Expressions of Intent for International Polar Year 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

Seasonality of the Drake Passage pelagic ecosystem: Biodiversity, food webs, environmental change and human impact. Present and Past  (DRAKE BIOSEAS)

Outline
There is a strong influence of the Southern Ocean on global climate through the circulation of the Circumpolar Current and the seasonal extent of sea-ice cover. While there are at present many ways of assessing the intensity of phenomena associated with the Global Change (ozone depletion, increase of temperature, CO2 and UV radiation), there is no single tool for measuring the indirect effects of these changes, most of which are critical to ecosystems. In aquatic environments, the changes in thermal gradients induce alterations of the global oceanic circulation pattern, thus bringing unpredictable consequences to planktonic communities. The geographic distribution and abundance of plankton result from a combination of factors such as the interaction between their species life cycles, oceanic circulation, the behaviour of frontal systems (e.g., the advance and retreat of the sea-ice cover), and concentration of vertebrate predators, such as fish, birds and marine mammals. Any alteration, natural and/or anthropogenic (fisheries), in the intensity of predation leads to a change in the structure of the trophic webs, thus affecting biodiversity, concentration of key Antarctic species, and carbon fluxes to the deep-sea, often resulting in the general unbalance of the ecosystem. In order to examine this conjunction of factors together with natural processes and human impact within an integral framework, the present project will focus on the seasonality of one of the most peculiar areas of the Southern Ocean: the Drake Passage. The pronounced continental constriction between South America and the Antarctic Peninsula causes a northern deflection of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current, which strongly influences the Southwestern Atlantic in terms of oceanographic-atmospheric and biological processes. To understand these impacts, the study will include the assessment of biogeochemical fluxes (e.g., nutrients, organic matter- POM, DOM), size-fractionated chlorophyll a and the most important physico-chemical variables. Specific richness, population density and geographic distribution of bacteria, protozoa, planktonic algae, macro- and mesozooplankton, fish, birds and marine mammals will be examined. The project will also cover the role of all identified species within the trophic web, and other inter- and intraspecific interactions in relation to environmental factors, frontal zones and water masses during summer and winter. Diet composition, energy content and interspecific food overlap will be estimated for Antarctic birds and seals occupying distinct ecological niches. Special attention will be paid to the influence of the winter sea-ice cover advance towards the Polar Front on the trophic web structure.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
The results of the project will provide an integrated qualitative-quantitative view of the communities and their functioning within the oceanic ecosystems of the Drake Passage, mainly during winter. The information to be gathered during the assessment of the spatial-temporal variability along 2007-2008 will be organised in a database that will serve for the future monitoring of the area. In order to establish comparisons between past and present conditions, the scientists involved in this project will contribute with their sets of historical data (approx. 10-15 years) on biodiversity of distinct communities from the Drake Passage (plankton) and the west Antarctic Peninsula (fish, birds, seals).

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
Germany: Alfred Wegener Institut – AWI, Bremerhaven (in negotiation) Zentrum für Marine Tropenökologie- ZMT, Bremen (in negotiation) South Africa:University of Pretoria (in negotiation)Chile: Facultad de Ciencias del Mar, Universidad Católica del Norte (in negotiation) Universidad de Valparaíso (in negotiation)Brasil: Universidad Federal de Paraná, Curitiba (in negotiation).

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
Waters of the Drake Passage and surroundings (Pacific, Atlantic and Southern Ocean; 50°-65°S, 80°-57°W). Coastal locations of South Shetland Islands, South Orkney Islands, the west Antarctic Peninsula, and the tip of South America.

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: n/a
Antarctic: June 2007 - November 2007      June 2008 - November 2008      

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
Field studies in the Drake Passage will be performed on board the icebreaker “Alte. Irizar”, which will be equipped with an oceanographic winch adequate for the deployment of one CTD-rossette and midwater trawls. Helicopters will be used for the assessment of the density of seals in the pack-ice. The research vessel “Puerto Deseado” will contribute with summer sampling in the South Shetland-Antarctic Peninsula region. These facilities will prove useful for the development of further IPY scientific Antarctic activities.

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
The project will leave two relevant legacy issues: 1) Widening of the scientific capacities of the icebreaker Alte Irizar, and availability of an oceanographic winch. 2) Laboratories of the Instituto Antártico Argentino at the Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales of Buenos Aires University, which will be used exclusively for Antarctic research and for the development of human resources.

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

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
Yes, The project has been endorsed at national level by the ARGENTINE COMMITTEE FOR IPY.

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?


The project is a new, autonomous proposal based on the association of national and international oceanography-related institutes and universities.

How will the project be organised and managed?
The project will be organised and managed by an integrated scientific-logistic committee. The scientific aspects will be managed by the Director of the Instituto Antártico Argentino (who will also act as a link between scientific, political and logistic operators involved) and scientists from its Department of Biology (listed in point 4.2). Other national institutions involved in the project are: - Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo Pesquero – INIDEP- Centro Austral de Investigaciones Científicas -CADIC- Servicio de Hidrografía Naval - SHN- Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales “Bernardino Rivadavia”- (MACN) - Universidad de La Plata: Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo - Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata: Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. - Universidad de Buenos Aires: Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, and Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
Education will be centered in the development of human resources in the Antarctic Biology field. An Illustrated Atlas on Drake Passage´s biological diversity and trophic web structure is planned to be edited as a communication issue. Negotiations are currently being held with national filmmakers about documenting the scientific work that will be carried out on board and land. Popular science articles will be available to the community. Informative results will be presented to schools as part of the IAA´s ongoing efforts on Global Change awareness.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document?
All biological and environmental data will be centralised by the Instituto Antártico Argentino for management and further addressing to the Joint Committee for Antarctic Data Management (JCADM).

How is it proposed to fund the project?
The full scientific proposals will be submitted to national scientific agencies, such as CONICET (National Council of Scientific and Technological Research) and SECYT (National Agency for Scientific and Technological Development).Logistic support will be provided by the Instituto Antártico Argentino, Dirección Nacional del Antártico and Military Forces.

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
The general results of the project will contribute to different ongoing scientific international programs/conventions, such as: Census of Marine Life, The Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Seals (CCAS), The Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR), SCAR Bird Biology Subcommittee, The Antarctic Pack Ice Seals (APIS). The installation of an oceanographic winch on board the Argentine icebreaker “Alte Irizar” is the major logistic priority to perform the present project. Other scientists and technicians of the Instituto Antártico Argentino´s Biology Department involved in the project are: Lic. Montalti, Dr. Orgeira, Dr. Ansaldo, Lic.Vivequin, Lic. Dinofrio, Tc. Bellisio, Tc. Corbalán, Tc. Vila and Ms. S. Buján.

PROPOSER DETAILS

Dr. Viviana Andrea Alder
Instituto Antártico Argentino, CONICET, and University of Buenos Aires.
Cerrito 1248, Buenos Aires
1010
Argentina

Tel: (54-11) 4816-6271 / 4813-7807
Mobile: no
Fax: (54-11) 4515-0142
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation