植物调查,同步监测其他环境因子。浮游植物样品经鲁格氏溶液固定后在OLYMPUS BX_(51)显微镜下进行分类、鉴定、计数,共鉴定出浮游植物81种,隶属于硅藻门、甲藻门、黄藻门和金藻门4门25科43属。其中硅藻16科33属67种,占种类数的82.7%;甲藻6科7属11种,占种类数的13.6%;黄藻2科2属2种,占种类数的2.5%;金藻1科1属1种,占种类数的1.2%。2009年和2010年金城海域浮游植物种类组成和比例基本一致,浮游植物丰度年际变化和种类数年际变化均呈现明显的双峰模型,每年2月和9月为高峰期,5月为全年最低值。2009年和2010年细胞丰度均值分别为465×10~4(38.4×10~4—1351×10~4)个/m~3和457×10~4(41.8×10~4—1380×10~4)个/m~3,均低于1982—1983年平均水平。浮游植物群落年际相似性在60%水平聚类分为四个类群,其中Ⅰ类为5月份样品,优势种为夜光藻和洛氏角毛藻;Ⅱ类为11—4月份样品,优势种有中肋骨条藻、旋链角毛藻和夜光藻;Ⅲ类为8、9、10月份样品,优势种为洛氏角毛藻和丹麦细柱藻;Ⅳ类为6、7月份样品,优势种为洛氏角毛藻和尖刺拟菱形藻。浮游植物群落Shannon-Winner多样性指数平均2.715 (1.446—3.807),Margalef丰富度指数平均2.418 (1.545—3.153),Pielou均匀度指数平均0.523 (0.263—0.706)。2009年和2010年多样性指数和均匀度高峰值出现在3月和10月,低值出现在7月和9月;均匀度指数年际变化低值出现在6—9月。浮游植物群落结构主要受水温和盐度环境因素的影响,其中水温与洛氏角毛藻丰度呈极显著正相关(R=0.613,P0.01),与旋链角毛藻、中肋骨条藻和夜光藻丰度呈极显著负相关(R=-0.662,-0.649,-0.649,P0.01);化学需氧量与旋链角毛藻和中肋骨条藻均呈显著负相关(R=-0.589,-0.480,P0.05);盐度与中肋骨条藻呈极显著负相关(R=-0.585,P0.01);其他环境因子与各优势种丰度相关性不明显。     

甲藻孢囊在长江口海域表层沉积物中的分布

为了了解长江口海域赤潮爆发潜势,于2002年4月至5月用采泥器采集了位于122°～123．5°E、29°～32°N之间12个站位的表层沉积物,分析沉积物中甲藻孢囊的分布．共分析鉴定出孢囊类型29种,其中自养型11种,异养型18种．每个站位的孢囊种类在10～21之间,孢囊密度为11．7～587孢囊·g-1干泥之间．远岸海域孢囊种类较为丰富,密度也较高．在调查区域内,孢囊密度及种类自西向东、自北向南逐渐增加．亚历山大藻孢囊分布广泛,最高密度为40．4孢囊·g-1干泥,其他赤潮种类的孢囊如链状裸甲藻、多边舌甲藻、锥状斯氏藻、科夫多沟藻和无纹多沟藻等都在长江口海域有分布．     

南亚热带大型贫营养水库浮游植物群落结构与季节变化——以新丰江水库为例

新丰江水库是我国第四大的水库,也是广东省最大的水库和重要的水源地。于2004～2005年2月一次调查了新丰江水库水文、水质和浮游植物分布,分析了浮游植物群落季节动态特征。新丰江水库浮游植物生物量比较低,在0．037—1．497mg·L^-1之间变化。浮游植物种类较多,11次采样共检到158种。在丰度上,水库浮游植物主要以小环藻、蓝纤维藻、小球藻和纤维藻等优势种为主,而在生物量上则以微小多甲藻为优势。浮游植物组成随季节变化而不同,春季以硅藻、甲藻和绿藻为优势类群;夏季以蓝藻、绿藻和硅藻为优势类群;秋季蓝、绿藻减少而硅藻和甲藻增加。2004年的浮游植物季节性变化更为明显,有从硅藻-绿藻优势（2月和4月份）,到蓝藻-绿藻优势（6月和8月份）,到混合优势（10月份）和金藻优势（12月份）这样一个变化过程。2005年硅藻的相对丰度比2004年高出很多。两年浮游植物组成的差异与两年的降水量有关。水动力学对丰水期（6～8月份）浮游植物组成结构有较大影响,导致硅藻和绿藻相对丰度的增加。与温带贫营养型水库相比,新丰江水库的浮游植物群落具有春季和秋季种类多、夏季的蓝藻种类丰富的特点。从细胞大小分布上看,小于20μm浮游植物是生物量的主要贡献者,其次是大于45μm的浮游植物。在粒径小于20μm的浮游植物中,微小多甲藻是最主要的贡献者。浮游植物群落的大小分布受水动力学条件和营养盐浓度动态的影响。     

亚热带水库浮游植物群落季节变化及其影响因素分析——以汤溪水库为例

通过调查汤溪水库2003年水文、水质和浮游植物数据,分析了浮游植物群落季节变化的影响因素。结果表明,汤溪水库浮游植物丰度与群落结构具有明显季节变化。丰水期浮游植物丰度明显高于枯水期,并以7月份最高（〉10^4 cells ml^-1）。全年中,蓝藻（Cyanophyta）与硅藻（Bacillariophyta）比例变化较大,二者呈相反的变化趋势。1月份硅藻占较高比例（63.1％）,蓝藻较低（〈20％）;3、5、7月份蓝藻比例较高（分别为45．6％、55．9％、87．7％）,而硅藻较低（30．1％、25．9％、1．1％）;11月份硅藻与绿藻比例相当（各占40％）,蓝藻低于20％;12月份硅藻与蓝藻比例分别为25．6％与38．2％。3月份和丰水期浮游植物优势种主要为铜绿微囊藻（Microcystis aeruginosa）、假鱼腥藻（Pseudoanabaena）和线形粘杆藻（Gloeothece linearis）等蓝藻种类,枯水期的1月、11月和12月主要以曲壳藻类（Achnanthes）、模糊直链藻（Melosira ambigua）、颗粒直链藻（Melosira granulata）和梅尼小环藻（Cyclotella meneghiniana）等硅藻种类为优势种。枯水期营养盐可能对浮游植物生长彤成限制,但相关性分析表明,营养盐并不是汤溪水库浮游植物群落季节变化的主要影响凶素。汤溪水库全年水体较稳定,在全年范刚内水动力学对浮游植物群落季节变化没有明显影响,但丰水期5月份至7月份优势种的变化可能主要受水动力学的影响。水温与蓝藻丰度呈显著正相关,与硅藻呈显著负相关,表明水温可能是引起汤溪水库浮游植物群落季节变化的主要因素。     

海南岛尖峰岭地区种子植物区系组成及地理成分研究

尖峰岭地区位于海南岛西南部 ,面积约 470 km2 ,有种子植物 1 83科、90 6属、2 0 87种及变种。区系组成及地理成分分析结果表明 ,本区种子植物区系有如下特征 :(1 )科属种的组成较为丰富 ,但属内种系较贫乏、分化程度弱 ;(2 )地理成分复杂 ,以热带成分、热带亚洲成分占优势 ,特有成分也相对较丰富 ,是海南岛整体区系的重要组成部分 ;(3)区系有一定邃古性 ,本质上是华夏植物区系不可分割的一部分。     

Effects of salinity and cyclic temperature on survival of two sympatric species of grass shrimp (Palaemonetes), and their relationship to natural distributions

Survival and respiration of the grass shrimp Palaemonetes pugio Holthuis and P. vulgaris (Say) from the Newport River estuary were measured after exposure to cyclic and constant winter temperatures, to rapid decreases in temperature, and to various temperature-salinity combinations. Both species were subjected to nine temperature-salinity combinations including temperature regimes of cyclic 7–13°C, constant 7° and 10°C, and salinities of 5, 20, and 35%.. Based on the laboratory and field results, the differences in physiological tolerance to winter temperatures and salinities were examined in relation to habitat partitioning by these sympatric species.Survival after continuous exposure to cyclic temperature regimes at medium to high salinities was similar to that observed for comparable constant temperatures; however, at low salinities mortality was significantly lower under the cyclic regime than under either constant regime. This suggests that cyclic temperatures may be detrimental in combination with some other stress. A rapid, transient decrease in temperature from either 7° or 10°C to 2°C had no measurable effect on survival or rate of oxygen consumption at any temperature-salinity acclimation. Neither salinity (except in areas intermittently subjected to salinities below 3 %.) nor winter temperatures appear to affect habitat partitioning in grass shrimp.     

