Expressions of Intent for International Polar Year 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

BIODIVERSITY OF BENTHIC POLAR SYSTEMS: A COMPARISON BETWEEN THE ARCTIC AND THE ANTARTIC OCEANS  (BENTHIC DIVERSITY IN POLAR OCEANS)

Outline
The aim of this project is the study of the benthic ecosystems at the Arctic Ocean and their comparison with Antarctic communities.Our proposal pursuit an integrated study of the marine communities in the three main benthic subsytems: infauna (macro and meiofauna), epibenthos and suprabenthos.The project comprises: - A sampling programme with stations located at six bathymetric strata (50-100, 100-200, 200-500, 500-1000, 1000-1500 and 1500-2000 m), along perpendicular transects to the coast. - The use of specific gears by benthic compartments: Box-corer (infauna and meiofauna), Agassiz trawl (epibenthos) and suprabenthic sledge (suprabenthos). - Semiquantitative and qualitative diving sampling in 4-5 accesible localities between 0-30m depth with the record of underwater pictures and video. - Registering of invertebrate communities with Remote Operate Vehicle (ROV) between 50 and 300 m depth. - Abiotic parameters measurements of in water column (CTD) and sediments. - Faunistic studies, including taxonomic determinations and zoogeographical analysis. - Description of the suprabenthic, epibenthic and infaunal communities, based on quantitative abundance and biomass data, abiotic parameters measured at sampling stations and images of underwater pictures and video. - Integrated results analysis of the three benthic subsystems to obtain a global view about ecosystem biodiversity in the Arctic Ocean. - Comparison between Arctic and Antarctic benthic ecosystems (specially with Bentart cruises results, carried out in the South Shetlans Islands, Antarctic Peninsula and Bellingshausen Sea, with the same methodology).

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
Contribution to the knowledge of the benthic fauna in Arctic Ocean. - Zoogeographical studies - Description of the suprabenthic, epibenthic and infaunal communities in the Arctic Ocean. - Ecosystem biodiversity global view in the Arctic Ocean. - Comparison between Arctic and Antarctic benthic ecosystems. - Scientific divulging.

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
The basic project is opened to international collaboration in its main research lines: supra, epi and infaunal communities, feeding of demersal fishes biology and philogeny of key-species and aquarium survival.Only personal contacts are made until now.

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
The best sampling area for our research it would be the north of Queen Elizabeth Islands, located between 60º and 100º W, which are at the same longitude that previous sampling zone in the Antarctic Ocean.It depends of sea-ice covering situation.

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

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
Ice strengthened research ship (Hespérides). In spite of the onboard team necessary is very extensive, facilities for deploying or recovering buoys, sediment traps or other oceanographic instruments, can be offeredif such activities can be carried out by the technical team of own project.

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
No

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

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
It has been demanded to the Spanish Committee for the International Polar Year.

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?
Exp

It’s a new autonomous proposal but it gives continuity to the research work developped in the Antarctic Ocean since more than 10 years ago.

How will the project be organised and managed?
The Bentart’ team is a consolidated research group which have a wide experience in its organization and managing with its own scietific committee composed by 5 researchers of different institutions and its researcher in charge.The Instituto Español de Oceanografía, responsible of the project, as well as the involved organisms will give administrative facilities.

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
Broadcast documentary for national and international TV - Design and publication of a divulgative project website. - Itinerant Exhibition: ”Researching the Polar Benthos” (involved Universities and Marine Research Centers) - Monographic book: “The benthic Arctic fauna” - Articles and conferences.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document?
Due to the benthic research characteristics which need a time for accomplished the faunistic work, only general data (stations and oceanographic) will early availability through the National Center of Antarctic Data (Spain).Preliminary analysis of epi, supra and infaunal communities based in abundance data at high taxonomical level will be published, as quick as possible, while the taxonomic studies are finished.

How is it proposed to fund the project?
The project will demande funding to the Spanish National Plan for Research and Development (National Subprogram on Polar Research).

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
Bentart team, which proprossed this expression of intent for activities in IPY, have an extensive experience on benthic research in Polar waters.At present its is composed by 35 researchers belonging to 20 different Spanish institutions, which currently cooperates with many other Latin American and European organisms.The group have obtained official funds from 1993, through 12 projects financed by Spanish Agency and having carried out three surveys aimed to benthic biodiversity study with the same methodology in Antarctica (the 4th in January 2006). Divulgating of scientific results have been considered one of the aims of previous projects, being involved the Taller de Imagen from the University of Alicante from its starting as support for multimedia activities.

PROPOSER DETAILS

Dr Ana Ramos
Instituto Español de Oceanografía.
Centro Oceanográfico de Fuengirola, Puerto Pesquero s/n
Fuengirola, Málaga
29640
Spain

Tel: 34 95 2476955
Mobile: no
Fax: 34 95 2471907
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation