Expressions of Intent for International Polar Year 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

Internationally coordinated studies on Antarctic environmental status, biodiversity and ecosystems.  (Environmental, Biological, and Ecological Studies in Antarctica (EBESA))

Outline
In spite of its remoteness and isolation, Antarctica is inextricably linked to global processes, and it is exposed to the impact of human activities in the rest of the world. Climate changes are expected to produce faster and greater changes in high latitude regions, because they are likely to be amplified by alterations in albedo, atmospheric precipitation and permafrost. These changes will affect Antarctic life forms, from the individual and population scale, to whole communities. A better knowledge of interactions between climate, geo-pedological and hydrological features, biological and genetic diversity, and functioning of Antarctic ecosystems across broad scale gradients is necessary to predict their sensitivity and to achieve a better understanding of climate-induced changes in ecosystems at lower latitudes, where responses of biotic communities to external forcing are buffered by more complex interactions and feedback processes. Through the involvement of many Italian research groups on Antarctic biology and ecology, and the enhancement of scientific and logistic integration and exchanges between Italy and other (SCAR) countries, our intent is to study the effects of climatic and environmental changes and the impact of anthropogenic contaminants in organisms and ecosystems of northern Victoria Land, Antarctic Peninsula, South Shetland Islands and Patagonia. As Antarctica receive pollutants from local sources (stations, tourism) and acts as a “cold trap” for atmospheric mercury and persistent organic pollutants released in other continents, our aim is to establish possible sources, deposition patterns, and biological effects of persistent pollutants, through the collection and analysis of widespread species of cryptogams and animals. Key species of organisms will also be collected across the latitudinal transect to study their origin, evolutionary responses to different climatic and environmental conditions, genetic links and interactions with organisms in the rest of the world. Through a functional genomic approach, the evolution of structural modifications of genes responsible for adaptations to cold, dry and salty environments, will be investigated to identify biochemical markers, which can provide a mean of studying reactions to climate and environmental changes. Most biological research in Victoria Land have been performed in cold desert environments, and very few data are available from coastal ice free areas at latitude <71°S. We propose an internationally coordinated expedition (austral summer 2007/08) in these areas to evaluate how different climatic conditions may change water bioavailability, weathering and soil formation processes, the functional role of organisms, their dispersal capability, and genetic variability of bacterial, protozoan, cryptogam, and invertebrate populations.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
1. Antarctic regions are the ultimate sinks of most volatile contaminants and the knowledge of their sources, deposition patterns and biological effects is necessary in view of the increasing demand and use of POPs and metals in Southern Hemisphere countries.2. Improved knowledge of sensitivity and responses of Antarctic organisms and ecosystems to climate change serves to predict the effects of change in Antarctica and on a global scale.3. The achievement of additional information on the origin of Antarctic organisms, genetic and molecular basis for adaptation to extreme environments is necessary to evaluate their potential to adapt to changes.

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
Like in previous expeditions, Italian biologists and ecologists will collaborate with American, Australian, UK, Japanese, NZ, and Chilean colleagues.

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
Coastal ice free areas in Northern Victoria Land, Oates Coast, and Balleny Islands (East Antarctica). Antarctic Peninsula, South Shetland Islands and Patagonia.

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: n/a
Antarctic: 10/2007 – 3/2008            

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
A camp in northern Victoria Land (about one month), two helicopters. A ship and helicopters for field activities (about a week) at Balleny Island. Or helicopter-supported daily trips starting from the ship (possibly, shared with marine PNRA projects), Latitudinal Gradient Project-NZ, and SCAR-EBA projects.

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
No permanent infrastructure in Antarctica will be left by this project.

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

Many Italian researchers in this project have been involved in cooperative efforts with researchers from other SCAR countries, and in a previous joint international Antarctic biological expedition: BIOTEX 1 (SCAR-BIOTAS Program), in Victoria Land, December 1995/February 1996, coordinated by R. Bargagli; logistic support by PNRA and NSF.

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
The project is in the process of being considered by the Italian National Committee for IPY.In April 2005, most of involved researchers will began discussion on research priorities for 2007/08 in the framework of a NSF-sponsored workshop on soil biodiversity and ecosystem functioning in Victoria Land.

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

All researchers in the project are involved in Antarctic research projects supported by their own National Agencies. The IPY will be an important occasion to develop multidisciplinary studies in different macroclimatic zones through the integration and exchanges of scientific and logistic know-how among different countries.

How will the project be organised and managed?
The project will be coordinated by Roberto Bargagli, who has experience with Antarctic research (6 Antarctic expeditions, many publications and a book on Antarctic Ecosystems) and with coordination of international Antarctic and non-Antarctic Research Projects. A Steering Committee will be established, including Piero Luporini and Silvano Focardi (who are responsible of other PNRA national biological projects), and one colleague from each of the countries involved. The Steering Committee will be in charge to define research priorities and scientific activities.

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
By organizing talks in primary and secondary Schools, itinerant slide shows and production of tapes, CD, and other materials for the general public. Some post-doctoral researchers will be involved in the expedition and students from all countries will interact with biologists in Antarctica through Internet connections.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document?
Besides general databases for genetic data such as GenBank or NCBI, according to the Joint SCAR-COMNAP Committee on Antarctic Data Management (JCADM) our data will be stored in National Antarctic Data Centres (e.g. SIRIA), in the Antarctic Biodiversity Database and Antarctic Master Directory (AMD).

How is it proposed to fund the project?
PNRA will provide the financial support to Italian scientists for research activities. The same organization together with the NSF and ANZ will provide the logistic support in northern Victoria Land, and BAS, AAD, INACH will cooperate for the exchange of researchers and for funding national projects.

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
The University of Siena (Dept. Environmental Sciences), together with other universities, is involved in a financed project for research in Patagonian ecosystems. This allows to extend 2007/08 research activities to Patagonia, which is it is the only sizeable landmass in the belt of westerlies (i.e., the best place to study transport mechanisms of propagules and persistent pollutants to Antarctica).

PROPOSER DETAILS

Prof. Roberto Bargagli
University of Siena
Department of Environmental Sciences
via P.A. Mattioli 4, Siena
53100
Italy

Tel: +39-0577-232828
Mobile: 3204374431
Fax: +39-0577-232930
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation