Archives: Publications
The development of biofilm architecture
1 April, 2016 by Teresa Kyrke-Smith
We extend the one-dimensional polymer solution theory of bacterial biofilm growth described by Winstanley et al. (2011 Proc. R. Soc. A 467, 1449–1467 (doi:10.1098/rspa.2010.0327)) to deal with the problem of…Distribution of subglacial sediments across the Wilkes Subglacial Basin, East Antarctica
1 April, 2016 by Fausto Ferraccioli
Topography, sediment distribution, and heat flux are all key boundary conditions governing the dynamics of the East Antarctic Ice Sheet (EAIS). EAIS stability is most at risk in Wilkes Land…Drivers of intrapopulation variation in resource use in a generalist predator, the macaroni penguin
1 April, 2016 by Catharine Horswill, Norman Ratcliffe, Philip Trathan, Richard Phillips
Intrapopulation variation in resource use occurs in many populations of generalist predators with important community and evolutionary implications. One of the hypothesised mechanisms for such widespread variation is ecological opportunity,…Long-term effects of altered PH and temperature on the feeding energetics of the Antarctic sea urchin, Sterechinus neumayeri
1 April, 2016 by Emma Cross, Lloyd Peck, Melody Clark, Simon Morley
This study investigated the effects of long-term incubation to near-future combined warming (+2 °C) and ocean acidification (−0.3 and −0.5 pH units) stressors, relative to current conditions (−0.3 °C and…Empirical predictive models of daily relativistic electron flux at geostationary orbit: Multiple regression analysis
1 April, 2016 by Mark Clilverd
The daily maximum relativistic electron flux at geostationary orbit can be predicted well with a set of daily averaged predictor variables including previous day's flux, seed electron flux, solar wind…Quasi-linear simulations of inner radiation belt electron pitch angle and energy distributions
28 March, 2016 by Nigel Meredith, Richard Horne, Sarah Glauert
“Peculiar” or “butterfly” electron pitch angle distributions (PADs), with minima near 90°, have recently been observed in the inner radiation belt. These electrons are traditionally treated by pure pitch angle…Phase relationships between orbital forcing and the composition of air trapped in Antarctic ice cores
26 March, 2016 by Emilie Capron
Orbital tuning is central for ice core chronologies beyond annual layer counting, available back to 60 ka (i.e. thousand of years before 1950) for Greenland ice cores. While several complementary…A new high-precision and low-power GNSS receiver for long-term installations in remote areas
24 March, 2016 by Carl Robinson, David Jones, Hilmar Gudmundsson
We have developed a new high-precision GNSS receiver specifically designed for long-term unattended deployments in remote areas. The receiver reports its status, and can be reprogrammed remotely, through an integrated…Feather mercury concentration in streaked shearwaters wintering in separate areas of southeast Asia
21 March, 2016 by Philip Trathan
We measured mercury concentration ([Hg]) and nitrogen stable isotope values (δ15N) in tail feathers that were replaced during the non-breeding period of streaked shearwaters Calonectris leucomelas that bred on 3…Composition and interactions among bacterial, microeukaryotic, and T4-like viral assemblages in lakes from both polar zones
18 March, 2016 by David Pearce
In this study we assess global biogeography and correlation patterns among three components of microbial life: bacteria, microeukaryotes, and T4-like myoviruses. In addition to environmental and biogeographical considerations, we have…Rates of warming and the global sensitivity of shallow water marine invertebrates to elevated temperature
11 March, 2016 by Lloyd Peck, Simon Morley
Assessing the sensitivity of ectotherms to variability in their environment is a key challenge, especially in the face of rapid warming of the Earth's surface. Comparing the upper temperature limits…Complete genome of Planococcus rifietoensis M8T, a halotolerant and potentially plant growth promoting bacterium
10 March, 2016 by David Pearce, Peter Convey
Planococcus rifietoensis M8T (=DSM 15069T = ATCC BAA-790T) is a halotolerant bacterium with potential plant growth promoting properties isolated from an algal mat collected from a sulfurous spring in Campania…A model providing long-term data sets of energetic electron precipitation during geomagnetic storms
8 March, 2016 by Mark Clilverd
The influence of solar variability on the polar atmosphere and climate due to energetic electron precipitation (EEP) has remained an open question largely due to lack of a long-term EEP…Linking saturation, stability and sustainability in food webs with observed equilibrium structure
1 March, 2016 by Anje-Margriet Neutel, Michael Thorne
Stability of a dynamic equilibrium in a predator-prey system depends both on the type of functional response and on the point of equilibrium on the response curve. Saturation effects from…Oxygen isotope mass balance of atmospheric nitrate at Dome C, East Antarctica, during the OPALE campaign
1 March, 2016 by Markus Frey
Variations in the stable oxygen isotope composition of atmospheric nitrate act as novel tools for studying oxidative processes taking place in the troposphere. They provide both qualitative and quantitative constraints…Usnea antarctica, an important Antarctic lichen, is vulnerable to aspects of regional environmental change
1 March, 2016 by Peter Convey
Studies of cryptogam responses to climate change in the polar regions are scarce because these slow-growing organisms require long-term monitoring studies. Here, we analyse the response of a lichen and…The cephalopod prey of the Weddell seal, Leptonychotes weddellii, a biological sampler of the Antarctic marine ecosystem
1 March, 2016
Weddell seals, Leptonychotes weddellii, are important apex predators in the food web of the Antarctic marine ecosystem. However, detailed information on their trophic relationships with cephalopods is scarce. Moreover, cephalopods…Biogeography of cephalopods in the Southern Ocean using habitat suitability prediction models
1 March, 2016 by Dani Jones, Huw Griffiths
Our understanding of how environmental change in the Southern Ocean will affect marine diversity, habitats and distribution remain limited. The habitats and distributions of Southern Ocean cephalopods are generally poorly…Why is the South Orkney Island shelf (the world’s first high seas marine protected area) a carbon immobilization hotspot?
1 March, 2016 by Chester Sands, David Barnes, Louise Ireland, Oliver Hogg, Peter Enderlein, Simon Morley
The Southern Ocean archipelago, the South Orkney Islands (SOI), became the world's first entirely high seas marine protected area (MPA) in 2010. The SOI continental shelf (~44 000 km2), was…The significance of cephalopod beaks in marine ecology studies: Can we use beaks for DNA analyses and mercury contamination assessment?
1 March, 2016 by Philip Trathan
Cephalopod beaks found in the diet of predators have been a major source of scientific information. In this study, we evaluated the usefulness of DNA and contaminants analysis (total mercury…Complete genome of Pseudomonas sp. strain L10.10, a psychrotolerant biofertilizer that could promote plant growth
1 March, 2016 by David Pearce, Peter Convey
Pseudomonas sp. strain L10.10 (=DSM 101070) is a psychrotolerant bacterium which was isolated from Lagoon Island, Antarctica. Analysis of its complete genome sequence indicates its possible role as a plant-growth…Migration timing and routes, and wintering areas of Flammulated Owls
1 March, 2016
Determining patterns in annual movements of animals is an important component of population ecology, particularly for migratory birds where migration timing and routes, and wintering habitats have key bearing on…Read more on Migration timing and routes, and wintering areas of Flammulated Owls
Connectivity in the cold: the comparative population genetics of vent-endemic fauna in the Scotia Sea, Southern Ocean
1 March, 2016 by Katrin Linse
We report the first comparative population genetics study for vent fauna in the Southern Ocean using cytochrome C oxidase I and microsatellite markers. Three species are examined: the kiwaid squat…Population structure and phylogeography of the Gentoo Penguin (Pygoscelis papua) across the Scotia Arc
1 March, 2016 by Michael Dunn
Climate change, fisheries' pressure on penguin prey, and direct human disturbance of wildlife have all been implicated in causing large shifts in the abundance and distribution of penguins in the…Antarctic Entomology
1 March, 2016 by Peter Convey
The Antarctic region comprises the continent, the Maritime Antarctic, the sub-Antarctic islands, and the southern cold temperate islands. Continental Antarctica is devoid of insects, but elsewhere diversity varies from 2…An integrated approach to historical population assessment of the great whales: case of the New Zealand southern right whale
1 March, 2016 by Jennifer Jackson
Accurate estimation of historical abundance provides an essential baseline for judging the recovery of the great whales. This is particularly challenging for whales hunted prior to twentieth century modern whaling,…Oxygen depletion recorded in upper waters of the glacial Southern Ocean
1 March, 2016 by Claus-Dieter Hillenbrand
Oxygen depletion in the upper ocean is commonly associated with poor ventilation and storage of respired carbon, potentially linked to atmospheric CO2 levels. Iodine to calcium ratios (I/Ca) in recent…Read more on Oxygen depletion recorded in upper waters of the glacial Southern Ocean
Validating the use of intrinsic markers in body feathers to identify inter-individual differences in non-breeding areas of northern fulmars
1 March, 2016 by Lucy Quinn
Many wildlife studies use chemical analyses to explore spatio-temporal variation in diet, migratory patterns and contaminant exposure. Intrinsic markers are particularly valuable for studying non-breeding marine predators, when direct methods…Global spatial ecology of three closely-related gadfly petrels
1 March, 2016 by Richard Phillips
The conservation status and taxonomy of the three gadfly petrels that breed in Macaronesia is still discussed partly due to the scarce information on their spatial ecology. Using geolocator and…Read more on Global spatial ecology of three closely-related gadfly petrels
Climate change and polar range expansions: Could cuttlefish cross the Arctic?
1 March, 2016 by John Turner, Lloyd Peck, Peter Fretwell
Climate change can have major effects on the distribution of species. In marine ecosystems, the cold waters of the Arctic have restricted warmer water species from crossing between Eurasia and…Read more on Climate change and polar range expansions: Could cuttlefish cross the Arctic?
Interglacials of the last 800,000 years
1 March, 2016 by Emilie Capron
Interglacials, including the present (Holocene) period, are warm, low land ice extent (high sea level), end-members of glacial cycles. Based on a sea level definition, we identify eleven interglacials in…Comment on “Low time resolution analysis of polar ice cores cannot detect impulsive nitrate events” by D.F. Smart et al.
1 March, 2016 by Markus Frey
Smart et al. (2014) suggested that the detection of nitrate spikes in polar ice cores from solar energetic particle (SEP) events could be achieved if an analytical system with sufficiently…Glacial lake drainage in Patagonia (13-8 kyr) and response of the adjacent Pacific Ocean
18 February, 2016 by Max Holloway
Large freshwater lakes formed in North America and Europe during deglaciation following the Last Glacial Maximum. Rapid drainage of these lakes into the Oceans resulted in abrupt perturbations in climate,…Observations of surface momentum exchange over the marginal-ice-zone and recommendations for its parametrisation
10 February, 2016 by Alexandra Weiss, John King, Thomas Lachlan-Cope
Comprehensive aircraft observations are used to characterise surface roughness over the Arctic marginal ice zone (MIZ) and consequently make recommendations for the parameterization of surface momentum exchange in the MIZ.…Controls on microalgal community structures in cryoconite holes upon high Arctic glaciers, Svalbard
3 February, 2016
Glaciers are known to harbor surprisingly complex ecosystems. On their surface, distinct cylindrical holes filled with meltwater and sediments are considered as hot spots for microbial life. The present paper…Why huddle? Ecological drivers of chick aggregations in gentoo penguins, Pygoscelis papua, across latitudes
3 February, 2016
Aggregations of young animals are common in a range of endothermic and ectothermic species, yet the adaptive behavior may depend on social circumstance and local conditions. In penguins, many species…A preliminary study to investigate the biogeophysical impact of desertification on climate based on different latitudinal bands
1 February, 2016 by Zhaomin Wang
