Ecosystems team
Our ambition
The scientific goal of our team is to understand the combined impacts of global climate-driven change and commercial fishing on polar marine ecosystems. Our research will provide fundamental insight into the response of species and ecosystems to change and enable us to detect and project their responses to future change. Our research is critical to the development of conservation and ecosystem-based management strategies and will contribute to the development of Government policy.
Our research is focused on understanding the effects of change on whole ecosystems from microbes to whales and from local to circumpolar ecosystems. Our two research groups (Pelagic Ecosystems and Higher Predators and Conservation) focus on the Scotia Sea/West Antarctic Peninsula region, which is affected by both rapid climate-driven changes and major fishing activities. Comparative studies of Arctic and Southern Oceans will also advance our understanding of the Polar Regions, their influence on global cycles and ecosystems, their response to change, and methods for their effective conservation. Our innovative multidisciplinary approach and international leadership and partnerships will ensure that we continue to strengthen this area of globally important research.
Team priorities
Science
- Understanding the life-cycles of polar marine species. To develop a quantitative understanding of the life-cycles, distribution and abundance of key species.
- The structure and functioning of polar ocean ecosystems. To understand the biological-physical-chemical interactions that determine the structure and functioning of ecosystems from local to circumpolar scales from a food web perspective.
- Impacts of variability and change. To understand the multiple drivers of change and the response of individual species and whole ecosystems.
- Modelling ecosystems and future change. To develop models of key species and ecosystems for projecting the impacts of future change on polar ocean ecosystems.
- Fisheries and conservation in areas of rapid change. To use our understanding of the interactive effects of harvesting and climate-driven change to develop sustainable management and conservation approaches.
Technology, innovation and training
- Conduct large-scale multidisciplinary field experiments from ships and land-bases and develop and deploy advanced technology and autonomous systems for biological-oceanographic and ecological studies.
- Develop innovative multidisciplinary approaches, encompassing genetics, biology and ecology of marine organisms (from plankton to the highest predators), biogeochemistry, oceanography, fisheries and climate science.
- Targeted numerical modelling studies and analyses of long-term data series.
Influencing and leading international programmes
- Work with national and international partners in Antarctic and Arctic research, including the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR), the Arctic Council and the Ecosystems Studies of Sub-Arctic Sea (ESSAS) programme.
- Work in partnership with international partners and institutions to gain deeper understanding of human impacts (e.g. fisheries) on polar ecosystems, particularly through the Commission for Conservation for Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) in the Southern Ocean.
- Lead the international Integrating Climate and Ecosystem Dynamics in the Southern Ocean programme (ICED) linking ecosystem and climate studies, developing links to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES).
- Through our role in ICED, input polar perspectives into global science programmes, including the International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme’s (IGBP) Integrated Marine Biogeochemistry and Ecosystem Research (IMBER) programme, the Scientific Committee on Ocean Research (SCOR) and Future Earth.
Stakeholder engagement
- Produce essential scientific advice to underpin the development of UK government (Foreign and Commonwealth Office, FCO, and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, DEFRA) and international conservation and management policies for the sustainable management of fisheries and human impacts in polar ocean ecosystems
- Provide critical scientific evidence and advice to shape international policy development within the Commission for Conservation for Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR)
- Inform the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and the Intergovernmental Panel on Biodiversity and Ecosystems Services (IPBES)
Public engagement in research
- Disseminate our findings via publication in the highest-impact journals, through presentations in leading national and international forums
- Participate in educational, media, business and stakeholder engagement activities.
Skua monitoring at Rothera
The small population of south polar skuas (up to 25 pairs) at Rothera Point has been studied since the late 1990s. The initial intention was to monitor possible impacts of …
Modelling Movement of Antarctic Krill
The MMAK project is using state-of-the-art ocean-sea ice models to improve our understanding of processes that influence the distribution of krill in the South Orkney Islands region.
Higher Predators – Long-Term Science
The British Antarctic Survey carries out Long Term Science that measures changes in Antarctic ecosystems and seeks to understand the underlying drivers and processes. Marine predators are sensitive to changes …
Building data resources for managing the South Georgia & South Sandwich Islands Marine Protected Area
The South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands (SGSSI) Marine Protected Area (MPA) was established by the Government of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands in 2012, to ensure the …
Scotia Sea open-ocean biological laboratories
Sustained ocean observing programme
POETS-WCB
The main deliverable of the Western Core Box (WCB) is a consistent unique time series of mesoscale distribution and abundance of macro-zooplankton and micronekton, and an understanding of the physical …
Wildlife from Space
Many populations of wildlife are remote, inaccessible or difficult to monitor. The advent of sub-metre, Very-High-Resolution (VHR) satellite imagery may enable us study these animals in a much more efficient …
COMICS
Investigating the twilight zone The four-year COMICS project, is led by the National Oceanography Centre, is a collaboration between the British Antarctic Survey and the universities of Queen Mary London, …
KRILLBASE
KRILLBASE is a data rescue and compilation project which aims to improve the availability of information on two of the Southern Ocean’s most important zooplankton taxa: Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) …
Continuous Plankton Recorder
Contemporary research has shown that the Southern Ocean is warming. Summer surface temperatures have risen by more than 1 degree Centigrade in the last 80 years and a strong upper-layer …
Krill Hotspots
Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) are a key component of the food chain throughout much of the Southern Ocean. These small, shrimp-like animals occur in dense swarms, but their distribution is …
White-chinned Petrel Tracking
The white-chinned petrel is the most common bird species recorded as fisheries bycatch in the Southern Ocean [1]. Although currently listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN, limited population trend data …
Oceanographic models for the Scotia Sea
Development of regional models to examine the detailed oceanography of island shelves and surrounding regions.
SONA
The Southern Ocean Network of Acoustics (SONA) represents a group of scientific institutes and industrial partners who have united to measure an under-sampled component of the ecosystem – the mid-trophic …
Long term monitoring of plastics
This long-term study monitors the impact of marine plastics and other debris on breeding seabirds at Bird Island. Researchers have monitored the levels of marine plastics and other material from …
Return of the whales to South Georgia
20 February, 2020
A team led by British Antarctic Survey has just returned from the sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia, as the last of three expeditions to investigate the recovery of whales a …
Protecting seabirds and mammals
8 January, 2020
A new study published this week (7 January 2020) identifies a need for fishery managers to adopt clear objectives for the protection of seabirds and mammals. It is published in …
Studies highlight fragility of Antarctic ecosystems
29 November, 2019
Two studies published in a special issue of the journal Science Advances this week (27 November 2019) highlight the fragility of the Antarctic and its ecosystems in the lead up …
Antarctica. BBC blockbuster Seven Worlds, One Planet
23 October, 2019
Antarctica – BBC NHU blockbuster
Stranded whales detected from space
17 October, 2019
A new technique for analysing satellite images may help scientists detect and count stranded whales from space. Researchers tested a new detection method using Very High Resolution (VHR) satellite images …
Study recommends special protection of emperor penguins
9 October, 2019
In a new study published this week (Wednesday 9 October) in the journal Biological Conservation, an international team of researchers recommends the need for additional measures to protect and conserve …
Antarctic krill use ‘hotspots’ for their young
25 July, 2019
New research, published this week (24 July 2019) in the journal PLOS ONE, shows how Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba), a key species in the Southern Ocean food web, choose different …
Antarctic species in the face of a changing ocean
17 June, 2019
A new study reveals how marine life around Antarctica will fare in an ocean which has declining levels of oxygen. Writing in the journal Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society …
Fishing hotspots show where sub-Antarctic seabirds at risk
22 May, 2019
A new study highlights that sub-Antarctic seabirds are most at risk from unsustainable fishing during the southern hemisphere winter and in the south Atlantic and Southwest Indian Oceans. The link …
“Catastrophic” breeding failure at one of world’s largest emperor penguin colonies
25 April, 2019
Researchers at British Antarctic Survey have discovered “catastrophic” breeding failure at one of world’s largest emperor penguin colonies.
Krill swarms responsible for ‘hidden’ carbon storage
21 February, 2019
Large krill swarms in the Southern Ocean could help remove additional carbon from the atmosphere, in a way that is currently ‘hidden’ in global models. The new study is published …
Antarctic krill population contracts southward as polar oceans warm
21 January, 2019
The population of Antarctic krill, the favourite food of many whales, penguins, fish and seals, shifted southward during a recent period of warming in their key habitat, new research shows. …
New funding uses seabirds as sentinels of South Atlantic
21 January, 2019
British Antarctic Survey scientist Professor Richard Phillips has been awarded funding to use newly developed radar-detecting tags to track the interactions between wandering albatrosses and fishing vessels in the South …
Seabird populations on Antarctic Peninsula unexpected
5 December, 2018
Results of a new study on Antarctic seabirds shows a larger percentage of their populations inhabit important nesting sites around Ryder Bay, close to British Antarctic Survey’s Rothera Station than …
Watching whales from space
1 November, 2018
Scientists have used detailed high-resolution satellite images provided by Maxar Technologies’ DigitalGlobe, to detect, count and describe four different species of whales. Reported this week in the journal Marine Mammal …
Scientists join policy makers to discuss conservation
22 October, 2018
BAS marine researchers join nearly 300 international delegates at the annual meeting of the Convention on the Conservation or Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) beginning in Hobart today. For the …
Study of penguin colonies at Antarctic island shows decline
11 October, 2018
Results from a 21-year study into the breeding success of gentoo penguins at a well-known tourist site in Antarctica, reveal a 25% reduction in breeding pairs and a decrease of …
Science meetings on conservation of Southern Ocean
2 July, 2018
Science meetings of the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) take place over the next two weeks (starting 2 July 2018) at the Cambridge Headquarters of …
In old age, efficiency is key to successful parenting
22 June, 2018
Old albatrosses that are more efficient at finding food during migration are more likely to successfully raise young, new research shows. A study led by the British Antarctic Survey, in …
New insight into an enigmatic Antarctic apex predator
5 June, 2018
Scientists from British Antarctic Survey (BAS) have, for the first time, tracked the lives of leopard seals as they migrate around Antarctica. The team followed these formidable predators as they …
Special issue on how oceans are changing
14 May, 2018
The seas around the Antarctic Peninsula are biologically extremely rich, but are climatically sensitive, having experienced some of the fastest warming globally in recent decades. A special issue of the …
Warming oceans could put seabirds out of sync with prey
4 April, 2018
Seabirds may struggle to find food for their chicks as they are unable to shift their breeding seasons as the climate warms, a new study suggests. Rising sea temperatures in …
Research mission to Larsen C Ice Shelf thwarted by sea ice
2 March, 2018
Heavy sea ice conditions have thwarted a science mission from reaching the Larsen C Ice Shelf in Antarctica from which a large iceberg broke off in July 2017. A team …
Sea butterflies repair shell damage from ocean acidification
25 January, 2018
A new study of tiny marine snails called sea butterflies shows the great lengths these animals go to repair damage caused by ocean acidification. The paper, led by researchers at …
Lanternfish reveal how ocean warming impacts the twilight zone
12 January, 2018
A new study from the British Antarctic Survey shows how lanternfish, small bioluminescent fish, are likely to respond to the warming of the Southern Ocean. Lanternfish are one of the …
Expedition to ‘health-check’ Southern Right Whales
10 January, 2018
An international team of researchers, led by British Antarctic Survey (BAS), travels to the sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia this month (January) to carry out the first scientific whale survey …
New Year Honours for British Antarctic Survey scientist
5 January, 2018
Our congratulations go to Dr Phil Trathan who has been made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to Southern Ocean science and conservation. Dr …
Krill behaviour takes carbon to the ocean depths
15 December, 2017
A new study shows that Antarctic krill behave in a way that could accelerate the transport of atmospheric carbon to the deep ocean. Antarctic krill form some of the highest …
Albatrosses in decline from fishing and environmental change
20 November, 2017
The populations of wandering, black-browed and grey-headed albatrosses have halved over the last 35 years on sub-antarctic Bird Island according to a new study published today (20 November) in the …
Study sheds new light on krill larvae survival
14 November, 2017
An international study involving British Antarctic Survey (BAS) scientists has shed light on how the larvae of Antarctic krill – small shrimp-like crustaceans – use sea ice to ensure their …
BBC Blockbuster Blue Planet II returns
23 October, 2017
Blue Planet II – the nature documentary that explores the deepest and darkest realms of the world’s oceans – is back on the BBC some 16 years after it was …
New study calls for unified research to understand changing ecosystems
2 October, 2017
A new multidisciplinary study led by scientists at British Antarctic Study (BAS) stresses the need for an integrated approach to understand the effects of climate change on Antarctic marine ecosystems. …
Science cruise departs ahead of Discovery Investigations anniversary
22 September, 2017
Today the royal research ship RRS Discovery will depart Southampton for an ambitious science expedition to the ocean around South Georgia. This expedition will take place almost 100 years after …
Zooplankton resilient to long-term warming
29 August, 2017
Temperature plays an important role in the distribution of ocean plankton communities and has the potential to cause major distribution shifts, as recently observed in the Arctic. A new study …
Plastic pollution in the Antarctic worse than expected
19 June, 2017
The levels of microplastic particles accumulating in the Antarctic are much worse than expected, a team of experts has warned. The continent is considered to be a pristine wilderness compared …
New study reveals what penguins eat
15 February, 2017
The longest and most comprehensive study to date of what penguins eat is published this month. The study, published in the journal Marine Biology, examines the diets of gentoo penguins …
FEATURED PAPER: Ecosystem Services
1 February, 2017
Intensifying pressures from fisheries, habitat destruction, pollution and climate change are driving global declines in marine biodiversity. Despite widespread conservation efforts there is a growing argument that traditional approaches have …
Conservation plans to protect the albatross
11 January, 2017
The UK Overseas Territory of South Georgia & South Sandwich Islands is this week launching an ambitious conservation effort to help protect the albatross. South Georgia is a globally important …
Special feature highlights the value of biodiversity
7 December, 2016
Scientists agree that meeting the ever-increasing needs of the Earth’s human population while maintaining biological diversity is one of the greatest challenges of our time. Despite bold international commitments, biodiversity …
UK welcomes agreement on largest Marine Protected Area
28 October, 2016
HOBART, Australia: The world’s experts on Antarctic marine conservation have this week agreed to establish a marine protected area (MPA) in Antarctica’s Ross Sea. At the meeting of the Commission …
Study shows mixed fortunes for Signy penguins
27 October, 2016
A forty year study on a remote Antarctic island shows that while populations of two penguin species are declining, a third is increasing. Analysis of census data from Signy Island …
Nature’s ocean fertiliser
20 September, 2016
Scientists have discovered that Antarctic krill – a tiny shrimp-like crustacean – plays a key role in fertilising the Southern Ocean with iron, which stimulates the growth of phytoplankton, the …
Review of threats to seabirds
1 August, 2016
A review of breeding distributions, population trends, threats and key priorities for conservation actions on land and at sea for the 29 species covered by the Agreement on the Conservation …
Albatrosses use different regions when on migration
25 July, 2016
A new study of the movements of sub-Antarctic albatrosses tracked from two remote islands some 5,000 km apart, shows that although the birds from each breeding site take similar routes around the Southern Ocean, they forage in different areas for the majority of the time. The results are published this month in the Nature journal Scientific Reports.
PRESS RELEASE: Antarctic seabird in decline
21 December, 2015
New research shows decline in population and breeding success of Antarctic seabird A fifty year study of the charismatic seabird, the southern giant petrel, on the Antarctic island of Signy …
PRESS RELEASE: New season – ambitious science
23 November, 2015
New season tackles ambitious science and logistical challenges The British Antarctic Survey (BAS) 2015/16 field season is underway with dozens of scientists and support staff – together with planes and tonnes …
NEWS STORY: Assessing seabird communities
7 October, 2015
Antarctic seabird community structure remains unaffected by changes in food availability A new study of sub-Antarctic seabirds shows that their community structure (how they co-exist and share resources) is unaffected …
NEWS STORY: Grant for penguin project
25 September, 2015
BAS scientists awarded grant to study penguins’ reliance on krill Norwegian and British scientists are to take part in a research project to determine how dependant non-breeding penguins are on …
NEWS STORY: Explaining sea lion decline
4 September, 2015
The southern sea lion population of the Falkland Islands witnessed a dramatic decline during the last century with numbers falling by 95 per cent between the 1930s and 1960s. It …
NEWS STORY: Bird tracking aids seabird research
18 August, 2015
Bird tracking technology reveals future climate may affect seabird feeding behaviour A two year study of shags on the Isle of May National Nature Reserve in Scotland reveals that when …
PRESS RELEASE: Scent matters to fur seals
10 August, 2015
Antarctic fur seals have unique ‘scent profile’ to recognise their pups Researchers studying Antarctic fur seals have discovered their scent has a unique ‘profile’ which enables them to recognise their …
NEWS STORY: New study uncovers how petrels co-exist
14 July, 2015
New study uncovers how petrels in sub-Antarctic co-exist during the winter For the first time, scientists understand more clearly how birds living on the remote sub-Antarctic island of Bird Island …
NEWS STORY: New Antarctic conservation assessment
30 June, 2015
Prince Albert II of Monaco supports Antarctic conservation assessment HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco recently closed a historic meeting of biodiversity and Antarctic experts, convened for three days in …
NEWS STORY: Petrels followed on feeding trips
26 May, 2015
Petrels tracked across the Oceans Staff at British Antarctic Survey (BAS) are following the journeys of White-chinned Petrel fledglings as they make their first journeys over the South Atlantic Ocean …
NEWS STORY: Antarctic fur seals monitored
1 April, 2015
New study tracks feeding behaviour of Antarctic fur seals in winter During the Antarctic Summer female fur seals feed in the waters around their breeding breaches. In winter, when their …
NEWS STORY: Penguin colonies once limited
2 March, 2015
Survival of the fittest – genetics reveals where emperor penguins survived the last ice age During the last ice age, when much of the Antarctic coastline was uninhabitable due to …
NEWS STORY: Age does not wither
16 February, 2015
Does age matter? Maybe not if you’re a wandering albatross A new study of the wandering albatrosses breeding on the sub-antarctic island of Bird Island (off South Georgia) reveals that …
NEWS STORY: Satellites spot seabird poo!
11 December, 2014
Seabird poo has unique spectral signature visible from satellite images Scientists have discovered that penguin and seabird poo (guano) from colonies around the Antarctic Peninsula has a unique spectral signature …
NEWS STORY: Patagonian toothfish fishery
16 September, 2014
South Georgia Patagonian toothfish fishery recertified with flying colours Following its five-yearly Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) assessment, the South Georgia Patagonian toothfish longline fishery has, for the third time, been …
PRESS RELEASE: Penguin trends analysed
6 August, 2014
Risks to penguin populations analysed A major study of all penguin species suggests the birds are at continuing risk from habitat degradation. Writing in the journal, Conservation Biology, a group …
PRESS RELEASE: Fur seal genetics and climate change
23 July, 2014
Genetic study shows major impact of climate change on Antarctic fur seals Genetic analysis of Antarctic fur seals, alongside decades of in-depth monitoring,* has provided unique insights into the effect …
NEWS STORY: Icebergs leave their mark
16 June, 2014
Climate related iceberg activity has massively altered life on the seabed Researchers from the British Antarctic Survey have found evidence that climate change has fundamentally altered the way that life …
NEWS STORY: Ancestral penguins studied
12 June, 2014
Rise and fall of prehistoric penguin populations charted The British Antarctic Survey has been involved in a study of how penguin populations have changed over the last 30,000 years. This …
NEWS STORY: Bridging the gap in the krill debate
9 June, 2014
Event: Understanding the objectives for krill fishing and conservation in the Scotia Sea and the Antarctic Peninsula Region Convened by the British Antarctic Survey, ICED and WWF WWF’s Living Planet …
PRESS RELEASE: Penguins monitored with tags
21 May, 2014
Electronic tags provide 10 years worth of penguin data A team of scientists, led by researchers from the British Antarctic Survey, has used tiny electronic tags to study the decline …
PRESS RELEASE: New whale subspecies
21 May, 2014
Humpback whale subspecies revealed by genetic study A new genetic study has revealed that populations of humpback whales in the oceans of the North Pacific, North Atlantic and Southern Hemisphere …
PRESS RELEASE: Antarctic emperor penguins
8 January, 2014
Antarctic emperor penguins may be adapting to warmer temperatures A new study of four Antarctic emperor penguin colonies suggest that unexpected breeding behaviour may be a sign that the birds …
NEWS STORY: Fishing limits to be discussed at meeting
23 October, 2013
CCAMLR underway in Hobart The annual gathering of international Antarctic scientists and policy makers is under way at Hobart in Australia. Twenty-five delegations from around the world have arrived in …
NEWS STORY: Antarctic experts gather in Australia
16 October, 2013
World’s Antarctic marine experts converge on Hobart Hobart’s annual gathering of international Antarctic scientists and policy makers is underway. Twenty-five flags flying outside the offices of the Commission for the …
PRESS RELEASE: Evidence of life in frozen sediments
10 September, 2013
Life found in the sediments of an Antarctic subglacial lake for the first time Evidence of diverse life forms dating back nearly a hundred thousand years has been found in …
PRESS RELEASE: Krill risk from warming seas
21 August, 2013
Warming Antarctic seas likely to impact on krill habitats Antarctic krill are usually less than 6 cm in length but their size belies the major role they play in sustaining …
PRESS RELEASE Age and Antarctic clams
18 April, 2013
Age matters to Antarctic clams A new study of Antarctic clams reveals that age matters when it comes to adapting to the effects of climate change. The research provides new …
NEWS STORY: Age no barrier for albatrosses
12 March, 2013
Saving the best for last – wandering albatrosses” last push for successful parenting Romanticised in poetry, the wandering albatross is famed for its enormous wing-span and long life. The bird …
PRESS RELEASE: British team to explore buried lake
12 December, 2012
British team set to access and sample one of the last unexplored environments on Earth This week (12 December) a British team of scientists and engineers, including scientists from British …
PRESS RELEASE: Effects of ocean acidification
25 November, 2012
First evidence of ocean acidification affecting live marine creatures in the Southern Ocean The shells of marine snails – known as pteropods – living in the seas around Antarctica are …
PRESS RELEASE: Mission to Antarctic buried lake
7 September, 2012
British team set to embark on ambitious Antarctic mission to penetrate & sample ancient buried lake After 16 years of planning the countdown is on for one of the most …
PRESS RELEASE: Penguins surveyed from space
13 April, 2012
Scientists count penguins from space A new study using satellite mapping technology reveals there are twice as many emperor penguins in Antarctica than was previously thought. The results provide an …
PRESS RELEASE: Critical food supply level
22 December, 2011
New research shows how much food is needed by seabirds An international group of scientists has shown that many seabirds begin to suffer when the food available for them in …
PRESS RELEASE: Krill’s key role in oceans
4 July, 2011
Antarctic krill help to fertilise Southern Ocean with iron A new discovery reveals that the shrimp-like creature at the heart of the Antarctic food chain could play a key role …
PRESS RELEASE: Deep sea mystery solved
13 June, 2011
New discovery – Copepods share “diver’s weight belt” technique with whales A deep-sea mystery has been solved with the discovery that the tiny 3 mm long marine animals, eaten by …
PRESS RELEASE: Island haven for sea life
24 May, 2011
Study reveals most biologically rich island in Southern Ocean The first comprehensive study of sea creatures around the sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia reveals a region that is richer in …
PRESS RELEASE: Census of Marine Life
4 October, 2010
Event: A Decade of Discovery: Census of Marine Life — News Conference Venue: Royal Institution, London Date: Monday 4 October: 12.30 – 16.30 Findings from a major international investigation into …
PRESS RELEASE: Terns clock up the miles
12 January, 2010
Arctic terns confirmed to have the longest animal migration in the world New information on bird migration is revealed by an international team of scientists who have confirmed that the …
Guest Blog – Petrels on Round Island, Mauritius
13 March, 2020 by Norman Ratcliffe
PhD student Kirsty Franklin reports on her fieldwork on Round Island, Mauritius, working in collaboration with British Antarctic Survey. In the blog below, Kirsty shares how she is going to …
Blog: Blue whale comeback at South Georgia!
4 February, 2020 by Jennifer Jackson
BAS biologist Dr Jennifer Jackson shares exciting updates from the wild water whales expedition. The BAS wild water whales team have spent 25 days surveying whales in South Georgia waters. …
Tracking Guillemots with Project LOMVIA
11 July, 2019 by Anne-Sophie Bonnet-Lebrun
The Project LOMVIA team continue their work tracking guillemots of the remote cliff of Látrabjarg, Iceland. Post-doctoral researcher Dr Anne-Sophie Bonnet-Lebrun explains more. Tagging and tracking seabirds Our fieldwork is …
Carrying the PRIDE message to the ends of the earth
5 July, 2019 by Huw Griffiths
Huw Griffiths is a polar research scientist with the British Antarctic Survey. He helped establish the Pride in Polar Research network, formed by Arctic and Antarctic researchers to bring together the …
Tracking seabird species in Iceland
27 June, 2019 by Norman Ratcliffe
After the initial reconnaissance expedition in 2018, this June Project LOMVIA – part of the NERC Changing Arctic Ocean Programme begins in earnest (read more about last year’s work here). …
Monitoring penguins in the South Atlantic
25 October, 2018 by Norman Ratcliffe
Norman Ratcliffe, a seabird biologist at British Antarctic Survey (BAS), studies the biology of seabirds and how this is impacted by climate change. Read this blog to find out about …
Fur seals in the Falklands – Part 3
11 October, 2018 by Kayleigh Jones
Kayleigh Jones, a seal biologist at British Antarctic Survey, travelled to the Falkland Islands to spend 6 weeks studying South American fur seals. This blog describes how the team studied …
Fur seals in the Falklands – Part 2
10 October, 2018 by Kayleigh Jones
Kayleigh Jones, a seal biologist at British Antarctic Survey, travelled to the Falkland Islands to spend 6 weeks studying South American fur seals. Read on to find out about camp …
Fur seals in the Falklands – Part 1
9 October, 2018 by Kayleigh Jones
Kayleigh Jones, a seal biologist at British Antarctic Survey, travelled to the Falkland Islands to spend 6 weeks studying South American fur seals. Read on to find out about her …
ISLAND SCIENCE: Living in Harmony
24 April, 2018 by Victoria Warwick-Evans
Four people, two tents, a lot of smelly penguins and boil-in-the-bag army rations. That pretty much sums up life at Harmony Point, Nelson Island, South Shetland Islands during January and …
A fishy business around South Georgia
9 March, 2017 by Mark Belchier
In this blog Dr Mark Belchier from British Antarctic Survey (BAS) explains why a team of experts visits King Edward Point biennially to carry out a survey of the fish …
Signy Island: Water and Ice
17 February, 2017 by BAS Communications
I wish I could tell you how dramatically isolated we feel here – how the expanse of an ocean that swirls the entire circumference of the planet and stands between …
Shedding light on lanternfish
25 January, 2017 by Geraint Tarling
By Dr Geraint Tarling Lanternfish are found in many of the world’s oceans and get their name from the numerous photophores (light organs) that occur all over their bodies. Also …
ANTARCTIC BLOG: Typical week at Bird Island Station
10 June, 2016 by Timothy Morley
Tim Morley, Zoological Field Assistant at Bird Island, shares a typical week at Bird Island Research Station as he prepares for midwinter…. With many of our species finishing breeding for …
SHIP BLOG: Heading for home
31 March, 2016 by Susie Grant
The ship’s science labs have all been packed up and cleaned, kit boxes stowed in the container, cargo paperwork finished and cruise reports written. The SO-AntEco team is ready to …
SHIP BLOG: Science Week questions answered from the Southern Ocean
23 March, 2016 by Susie Grant
Last week was UK Science Week, and we asked schools and anyone else who had burning questions about the Antarctic deep sea to send them to us here on the …
ANTARCTIC BLOG: The many “hats” of a polar scientist
17 March, 2016 by Harriet Clewlow
Life on Signy Island has been pretty hectic for the last couple of weeks with multiple ship visits, saying goodbye to old colleagues, welcoming new base personnel and, in between, …
Search and Rescue on Bird Island
23 February, 2016 by Jerry Gillham
Bird Island Research Station has a small staff team; no more than 10 in summer and just four over winter. We have no doctor on station though all staff receives …
Life on the sub Antarctic island of South Georgia
19 February, 2016 by Jamie Coleman
Life on the sub Antarctic Island of South Georgia working for BAS is an amazing experience. South Georgia has the perfect combination of spectacular landscape and incredible wildlife. We have millions …
ANTARCTIC BLOG: Signy season gets underway!
12 February, 2016 by Alex Taylor
Despite being one of BAS’s smallest stations, I would argue that Signy is one of the most remote. Situated in the South Orkney Islands, at a relatively northerly 60 degrees …
ANTARCTIC BLOG: Exploring an island abundant with wildlife
2 February, 2016 by James Robbins
Bird Island has undergone several changes since the last diary entry in November. The summer breeding season is in full swing, and in some cases is starting to quieten down …
ANTARCTIC BLOG: Breeding season begins on Bird Island
10 November, 2015 by Alastair Wilson
October is another busy month for bird work, with the feathered residents of Bird Island all returning and starting to breed. Almost all of the Northern giant petrels are now …
ANTARCTIC BLOG: Busy month for leopard seal sightings!
27 October, 2015 by Sian Tarrant
Leopard seal peak The penultimate month of the lep round has been by far the most exciting. September has been the busiest month yet for leopard seal sightings. It has …
ANTARCTIC BLOG: Leopard seals, wanderer chicks and…superheroes?!
22 September, 2015 by Lucy Quinn
When I last wrote a web diary, back in April, it was at the end of the summer season and the first few intrepid weeks of winter. It’s hard to …
Bird Island Diary — June 2010
30 June, 2010 by BAS Bloggers
by Claudia Mischler, Albatross Field Assistant June here on the little island was a fantastic month. We finally got a nice thick snow layer shortly before mid-winter. The white stuff …
Tracking of marine predators to protect Southern Ocean ecosystems
18 March, 2020 by Iain Staniland, Keith Nicholls, Norman Ratcliffe, Phil Trathan, Richard Phillips
Southern Ocean ecosystems are under pressure from resource exploitation and climate change. Mitigation requires the identification and protection of Areas of Ecological Significance (AESs), which have so far not been…The retrospective analysis of Antarctic tracking data project
18 March, 2020 by Iain Staniland, Keith Nicholls, Norman Ratcliffe, Phil Trathan, Richard Phillips
The Retrospective Analysis of Antarctic Tracking Data (RAATD) is a Scientific Committee for Antarctic Research project led jointly by the Expert Groups on Birds and Marine Mammals and Antarctic Biodiversity…Risk exposure trade-offs in the ontogeny of sexual segregation in Antarctic fur seal pups
17 March, 2020 by Iain Staniland, Jaume Forcada, Kayleigh Jones, Norman Ratcliffe
Sexual segregation has important ecological implications, but its initial development in early life stages is poorly understood. We investigated the roles of size dimorphism, social behavior, and predation risk on…So far, so good… Similar fitness consequences and overall energetic costs for short and long-distance migrants in a seabird
16 March, 2020 by Richard Phillips
Although there is a consensus about the evolutionary drivers of animal migration, considerable work is necessary to identify the mechanisms that underlie the great variety of strategies observed in nature.…Respiration of mesopelagic fish: a comparison of respiratory electron transport system (ETS) measurements and allometrically calculated rates in the Southern Ocean and Benguela Current
14 March, 2020 by Anna Belcher, Geraint Tarling, Gabriele Stowasser, Ryan Saunders, Sophie Fielding
Mesopelagic fish are an important component of marine ecosystems, and their contribution to marine biogeochemical cycles is becoming increasingly recognized. However, major uncertainties remain in the rates at which they…
Spectral reflectance of whale skin above the sea surface: a proposed measurement protocol
10 March, 2020 by Hannah Cubaynes, Jennifer Jackson, Jaume Forcada, Phil Trathan, Peter Fretwell
Great whales have been detected using very‐high‐resolution satellite imagery, suggesting this technology could be used to monitor whales in remote areas. However, the application of this method to whale studies… Ecological segregation of two superabundant, morphologically similar, sister seabird taxa breeding in sympatry
3 March, 2020 by Richard Phillips
Prions Pachyptila are the most abundant seabirds in the Southern Ocean and comprise two main groups: those with and without bill lamellae to filter zooplankton. With few exceptions, each breeding… Ecological segregation of two superabundant, morphologically similar, sister seabird taxa breeding in sympatry
3 March, 2020 by Richard Phillips
Prions Pachyptila are the most abundant seabirds in the Southern Ocean and comprise two main groups: those with and without bill lamellae to filter zooplankton. With few exceptions, each breeding…
Albatrosses and petrels at South Georgia as sentinels of marine debris input from vessels in the southwest Atlantic Ocean
1 March, 2020 by Claire Waluda, Richard Phillips
Increasing amounts of anthropogenic debris enter the ocean because of mismanagement in coastal communities and, despite a global ban on deliberate dumping, also from vessels, endangering wildlife. Assessing marine plastic…
Reference points for predators will progress ecosystem-based management of fisheries
1 March, 2020 by Norman Ratcliffe, Simeon Hill
Ecosystem‐based management of fisheries aims to allow sustainable use of fished stocks while keeping impacts upon ecosystems within safe ecological limits. Both the FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries…
Thirty years of marine debris in the Southern Ocean: annual surveys of two island shores in the Scotia Sea
1 March, 2020 by Claire Waluda, Iain Staniland, Kevin Hughes, Mari Whitelaw, Michael Dunn, Sally Thorpe
We report on three decades of repeat surveys of beached marine debris at two locations in the Scotia Sea, in the Southwest Atlantic sector of the Southern Ocean. Between October… The distribution, abundance, status and global importance of giant petrels (Macronectes giganteus and M. halli) breeding at South Georgia
1 March, 2020 by Richard Phillips
Information on the status of giant petrels breeding at South Georgia was previously based on studies at a small number of the archipelago's breeding sites. Here, we report the results…
Marine Copepods, The Wildebeest of the Ocean
26 February, 2020 by Anna Belcher, Geraint Tarling
Copepods are amongst the most abundant animals on our planet. Who knew?! These small (typically 1–10 mm) crustaceans are found in all of the world’s oceans and play an important…Evidence of pathogen-induced immunogenetic selection across the large geographic range of a wild seabird
25 February, 2020 by Phil Trathan, Richard Phillips
Over evolutionary time, pathogen challenge shapes the immune phenotype of the host to better respond to an incipient threat. The extent and direction of this selection pressure depends on the…
Intra-specific niche partitioning in Antarctic fur seals, Arctocephalus gazella
24 February, 2020 by Gabriele Stowasser, Iain Staniland, Jaume Forcada, John Dickens, John Dickens, Kayleigh Jones, Norman Ratcliffe
Competition for resources within a population can lead to niche partitioning between sexes, throughout ontogeny and among individuals, allowing con-specifics to co-exist. We aimed to quantify such partitioning in Antarctic…
Effects of age on foraging behavior in two closely related albatross species
7 February, 2020 by Caitlin Frankish, Richard Phillips
Foraging performance is widely hypothesized to play a key role in shaping age-specific demographic rates in wild populations, yet the underlying behavioral changes are poorly understood. Seabirds are among the…
Long-term trends in albatross diets in relation to prey availability and breeding success
6 February, 2020 by Claire Waluda, Richard Phillips, William Mills
Diet analyses can reveal important changes in seabird foraging ecology and, by inference, resource availability and predator–prey dynamics within the wider marine ecosystem. Here, we analysed stomach contents of 1544…
A framework for mapping the distribution of Southern Ocean seabirds across life-history stages, by integrating tracking, demography and phenology.
4 February, 2020 by Phil Trathan, Richard Phillips
1. The identification of geographic areas where the densities of animals are highest across their annual cycles is a crucial step in conservation planning. In marine environments, however, it can…
Protein deimination and extracellular vesicle profiles in Antarctic seabirds
8 January, 2020 by Richard Phillips
Pelagic seabirds are amongst the most threatened of all avian groups. They face a range of immunological challenges which seem destined to increase due to environmental changes in their breeding…The emperor penguin – vulnerable to projected rates of warming and sea ice loss
1 January, 2020 by Phil Trathan, Peter Fretwell
We argue the need to improve climate change forecasting for ecology, and importantly, how to relate long-term projections to conservation. As an example, we discuss the need for effective management…
