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State of the Arctic Marine Biodiversity Report: Key Findings and Advice for Monitoring
Get PDFThe State of the Arctic Marine Biodiversity Report identifies trends in key marine species and points to important gaps in biodiversity monitoring efforts across key ecosystem components in: sea ice biota, plankton, benthos, marine fishes, seabirds and marine mammals. Changes in these species are likely to indicate changes in the overall marine environment
Diversity and bioactivity of cultured aquatic fungi from the High Arctic region
Get PDFThis study assessed the diversity and α-glycosidase inhibitory activity of cultured fungi isolated from four aquatic environments (stream, pond, glacial ice, and estuary) in the Ny-Ålesund region (Svalbard, Norway, High Arctic). A total of 134 fungal isolates were obtained from 13 water samples. Based on morphological characteristics and sequence analyses of the nuclear ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer region, these fungal isolates were identified as belonging to 47 species, with 26 belonging to the Ascomycota, 20 to the Basidiomycota, and one to the Zygomycota. The most frequently detected fungal species were Vishniacozyma sp. 2, Cadophora sp. 2, Phenoliferia sp. 1, Dioszegia sp. 2, and Mortierella sp.; these species occurred in 10, eight, seven, six, and five of the samples, respectively. Among the 134 fungal isolates, 17 isolates of 15 species displayed high α-glycosidase inhibitory activity in culture. The results suggest that diverse and distinct populations of cultured fungi are present in Arctic aquatic environments, and they include taxa that are potential sources of bioactive molecules that may be used as prototype drugs for medicinal proposals
Potential methane and nitrous oxide production and respiration rates from penguin and seal colony tundra soils during freezing–thawing cycles under different water contents in coastal Antarctica
Get PDFIn coastal Antarctica, frequent freezing–thawing cycles (FTCs) and changes to the hydrological conditions may affect methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) production and respiration rates in tundra soils, which are difficult to observe in situ. Tundra soils including ornithogenic tundra soil (OAS), seal colony soil (SCS) and emperor penguin colony soil (EPS) were collected. In laboratory, we investigated the effects of FTCs and water addition on potential N2O and CH4 production and respiration rates in the soils. The CH4 fluxes from OAS and SCS were much less than that from EPS. Meanwhile, the N2O fluxes from OAS and EPS were much less than that from SCS. The N2O production rates from all soils were extremely low during freezing, but rapidly increased following thawing. In all cases, FTC also induced considerably enhanced soil respiration, indicating that soil respiration response was sensitive to the FTCs. The highest cumulative rates of CH4, N2O and CO2 were 59.5 mg CH4-C·kg−1 in EPS, 6268.8 μg N2O-N·kg−1 in SCS and 3522.1 mg CO2-C·kg−1 in OAS. Soil water addition had no significant effects on CH4 production and respiration rates, but it could reduce N2O production in OAS and EPS, and it stimulated N2O production in SCS. Overall, CH4 and N2O production rates showed a trade-off relationship during the three FTCs. Our results indicated that FTCs greatly stimulated soil N2O and CO2 production, and water increase has an important effect on soil N2O production in coastal Antarctic tundra
Review of research on Arctic sea ice physics based on the Chinese National Arctic Research Expedition
Get PDFChina launched its Arctic research program and organized the first Chinese National Arctic Research Expedition (CHINARE-Arctic) in 1999. By 2016, six further expeditions had been conducted using the R/V Xuelong. The main region of the expeditions has focused on the Pacific sector of the Arctic Ocean for sea ice observations. The expeditions have used icebreaker, helicopter, boat, floe, and buoy platforms to perform these observations. Some new technologies have been developed, in particular, the underway auto-observing system for sea ice thickness using an electromagnetic instrument. The long-term measurement systems, e.g., the sea ice mass balance buoy, allow observations to extend from summer to winter. Some international cooperation projects have been involved in CHINARE-Arctic, especially the “Developing Arctic Modeling and Observing Capabilities for Long-Term Environmental Studies” project funded by the European Union during the International Polar Year. Arctic sea ice observations have been used to verify remote sensing products, identify changes in Arctic sea ice, optimize the parameterizations of sea ice physical processes, and assess the accessibility of ice-covered waters, especially around the Northeast Passage. Recommendations are provided as guidance to future CHINARE-Arctic projects. For example, a standardized operation system of sea ice observations should be contracted, and the observations of sea ice dynamics should be enhanced. The upcoming launch of a new Chinese icebreaker will allow increased ship time in support of future CHINARE Arctic oceanographic investigations
