Out of sight, out of mind ? Diversity of microscopic organisms as an overlooked criterion for conservation purposes

The network of ASPAs (Antarctic Specially Protected Areas) that is presently under construction in the frame of the Committee for Environmental Protection of the Antarctic Treaty is intended to protect "outstanding environmental, scientific, historic, aesthetic or wilderness values, any combination of those values, or ongoing or planned scientific research" (http://www.ats.aq/e/ep_protected.htm). When the Madrid Protocol was signed, twenty-one years ago, the knowledge on the biodiversity of tiny and microscopic organisms was much less extensive and molecular methods for biodiversity assessments were only in their infancy. The majority of the permanent inhabitants of Antarctica are, however, essentially microscopic.