Expressions of Intent for International Polar Year 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

Low temperature adaptation of osmoregulatory mechanisms in Antarctic teleosts.  (LOSMO)

Outline
Antarctic marine heterotherms live, grow and reproduce in waters at a temperature constantly under 0 °C, having developed efficient adaptive answers that permit their survival. In these conditions, besides the physical problem of ice formation in the body, all the biochemical processes occurring in the organism are thermodynamically impaired by low temperatures with the slowing down of all biological activities until a limit beyond which they stop at all. Among these processes, the osmoregulatory system represents a very conspicuous part of the energetic cost for basal metabolism in fish and, therefore, a crucial issue of the overall study of the adaptive evolution of Antarctic teleosts. Strategic objectives of the research are: transferral of vital primary cultures of epithelial and/or nervous cells in Italy, study of the biological mechanisms of cold adaptation of the hydro-saline homoeostatic mechanisms, realization of DNA libraries and phylogenetic correlations. Moving from the results obtained in the past, we aim to deepen still unsolved issues about the osmoregulatory mechanisms in Antarctic marine poikilotherms. Research activity will represent an interdisciplinary approach (molecular, biochemical, physiological, biophysic-structural, genetic, morphological) that will permit to considerably increase the knowledge on the adaptive strategies of the Antarctic marine poikilotherms. The activities will consist in the study of the ion and nutrient transport mechanisms at the cell membrane level, their regulation at low temperature, the structural characterization and the phylogenetic aspects. Specimens of red-blooded and hemoglobinless Antarctic Notothenioid will be caught by net and hooks off the Italian base and transferred to the land-based aquariums. Tissues will be collected and opportunely frozen or fixed for the transferal in Italy. Other samples will be used for scientific investigation in the labs of the base, when the use of 'fresh' tissue is mandatory. The knowledge of the mechanisms of functional protein adaptation to low temperature will constitute the rationale for the development of biotechnological applications in the industrial field. Moreover, considered that, with respect to 50 years ago, the average annual temperature increase of the Antarctica is higher than 2 °C, more than 10 times the average world increase, the Antarctic ectotherms are a unique eco-physiological laboratory for the study of the effects of global changes such as the 'global warming' of the planet on the living beings.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
The knowledge of the biology of Antarctic organisms and of their interactions with the environment will contribute to the determination of the environmental status of the polar regions and to the quantification of the environmental and human changes in the polar regions. The absolute novelty of the biological data collected by the proposed research will permit to address unknown topics of natural science in the polar regions. The research will permit the collection of a broad-ranging set of data and information regarding the state and behaviour of the polar regions, offering a reference for comparison between past and future.

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
The proposed research will be carried out in the framework of cooperative programmes involving Italian, NZ and USA scientists working on biology of the Ross Sea fish species.

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
Research activities will be done in the laboratories of the Italian base "Terra Nova Bay". Samples will be collected in theWestern sector of Ross Sea, operating from the sea-ice cover during the austral spring and by ships in ice-free sea water in the summer period.

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: n/a
Antarctic: 01/07 - 02/07      11/07 - 02/08      11/08 - 12/08

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
Icebreaker and/or ice-strengthened research ships; existing field stations and their logistics, snow terrain vehicles; fishing boat.

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
No permanent infrastructure in Antarctica will be left by this project. The new knowledge arisen from the research, including the possible biotechnological industrial exploitation, will be the legacy to the International community.

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

The project will be coordinated under the general logistic organization of the Italian National Antarctic Research Program (PNRA).

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
No - The project will focus on a strategic research theme within the Italian Antarctic Programme.

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

This project is a component of an existing, planned activity within the Italian Antarctic Research Programme, which involves many other Italian and abroad research teams. Some of these teams, together with their own research activities, are participating in the IPY as well.

How will the project be organised and managed?
The present project will be part of a planned, existing programme (i.e.: the Italian Antarctic Research Programme - PNRA), which possesses its own established management structure.Within this organisation, the project will be coordinated under the general organization of PNRA, which include the scientific evaluation, and the assessment of the proposed plans for structuring and managing the activities. In the case of a participation to an IPY full research proposal, the development of the present project will comply with the wider management scheme agreed and established at the higher co-ordination level.

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
The EOC activities will be managed at a full proposal level. The present EOI envisages the involvement of post-doctoral researchers and young scientists in the expedition to develop a specific competence in polar research. Outreach and communication will be ensured by data publication by International congresses/journals.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document?
All data arisen from the research activities will be managed according to International (SCAR) and National (PNRA) Antarctic authorities. Data will be made available to the scientific community, after investigator's rights waiving, by publication on the IPY website and on appropriate International (JCADM, AMD, GeneBank, SwissProt) and National (SIRIA) databases.

How is it proposed to fund the project?
PNRA will provide the financial support for research activities, as well as the logistics for researcher transfer to the Antarctic base and for field sampling. Additional funding sources will be sought for by applying to EU or regional funding instruments if these should become available during the IPY extension.

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
None

PROPOSER DETAILS

Dr Michele Maffia
Department of Biological and Environmental Science and Technology, University of Lecce, Italy.
via Prov.le Lecce-Monteroni
73100
Italy

Tel: +39 0832 298685
Mobile: no
Fax: +39 0832 324220
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation