Authors: 

Arturo E Cadena

Ecuadorian Antarctic Institute, Guayaquil, Ecuador

Originally presented at:

Part of the poster was presented at the Open Science Conference 2010, Buenos Aires, Argentina. August 2010. The poster presents an update of my research work.

Abstract/Summary:

The present work describes the development of unmanned platforms to explorer the Antarctica by the Ecuadorian Antarctic Institute, two Autonomous Underwater Vehicles and one Unmanned Surface Vehicle.

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Authors: 

Laura Jane Weir* **,Dr Melody Clark*, and Val J. Smith**

*British Antarctic Survey, Cambridge, UK
** Scottish Oceans Institute, University of St Andrews, UK

Originally presented at:

UK Polar Network Workshop: High latitude biology, ecosystems and the future; A multidisciplinary approach.

Abstract/Summary:

Since the start of the industrial revolution, atmospheric CO2 levels have risen from 280 to 381 ppm and ocean pH has fallen from an average 8.16 to 8.05 with a consequent reduction in the degree of saturation with respect to calcium carbonate. Current molecular knowledge of the effect of altered pH on marine invertebrates is limited, while data describing calcium pathways in non-model species are seriously lacking, especially for Antarctic organisms. Without an understanding of the molecular mechanisms that govern calcification, we cannot begin to understand the complex consequential effects for organisms with shells living in altered pH environments. A damage repair approach will be used to identify genes involved in the calcium pathways in the Antarctic clam Laternula elliptica and the temperate clam Mya arenaria, and to study the effects of life in altered pH environments on the immune system. A pilot study revealed that younger (smaller) clams showed a greater capacity to repair shell damage than older (larger) clams.

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Authors:
Rebeca Zapata-Guardiola*, Pablo J. López-González*, Josep-Maria Gili** 

* Biodiversity and Ecology of Marine Invertebrates. Department of Fisiology and Zoology. Faculty of Biology, Seville University
** Institut de Ciències del Mar de Barcelona (ICM). Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)

Originally presented at:
Xth International Antarctic Biology Symposium, Sapporo, Japan, 26-31 July 2009

Abstract/Summary:
Nowadays everybody is worried for the protection of marine environments, and scientists, more than ever, are in the point of view of citizens. They had been questioned in several occasions for the methods used in the obtaining of samples and data, especially in sensible environments. Because of that, the new studies and sample works try to damage less as possible the environment. Thanks to imaging recording devices, the prospective work of the oceans biota is less disruptive and less damaging.
The use of images to identify benthic biodiversity is more and more used, of special interest in Antarctic waters. But in fact, the species identification is not as easy as we would want, and in some cases we should use “morphotypes”, like in Antarctic gorgonians. Recently we are finding gorgonian morphologies, initially associated to one single genus (or a couple of closely related genera), in a variety of uncertainly related primnoid genera. The current taxonomic importance of branching pattern in this group of benthic cnidarian is still unstable. Due to this fact the identification of Antarctic gorgonians through recorded images is, in several cases, difficult or impossible. The phylogenetic relationships of the involved Antarctic primnoid taxa are revised, and (when possible) some indications are provided in order to avoid erroneous identifications. In addition, the spatial distribution and their relation with the hydrodynamics and other environmental factors, like depth, will be used to identify the branching pattern variability among and within primnoid genera. Their possible ecological advantages will be also discussed.

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Authors:
Estelle Kilias*, Eva-Maria Nöthig*, Ilka Peeken*, Christian Wolf*, Katja Metfies* 

* Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research

Originally presented at:
Arctic Frontiers, Norway 2011

Abstract/Summary:
Climate change is expected to be particularly intense in the Arctic Ocean having as well extensive consequences on Arctic pelagic ecosystems. Thus, evaluations of the impact on the base of the food web, on local phytoplankton communities, are required. Prerequisite of such an evaluation is comprehensive information about the present phytoplankton diversity and distribution. Recent investigations indicate that rising temperatures as well as freshening of surface waters in the marine environment promote a shift in the phytoplankton community towards a dominance of smaller cells. In such a scenario, picoplankton can comprise a large pool of biomass and can attain high abundances. Understanding the impact of climate related environmental change for this phytoplankton size class in the Arctic Ocean demands that we understand how environmental parameters influence their diversity, occurrence and distribution. In this perspective, samples to investigate picoplankton have been taken in the area of the “deep-sea long-term observatory HAUSGARTEN” of the Alfred-Wegener-Institute (Fram Strait) in July 2009 and analyzed by the application of ribosomal fingerprinting technology (ARISA), 18S rDNA clone libraries and Pyrosequencing. The investigation area between 2 - 6°E and 78 – 80°N is located within the frontal zone which is separating the warm and cold water masses originating from the West Spitzbergen Current and East Greenland Current, respectively. Based on the heterogeneous hydrographic condition differences in the picoplankton community according to the water masses is likely. Preliminary results on the investigation of the genetic diversity of picoplankton reflect these environmental differences. The findings reveal that the diversity within the warm water mass is higher compared to the one found in the colder water mass. Further the dominance of single species (Phaeocystis pouchetii vs. Micromonas pusilla) differs at the stations according to abiotic conditions. All in all, this study will provide a framework for a better understanding of the interactions between environmental conditions and corresponding pico-phytoplankton communities in arctic pelagic systems.

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Thursday 19 May at 19:00 GMT

We are excited to announce the May Virtual Poster Session with two early career scientists presenting on:

1) Anne Helene Tandberg: “A ‘teenage family’ in a crowded mussel?” Extended parental care in Metopa glacialis associated with Musculus discors?

2) Marta Acosta Plata: "Whale watching: a key platform to study male sperm whales in Norway and the North Atlantic"

To join the call / chat room, you will need to go to:  http://connect.canterbury.ac.nz/apecs/vps_may2011/. Login in as guest and provide your name in the name box.

To reserve a spot, please send an email to Claudia Maturana (). Remaining spots will be available on a first come, first serve basis.

The session will be conducted through an  (Kim).

For those not familiar with the APECS Virtual Poster Session - this effort focuses on bringing the concept of the poster presentation beyond the four walls of the conference hall and creates an online database of polar research poster publications. This project allows members with similar goals and interests to exchange information and assures a platform for the exchange of Arctic, Antarctic and Cryospheric research, policy, and education activities that are Shaping the Future of Polar Research - and our calls let you share your research *LIVE* with people around the world!

For more information on the VPS – please go to: http://www.apecs.is/virtual-poster-session

-The APECS Virtual Poster Session Working Group & Marine Biology Discipline Coordinators

Authors:
P. Balazy*, P. Kuklinski,* **

*Departament of Ecology, Institute of Oceanology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Sopot, Poland
**Natural History Museum, London, UK

Originally presented at:
AMAP Conference: The Arctic as a Messenger for Global Processes - Climate Change and Pollution, Copenhagen, 4-6 May 2011

Abstract/Summary:
European Arctic is the Northern hemisphere region that is changing the fastest. Providing reliable and sufficient information on its actual status is essential for estimating impact of ongoing changes on marine biota. We used hermit crabs as it has been suggested that communities of species on their shells could be very useful as model organisms to study diversity patterns among geographic regions and to monitor sublittoral ecosystems. In order to establish an observing system for change in bottom-up processes we wanted to create present-day baseline data of Arctic mobile substrate community structure and diversity, check its inter-annul variability at a given locations and estimate the role of local species pool and annual recruitment composition in shaping these assemblages. Epibiotic assemblages on shells used by Arctic and sub-Arctic hermit crabs (Pagurus spp.) collected annually over five years (2005 - 2009) at Svalbard (West Spitsbergen, Isfjorden - S) and in Northern Norway (south of Tromso - T) were analyzed. Additionally rocks were collected in order to establish local species pool as well as settlement panels were deployed to estimate annual recruitment composition. In the first year of our studies we collected 250 individuals from the Arctic location to calibrate sampling strategy. In the following years due to time constraints comparable sampling efficiency was achieved gathering only 45 hermit crabs each time. They were hand-picked using SCUBA from ~10 m depth. Gastropod shells were identified to species, weighed and the external shell surface area was measured. All organisms that were directly attached to the shell, rock and panel larger than 1 mm were identified to the lowest possible taxonomic level. In total 27603 individuals of epibionts representing 105 taxa were found to occur on the shells. No clear differences in species composition and dominance structure of the assemblages between investigated years at both sites were observed. It resembled the community on rocks with cirriped (Semibalanus balanoides) at S and foraminiferans Lobatula lobatula and Discorbis rosacea at T as dominating species. There were however significant differences with respect to abundance, species richness, and diversity. This was most probably caused by fluctuations in annual recruitment as it was supported by the results obtained from settlement panels. All the investigated parameters were the highest in recent years. This study (1) provides the first overview of species associated with Arctic hermit crabs, shows that (2) invertebrate assemblages can be an important indicator of environmental changes but only in terms of community structure, indicates that (3) invertebrate assemblages on Arctic hermit crabs shells may be relatively persistent to changes over observation period of five years, (4) mobile epibiotic assemblages are highly dependent on the local species pool.

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Authors:
Alice Bannikova*

* Lomonosov Moscow State University

Conference Where Poster was Originally Presented:
RSHU, hydrometeorological olympiad april 2011, Saint Petersburg, Russia

Abstract/Summary:
It is impossible to imagine our life of today without hydricarbons. This work is about studying of transformation of oil hydrocarbons in geochemical barrier zones of the White Sea such as:
I. Sea-river (Northern Dvina)
II.Snow-ice-water (Kandalaksha Gulf)

    
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Authors:
Benzik A.N.*, Tchetyrkin A.A.*, Trofimov A.G.* 

* Polar Research Institute of Marine Fisheries and Oceanography (PINRO), Murmansk, Russia  

Conference Where Poster was Originally Presented:
Arctic Frontiers Conference 2011, Tromso, Norway

Abstract/Summary:
Black halibut is an important commercial species in the Barents Sea fisheries. Studying features of Greenland halibut feeding and trophic interactions is of great importance for fisheries. In spite of the fact that the general features of Greenland halibut feeding in the Barents Sea had been studied by the end of the twentieth century, new data on black halibut feeding was obtained in the Barents Sea for the last decade. Year-to-year variability of Greenland halibut diet and feed rate in 2001-2009 was studied in this paper. The role of separate food items had significant variations from year to year. The years of intensive fattening with polar cod, capelin and herring were noted. In 2003-2007, an abrupt increase of cannibalism level was observed near to West Spitsbergen. In addition, features of Greenland halibut feeding in different areas of the Barents Sea were analysed. As a result, three separate areas of Greenland halibut fattening with different food items were found (namely, with herring in the south-western sea, with polar cod in the northern sea and with capelin in the central and north-western sea). Fishery wastes predominated in black halibut diet in the areas of the most intensive fishing (western and north-western areas). Also, differences in feeding of individuals of different sizes were found along the continental slope: individuals of middle and large sizes fed on Cephalopoda as well as individuals of a size of 30 to 35 cm fed on shrimps.     

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Authors:
Ari-Pekka Leppänen*, Nadezhda Kasatkina**, Gennady Matishov**, Dina Solatie*  

*Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority, Rovaniemi, Finland
**Murmansk Marine Biological Institute, Murmansk, Russia  

Conference Where Poster was Originally Presented:
IPY Oslo Science Conference 2010 

Abstract/Summary:
Murmansk Marine Biological Institute (MMBI) carries out annually scientific expeditions to the Barents Sea. The expeditions cover wide range of scientific disciplines from oceanography, marine biology to radioactive pollutants. In 2007 and 2009 a scientist from Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority - STUK joined the MMBI’s annual expedition to the Barents Sea. The objective was to study radiological situation at Barents Sea.

In 2007 the emphasis of the expedition was on eastern part of the Barents Sea while in 2009 the emphasis was on western part of the sea. In 2007 expedition the route consisted of Barents sea standard section number 6 (Kola section), Frans Josef Land, western coast of Novaja Zemilja. In 2009 expedition the route consisted of Barents sea standard sections number 3 and 19, Svalbard area, Frans Josef Land and Barents sea standard sections number 6 (Kola section).

During the expedition extensive sampling of sea water, bottom sediment and living organisms were done to determine current level of radioactive contaminants, anthropogenic and NORMs, in the marine environment. One hundred liters of sea water was filtered through Anfezh sorbent to recover 137Cs from sea water. Twenty liter canisters were used to sample sea water for 90Sr analysis. Bottom sediment was sampled with Van Veen crab to analyse 137Cs, 238,239Pu, 210Po/Pb, 226Ra and 235U.

The results from 2007 expedition showed very low levels of anthropogenic radioactivities in sea water and in bottom sediment samples. The analysis of 238Pu/239Pu ratio from the sediment samples showed that the plutonium originates from global fallout from the era of atmospheric nuclear weapons testing.      

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Authors:
Johanna Hovinen*,**,***, Harald Steen**, Jørgen Berge*,****, Haakon Hop** 

*The University Centre in Svalbard, N-9171 Longyearbyen, Norway
**Norwegian Polar Institute, Fram Centre, N-9296 Tromsø, Norway
***Faculty of Biosciences, Fisheries and Economics, University of Tromsø, N-9037 Tromsø, Norway
****Akvaplan-niva, Fram Centre, N-9296 Tromsø, Norway 

Conference Where Poster was Originally Presented:
Arctic Frontiers Conference 2011, Tromso, Norway

Abstract/Summary:
Ongoing climate change likely has pronounced effects on the Arctic environment and its endemic organisms. The intrusion of Atlantic water masses to the area has increased in later years, along with an increment of boreal species, such as Calanus finmarchicus. Little auk (Alle alle) is a central place forager, feeding on plankton (especially Calanus spp.), and thus relying upon energetic and abundant prey within a reachable area from its nesting site in order to raise its chick. Bimodal feeding strategy has been described for little auk; food collected during short trips is used for chick allocation and long trips are realized in order to replenish the adult’s own body reserves. It has been hypothesized that the length of foraging trips is directly related to prey availability within the foraging range. During years of poor food conditions, little auks should spend longer time searching for prey, and less time when availability and quality of prey improve. Little auk is mainly consuming Calanus spp., and thus its dependence upon these lipid-rich organisms is apparent. Relatively large and energy-rich Calanus glacialis and C. hyperboreus are indicatives of Arctic water masses, and preferred by Little auk, compared to the smaller, Atlantic C. finmarchicus with lower energy content. With this kind of diet specialization, the Little auk is regarded as a sensitive indicator of the changing Arctic marine environment. We have put forward a hypothesis concerning the relation between prey availability and trip duration, which we wish to test for different climatic conditions, i.e. under dominance of Atlantic (warm scenario) and Arctic (cold scenario) water masses. Furthermore, we will determine how changes in trip duration affect the breeding success of Little auk. Intensive fieldwork campaigns have been carried out in Isfjorden, Svalbard, during five consecutive years (2006-2010). Samples of gular pouches, zooplankton, water masses (CTD data), and 48-h observations have been collected. Preliminary results indicate higher chick survival when shorter time is spent on the long foraging trips, although this may be compromised by less body reserves.    

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Authors:
Kristin Heggland *,****, Camilla Ottesen**, Jørgen Berge *,*** 

* The University Centre in Svalbard, N-9171 Longyearbyen, Norway
** Norwegian Polar Institute, Polar Environmental Centre, N-9296 Tromsø, Norway
*** Akvaplan-niva, Polar Environmental Centre, N-9296 Tromsø, Norway
**** University of Bergen

Conference Where Poster was Originally Presented:
Arctic Frontiers Conference 2011, Tromso, Norway

Abstract/Summary:
In this study we examined the demersal fish species Leatagonus decagonus (Atlantic poacher) collected form fjords around Svalbard. It is a commonly encountered species in coastal waters of Svalbard, often found on depths around 350 m. They tolerate wide temperature fluctuations and are found in waters with temperatures ranging from -1.7 to 4.4 °C. They are not however found in waters with salinities t preference outside the spawning season, giving a domination of one sex in our sampling areas. Our results suggest sexual dimorphism in size. Females were longer (10.2-15.6 cm, mean=13.2 cm) than males (10.6-13.9 cm, mean=12.1cm). Females were also heavier (4-12 gram, mean=7.4) than males (3-10 gram, mean=5.81 g). Both length and weight was significantly different between the sexes (p= 0.011 and p= 0.027, respectively). There was no significant difference in age distribution between the sexes. However, males had a wider age distribution (2-14 years) than females (3-7 years). The majority of specimens were 4-7 years old (mean = 4.9 years). Both sexes had a length-weight relationship that gave a negative isomorphic body condition, indicating energy priority towards reproduction rather than tissue growth. The females were overall larger than males with age. There was an overall differentiation in size of the liver between the sexes with males having larger liver indices than females. These results may suggest male parental care as males that watch over eggs do not get to feed much and therefore store energy in the liver for this purpose. Alternatively, females may put so much energy in the eggs that they do not have the ability to build up energy stores like the males. There was little variation in gonadosmatic index with length and age, indicating that most of our specimens were mature. Thus, both females and males are mature by the age of 4. L. decagonus produce relatively few (2'976–4'854 eggs, but at least half the eggs in each gonad were undeveloped) big and lipid rich eggs, which suggest that there is some sort of parental care. This is usually true for species with relatively low fecundity. Pelagic postlarvae found in June were big and well developed, typically for species with K-strategy.   

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Authors:
Emilia Trudnowska*, Katarzyna Blachowiak-Samolyk*, Sławomir Kwasniewski*, Marcin Wichorowski*

* Marine Ecology Department, Institute of Oceanology Polish Academy of Sciences, Sopot 81-712, Poland 

Conference Where Poster was Originally Presented:
Arctic Frontiers Conference 2011, Tromso, Norway

Abstract/Summary:
Despite the fact that West Spitsbergen Shelf, especially its northern part, is an excellent site to track the consequences of climate change on marine ecosystems, the knowledge on zooplankton from Magdalenefjorden and Smeerenburgfjorden is very scarce. This frontal area is characterized by unstable environmental conditions, notably the fluctuating inflow of Atlantic water masses, which affect the whole ecosystem through extending geographical ranges of temperate species (e.g., Calanus finmarchicus). Very few previous investigations in this area tried to assess the zooplankton community structure using traditional methods (e.g., net sampling) and provided us with rather rough snapshot information on the issue. Within the Alkekonge project we obtained an opportunity to use advanced Laser Optical Plankton Counter (LOPC) technology which met a widely recognized need for mapping accurately the distribution and size structure of zooplankton over broad expanses of space concurrently with environmental parameters.
During two summer seasons 2009 and 2010 the surface layer (10 m) was studied by LOPC to assess the mesozooplankton distribution in relation to hydrography in Magdalenefjorden and Smeerenburgfjorden regions. The mesoscale, taxa-specific mapping was performed to characterize a distribution pattern of Calanus spp. on the background of ocean water temperature.
The results of 2009 and 2010 suggested that there was hardly any older stages of Calanus spp. inside the Magdalenefjorden, contrary to a few high patches outside the fjord (on the continental shelf). Further north, on neighboring Smeerenburgfjorden shelf, the Calanus spp. distribution was closely associated with sea temperature. During the warmer 2009 season we noted significantly higher concentration of Calanus spp. (probably the Atlantic species Calanus finmarchicus) in contrast to low concentrations in much colder 2010 season.
By using the LOPC method providing comprehensive information on living biota and ocean temperature we were able to observe the northward inflow of the Atlantic water masses to the NW Spitsbergen Shelf.  

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Authors:
Benjamin Merkel*, Jorgen Berge*, Tove M Gabrielsen*

* The University Centre in Svalbard, Longyearbyen, Norway

Conference Where Poster was Originally Presented:
Arctic Frontiers Conference 2011, Tromso, Norway

Abstract/Summary:
The genus Calanus is regarded as a key element in arctic marine ecosystems, and may in some areas constitute up to 80% of the zooplankton biomass. Thus they represent the prime herbivores and largely influence the energy flow and functioning of the marine food webs. Their main adaptation is commonly assumed to be their capability of transforming and storing large amounts of energy in form of lipids. This energy is directly harvested from both ice algal and phytoplankton blooms, and is stored throughout the year in a large visible lipidsack inside the animal. Thus, the three co occurring species C. finmarchicus, C. glacialis and C. hyperboreus are a major source of energy for a number of important species at higher trophic levels. These three species are commonly identified based on size differences alone, due to their great morphological resemblance.
Recent molecular research, carried out at the University Centre in Svalbard (UNIS), has demonstrated that such identification most often is flawed, and that the actual species boundaries are not displayed in the size distributions alone. We studied possible changes in the morphological boundaries between C. finmarchicus and C. glacialis during the arctic spring. This was realized using both traditional morphological and new molecular methods.
Molecular analyses showed that the existing size definitions for C. finmarchicus and C. glacialis are not as accurate as previously assumed. Also, populations of C. glacialis vary much more in their size distribution for each copepodite stage and over time than previously reported, and small adult female C. glacialis were misidentified as C. finmarchicus during spring in Billefjorden using morphological methods.   

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* Institute of Oceanology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Poland  

Originally Presented at:
Arctic Frontiers 2011, Tromsø, Norway 

Abstract:

The interannual variabilities of hydrological parameters in Hornsund Fjord (southwest coast of the Spitsbergen) has been observed during last decade. Data on physical parameters (tempearture, salinity, density) were collected every summer during Arctic experiments performed by Polish Academy of Sciences. For the last 2 years data were collected under ALKEKONGE project.

Hornsund Fjord is the most southerly, Arctic influenced fjord. Its cold conditions are consequence of the inflow of the Arctic waters from the Sørkapp Current flowing from the Barents Sea as well as by connection with numerous glaciers. There is also observed significant effect of sea ice production and melting and local atmospheric conditions. The investigation was focused on the inner fjord basin Breepolen, which constitute a reservoir of Winter Cooled Water.

The most warm event was observed in 2006, when the increase of the temperature and salinity was indicated. The maximum extremes can be indirectly related with the maximal values of hydrological parameters observed in the West Spitsbergen Current, and in particular on the continental slope. There are two pronounced patterns. In 2002 when the decrease of the temperature is accompanied by the increase of the salinity. The same situation appears apart eight years, in 2010.   

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*Department of Ecology, Institute of Oceanology PAS, Poland 

Originally Presented at:
Arctic Frontiers 2011, Tromsø, Norway 

Abstract:

The fjords of southwestern Spitsbergen are climatically sensitive area which is caused by present oceanographic regime characterized by north-flowing warm Atlantic Water in the West Spitsbergen Current and its influence on marine organisms living in these fjords. Distribution of foraminifera in marine waters is controlled by environmental factors as temperature and salinity, and any change in environmental conditions leads to the disturbance of foraminiferal assemblages equilibrium. To prove the significance of foraminifera assemblages as bioindicators of recent hydrological changes in the Hornsund fjord three surface sediment samples were taken at 77 m, 138 m and 240 m water depth and have been analyzed for benthic foraminifera, sediment grain size and organic matter. The results were compared to previous investigations in these areas (2002, 2004, 2005) and clearly showed increasing significance of Atlantic Waters in outer part of the fjord as well as in the central part since the last 7 years. Moreover, “arctic taxas” are retreating into the inner part of the fjord. Sampling stations were located in the central deeps along the axe of Hornsund fjord, reflecting variations in the influence of Atlantic Waters and the input of melt waters from neighboring glaciers. Sediment samples were collected by box-corer, which provide a good recovery of surficial sediments representing the most recent time interval. Between 300 and 400 individuals of benthic foraminifera were identified from the >100 µm fraction using a binocular microscope. In total 1933 individuals from 42 taxa were found to occur in the sediment samples. The most abundant benthic species in the samples are Elphidium excavatum f.clavata, Recurvoides turbinatus, Nonionella labradorica, Cassidulina reniforme and Bucella frigida which together constitute 71-84% of the total assemblage. The distribution of foraminiferal abundance shows consistently low numbers in the areas influenced by glaciers input, which may be mainly controlled by a high sediment load. Being supported by ecological and paleoclimatic studies from Svalbard, benthic foraminiferal taxa were divided into two groups- bioindicators the influence of Atlantic Water and tolerance of glacier proximal setting.  

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Authors:
Raul Sanchez*, Liliana Ayala*, and Luis Felipe**

*Asociación Peruana para la Conservación de la Naturaleza (APECO)
**Dirección de Hidrografía y Navegación (DHN)

Conference Where Poster was Originally Presented:
SCAR Open Science Conference, Buenos-Aires, 3-6 August 2010

Abstract/Summary:
We studied the Antarctic terns breeding at Punta Crepin, King George Island (South Shetland Islands), during 2006, 2007 and 2008 seasons. We recorded a total of 12, 9 and 29 nests with eggs and/or chicks, respectively. Mean maximum and minimum diameters (cm) of nests were 17.95 ± 2.80 and 13.29 ± 2.34 in 2006, 11 ± 0.9 and 9.5 ± 0.94 in 2007 and 17.86 ± 4.6 and 14.4 ± 2.4 in 2008. Number of eggs per nest was 1.6 ± 0.52, 1.4± 0.52 and 1.1± 0.33 respectively. Mean dimensions of egg lengths (cm) were 4.51 ± 0.13 and 3.43 ± 0.20 (n=17) in 2006, 4.59 ± 0.1 and 3.35 ± 0.07 (n=14) in 2007 and 4.44 ± 0.2 and 3.3 ± 0.09 (n=26) in 2008. Mean volume (cc) for all eggs was 27.18 ± 3.48, 26.3 ± 1.22 and 24.7 ± 2.05, respectively. Not all one-egg clutches could be correctly classified as completed. During the season 2008, 58% of eggs were lost. Jablonski (1995) and Peter et al (1988) reported high percentage of losses in eggs (70 and 52 % respectively) in King George Island. The causes of losses in eggs were: Snowfalls and immediate neglect, predation by skuas, upper tidal levels, human disturbance and unknown reasons. 53% of losses are due to weather conditions in the season 2008, which was the main cause of losses in Admiralty Bay reported by Jablonsky (1995).

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Full Title: Environmental magnetic records of lithogenic input to the Indian sector of Southern Ocean and its climatic linkages

Authors:
M.C. Manoj*, M. Thamban*, N. Basavaiah** and Rahul Mohan*

* National Centre for Antarctic and Ocean Research, Headland Sada, Goa, India.
** Indian Institute of Geomagnetism, New Panvel (W), Mumbai, India.

Conference Where Poster was Originally Presented:
SCAR Open Science Conference, Buenos-Aires, 3-6 August 2010

Abstract/Summary:
High resolution studies in a well-dated sediment core from the Sub-Antarctic regime of the Indian sector of Southern Ocean demonstrate that different magnetic proxy parameters are environmentally sensitive during last 61,000 years before present (61kaBP). The marine isotopic stage 1 (MIS1) and early MIS3 were characterized by reduced accumulation of magnetic minerals and dominated by fine grained, low coercivity, ferromagnetic minerals, whereas the MIS2 and MIS4 showed enhanced magnetic concentration, that were dominated by coarse grained ferri-magnetic minerals. Comparison of the magnetic proxy data with records of oxygen isotope (δ18O), carbonate content and ice rafted debris (IRD) in the core revealed that the lithogenic input fluctuated in tandem with sea surface warming and calcite productivity at the core site. Periods of enhanced lithogenic input and calcite productivity during the last 61kaBP were synchronous with the millennial-scale Antarctic warming events as defined in the Byrd and EPICA ice cores, indicating a direct Antarctic climate linkage. Equatorward shifting of westerly wind system and associated enhancement in the strength of Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC) system during inter-stadials may have enhanced the wind induced erosion leading to enhanced lithogenic input to the core site. Major IRD events at the core site are clearly out-of-phase with the northern hemisphere Heinrich events, suggesting a manifestation of the bipolar seesaw mechanism.

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Authors:
Meagan Dewar*, John Arnould **, Peter Dann ***, Rene Groscolas ****, Phil Trathan ****, and Stuart Smith *

* School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University
** School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University
*** Phillip Island Nature Park
**** CNRS, Strasbourg, France
***** British Antarctic Survey

Conference Where Poster was Originally Presented:
1st World Seabird Conference, 7-11th September 2010, Victoria British Columbia, Canada

Abstract/Summary:
Fasting is common in many seabird species including penguins and Procellariiforme seabirds, due to food availability, moult, migration and reproduction. In this study we focused our attention on penguins fasting during moult. In the past many studies have focused their attention on understanding the physiology of fasting and re-feeding. However, little attention has been paid to the affects of fasting on the gastrointestinal microbiota.

Recent studies on the affects of fasting in mammalian species, has shown that long-term fasting not only alters the diversity and species richness of the gut microbiota, but also affects the host’s immune systems response and ability to prevent infection and disease.

Therefore the aims of this study were to examine the affect that fasting has on the gastrointestinal microbiota of penguins. Utilising group specific 16S rRNA DNA primers changes in diversity, species richness and quantity of the major bacterial phyla were analysed in moulting and non moulting King, Gentoo and Little penguins using PCR- Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis (DGGE) and quantitative Real Time PCR.

Results have indicated that fasting during moult alters the diversity and species richness in the gastrointestinal microbiota of penguins, with major differences between the DGGE profiles of moulting and non-moulting king penguins, resulting in changes in the pre-dominant bacterial species, indicating a shift in dominance.

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Authors:
Pessoa, A.R.L.* ****, Costa, E.S.** ***, Alves, M.A.S.***, Torres, J.P.M.****, Malm, O.****

*Curso de Ciências Biológicas - Zoologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ).
**Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia, UFRJ.
***Laboratório de Ecologia de Aves, Departamento de Ecologia, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade do Estado do
Rio de Janeiro (UERJ).
****Laboratório de Radioisótopos Eduardo Penna Franca. Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho,
Centro de Ciências da Saúde, UFRJ

Originally Presented At:
SCAR Open Science Conference, Buenos-Aires, 3-6 August 2010

Abstract:
Skuas are seabirds at the top of food chain, thus they are susceptible to the accumulation of metals, as mercury (Hg). It is an especially toxic metal; thus its levels must be appropriately monitored in different species. Feathers are considered non-destructive indicators of contamination. The present study aimed to compare Hg levels in feathers taken from different sites of the body of two south polar skuas (Catharacta maccormicki) found dead in King George Island (Hennequin Point and Keller Peninsula). For the analyses feathers were taken from the breast, abdomen, back, head/neck, wing and tail of the birds. All Hg levels were analyzed in the Laboratório de Radioisótopos Eduardo Penna Franca (UFRJ) using an adapted methodology for digestion and analysis of Hg levels in human hair (Bastos 1997). To statistical analyses we grouped the similar feathers of the body in two groups (breast, abdomen, back and head/neck – countor feathers and tail/wing, flight ones). The results were standardized with the mass of the samples and we used levels of Hg in ppm. The first results shown significant differences between Hg levels in countor and in flight feathers (Mann Whitney test, U´ = 54)

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