Antarctic macrobenthic communities: a compilation of circumpolar information

Comprehensive information on Antarctic macrobenthic community structure has been publicly available since the 1960s. It stems from trawl, dredge, grab, and corer samples as well as from direct and camera observations (Table 1–2). The quality of this information varies considerably; it consists of pure descriptions, figures for presence (absence) and abundance of some key taxa or proxies for such parameters, e.g. sea-floor cover. Some data sets even cover a defined and complete proportion of the macrobenthos with further analyses on diversity and zoogeography. As a consequence the acquisition of data from approximately 90 different campaigns assembled here was not standardised. Nevertheless, it was possible to classify this broad variety of known macrobenthic assemblages to the best of expert knowledge (Gutt 2007; Fig. 1). This overview does not replace statistically sound community and diversity analyses. However, it shows from where which kind of information is available and it acts as an example of the feasibility and power of such data collections. The data set provides unique georeferenced biological basic information for the planning of future coordinated research activities, e.g. under the umbrella of the biology program “Antarctic Thresholds - Ecosystem Resilience and Adaptation” (AnT-ERA) of the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) and especially for actual conservation issues, e.g. the planning of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) by the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR)

Editorial: Antarctic Biology: Scale Matters.

A founding principle of the Antarctic Treaty is that, in the interests of all humankind, Antarctica should continue to be used exclusively for peaceful purposes and should not become the scene or object of international discord. From many standpoints, Antarctica is considered as a sanctuary, and plays a pivotal role in the global system. From an ecological point of view, Antarctica and the surrounding Southern Ocean harbor exceptional levels of biodiversity. Its ecosystems are, however, facing rapid climatic and environmental changes, and the scientific community, embodied by the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR), have identified the urgent need to understand the potential responses of these ecosystems. Such questions are extremely complex, as biodiversity, here defined as “the variability among living organisms from all sources, including inter alia, terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are part; this includes diversity within species, between species and of ecosystems” (Convention on Biological Diversity, 1992), can vary at many different spatio-temporal scales and levels of biological organization, from molecules to entire ecosystems

Data distribution: Patterns and implications

info:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

The retrospective analysis of Antarctic tracking data project

The Retrospective Analysis of Antarctic Tracking Data (RAATD) is a Scientific Committee for Antarctic Research project led jointly by the Expert Groups on Birds and Marine Mammals and Antarctic Biodiversity Informatics, and endorsed by the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources. RAATD consolidated tracking data for multiple species of Antarctic meso- and top-predators to identify Areas of Ecological Significance. These datasets and accompanying syntheses provide a greater understanding of fundamental ecosystem processes in the Southern Ocean, support modelling of predator distributions under future climate scenarios and create inputs that can be incorporated into decision making processes by management authorities. In this data paper, we present the compiled tracking data from research groups that have worked in the Antarctic since the 1990s. The data are publicly available through biodiversity.aq and the Ocean Biogeographic Information System. The archive includes tracking data from over 70 contributors across 12 national Antarctic programs, and includes data from 17 predator species, 4060 individual animals, and over 2.9 million observed locations

From data to marine ecosystem assessments of the Southern Ocean: Achievements, challenges, and lessons for the future

Southern Ocean ecosystems offer numerous benefits to human society and the global environment, and maintaining them requires well-informed and effective ecosystem-based management. Up to date and accurate information is needed on the status of species, communities, habitats and ecosystems and the impacts of fisheries, tourism and climate change. This information can be used to generate indicators and undertake assessments to advise decision-makers. Currently, most marine assessments are derivative: reliant on the review of published peer-reviewed literature. More timely and accurate information for decision making requires an integrated Marine Biological Observing and Informatics System that combines and distributes data. For such a system to work, data needs to be shared according to the FAIR principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable), use transparent and reproducible science, adhere to the principle of action ecology and complement global initiatives. Here we aim to provide an overview of the components of such a system currently in place for the Southern Ocean, the existing gaps and a framework for a way forward

Sea spiders (Arthropoda, Pycnogonida) from ten recent research expeditions to the Antarctic Peninsula, Scotia Arc and Weddell Sea - data

This dataset contains information on specimens of Southern Ocean Pycnogonida (Arthropoda), that were collected from ten different research cruises, spanning 13 years. The individual aims and objectives of each cruise can be found in their cruise reports. The specimens have been collated into a single dataset, forming the basis of J. Maxwell’s PhD. The dataset will be used to investigate the community structure of Antarctic pycnogonids and the factors which influence its composition. This dataset is published by SCAR-AntOBIS under the licence CC-BY 4.0. Please follow the guidelines from the SCAR and IPY Data Policies (https://www.scar.org/excom-meetings/xxxi-scar-delegates-2010-buenos-aires-argentina/4563-scar-xxxi-ip04b-scar-data-policy/file/) when using the data. If you have any questions regarding this dataset, please do not hesitate to contact us via the contact information provided in the metadata or via [email protected]

The science-policy link in practice: how to propose an Antarctic Specially Protected Area (ASPA)?

The BelSPO projects ANTAR-IMPACT, BELDIVA and MICROBIAN and literature data concerning the biodiversity in the inland biotopes of the Western Sør Rondane Mountains (Dronning Maud Land) indicated a very rich and unique terrestrial biodiversity on the nunataks in the surroundings of Princess Elisabeth Station, including biofilms and Biological Soil Crusts. However, there is potential for negative impacts due to visits and (human) disturbances, mainly driven by the presence of infrastructures in the vicinity. Therefore, the involved scientists initiated the process of creating an ASPA in collaboration with the relevant ministries (Foreign Affairs, Environment and Science Policy). The first step was the submission of a Working Paper (WP42) at CEP XX (2017) with a Preliminary assessment of the values to be protected, using the template of Appendix 4 to the CEP XX report. Other countries scrutinized the document and raised useful comments and questions. The Information Paper (IP42) submitted at CEP XXI (2018) contained the answers to these questions. The next step was the writing of a Management Plan, based on a Guide that includes all the elements to describe (annex to Resolution 2 (2011)). Several versions were discussed, also with the station operator. The WP15 was finally presented to CEP XXIV that forwarded it to the Subsidiary Group on Management Plan, where it will be further improved during the intersessional period. The process was a learning experience for the scientists, from creating the maps to developing management options, and lastly communicating the importance of the area to policy- and decision-makers.MICROBIAN15. Life on lan

Species distribution models describe spatial variability in mesopelagic fish abundance in the Southern Ocean

Mesopelagic fishes play a central role in the transfer of energy through open-ocean food webs, particularly in the Southern Ocean where they are both important predators of zooplankton and a key prey group for many higher predators. However, they are notoriously difficult to sample which has limited our understanding of the bio-physical predictors of their abundance and spatiotemporal variability. Species distribution models can be used to help understand species’ ecological requirements by relating records of their presence or abundance to environmental data. Here, we used data from Myctobase – a new circumpolar database of mesopelagic fishes – to model patterns in abundance of eight key myctophid species (family Myctophidae) and the genus Bathylagus in the Southern Ocean south of 45°S. We developed species-specific boosted regression tree models to obtain circumpolar predictions of abundance. Average daytime and night-time summer predictions for the period 1997 – 2011 at 0 – 200m depths were generated for each species. Depth and solar position were important predictors and species were stratified in their depth distribution. For all species except for G. nicholsi, there was an interaction between depth of capture and solar position, reflecting diel vertical migration. Other important variables included sea surface temperature, dissolved oxygen at 200 m, chlorophyll-a, and sea surface height, indicating an association with water mass properties. Circumpolar patterns of abundance varied between species with some displaying affinities for oceanic regions at Antarctic latitudes (eg. E. antarctica and Bathylagus spp.) or sub-Antarctic latitudes (eg. K. anderssoni and P. tenisoni); and affinities for shelf regions (eg.P. bolini and G. nicholsi). Our findings suggest that the abundance of mesopelagic fish is influenced by diel vertical migration and meso- and sub-mesoscale oceanographic features, with the Polar Front being a major delimiting feature. Our study showed contrasting patterns in community composition with higher species diversity north of the Polar Front that might be indicative of latitudinal variability in food web structure. Our spatial analysis is an important step toward resolving what determines important habitat for mesopelagic fishes, providing foundational information for understanding shifting food web dynamics into the future

MICROBIAN : Microbial diversity in the Sør Rondane Mountains in a context of climate change

The Sør Rondane Mountains (SRM) represent a c. 900 km² large mountain range, encompassing a large range of terrestrial habitats differing in geology and soil characteristics, exposure time and microclimatic conditions. The objectives of the BelSPO project MICROBIAN are to (i) use a combination of remote sensing (Digital Elevation Model) and close-range field observation techniques to map physical habitat characteristics and the presence/extent of biological crust communities in the region of the Princess Elisabeth Station Antarctica (PEA), (ii) generate a comprehensive inventory of the taxonomic and functional diversity of microbial communities in these habitats by amplicon sequencing of the 16S and 18S rRNA genes and metagenomics, (iii) use mesocosm field experiments (Open Top Chambers and snow fences) to mimic the possible effects of future climate change on the taxonomic diversity of these microbial ecosystems, and (iv) conduct field experiments to inform policy-makers in view of decision making regarding environmental protection and prevention measures to reduce the introduction and spread of non-native species and to avoid cross-contamination between sites. The proposed research will provide a proof of concept to use high resolution satellite images for identifying regions of particular biological interest in East Antarctica and more broadly make a significant contribution to understanding Antarctic terrestrial microbial ecology.MICROBIA

Opportunities and limitations of large open biodiversity occurrence databases in the context of a Marine Ecosystem Assessment of the Southern Ocean

The Southern Ocean is a productive and biodiverse region, but it is also threatened by anthropogenic pressures. Protecting the Southern Ocean should start with well-informed Marine Ecosystem Assessments of the Southern Ocean (MEASO) being performed, a process that will require biodiversity data. In this context, open geospatial biodiversity databases such as OBIS and GBIF provide good avenues, through aggregated geo-referenced taxon locations. However, like most aggregated databases, these might suffer from sampling biases, which may hinder their usability for a MEASO. Here, we assess the quality and distribution of OBIS and GBIF data in the context of a MEASO. We found strong spatial, temporal and taxonomic biases in these data, with several biases likely emerging from the remoteness and inaccessibility of the Southern Ocean (e.g., lack of data in the dark and ice-covered winter, most data describing charismatic or well-known taxa, and most data along ship routes between research stations and neighboring continents). Our identification of sampling biases helps us provide practical recommendations for future data collection, mobilization, and analyses