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Cephalopod beak sections used to trace mercury levels throughout the life of cephalopods: The giant warty squid Moroteuthopsis longimana as a case study

1 October, 2020

Cephalopods represent an important pathway for mercury transfer through food-webs. Due to the general difficulties in capturing oceanic squid, beaks found in the diet of top predators can be used…

Read more on Cephalopod beak sections used to trace mercury levels throughout the life of cephalopods: The giant warty squid Moroteuthopsis longimana as a case study

Ecophysiology and ecological limits of symbiotrophic vesicomyid bivalves (Pliocardiinae) in the Southern Ocean

1 October, 2020 by Katrin Linse

Geothermal energy provides an important resource in Antarctic marine ecosystems, exemplified by the recent discovery of large-sized chemosymbiotic vesicomyid bivalves (subfamily Pliocardiinae) in the Southern Ocean. These clams, which we…

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Environmental drivers of movement in a threatened seabird: insights from a mechanistic model and implications for conservation

1 October, 2020 by Caitlin Frankish, Richard Phillips

Determining the drivers of movement of different life‐history stages is crucial for understanding age‐related changes in survival rates and, for marine top predators, the link between fisheries overlap and incidental…

Read more on Environmental drivers of movement in a threatened seabird: insights from a mechanistic model and implications for conservation

Stable isotope values in South American fur seal pup whiskers as proxies of year-round maternal foraging ecology

1 October, 2020 by Iain Staniland, Kayleigh Jones, Norman Ratcliffe

Natural selection should favour strategies that maximise reproductive success. Females may use different resources during progressive stages of reproduction according to energetic demands, behavioural constraints and prey availability. We used…

Read more on Stable isotope values in South American fur seal pup whiskers as proxies of year-round maternal foraging ecology

The geochemical and mineralogical fingerprint of West Antarctica’s weak underbelly: Pine Island and Thwaites glaciers

20 September, 2020 by Claus-Dieter Hillenbrand

The marine-based West Antarctic Ice Sheet (WAIS) is considered the most unstable part of the Antarctic Ice Sheet, with particular vulnerability in the Amundsen Sea sector where glaciers are melting…

Read more on The geochemical and mineralogical fingerprint of West Antarctica’s weak underbelly: Pine Island and Thwaites glaciers

Gene flow in the Antarctic bivalve Aequiyoldia eightsii (Jay, 1839) suggests a role for the Antarctic Peninsula Coastal Current in larval dispersal

16 September, 2020 by Chester Sands, David Barnes, Michael Meredith, Simon Morley

The Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC) dominates the open-ocean circulation of the Southern Ocean, and both isolates and connects the Southern Ocean biodiversity. However, the impact on biological processes of other…

Read more on Gene flow in the Antarctic bivalve Aequiyoldia eightsii (Jay, 1839) suggests a role for the Antarctic Peninsula Coastal Current in larval dispersal

New gravity-derived bathymetry for the Thwaites, Crosson and Dotson ice shelves revealing two ice shelf populations

9 September, 2020 by Kelly Hogan, Robert Larter, Tom Jordan

Ice shelves play a critical role in the long-term stability of ice sheets through their buttressing effect. The underlying bathymetry and cavity thickness are key inputs for modelling future ice…

Read more on New gravity-derived bathymetry for the Thwaites, Crosson and Dotson ice shelves revealing two ice shelf populations

Genome-wide insights into introgression and its consequences for genome-wide heterozygosity in the Mytilus species complex across Europe

2 September, 2020 by Luca Telesca

The three mussel species comprising the Mytilus complex are widespread across Europe and readily hybridize when they occur in sympatry, resulting in a mosaic of populations with varying genomic backgrounds.…

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Evidence of strong small-scale population structure in the Antarctic freshwater copepod Boeckella poppei in lakes on Signy Island, South Orkney Islands

1 September, 2020 by Jennifer Jackson, Peter Convey

Environmental conditions were particularly severe during the Last Glacial Maximum, altering the distribution of the Southern Hemisphere biota, particularly at higher latitudes. The copepod Boeckella poppei is the only macroscopic…

Read more on Evidence of strong small-scale population structure in the Antarctic freshwater copepod Boeckella poppei in lakes on Signy Island, South Orkney Islands

The role of atmospheric circulation patterns in driving recent changes in indices of extreme seasonal precipitation across Arctic Fennoscandia

1 September, 2020 by Gareth Marshall

Extreme precipitation events (EPEs) have a major impact across Arctic Fennoscandia (AF). Here we examine the spatial variability of seasonal 50-year trends in three EPEs across AF for 1968–2017, using…

Read more on The role of atmospheric circulation patterns in driving recent changes in indices of extreme seasonal precipitation across Arctic Fennoscandia

Cretaceous arc volcanism of Palmer Land, Antarctic Peninsula: Zircon U-Pb geochronology. geochemistry, distribution and field relationships

1 September, 2020 by Alex Burton-Johnson, Philip Leat, Teal Riley

The Cretaceous marks an episode of enhanced magmatism, sedimentation and tectonic processes along the entire proto-Pacific convergent margin of West Gondwana. Cretaceous magmatism across the Antarctic Peninsula is dominated by…

Read more on Cretaceous arc volcanism of Palmer Land, Antarctic Peninsula: Zircon U-Pb geochronology. geochemistry, distribution and field relationships

Latitudinal biogeographic structuring in the globally distributed moss Ceratodon purpureus

28 August, 2020 by Elisabeth Biersma, Jennifer Jackson, Katrin Linse, Peter Convey

Biogeographic patterns of globally widespread species are expected to reflect regional structure, as well as connectivity caused by occasional long-distance dispersal. We assessed the level and drivers of population structure,…

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Multiple colonization and dispersal events hide the early origin and induce a lack of genetic structure of the moss Bryum argenteum in Antarctica.

27 August, 2020 by Peter Convey

The dispersal routes of taxa with transoceanic disjunctions remain poorly understood, with the potential roles of Antarctica not yet demonstrated. Mosses are suitable organisms to test direct intra‐Antarctic dispersal, as…

Read more on Multiple colonization and dispersal events hide the early origin and induce a lack of genetic structure of the moss Bryum argenteum in Antarctica.

Biosurfactant production and growth kinetics studies of the waste canola oil-degrading bacterium Rhodococcus erythropolis AQ5-07 from Antarctica

26 August, 2020 by Peter Convey

With the progressive increase in human activities in the Antarctic region, the possibility of domestic oil spillage also increases. Developing means for the removal of oils, such as canola oil,…

Read more on Biosurfactant production and growth kinetics studies of the waste canola oil-degrading bacterium Rhodococcus erythropolis AQ5-07 from Antarctica

Genetic diversity of soil invertebrates corroborates timing estimates for past collapses of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet

24 August, 2020 by Peter Convey

During austral summer field seasons between 1999 and 2018, we sampled at 91 locations throughout southern Victoria Land and along the Transantarctic Mountains for six species of endemic microarthropods (Collembola),…

Read more on Genetic diversity of soil invertebrates corroborates timing estimates for past collapses of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet

Can DEB models infer metabolic differences between intertidal and subtidal morphotypes of the Antarctic limpet Nacella concinna (Strebel, 1908)?

15 August, 2020 by Simon Morley

Studying the influence of changing environmental conditions on Antarctic marine benthic invertebrates is strongly constrained by limited access to the region, which poses difficulties to performing long-term experimental studies. Ecological…

Read more on Can DEB models infer metabolic differences between intertidal and subtidal morphotypes of the Antarctic limpet Nacella concinna (Strebel, 1908)?

Mg/Ca-temperature calibration of polar benthic foraminifera species for reconstruction of bottom water temperatures on the Antarctic shelf

15 August, 2020 by Elaine Mawbey, Claus-Dieter Hillenbrand, James Smith

Benthic foraminifera Mg/Ca is a well-established bottom water temperature (BWT) proxy used in paleoclimate studies. The relationship between Mg/Ca and BWT for numerous species has been determined using core-top and…

Read more on Mg/Ca-temperature calibration of polar benthic foraminifera species for reconstruction of bottom water temperatures on the Antarctic shelf

Scientific challenges and present capabilities in underwater robotic vehicle design and navigation for oceanographic exploration under-ice.

11 August, 2020 by Pierre Dutrieux

This paper reviews the scientific motivation and challenges, development, and use of underwater robotic vehicles designed for use in ice-covered waters, with special attention paid to the navigation systems employed…

Read more on Scientific challenges and present capabilities in underwater robotic vehicle design and navigation for oceanographic exploration under-ice.

Cryptic speciation in gentoo penguins is driven by geographic isolation and regional marine conditions: Unforeseen vulnerabilities to global change

1 August, 2020 by Philip Trathan

The conservation of biodiversity is hampered by data deficiencies, with many new species and subspecies awaiting description or reclassification. Population genomics and ecological niche modelling offer complementary new tools for…

Read more on Cryptic speciation in gentoo penguins is driven by geographic isolation and regional marine conditions: Unforeseen vulnerabilities to global change

A Triassic to Jurassic arc in north Borneo: Geochronology, geochemistry, and genesis of the Segama Valley Felsic Intrusions and the Sabah ophiolite

1 August, 2020 by Alex Burton-Johnson

New field, geochemical, and geochronological data from the Segama Valley Felsic Intrusions (SVFI) of Sabah, north Borneo, shows them to be arc-derived tonalites; not windows or partial melts of a…

Read more on A Triassic to Jurassic arc in north Borneo: Geochronology, geochemistry, and genesis of the Segama Valley Felsic Intrusions and the Sabah ophiolite

A comparison of baleen whale density estimates derived from overlapping satellite imagery and a shipborne survey

31 July, 2020 by Connor Bamford, Hannah Cubaynes, Jennifer Jackson, Laura Gerrish, Philip Trathan, Peter Fretwell

As whales recover from commercial exploitation, they are increasing in abundance in habitats that they have been absent from for decades. However, studying the recovery and habitat use patterns of…

Read more on A comparison of baleen whale density estimates derived from overlapping satellite imagery and a shipborne survey

Note: Presenting vertebral deformities in bottlenose dolphin Tursiops truncatus calves from a protected population in northeast Scotland

23 July, 2020 by Connor Bamford

Photographs collected during a 23 yr photo-identification study in the Moray Firth were examined to assess the prevalence, type and severity of vertebral deformations present in bottlenose dolphin Tursiops truncatus…

Read more on Note: Presenting vertebral deformities in bottlenose dolphin Tursiops truncatus calves from a protected population in northeast Scotland

Particle‐in‐cell experiments examine electron diffusion by whistler‐mode waves: 2. Quasi‐linear and nonlinear dynamics

7 July, 2020 by Johnathan Ross, Nigel Meredith, Sarah Glauert

Test particle codes indicate that electron dynamics due to interactions with low amplitude incoherent whistler mode‐waves can be adequately described by quasi‐linear theory. However there is significant evidence indicating that…

Read more on Particle‐in‐cell experiments examine electron diffusion by whistler‐mode waves: 2. Quasi‐linear and nonlinear dynamics

Spatial distributions of nitric oxide in the Antarctic winter‐time middle atmosphere during geomagnetic storms

6 July, 2020 by David Newnham, Mark Clilverd

Energetic electron precipitation leads to increased nitric oxide (NO) production in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere. NO distributions in the winter time, high‐latitude Southern hemisphere atmosphere during geomagnetic storms are…

Read more on Spatial distributions of nitric oxide in the Antarctic winter‐time middle atmosphere during geomagnetic storms

Routine metabolism of Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) in South Georgia waters: Absence of metabolic compensation at its range edge

4 July, 2020 by Geraint Tarling

Routine respiration rates in the South Georgia stock of Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) were measured to compare with previously published measurements on stocks from colder locations further south. Within the…

Read more on Routine metabolism of Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) in South Georgia waters: Absence of metabolic compensation at its range edge

Effect of climate and moss vegetation on ground surface temperature and the active layer among different biogeographical regions in Antarctica

1 July, 2020 by Peter Convey

Ground surface temperature (GST) and active layer thickness (ALT) are key indicators of climate change (CC) in permafrost regions, with their relationships with climate and vegetation being crucial for the…

Read more on Effect of climate and moss vegetation on ground surface temperature and the active layer among different biogeographical regions in Antarctica

National Plans of Action (NPOAs) for reducing seabird bycatch: Developing best practice for assessing and managing fisheries impacts

1 July, 2020 by Richard Phillips

Fisheries bycatch is one of the biggest threats to seabird populations. Managers need to identify where and when bycatch occurs and ensure effective action. In 1999, the Food and Agriculture…

Read more on National Plans of Action (NPOAs) for reducing seabird bycatch: Developing best practice for assessing and managing fisheries impacts

Potential dispersal of tardigrades by birds through endozoochory: evidence from Sub-Antarctic White-bellied Seedsnipe (Attagis malouinus)

1 July, 2020 by Sandra McInnes, Sandra McInnes

Tardigrades are potentially dispersed by birds, but the extent of the interactions between birds and tardigrades is virtually unknown. We discovered nine tardigrades within feces of White-bellied Seedsnipe (Attagis malouinus)…

Read more on Potential dispersal of tardigrades by birds through endozoochory: evidence from Sub-Antarctic White-bellied Seedsnipe (Attagis malouinus)

Close encounters – microplastic availability to pelagic amphipods in sub-Antarctic and Antarctic surface waters

1 July, 2020 by Clara Manno, Claire Waluda, Gabriele Stowasser, Kirstie Jones-Williams

This study investigated the distribution of plastic debris from the Atlantic portion of the Sub-Antarctic to the Antarctic Peninsula. This region is home to some of the highest concentrations of…

Read more on Close encounters – microplastic availability to pelagic amphipods in sub-Antarctic and Antarctic surface waters

Variation in live-capture rates of albatrosses and petrels in fisheries, post-release survival and implications for management

1 July, 2020 by Andrew Wood, Richard Phillips

Bycatch of seabirds in longline fisheries includes mortalities and live captures (mainly during hauling). Excluding outliers, the latter accounts for 5–70% (mean 40.4%) of all bycaught birds in demersal, and…

Read more on Variation in live-capture rates of albatrosses and petrels in fisheries, post-release survival and implications for management