Expressions of Intent for International Polar Year 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

BIODIVERSITY AND ICEBERG SCOURING IN THE WESTERN ROSS SEA (ANTARCTICA)  (BIS)

Outline
Over the last years, US, NZ and Italian researchers operating in the Ross Sea, Antarctica have been trying to stress the influence of the latitudinal gradient on the environmental, climatic and edaphic features that, in turn, influence marine community structure and distribution, and species adaptation. The spatial distribution of these communities may, nonetheless, not follow the latitudinal gradient in a simple linear fashion, because climatic, geographic and hydrological barriers may cause anomalies, causing discontinuities in assemblages and populations distribution. During the Victoria Land Latitudinal Gradient (VLG) cruise (RV Italica, February, 2004), it was possible to make preliminarily descriptions of the structure of marine communities north of Terra Nova Bay. At the same time, 3D seafloor mapping was significant in evaluating the role of iceberg scouring on the benthic community distribution and structure. Multibeam surveys revealed, in fact, spatial patterns of intense ice scouring off Cape Hallett, Cape Adare, and Cape Russell areas, suggesting ice scouring as one of the strongest natural variables in affecting the Antarctic continental shelf benthic communities. This proposal aims to compare biodiversity at local and regional scale and at different levels (molecular, specific, structural) and the iceberg scouring effect along the coast of the Victoria Land (Western Ross Sea), evaluating the relationship between species richness, disturbance level and environmental complexity. It will be studied the benthic community structure (species richness, key species distribution, density and biomass) and functioning (primary and secondary production, trophic strategies, food web analyses) in undisturbed and iceberg disturbed areas, following the existing data collected during the RV Italica cruise. A second goal of the proposal will be to produce 3D geomorphological maps to describe local ice disturbance intensity, using high-resolution acoustic remote sensing (multibeam and sidescan sonar) and ROV video from 0-500 m water depth. The bulk of data will allow us to enlarge our knowledge of the Ross Sea biodiversity for many taxa (macroalgae, sponges, anthozoans, hydroids, polychaetes, crustaceans, molluscs, echinoderms and fish). The project is planned to take place during an international cruise in the Western Ross Sea, hosting the major taxonomic specialists.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
The studies proposed will yield invaluable information on the dynamics of the benthic Antarctic communities, especially in light of current efforts to understand the impacts of climatic shifts in Antarctica. The main goals of the proposal are: 1. to evaluate the structure of the littoral benthic communities along the Victoria Land coast 2. to study the impact of the iceberg scouring on local biodiversity, evaluating possible changes in benthic community structure due to ice impact 3. to analyze the trophic and functional levels of each benthic community All these goals are strategic for understanding the current natural state and the possible changes in the Antarctic littoral environment.

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
This project will be conducted within a framework of international collaborations between PNRA (Italian Antarctic Research Programme) and other Antarctic research Institutions. It is supported by researchers from: PNRA (Italy) AWI (Germany) University of Seville (Spain) California University, Santa Barbara (US) California University, Monterey (US) NIWA (Hamilton, NZ) Landcare Research (Wellington and Lincoln, NZ)

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
The proposal plans to visit, during austral summer 2008, the following sites along the Victoria Land (Ross Sea): Cape Hallett, Cape Adare, Coulman Island, and Cape Russell, sites whose bottom geomorphology were studied during the VLG cruise (February, 2004).

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: n/a
Antarctic: January 2008      February 2008      

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
The proposal plans to use an ice strengthened research ship in the Western Ross Sea during austral summer 2008. Helicopter flights will need to set up the DGPS base stations and solar panels in land. Among instruments on board, the availability of a ROV and scuba diving facilities are needed.

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
No

How is it envisaged that the required logistic support will be secured?
National agency

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
If accepted, the proposal will be subject to the Italian National Agency (PNRA). Up to date, this proposal has been accepted by several Italian and foreign researchers.

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?
New

The proposal is new, but it appears as the logical continuation of the Victoria Land Latitudinal Gradient (VLG) Project funded by the PNRA in 2003-2004, which has taken a latitudinal gradient approach to study the Victoria Land marine ecosystems. One of the main results of this project was to evidence the role of the ice scouring in affecting the Antarctic continental shelf benthic communities.

How will the project be organised and managed?
The proposal is based on a 20-day cruise, using an oceanographic ship and a small research vessels launched from the ship in order to collect samples from the sea-shore down to around 500 m depth. The benthic community features (their structure and function) will be investigated by diving activities (in shallow waters), or using ROV, splash camera and dredging activities. To produce 3D maps to reveal local disturbance intensity and to correlate this to the communities structure, high-resolution acoustic remote sensing (multibeam and sidescan sonar) and ROV video will be used from 0-500 m water depth.

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
The global warming and the importance of the biodiversity, on global scale, are concepts well known at the public opinion. This proposal wants to relate the ice scour impact (a possible measure of the global change) with changes in the biodiversity in Antarctica, an environment at high risk: all the studies that evidence a relationship between these two variables have an extreme interest in terms of education and scientific communication.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document?
The project planning will be discussed with the PNRA national agency to evaluate costs, risks and data management.

How is it proposed to fund the project?
The project could be funded by the Italian Agency (PNRA)

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
None

PROPOSER DETAILS

Pro Riccardo Cattaneo Vietti
Università degli studi di Genova
Dipartimento per lo Studio del Territorio e delle sue Risorse - DIPTERIS
Corso Europa 26 Genova
16132
Italy

Tel: 0103538342
Mobile: 348 2669872
Fax: 010 3538102
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation