Expressions of Intent for International Polar Year 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

Cenozoic bryozoans in West Antarctica - taxonomy, biogeography and evolution  (Cenozoic bryozoans)

Outline
Bryozoans form a diverse component of the fossil biota in marine and glacio-marine Cenozoic sedimentary rocks of West Antarctica. In the Recent Antarctic environments Bryozoa, and especially the Cheilostomata, are undoubtfully a major part of the marine benthic community over the large areas of the Antarctic continental shelf. The bryozoan materials collected from the Oligocene - Miocene glacio-marine sequences on King George Island (South Shetland Islands) and the Pliocene Cockburn Island Formation (Antarctic Peninsula) by scientists of the British Antarctic Survey, deserves special attention. The proposed study will use these to: - establish the taxonomic relationships of the Cenozoic (Oligocene-Pliocene; 32–3 million years old) bryozoan communities, and - assess their value for palaeoenvironmental, palaeobigeographical and paleoclimatological interpretation. An important step in the present study will be to conduct comprehensive taxonomic studies using the fossil bryozoans of the Polonez Cove Formation (Oligocene) of the Polonez Glaciation (32-30) mln years ago and bryozoans of the Cape Melville Formation – which were deposited during the so-called Melville Glaciation (20-22 million years ago) collected by the recent British Antarctic expeditions. The Pliocene (approximately 5–3 million years old) bryozoans are known from a shallow-marine pectinid-rich biofacies preserved in the near-shore Pecten Congolmerate (= Cockburn Island Formation sensu Jonkers) of Cockburn Island in the James Ross Island area (NE Antarctic Peninsula). The total biota of the Pecten Conglomerate is indicative of interglacial conditions during the depositions of this sequence. The relationship between the studied Pliocene bryozoan assemblages and Recent Antarctic faunas will be very important to establish the evolutionary trends, migration routes and palaeobiogeographical relations of this faunas with others of similar age. It is expected that the bryofaunas from the Pliocene Cockburn Island Formation sequences will help to establish the palaeobiogeographical links with the (Eocene-Miocene) faunas from the adjacent continents of the Southern Hemisphere. The rich comparative materials collected from the various places in Antarctica which will be included into this project has a essential paleobiogographical value. The fossil bryozoans, especially if there are any representatives of the present-day Magellan or Antarctic faunas may suggest how similarities or differences may be related to the geological history of the Scotia Sea. It is expected that the bryozoans from the late Cenozoic fossiliferous marine and glacio-marine strata on King George Island (South Shetland Islands) of Oligocene-Miocene age and Cockburn Island (Antarctic Peninsula) West Antarctica will help to fill a major gap in our knowledge of taxonomy and palaeobiogeography of this group of fossils in the Phanerozoic history of Antarctica. Numerous examples from shelf and deep-see sediments, and from Cenozoic and even Palaeozoik rocks, show the usefulness of the bryozoans in palaeoenvironmental interpretation. Their presence or absence, diversity and abundance, zooid morphology, colonial plasticity, colonial growth form, and reef-like structures all provide information about habit. Moreover, the analysis of the morphological forms of the bryozoan colonies has direct relevance in reconstruction of the palaeoecological conditions. Knowledge of the events leading to the isolation and cooling of Antarctica in the late Cenozoic is necessary to the understanding of the evolution of both fossil and modern-day Antarctic biota. It is expected that the bryofaunas to be studied from the (Oligocene-Pliocene) sequences from the South Shetland Islands and Cockburn Island (Antarctic Peninsula) will help to elucidate any palaeobiogeographical links of the bryozoans between the Anatrctica and the adjacent continents of the Southern Hemisphere. An important element for the project will be the collaboration with the BAS biologists and palaeobiologists on varius aspects of Antarctic biogeography. The individuality of the Cenozoic Antarctic bryozoans may result from the fact that these assemblages are of a different age and show the biotic composition connected to the different paleoclimatic conditions which have been recorded in Antarctica from Eocene to Pliocene. According to Jonkers (1998) it is likely that the cooling had a profound impact on the distribution and composition of the Antarctic marine faunas. The diversification of the bryozoan assemblages in the palaeontological records of Antarctica can be linked to the climatic changes of the Cenozoic period and perhaps casts a new light on their development, evolution and routes of migration during the early Cenozoic.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
The significant advance from the project will be add and established a new data on the evolution of the bryozoan Cenozoic biota

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
Dr J. Alistair Crame. The British Antarctic Survey (Cambidge), U.K.

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
South Shetland Islands (Oligocene - Polonez Cove Formation) as well as the shelf areas around Antarctica

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: n/a
Antarctic: 12/ 2005-2006            

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
With cooperation with the other geologists and international teams

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?

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

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
Presently, the project is sponPresently, the project is sponsored by the British Council and the KBN - The British Polish Research Partnership Programme - titled "Bryozoan biota from the Cape Melville Formation (Miocene) of South Shetland Islands and Cockburn Island Formation (Pliocene), Anatrctic Peninsula and their taxonomical and biogeographicalimplications

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

How will the project be organised and managed?
The very important step - will be to collect the Oligocene bryozoans at the King George Island (South Shetland Island) as well as to collect the Recent bryozoans on the shelf areas around Antarctica and adjacent continents

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
This project has a global meaning for many palaeontologists involved in Antarctic studies.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document?

How is it proposed to fund the project?
One of the authors (UH) will be looking for the finacial support from the national sources and EU funds.

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
None

PROPOSER DETAILS

Dr Urszula Hara
Rakowiecka 4


Warsaw
00-975
Poland

Tel: 48 22 849-53-51
Mobile: no
Fax: 48 22 849-53-51
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation