After about a week of setting up, training, sample collecting, sorting, desiccating, and preparing we’ve started our first test with a terrestrial algae called Prasiola crispa. It’s the cute lettuce-like plant we got from Shirley Island on our last trek there. Kath found a menagerie of microinvertebrates in them – I think we’re up to 6(?) different species she’s identified including a tardigrade, ciliate, nematode, and a few rotifers. We’ll try get a photo shoot going soon. Anyway, it’s good to get a test underway while we wait to get on the water. The sea ice is really trying to break up; each morning we see more ‘bergie bits’ (the little breakoff pieces) floating away (or floating in… its hard to tell).