Ecological responses of typical Antarctic marine organisms to climate change and anthropogenic impacts
Get PDFTo improve our understanding and ability to predict biological responses to global climate change, it is important to be able to distinguish the influences of natural forcing from anthropogenic impacts. In the ice-free areas of Antarctica, lake and terrestrial sediments that contain penguin guanos, seal excrement and other biological remains provide natural archives of ecological, geological and climatic information that range from hundreds to thousands of years old. Our review focuses on the paleoecology of typical Antarctic marine organisms (penguins, seals and Antarctic krill) and their responses to climate change
and human activities over centennial and millennial timescales. Land-based seabirds and marine mammals play an important role in linking the marine and terrestrial ecosystems and act as bio-vectors, transporting large amounts of nutrients and contaminants from ocean to land
Design and development of infrastructure of the Dome A Kunlun Station (2005–2015)
Get PDFTo enable further advanced study of Antarctica, a new station called Kunlun Station has been built by China in the Dome A region of the inland East Antarctic ice sheet. This paper describes the Antarctic station building design system that was developed with consideration of factors that may affect Kunlun Station, such as environment and climate, construction work and transport, environmental protection and energy conservation, psychological requirements and functional requirements. The design system included site selection, station planning, external building form, construction work, function and indoor environment, energy conservation, environmental protection, and material strategy. We also describe the experience acquired during the transportation and construction phases of Kunlun Station
Arctic Energy Summit Finland - Final Report
Get PDFThe biennial Arctic Energy Summit, an endorsed project of the Arctic Council’s Sustainable Development Working Group (SDWG), is a multi-disciplinary event, drawing together several-hundred industry officials, scientists, academics, policy makers, energy professionals and Indigenous and community leaders to collaborate and share leading approaches on Arctic energy issues. Co-led by Finland, Iceland, Russia and the Gwich’in Council International, and involving subject matter experts from around the Arctic, the Arctic Energy Summit’s
Organizing Committee produced a comprehensive platform that allowed Arctic stakeholders and partners the opportunity to learn, share, and build on good practices
Progress in Antarctic marine geophysical research by the Chinese Polar Program
Get PDFMarine geophysical survey by the Chinese National Antarctic Research Expedition (CHINARE) began with the first science expedition in 1984/1985, although only four cruises were performed in the vicinity of the Antarctic Peninsula between then and 1991/1992. After a 20 year hiatus, Antarctic marine geophysical research was relaunched by the Chinese Polar Environmental Comprehensive Investigation and Assessment Programs (known simply as the Chinese Polar Program) in 2011/2012. Integrated geophysical surveys have been carried out annually since, in Prydz Bay and the Ross Sea. During the last 5 years, we have acquired about 5500 km of bathymetric, gravimetric, and magnetic lines; more than 1800 km of seismic reflection lines; and data from several heat flow and Ocean Bottom Seismometer (OBS) stations. This work has deepened understandings of geophysical features and their implications for geological tectonics and glacial history in Antarctica and its surrounding seas. Compiled Antarctic Bouguer and Airy isostatic gravity anomalies show different features of tectonics between the East Antarctic stability and West Antarctic activity. Calculated magnetic anomalies, heat flow anomalies and lithospheric anisotropy offshore of Prydz Bay may imply high heat capacity of mantle shielded by the continental shelf lithosphere, but high heat dissipation of mantle due to the Cretaceous breakup of Gondwana along the continent and ocean transition (COT), where large sediment ridges would be brought about by the Oligocene ice sheet retreat and would enlarge free-air gravity anomalies. In the western Ross Sea, CHINARE seismic profiles indicate northern termination of the Terror Rift and deposition time of the grounding zone wedge in the northern JOIDES Basin
The Circle 01.16
Get PDFThe Circle is published quarterly by the WWF Global Arctic Programme. Reproduction and quotation with appropriate credit are encouraged. Articles by non affiliated sources do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of WWF. Send change of address and subscription queries to the
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