Cryopreservation of embryos and larvae of the edible sea urchin loxechinus albus (Molina, 1782)

The natural population of the edible red sea urchin, Loxechinus albus, is decreasing due to overfishing. The embryos and larvae of the species are highly useful for monitoring marine pollution, which makes it necessary to conserve gametes, embryos and larvae to facilitate their use in diverse areas of aquaculture and environmental quality monitoring. This need can be met by cryopreserving individuals representing the different developmental stages to provide an ongoing supply of genetic material of the species. The present study establishes a reproducible protocol for cryopreserving red sea urchin blastula and larvae. Toxicity tests were conducted in the first stage of this study using two permeable cryoprotectors, dimethyl sulfoxide (Me₂SO) and propylene glycol (PG), at three concentrations (5%, 10% and 15%). The tests were repeated in the second stage, but mixing the cryoprotectors with 0.04 M of trehalose (TRE), a non-permeable cryoprotector. Cryopreservation tests were conducted in the third stage employing different freezing rates: 2 °C/min, 3 °C/min, 3.5 °C/min, 4 °C/min and 4.5 °C/min, using the cryoprotectors that yielded the highest post-incubation survival rates.The highest post-freezing survival rates for blastula (76 ± 7%) and larvae (79 ± 7%) were obtained with Me₂SO at 10% + 0.04 M of trehalose, with freezing rates of 3 °C/min and 4.5 °C/min, respectively.     

东海水螅水母环境适应与生态类群

根据1997—2000年东海23°30′—33°00′ N、118°30′—128°00′ E海域4个季节海洋调查资料,依据丰度和同步表层温、盐度数据,采用曲线拟合构造了数学模型,并结合地理分布分析对东海水螅水母最适温度、最适盐度和生态类群进行了研究.结果表明：东海水螅水母适温环境多样,最适温度低于20 ℃的有15种,在20 ℃～22.5 ℃之间的有8种,在22.5 ℃～25 ℃之间的有12种,超过25 ℃的有17种;大多数物种（32种）最适盐度为32～34,大于34的有13种,在30～32之间的有6种,低于30的仅出现2种.水螅水母大多数物种生存的盐度区间较窄,它们的数量和分布范围有限.嵊山秀氏水母等2种属暖温带近海种,八囊摇篮水母等13种属暖温带外海种,宽外肋水母等8种属亚热带近海种,半口壮丽水母等5种具有热带大洋种特征,四叶小舌水母等25种属亚热带外海种.东海水螅水母的许多物种可作为东海水团重要的指示种.     

Some studies on secondary dormancy inLimnanthes seed

The seeds of 10 accessions ofLimnanthes, representing 7 species and their varieties were moistened and placed in an 80°F cabinet for up to 14 days. Then they were transferred to 40, 50 or 60°F temperatures for germination. In two accessions, 85% of the seeds became dormant after only 2 days at 80°F. In 6 accessions, up to 80% of the seeds became dormant after 14 days at 80°F. In two other accessions there was little or no dormancy induced. After 16 months, one half the ungerminated seeds in each treatment were dried under room conditions for 2-1/2 months. Then they were again moistened and placed under germination temperatures. Up to 78% of the seeds thus treated germinated, compared with few or none of those maintained continuously under germination conditions.     

Partial purification and some properties of wineberry latent, a virus obtained from Rubus phoenicolasius

Wineberry latent virus (WLV) was obtained from a single symptomless plant of American wineberry (Rubus phoenicolasius) originally imported from the United States of America. On graft inoculation, WLV infected but induced no distinctive symptoms in several Rubus species including those used as indicators for known Rubus viruses. It was not seed-borne in wineberry. WLV was mechanically transmitted to several herbaceous species but induced local lesions in only a few; it was weakly systemic in some Chenopodium species. Infective C. quinoa sap lost infectivity after diluting to 10^-4, heating for 10 min at 70°C, and storage either for 8 days at 18°C or for 32 days at 4°C. Sap from infected plants contained flexuous filamentous particles c. 510°12 nm. WLV was partially purified by extracting infected C. quinoa leaves in 0·05 M tris-HCl buffer (pH ₇) containing 0·2% thio-glycerol and 10% (v/v) chloroform and concentrating virus by precipitation with 7% (w/v) polyethylene glycol (PEG, mol. wt 6000) and 0·1 NaCl. The virus was then pelleted through a 30% (w/v) sucrose pad containing 7% PEG+0·1 M NaCl and finally sedimented through a sucrose density-gradient. These preparations had A_260/280 ratios of 1·26, contained end to end aggregates of WLV particles and formed a partly polydispersed peak in the analytical ultracentrifuge. WLV did not react with antisera to four potex-viruses, or to apple chlorotic leaf spot or apple stem grooving viruses.     

Biannual coral spawning decreases at higher latitudes on Western Australian reefs

Seasonal differences in the timing of multi-specific coral spawning between the east and west coasts of Australia may be the result of a genetic legacy or of adaptation to local conditions. Using estimates of the proportions of coral species that spawned in spring and autumn at Ashmore Reef (12°S) and Ningaloo Reef (23°S) in Western Australia, in combination with findings of previous surveys, I examined whether reproductive seasonality varied with latitude. A consistently high proportion of species spawned during the main reproductive season in autumn regardless of latitude. However, there was a clear decrease in the proportion of species spawning in spring, from an average of 49 % at Ashmore Reef (12°S) to 7 % at Ningaloo Reef (23°S). The results of this study suggest that seasonality of coral reproduction in Western Australia reflects environmental gradients and natural selection rather than an inherited genetic legacy.     

The germination of grass seeds after storage at different temperatures in aluminium foil and manilla paper packets

The germination of seeds of three species of forage grasses, Lolium perenne, Festuca pratensis and Dactylis glomerata, was studied after storage for 3–5 years under five different storage conditions: in aluminium foil packets at —25°C, 0°C and laboratory temperature (c. 18°C), and in manilla paper packets at 0°C and laboratory temperature. With Lolium perenne and Festuca pratensis high germination values at 3 and 7 days were obtained from seed stored at — 25 °C and 0°C in foil packets (5% moisture), but at laboratory temperatures, seed from foil packets gave lower germination values than those from manilla paper packets. At all three temperatures Dactylis glomerata germination after 7 and 14 days was higher in seed stored in foil than in manilla packages. With all three species stored in manilla packets, germination was higher after laboratory than cold storage.     

北京地区法医昆虫学研究I 嗜尸性甲虫物种多样性及其地区分异

本项研究系调查北京地区清河、密云、房山三地点与人尸体有关的鞘翅目昆虫,共采集标本878号,经鉴定隶属于13科26属38种,文中列出名录,其中6种为优势种,7种为三个地点都采到标本的普遍分布种。在种类组成上,各地点有明显的地区性差异：仅在清河发现的甲虫有11种(占总种数的40.O%),仅在密云发现的有2种(占15.4%),仅在房山发现的有11种(占52.4%)：房山的物种多样性指数(H’)是2.45,清河是1.72,密云是1.60。所以,房山种类组成比较特殊。根据此结果,特别是地区的差异,为判断异地移尸提供了基本数据。     

Temperature preferences of the mite, Alaskozetes antarcticus, and the collembolan, Cryptopygus antarcticus from the maritime Antarctic

Abstract. The thermal preferences of Alaskozetes antarcticus (Acari, Cryptostigmata) and Cryptopygus antarcticus (Collembola, Isotomidae) were investigated over 6 h within a temperature gradient (?3 to +13 °C), under 100% relative humidity (RH) conditions. After 10 days of acclimation at ?2 or +11 °C, individual supercooling points (SCP) and thermopreferences were assessed, and compared with animals maintained for 10 days under fluctuating field conditions (?6 to +7 °C). Acclimation at ?2 °C lowered the mean SCP of both A. antarcticus (?24.2 ± 9.1) and C. antarcticus (?14.7 ± 7.7) compared to field samples (?19.0 ± 9.0 and ?10.7 ± 5.2, respectively). Acclimation at +11 °C increased A. antarcticus mean SCP values (?13.0 ± 8.5) relative to field samples, whereas those of C. antarcticus again decreased (?16.7 ± 9.1). Mites acclimated under field conditions or at +11 °C selected temperatures between ?3 and +1 °C. After acclimation at ?2 °C, both species preferred +1 to +5 °C. Cryptopygus antarcticus maintained under field conditions preferred +5 to +9 °C, whereas individuals acclimated at +11 °C selected +9 to +13 °C. For A. antarcticus, thermopreference was not influenced by its cold hardened state. The distribution of field specimens was further assessed within two combined temperature and humidity gradient systems: (i) 0–3 °C/12% RH, 3–6 °C/33% RH, 6–9 °C/75% RH and 9–12 °C/100% RH and (ii) 0–3 °C/100% RH, 3–6 °C/75% RH, 6–9 °C/33% RH and 9–12 °C/12% RH. In gradient (i), C. antarcticus distributed homogeneously, but, in gradient (ii), C. antarcticus preferred 0–3 °C/100% RH. Alaskozetes antarcticus selected temperatures between 0 and +6 °C regardless of RH conditions. Cryptopygus antarcticus appears better able than A. antarcticus to opportunistically utilize developmentally favourable thermal microclimates, when moisture availability is not restricted. The distribution of A. antarcticus appears more influenced by temperature, especially during regular freeze‐thaw transitions, when this species may select low temperature microhabitats to maintain a cold‐hardened state.