Desertification is an international environmental challenge which poses a risk to portions of over 100 countries. Research into desertification and climate change has the potential to contribute to natural resources…No ocean acidification effects on shell growth and repair in the New Zealand brachiopod Calloria inconspicua (Sowerby, 1846)
1 February, 2016 by Emma Cross, Lloyd Peck
Surface seawaters are becoming more acidic due to the absorption of rising anthropogenic CO2. Marine calcifiers are considered to be the most vulnerable organisms to ocean acidification due to the…Edward Leicester Atkinson (1881-1929): Antarctic explorer, scientist and naval surgeon
1 February, 2016
Edward Leicester Atkinson qualified at St Thomas's Hospital in 1906 and joined the Navy in 1908. He was a doctor and parasitologist on Captain Scott's Terra Nova expedition to the…Read more on Edward Leicester Atkinson (1881-1929): Antarctic explorer, scientist and naval surgeon
George Murray Levick (1876-1956), Antarctic explorer
1 February, 2016
Murray Levick is best known for being one of the surgeons on Scott’s Terra Nova Antarctic expedition (1910–1913) and, as a member of the Northern Party of that expedition, spending…Read more on George Murray Levick (1876-1956), Antarctic explorer
Assessing the effectiveness of specially protected areas for conservation of Antarctica’s botanical diversity
1 February, 2016 by Andrew Fleming, Kevin Hughes, Louise Ireland, Peter Convey
Vegetation is sparsely distributed over Antarctica's ice-free ground, and distinct plant communities are present in each of the continent's 15 recently identified Antarctic Conservation Biogeographic Regions (ACBRs). With rapidly increasing…Relationship between soil fungal diversity and temperature in the maritime Antarctic
1 February, 2016 by Kevin Newsham, Peter Fretwell
Soil fungi have pivotal ecological roles as decomposers, pathogens and symbionts1, 2. Alterations to their diversity arising from climate change could have substantial effects on ecosystems, particularly those undergoing rapid…Read more on Relationship between soil fungal diversity and temperature in the maritime Antarctic
Identifying predictable foraging habitats for a wide-ranging marine predator using ensemble ecological niche models
1 February, 2016 by Richard Phillips
Aim Ecological niche modelling can provide valuable insight into species' environmental preferences and aid the identification of key habitats for populations of conservation concern. Here, we integrate biologging, satellite remote-sensing…Vascular plant changes in extreme environments: effects of multiple drivers
1 February, 2016 by Roger Worland, Peter Convey
The Antarctic Peninsula is one of three regions of the planet that have experienced the highest rates of climate warming over recent decades. Based on a comprehensive large-scale resurvey, allowing…Read more on Vascular plant changes in extreme environments: effects of multiple drivers
Combined influence of meso-scale circulation and bathymetry on the foraging behaviour of a diving predator, the king penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus)
1 February, 2016 by Johnnie Edmonston, Philip Trathan
Investigating the responses of marine predators to environmental features is of key importance for understanding their foraging behaviour and reproductive success. In this study we examined the foraging behaviour of…Evolution of the Antarctic Peninsula lithosphere: evidence from Mesozoic mafic rocks
1 February, 2016 by Teal Riley
New geochronology from a thick (> 800m) basaltic succession along the eastern margin of the Antarctic Peninsula confirm a Middle Jurassic age (178 ± 1 Ma). This marginally postdates the…Read more on Evolution of the Antarctic Peninsula lithosphere: evidence from Mesozoic mafic rocks
An assessment of the Polar Weather Research and Forecast (WRF) model representation of near-surface meteorological variables over West Antarctica
1 February, 2016 by Andrew Orr, Daniel Bannister, James Pope, Scott Hosking, John Turner, Pranab Deb, Steve Colwell, Tony Phillips
Despite the recent significant climatic changes observed over West Antarctica, which include large warming in central West Antarctica and accelerated ice loss, adequate validation of regional simulations of meteorological variables…Aerobiology over Antarctica – a new initiative for atmospheric ecology
1 February, 2016 by Kevin Hughes, Peter Convey
The role of aerial dispersal in shaping patterns of biodiversity remains poorly understood, mainly due to a lack of coordinated efforts in gathering data at appropriate temporal and spatial scales.…Read more on Aerobiology over Antarctica – a new initiative for atmospheric ecology
Extreme energetic electron fluxes in low Earth orbit: Analysis of POES E > 30, E > 100 and E > 300 keV electrons
1 February, 2016 by John Isles, Nigel Meredith, Richard Horne
Energetic electrons are an important space weather hazard. Electrons with energies less than about 100 keV cause surface charging while higher energy electrons can penetrate materials and cause internal charging.…Identifying the magnetotail lobes with Cluster magnetometer data
1 February, 2016 by Mervyn Freeman
We describe a novel method for identifying times when a spacecraft is in Earth's magnetotail lobes solely using magnetometer data. We propose that lobe intervals can be well identified as…Read more on Identifying the magnetotail lobes with Cluster magnetometer data
Life span and reproductive cost explain interspecific variation in the optimal onset of reproduction
1 February, 2016 by Andrew Wood, Richard Phillips
Fitness can be profoundly influenced by the age at first reproduction (AFR), but to date the AFR–fitness relationship only has been investigated intraspecifically. Here, we investigated the relationship between AFR…Technologies for retrieving sediment cores in Antarctic subglacial settings
28 January, 2016 by Andy Smith, Dominic Hodgson, James Smith, Keith Makinson, Michael Rose
Accumulations of sediment beneath the Antarctic Ice Sheet contain a range of physical and chemical proxies with the potential to document changes in ice sheet history and to identify and…Read more on Technologies for retrieving sediment cores in Antarctic subglacial settings
Clean subglacial access: prospects for future deep hot-water drilling
28 January, 2016 by Andy Smith, Dominic Hodgson, Keith Makinson, Michael Rose
Accessing and sampling subglacial environments deep beneath the Antarctic Ice Sheet presents several challenges to existing drilling technologies. With over half of the ice sheet believed to be resting on…Read more on Clean subglacial access: prospects for future deep hot-water drilling
Microbiology: lessons from a first attempt at Lake Ellsworth
28 January, 2016 by David Pearce
During the attempt to directly access, measure and sample Subglacial Lake Ellsworth in 2012–2013, we conducted microbiological analyses of the drilling equipment, scientific instrumentation, field camp and natural surroundings. From…Read more on Microbiology: lessons from a first attempt at Lake Ellsworth
Year-round records of sea salt, gaseous and particulate inorganic bromine in the atmospheric boundary layer at coastal (Dumont d’Urville) and central (Concordia) East Antarctic sites
27 January, 2016 by Xin Yang
Multiple year-round records of bulk and size-segregated compositions of aerosol were obtained at the coastal Dumont d'Urville (DDU) and inland Concordia sites located in East Antarctica. They document the sea-salt…Evolution of South Atlantic density and chemical stratification across the last deglaciation
19 January, 2016 by Jenny Roberts, Victoria Peck
Explanations of the glacial–interglacial variations in atmospheric pCO2 invoke a significant role for the deep ocean in the storage of CO2. Deep-ocean density stratification has been proposed as a mechanism…Future circulation changes off West Antarctica: Sensitivity of the Amundsen Sea Low to projected anthropogenic forcing
16 January, 2016 by Andrew Orr, Scott Hosking, John Turner, Thomas Bracegirdle
The Amundsen Sea Low (ASL) is a major driver of West Antarctic climate variability, with the potential to accelerate the loss of glacial ice. Using the 11 global climate models…A case study of a transported bromine explosion event in the Canadian high arctic
16 January, 2016 by Xin Yang
Ozone depletion events in the polar troposphere have been linked to extremely high concentrations of bromine, known as bromine explosion events (BEE). However, the optimum meteorological conditions for the occurrence…Read more on A case study of a transported bromine explosion event in the Canadian high arctic
Characterisation of the mantle transcriptome and biomineralisation genes in the blunt-gaper clam, Mya truncata
14 January, 2016 by Lloyd Peck, Michael Thorne, Melody Clark, Victoria Sleight
Members of the Myidae family are ecologically and economically important, but there is currently very little molecular data on these species. The present study sequenced and assembled the mantle transcriptome…Highly productive polar forests from the Permian of Antarctica
1 January, 2016 by Jane Francis
Two stratigraphically closely spaced bedding planes exposed at Lamping Peak in the Upper Buckley Formation, Beardmore Glacier area, Antarctica contain abundant in situ stumps (n=53, n=21) and other plant fossils…Read more on Highly productive polar forests from the Permian of Antarctica
Robert Mossman, Endurance and the Weddell Sea ice
1 January, 2016 by John King
Before Shackleton arrived at South Georgia aboard Endurance on 5 November 1914 he was aware that the vessel might meet bad pack-ice in the Weddell Sea. This had been forecast…Read more on Robert Mossman, Endurance and the Weddell Sea ice
The Amundsen Sea Low: Variability, change and impact on Antarctic climate
1 January, 2016 by Gareth Marshall, Scott Hosking, John Turner
The Amundsen Sea Low (ASL) is a climatological low pressure center that exerts considerable influence on the climate of West Antarctica. Its potential to explain important recent changes in Antarctic…Read more on The Amundsen Sea Low: Variability, change and impact on Antarctic climate
Distribution, habitat and trophic ecology of Antarctic squid Kondakovia longimana and Moroteuthis knipovitchi: inferences from predators and stable isotopes
1 January, 2016
Cephalopods have a key role in the marine environment though knowledge of their distribution and trophic ecology is limited by a lack of observations. This is particularly true for Antarctic…Foehn warming distributions in non-linear and linear flow regimes: A focus on the Antarctic Peninsula
1 January, 2016 by Andrew Orr, John King, Thomas Lachlan-Cope
The structure of leeside warming during foehn events is investigated as a function of cross-barrier flow regime linearity. Two contrasting cases of westerly flow over the Antarctic Peninsula (AP) are…Out of Antarctica: quaternary colonization of sub-Antarctic Marion Island by the limpet genus Nacella (Patellogastropoda: Nacellidae)
1 January, 2016 by Simon Morley
The distribution of the Southern Ocean nearshore marine benthic fauna is the consequence of major geologic, oceanographic, and climatic changes during the last 50 Ma. As a result, a main…Production of extracellular hydrolase enzymes by fungi from King George Island
1 January, 2016 by Peter Convey
Fungi are known to produce a range of extracellular enzymes and other secondary metabolites. Investment in extracellular enzyme production may be an important element of the survival strategy of these…Read more on Production of extracellular hydrolase enzymes by fungi from King George Island
Reconstructing paleosalinity from δ18O: Coupled model simulations of the Last Glacial Maximum, Last Interglacial and Late Holocene
1 January, 2016 by Louise Sime, Max Holloway
Reconstructions of salinity are used to diagnose changes in the hydrological cycle and ocean circulation. A widely used method of determining past salinity uses oxygen isotope (δOw) residuals after the…Glacial fluctuations since the ‘Medieval Warm Period’ at Rothera Point (western Antarctic Peninsula)
1 January, 2016 by Peter Convey
At a global scale, there is no evidence for synchronous multi-decadal warm (‘Medieval Warm Period’, MWP) or cold (‘Little Ice Age’, LIA) periods in the late Holocene. On the other…Age-related thermal response: the cellular resilience of juveniles
1 January, 2016 by Lloyd Peck, Michael Thorne, Melody Clark
Understanding species’ responses to environmental challenges is key to predicting future biodiversity. However, there is currently little data on how developmental stages affect responses and also whether universal gene biomarkers…Read more on Age-related thermal response: the cellular resilience of juveniles
The modelled surface mass balance of the Antarctic Peninsula at 5.5 km horizontal resolution
1 January, 2016 by John Turner, Liz Thomas
This study presents a high-resolution (~ 5.5 km) estimate of Surface Mass Balance (SMB) over the period 1979–2014 for the Antarctic Peninsula (AP), generated by the regional atmospheric climate model…Validation of eight atmospheric reanalyses in the Antarctic Peninsula region
1 January, 2016 by Alexandra Weiss, John King, Thomas Lachlan-Cope
Eight atmospheric reanalyses were compared against observed vertical profiles of temperature, specific humidity and wind speed collected by two research aircraft in February–March 2010 in the Antarctic Peninsula region. These…Read more on Validation of eight atmospheric reanalyses in the Antarctic Peninsula region
Assessing the structure and temporal dynamics of seabird communities: the challenge of capturing marine ecosystem complexity
1 January, 2016 by Gabriele Stowasser, Richard Phillips, Rocio Moreno
Summary 1.Understanding interspecific interactions, and the influences of anthropogenic disturbance and environmental change on communities, are key challenges in ecology. Despite the pressing need to understand these fundamental drivers of…A cold limit to adaptation in the sea
1 January, 2016 by Lloyd Peck
Temperature affects biological functions by altering reaction rates. Physiological rates usually double to treble for every 10°C rise, and 1–4 fold encompasses normal biological functions. However, in polar marine species…Development of a regional glycerol dialkyl glycerol tetraether (GDGT)-temperature calibration for Antarctic and sub-Antarctic lakes
1 January, 2016 by Dominic Hodgson, Stephen Roberts
A regional network of quantitative reconstructions of past climate variability is required to test climate models. In recent studies, temperature calibration models based on the relative abundances of sedimentary glycerol…Gill’s model of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current, revisited: the role of latitudinal variations in wind stress
1 January, 2016 by Dave Munday
Adrian Gill’s (1968) model of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC) is reinterpreted for a stratified, reduced-gravity ocean, where the barotropic streamfunction is replaced by the pycnocline depth, and the bottom…A horizon scan of global conservation issues for 2016
1 January, 2016 by Lloyd Peck
This paper presents the results of our seventh annual horizon scan, in which we aimed to identify issues that could have substantial effects on global biological diversity in the future,…Read more on A horizon scan of global conservation issues for 2016
The interdisciplinary marine system of the Amundsen Sea, Southern Ocean: recent advances and the need for sustained observations
1 January, 2016 by Michael Meredith
The Southern Ocean exerts a profound influence on the functioning of the Earth System, in part because its location and unique bathymetric configuration enable direct linkages to the other major…Jumbo squid in the eastern Pacific Ocean: A quarter century of challenges and change
1 January, 2016 by Paul Rodhouse
The jumbo, or Humboldt, squid Dosidicus gigas currently accounts for about one third of total world squid landings ( Arkhipkin et al., 2015). It is the largest and most abundant…Read more on Jumbo squid in the eastern Pacific Ocean: A quarter century of challenges and change
The thermodynamic balance of the Weddell Gyre
1 January, 2016 by Michael Meredith, Paul Holland
The thermodynamic balance of the Weddell Gyre is assessed from an inverse estimate of the circulation across the gyre's rim. The gyre experiences a weak net buoyancy gain that arises…Extremophiles in an Antarctic Marine Ecosystem
1 January, 2016 by David Pearce, Michael Thorne, Will Goodall-Copestake
Recent attempts to explore marine microbial diversity and the global marine microbiome have indicated a large proportion of previously unknown diversity. However, sequencing alone does not tell the whole story,…Extreme phenotypic plasticity in metabolic physiology of Antarctic demosponges
1 January, 2016 by David Barnes, Lloyd Peck, Simon Morley
Seasonal measurements of the metabolic physiology of four Antarctic demosponges and their associated assemblages, maintained in a flow through aquarium facility, demonstrated one of the largest differences in seasonal strategies…Read more on Extreme phenotypic plasticity in metabolic physiology of Antarctic demosponges
Offspring hormones reflect the maternal prenatal social environment: Potential for foetal programming?
1 January, 2016 by Jaume Forcada
Females of many species adaptively program their offspring to predictable environmental conditions, a process that is often mediated by hormones. Laboratory studies have shown, for instance, that social density affects…Very slow embryonic and larval development in the Antarctic limpet Nacella polaris
1 January, 2016 by Lloyd Peck, Melody Clark, Sabrina Heiser
Cold polar marine species have very slow embryonic and larval development rates. Antarctic echinoids, bivalve molluscs and brooding gastropods develop up to 12 times slower than temperate and tropical species,…Read more on Very slow embryonic and larval development in the Antarctic limpet Nacella polaris
High basal melting forming a channel at the grounding line of Ross Ice Shelf, Antarctica
1 January, 2016 by Hugh Corr, Keith Nicholls
Antarctica's ice shelves are thinning at an increasing rate, affecting their buttressing ability. Channels in the ice shelf base unevenly distribute melting, and their evolution provides insight into changing subglacial…Nature’s Grand Experiment: Linkage between magnetospheric convection and the radiation belts
1 January, 2016 by Mark Clilverd
The solar minimum of 2007–2010 was unusually deep and long lived. In the later stages of this period the electron fluxes in the radiation belts dropped to extremely low levels.…North-South asymmetries in the polar thermosphere-ionosphere system: solar cycle and seasonal influences
1 January, 2016 by Ingrid Cnossen
Previous studies have revealed that ion drift and neutral wind speeds at ~400 km in the polar cap (>80° magnetic latitude) are on average larger in the Northern Hemisphere (NH) than…Tracking the provenance of Greenland-sourced, Holocene aged, individual sand-sized ice-rafted debris using the Pb-isotope compositions of feldspars and 40Ar/39Ar ages of hornblendes
1 January, 2016 by Kelly Hogan
The provenance of sand-sized ice-rafted debris (IRD) sourced from Greenland is currently difficult to determine. Such knowledge, if it could be ascertained with a high degree of certainty, could be…Atlas of submarine glacial landforms: Modern, Quaternary and Ancient
1 January, 2016 by Kelly Hogan
New geophysical techniques (multibeam echo sounding and 3D seismics) have revolutionized high-resolution imaging of the modern seafloor and palaeo-shelf surfaces in Arctic and Antarctic waters, generating vast quantities of data…Read more on Atlas of submarine glacial landforms: Modern, Quaternary and Ancient
Landform assemblage produced by ice-grounding events on the Yermak Plateau
1 January, 2016 by Kelly Hogan
The landforms and sediments preserved on the Yermak Plateau (Figs 1, 2, 3) provide information on the glacial history and past dynamics of the northwestern-most sector of the Eurasian Ice…Read more on Landform assemblage produced by ice-grounding events on the Yermak Plateau
Glossary of glaciated continental margins and related geoscience methods
1 January, 2016 by Kelly Hogan
The original version of this glossary was published almost 20 years ago in the landmark volume Glaciated Continental Margins: An Atlas of Acoustic Images (Bell et al. 1997). For the…Read more on Glossary of glaciated continental margins and related geoscience methods
Little Ice Age terminal and retreat moraines in Kollerfjorden, NW Spitsbergen
1 January, 2016 by Kelly Hogan
Many glaciers on Svalbard thickened and advanced during the Little Ice Age (LIA), which occurred between about 1400 and 1920 in the archipelago (Werner 1993). A terminal transverse ridge, along…Read more on Little Ice Age terminal and retreat moraines in Kollerfjorden, NW Spitsbergen
Large, buried glacial moraines revealed by TOPAS sub-bottom profiling, South Orkney Islands, South Atlantic Ocean
1 January, 2016 by James Smith, Kelly Hogan, William Dickens
Subglacial and ice-marginal landforms produced during the Last Glacial Maximum and subsequent regional deglaciation become progressively more buried, especially when postglacial sedimentation rates are high. Sub-bottom profiling is usually used…Introduction: an atlas of submarine glacial landforms
1 January, 2016 by Kelly Hogan
Glacial landforms and sediments exposed sub-aerially have been the subject of description, analysis and interpretation for more than a century (e.g. De Laski 1864; De Geer 1889). Indeed, such features…Read more on Introduction: an atlas of submarine glacial landforms