Expressions of Intent for International Polar Year 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

Cetacean Biodiversity in the Ross Sea  (BIOCERS)

Outline
Several studies on the cetacean have been conducted in the Antarctic and on a circum Antarctic scale. Even that little work on cetaceans has been conducted in the Ross Sea and the only information we have are limited to the sightings surveys. The BIOCERS is a two years project that will focus the attention on the relationship among cetacean populations their prey and habitat. This proposal trace a program that will integrate several information on the cetacean in the area such as: distribution, habitat use, populations genetics, prey and ecotossicology. Study on the distribution and relative density of Cetaceans in the Ross Sea as well as the monitoring of their temporal and spatial variation, will be performed in both coastal and open water in Ross Sea Area. Line transect survey will be performed in the open waters meanwhile Mark-Recapture models will be applied along the pack ice shelf in the Terranova bay (an Antarctic Special Protected Area – ASPA) and others Ross sea coastal area. Special area of interest where survey will need to be conduct are the high Cetacean density zone in the ice-pack edge, as indicated in the ROSSMIZE Campaign in 1994. Study on Cetacean feeding ecology. Data on the marine resources will be useful to infer Cetacean diet, feeding strategies and to model the Cetacean energetics and their position in the Antarctic food web. Skin biopsy sampling. Small portion of tissues (skin and blubber) will be collected through the use of non lethal techniques. The aim of this section of the project is to assess the ecotoxicological hazard for Cetacean, through the use of no disruptive biomarkers and the measure of other compounds, such as dioxins. Coastal area. In the coastal area the study will be performed by land – based surveys. These will be conducted through helicopter flight along the ice-shelf in the Terranova Bay and other coastal area. Some area of interest has been identified during a preliminary study held in 2003 in the Terranova Bay. Photo-identification will be performed. Pelagic area. The Pelagic area in the Ross Sea will be surveyed trough oceanographic campaigns both with platform of opportunity and dedicated. Data on the presence of the cetaceans will be collected trough the use of ad hoc software (SOWER program) in order to compare data with those of other circum Antarctic area. Data collection will be conduced on the following species: Fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus), Minke whale (B. acutorostrata), Blue whale (B. musculus), Humpback whale (Megaptera novaengliae), Sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus), and Killer whale (Orcinus orca). As Killer whale studies are concern, a special enphasis will be applied in order to evaluate the presence of the three Killer whale forms in the antarctic. Contact with other Istitutions inviolved in cetacean studies will be develop. To date there are preliminary contact with USA, Australian and France researchers involved in antartic and circum antartic survey

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
The proposed activity will provide in deep data on the state of diversity of cetacean in the Ross sea where just preliminary sightings surveys have been conducted until now. In this context, the activities can represent a benchmark in order to monitor future change in the cetacean presences and distributions. The results can contribute to the CAML objectives.

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
We contacted previously the Census of Antarctic Marine Life (CAML) leader, since the proposed our activity should be considered in those of the CAML Investigation of the cetaceans and their relationship with the habitat resources in the Ross Sea, requires a close interdisciplinary links with ecologist, environmental oceanographers, genetic researchers. The feeding ecology as well as toxicology of such species will be studied by molecular techniques meanwhile Photo-ID and transect line techniques will provide information on the effectives in the study area.

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
Ross Sea, Terranova Bay, McMurdo

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: n/a
Antarctic: 11/07 – 03/08      11/08 – 03/09      

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
Existing field station, helicopters, Ship based drilling capability, the study will be conducted by means of the support and facilities provided by the Italian Antartic Station in the Terranova Bay (Mario Zucchelli base) and by the Italian ship Italica

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
No permanent infrastructures in Antarctic will be left

How is it envisaged that the required logistic support will be secured?
Consortium
Own national polar operator
National agency

No

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?

PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND STRUCTURE

Is the project a short-term expansion (over the IPY 2007-2008 timeframe) of an existing plan, programme or initiative or is it a new autonomous proposal?
Yes

How will the project be organised and managed?
The project will be coordinated by Dr. Silvestro Greco Senior Sciensist, who has experience with Antartic Research (6 Antartic Campaigns) and with coordination of international and national Antartic research project. Among these, a future collaboration will be ste with IWC-SOWER programme representative and with the IWC. A member of the proposed research group is a member of the scientific committee of the International Whaling Commission and has been coordinator of a Cetacean survey in the Terra Nova Bay (Ross Sea) in the 2003-2004. At national level, the proposed activity will be coordinated with the Expression of interest n°189

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
The study will be advertised by the ICRAM and the PNRA structures trought theirs web sites and media channels.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document?
The data will be managed mainly at ICRAM premises; ICRAM has experienced staff already in place.

How is it proposed to fund the project?
PNRA, the national program for Antarctic research, will provide the financial support to Italian researchers for activities

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
Member of the reasearch group are Member of the Scientific Committe for the International whaling Commision and Member of the Agreement on the Conservation of Cetaceans of the Black Sea, Mediterranean Sea and Contiguous Atlantic Area (ACCOBAMS). This allow to have contact with researchers of several area and to define research priorities according with the international recommendations. In the project will be considered the activities performed during the 2003-’04 Antarctic Campaign in the Terra Nova Bay in which the Killer whale presence in the area was monitored. Countries involved - France, New Zealand and USA EoI's involved: 83, 189, 248,288, 290,577 The program will place emphasis on the participation of students in the program during the preparation of the activities. An education purpose for the young scientist will be addressed by developing sampling protocols and courses. The aim is to continue the census work in the area.

PROPOSER DETAILS

Dr Silvestre Greco
ICRAM
Via di Casalotti
300
Italy

Tel: +39 06 61570499
Mobile: no
Fax: +39 06 61561906
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation