DOCSLIB.ORG

A 9000-Year Record of Adélie Penguin Occupation and Diet in the Windmill Islands, East Antarctica STEVEN D

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
A 9000-Year Record of Adélie Penguin Occupation and Diet in the Windmill Islands, East Antarctica STEVEN D Antarctic Science 17 (1): 57–66 (2005) © Antarctic Science Ltd Printed in the UK DOI: 10.1017/S0954102005002427 A 9000-year record of Adélie penguin occupation and diet in the Windmill Islands, East Antarctica STEVEN D. EMSLIE1 and ERIC J. WOEHLER2 1University of North Carolina, Department of Biological Sciences, 601 S. College Road, Wilmington, NC 28403, USA 2Australian Antarctic Division, Channel Highway, Kingston, TAS 7050, Australia [email protected] Abstract: We investigated 17 abandoned Adélie penguin (Pygoscelis adeliae) colonies in the Windmill Islands, East Antarctica, in summer 2002/03. Forty radiocarbon dates on penguin bones and eggshells from 13 of these sites indicate a near continuous occupation by breeding penguins in this region for over 9000 years. These dates refine the recent geological record in this region and indicate that deglaciation of the northern islands occurred much earlier than previously suggested. Dietary remains from these sites include at least 23 taxa of cephalopods and teleost fish. Quantification of these remains indicates significant fluctuations in the relative abundance of two of the more common major prey taxa. The Antarctic silverfish (Pleuragramma antarcticum Boulenger) was the most common teleost prey during all time periods represented by the ages of the sites, but preservational factors may explain a gradual decrease in the remains of this species in increasingly older sites. The most common cephalopod in the sediments was the squid, Psychroteuthis glacialis Thiele, which occurred in low numbers in most sites except one (Site 75). An unusually high number of squid beaks preserved in Site 75, dating to approximately 5700–6100 cal. yr BP, does not correlate with a decrease in fish prey at that time. The high number of abandoned penguin colonies (> 200) in the Windmill Islands may be due to population cycles in the past in association with low nest-site fidelity and movement by breeding penguins to new sites within this region. Received 10 June 2004, accepted 25 October 2004 Key words: abandoned colonies, deglaciation, palaeodiet, Pleuragramma antarcticum, Psychroteuthis glacialis, Pygoscelis adeliae Introduction surface in a gully between abandoned colonies. These dates Adélie penguins (Pygoscelis adeliae Hombron & Jacquinot) indicated that the southern Windmill Islands were have been known to breed in the Windmill Islands, East deglaciated by 8000 corr. yr BP (years before present, Antarctica, since at least the late 1950s, when humans first corrected for the marine-carbon reservoir effect), while the visited this region (Woehler et al. 1991). The breeding northern islands (those north of Robinson Ridge, 66°22'S, population is currently estimated at c. 105 000 pairs at 14 see Fig. 1) did not become ice free until 5500 corr. yr BP. locations (Woehler, unpublished data). Compared to initial However, the exact extent of penguin occupation of the surveys in the 1950s and 1960s, this estimate indicates the region was not investigated. population has increased by over 300% since that time Here, we report on a preliminary study of abandoned (Woehler et al. 1991). However, while the overall colonies in the Windmill Islands to characterize further the population has increased, specific colonies and especially occupation history and diet of Adélie penguins in this those near human habitation have decreased (Woehler et al. region. We concentrated primarily on colonies located in the 1994). northern islands, as defined by Goodwin (1993), with some In addition to the current breeding population of limited work conducted at Robinson Ridge and Peterson penguins, a high number of relict, or abandoned colonies Island in the south. We compare these records to the also have been identified in the Windmill Islands (Goodwin palaeoclimatic history of this region of East Antarctica, as 1993). Investigation of abandoned colonies has been shown evinced by previously published ice core and sedimentary to be an effective means to gather data on the occupation data, to refine the geological history of this region. Finally, history of penguins in a given region, their palaeodiet, and we address the question as to why so many abandoned the climatic conditions that prevailed during the occupation colonies exist in the Windmill Islands using historic and period(s) (Baroni & Orombelli 1994, Emslie 2001, Emslie recent photographic and census data. & McDaniel 2002, Emslie et al. 2003a). Previously, Goodwin (1993) completed a series of radiocarbon dates on Study area and methods peat from lake and pond sediments in the Windmill Islands, and on one Adélie penguin skull found 20 cm below the The Windmill Islands extend for over 130 km along the 57 58 STEVEN D. EMSLIE & ERIC J. WOEHLER Fig. 1. Map showing the location of the Windmill Islands in Antarctica (bottom left) and the locations of major geographic features where abandoned penguin colonies were located (see Table I for GPS locations of the 17 sites discussed in the text). coast of East Antarctica between 66°12'–66°30'S (Fig. 1). addition, modern penguin guano was sampled at two active Numerous ice free shorelines, islands, and marine terraces colonies on Clark Peninsula and Shirley Island. occur within this region with active Adélie penguin colonies Excavations were conducted by establishing 1 x 1 m pits located on Clark and Bailey peninsulas to the north, and near the centre of each abandoned colony. Loose surface extending to Peterson Island to the south (Woehler et al. pebbles not mixed with sediments were removed as level 1 1991). Even though numerous abandoned pebble mounds in each pit to a depth where ornithogenic sediments were occur within one geographic area (e.g. Bailey Peninsula), first encountered, usually 5–15 cm below the present we refer to each of the abandoned mounds as ‘colonies’, and surface. Thereafter, the pit was excavated in 5 cm levels not ‘subcolonies’ as defined by Ainley (2002). We use this until bedrock or the bottom of the ornithogenic sediments more general terminology for our sites since each mound (recognized by a distinct change in colour and texture) was could represent a different occupation period from others in reached. At the conclusion of the excavations, each pit was a given region. Thus, there would be no true subcolonies backfilled with rock and pebbles; surface pebbles with (sensu Ainley 2002) if all the mounds were occupied at vegetation were replaced so that little or no evidence of the different times and designating each one as a colony is pit was visible on the surface. therefore more logical The amount of all excavated sediments was quantified Ground surveys were conducted in January and February using 14 litre buckets to measure the total volume removed 2003 to locate and map abandoned colonies and subcolonies from each level, so that data could be quantified between using Global Positioning System (GPS). While incomplete, levels of different ages in the same and different pits. These these surveys resulted in the identification of hundreds of sediments were then washed through three stacked sieves abandoned colonies, especially near extant colonies. Not all with square mesh sizes of 0.64, 0.32, and 0.025 cm2. of the abandoned colonies that were mapped were Organic remains (bone and feather) from the top sieve were numbered and only 17 were excavated (Table I). These sites sorted and removed during the washing process. Sediments include 11 on Bailey Peninsula, two each at Robinson from the middle screen were dried and sorted in the lab. The Ridge, Clark Peninsula, and at Peterson Island (Fig. 1). In finer sediments from the bottom screen were dried and re- A 9000-YEAR RECORD OF PENGUINS IN THE WINDMILL ISLANDS 59 comparison to other samples. Dietary remains (otoliths and squid beaks) were identified by W. Walker, National Marine Mammal Laboratory, Seattle. These remains are quantified by total number of identifiable specimens and by the minimum number of individuals (MNI) per taxon per excavated level. MNI was Table II. Radiocarbon dates (in yrs BP) on Adélie penguin (Pygoscelis adeliae) bone collagen and eggshell carbonates from abandoned penguin colonies in the Windmill Islands, East Antarctica. Conventional dates were corrected and calibrated for the marine-carbon reservoir effect using a ∆R = 750 ± 50 years (see Emslie 1995) and the MARINE98 database of Stuiver & Reimer (1993). The laboratory number (NZA, Rafter Radiocarbon Lab, New Zealand), conventional date (in 14C yr BP), mean calibrated date (in cal. yr BP), and calibrated 2σ range (95% confidence Fig. 2. Distribution of 40 calibrated radiocarbon dates on penguin interval, in cal. yr BP) also are provided. remains from the Windmill Islands, East Antarctica. Two points are plotted to show the 2σ range in cal. yr BP for each dated Conventional Calibrated sample from 13 sites (see Table II). Site acronyms are: Site/provenience Material Lab. no. date mean range σ BP = Bailey Peninsula, CP = Clark Peninsula, RR = Robinson (2 ) Ridge. Peterson Island Site 1 Level 4 Bone NZA 18038 1356 ± 40 266 396–78 screened through 1 mm and 0.25 mm geology sieves, then Level 5 Bone NZA 18079 1433 ± 40 305 460–238 sorted under a low-power stereomicroscope to recover fish Site 3 Level 8 Bone NZA 18080 2539 ± 40 1316 1476–1229 bones, otoliths, squid beaks and other dietary remains. In Casey station area most cases, the large amount of this fine sediment Site 15 Level 2 Bone NZA 18075 4054 ± 40 3153 3321–2949 necessitated that only a subsample of this sediment could be Level 6 Eggshell NZA 17711 4242 ± 40 3364 3520–3225 sorted in the lab. In those cases, the proportion sorted (a Level 9 Eggshell NZA 17710 9182 ± 55 8925 9284–8802 minimum of 15%) was quantified by dry mass for Site 17 Level 2 Bone NZA 18076 4009 ± 40 3074 3259–2887 Level 3 Bone NZA 18035 4042 ± 40 3137 3313–2939 Level 7 Eggshell NZA 17712 8952 ± 60 8690 8921–8475 Site 30 Level 6 Eggshell NZA 17696 8562 ± 55 8290 8400–8113 Table I.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • High Seas Bottom Trawl Fisheries and Their Impacts on the Biodiversity Of
    High Seas Bottom Trawl Fisheries and their Impacts on the Biodiversity of Vulnerable Deep-Sea Ecosystems: Options for International Action Matthew Gianni Cover Photography The author wishes to thank the following contributors for use of their photography. Clockwise from top right: A rare anglerfish or sea toad (Chaunacidae: Bathychaunax coloratus), measuring 20.5 cm in total length, on the Davidson Seamount (2461 meters). Small, globular, reddish, cirri or hairy protrusions cover the body. The lure on the forehead is used to attract prey. Credit: NOAA/MBARI 2002 Industrial fisheries of Orange roughy. Emptying a mesh full of Orange roughy into a trawler. © WWF / AFMA, Credit: Australian Fisheries Management Authority White mushroom sponge (Caulophecus sp). on the Davidson Seamount (1949 meters). Credit: NOAA/MBARI 2002 Bubblegum coral (Paragorgia sp.) and stylasterid coral (Stylaster sp.) at 150 meters depth off Adak Island, Alaska. Credit: Alberto Lindner/NOAA Cover design: James Oliver, IUCN Global Marine Programme Printing of this publication was made possible through the generous support of HIGH SEAS BOTTOM TRAWL FISHERIES AND THEIR IMPACTS ON THE BIODIVERSITY OF VULNERABLE DEEP-SEA ECOSYSTEMS: OPTIONS FOR INTERNATIONAL ACTION Matthew Gianni IUCN – The World Conservation Union 2004 Report prepared for IUCN - The World Conservation Union Natural Resources Defense Council WWF International Conservation International The designation of geographical entities in this book, and the presentation of the material, do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of IUCN, WWF, Conservation International or Natural Resources Defense Council concerning the legal status of any country, territory, or area, or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.
    [Show full text]
  • A GUIDE to IDENTIFICATION of FISHES CAUGHT ALONG with the ANTARCTIC KRILL Author(S) 1) Iwami, T
    Document No. [ to be completed by the Secretariat ] WG-EMM-07/32 Date submitted [ to be completed by the Secretariat ] 1 July 2007 Language [ to be completed by the Secretariat ] Original: English Agenda Agenda Item No(s): 4.3 Title A GUIDE TO IDENTIFICATION OF FISHES CAUGHT ALONG WITH THE ANTARCTIC KRILL Author(s) 1) Iwami, T. and 2) M. Naganobu Affiliation(s) 1) Laboratory of Biology, Tokyo Kasei Gakuin University 2) National Research Institute of Far Seas Fisheries Published or accepted for publication elsewhere? Yes No x If published, give details ABSTRACT A field key to early life stages of Antarctic fish caught along with the Antarctic krill is produced. The key includes 8 families and 28 species mainly from the Atlantic sector of the Southern Ocean and uses distinguished characters which permit rapid field identification. In some cases, however, it is impossible to discriminate among species of the same family by remarkable characters. A species key is not shown for such resemble species and a brief summary of the main morphological features of species and genera is provided. SUMMARY OF FINDINGS AS RELATED TO NOMINATED AGENDA ITEMS Agenda Item Finding 4.3 We are producing a practical field key to juvenile fish caught along with the Antarctic Scientific krill. To our knowledge more than 40 species of fish have been found as by-catch. Observation However, the number of dominant fish species found in the krill catch never exceeds 20 species. An useful and practical identification key to these dominant species maybe facilitate the quantitative assessment of fish in the krill catch.
    [Show full text]
  • Fishes of the Eastern Ross Sea, Antarctica
    Polar Biol (2004) 27: 637–650 DOI 10.1007/s00300-004-0632-2 REVIEW Joseph Donnelly Æ Joseph J. Torres Tracey T. Sutton Æ Christina Simoniello Fishes of the eastern Ross Sea, Antarctica Received: 26 November 2003 / Revised: 16 April 2004 / Accepted: 20 April 2004 / Published online: 16 June 2004 Ó Springer-Verlag 2004 Abstract Antarctic fishes were sampled with 41 midwater in Antarctica is dominated by a few fish families and 6 benthic trawls during the 1999–2000 austral (Bathylagidae, Gonostomatidae, Myctophidae and summer in the eastern Ross Sea. The oceanic pelagic Paralepididae) with faunal diversity decreasing south assemblage (0–1,000 m) contained Electrona antarctica, from the Antarctic Polar Front to the continent (Ever- Gymnoscopelus opisthopterus, Bathylagus antarcticus, son 1984; Kock 1992; Kellermann 1996). South of the Cyclothone kobayashii and Notolepis coatsi. These were Polar Front, the majority of meso- and bathypelagic replaced over the shelf by notothenioids, primarily Ple- fishes have circum-Antarctic distributions (McGinnis uragramma antarcticum. Pelagic biomass was low and 1982; Gon and Heemstra 1990). Taken collectively, the concentrated below 500 m. The demersal assemblage fishes are significant contributors to the pelagic biomass was characteristic of East Antarctica and included seven and are important trophic elements, both as predators species each of Artedidraconidae, Bathydraconidae and and prey (Rowedder 1979; Hopkins and Torres 1989; Channichthyidae, ten species of Nototheniidae, and Lancraft et al. 1989, 1991; Duhamel 1998). Over the three species each of Rajidae and Zoarcidae. Common continental slope and shelf, notothenioids dominate the species were Trematomus eulepidotus (36.5%), T. scotti ichthyofauna (DeWitt 1970). Most members of this (32.0%), Prionodraco evansii (4.9%), T.
    [Show full text]
  • (MSC) Announcement Comment Draft Report for Client Jeong Il
    Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) Announcement Comment Draft Report for Client Jeong Il Corporation Antarctic krill fishery On Behalf of Jeong Il Corporation, Seoul Prepared by Control Union UK Ltd. September 2020 Authors: Henry Ernst Julian Addison Gudrun Gaudian Sophie des Clers Jung-Hee Cho Control Union UK Ltd. 56 High Street, Lymington, Hampshire, SO41 9AH United Kingdom Tel: 01590 613007 Fax: 01590 671573 Email: [email protected] Website: http.uk.controlunion.com Contents CONTENTS ...................................................................................................................................... 1 QA ............................................................................................................................................... 2 GLOSSARY ...................................................................................................................................... 1 1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ................................................................................................................ 3 2 REPORT DETAILS ....................................................................................................................... 6 2.1 Authorship and Peer Reviewers .............................................................................................. 6 2.2 Version details ......................................................................................................................... 8 3 UNIT(S) OF ASSESSMENT AND CERTIFICATION ..................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Fish, Crustaceans, Molluscs, Etc Capture Production by Species Items Atlantic, Antarctic C-48 Poissons, Crustacés, Mollusques
    457 Fish, crustaceans, molluscs, etc Capture production by species items Atlantic, Antarctic C-48 Poissons, crustacés, mollusques, etc Captures par catégories d'espèces Atlantique, Antarctique (a) Peces, crustáceos, moluscos, etc Capturas por categorías de especies Atlántico, Antártico English name Scientific name Species group Nom anglais Nom scientifique Groupe d'espèces 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 Nombre inglés Nombre científico Grupo de especies t t t t t t t Lefteye flounders nei Bothidae 31 - - 0 - - - - Antarctic armless flounder Mancopsetta maculata 31 - - 0 - - - - Smalleye moray cod Muraenolepis microps 32 - - 0 - 0 - - Moray cods nei Muraenolepis spp 32 - 0 0 - - - - Blue antimora Antimora rostrata 32 1 0 - 0 - 4 8 Whitson's grenadier Macrourus whitsoni 32 - - 1 0 - - - Grenadiers nei Macrourus spp 32 17 13 2 6 - 59 66 Roundnose grenadier Coryphaenoides rupestris 32 - - - - 9 - - Marbled rockcod Notothenia rossii 33 - 0 0 0 5 - - Humped rockcod Notothenia gibberifrons 33 - 5 1 2 1 - - Yellowbelly rockcod Notothenia neglecta 33 - 0 - 2 - - - Grey rockcod Notothenia squamifrons 33 - 5 5 0 0 - - Painted notie Nototheniops larseni 33 - - 0 - 0 - - Yellowfin notie Nototheniops nudifrons 33 - - 0 0 - - - Antarctic rockcods nei Trematomus spp 33 - 0 - 0 - - - Striped rockcod Pagothenia hansoni 33 - - 0 - - - - Antarctic silverfish Pleuragramma antarcticum 33 - - - 0 - - - Antarctic rockcods, noties nei Nototheniidae 33 1 - - 0 10 0 0 Nichol's lanternfish Gymnoscopelus nicholsi 34 - - 0 - 0 - - Lanternfishes nei Myctophidae
    [Show full text]
  • Introduced and Indigenous Fungi of the Ross Island Historic Huts and Pristine Areas of Antarctica
    Polar Biol DOI 10.1007/s00300-011-1060-8 ORIGINAL PAPER Introduced and indigenous fungi of the Ross Island historic huts and pristine areas of Antarctica R. L. Farrell • B. E. Arenz • S. M. Duncan • B. W. Held • J. A. Jurgens • R. A. Blanchette Received: 12 February 2011 / Revised: 20 June 2011 / Accepted: 29 June 2011 Ó Springer-Verlag 2011 Abstract This review summarizes research concerning historic sites, and one historic site showed noticeably higher Antarctic fungi at the century-old historic huts of the Heroic diversity, which led to the conclusion that this is a variable Period of exploration in the Ross Dependency 1898–1917 that should not be generalized. Cultured fungi were cold and fungi in pristine terrestrial locations. The motivation of active, and the broader scientific significance of this finding the research was initially to identify potential fungal causes was that climate change (warming) may not adversely affect of degradation of the historic huts and artifacts. The these fungal species unless they were out-competed by new research was extended to study fungal presence at pristine arrivals or unfavorable changes in ecosystem domination sites for comparison purposes and to consider the role of occur. fungi in the respective ecosystems. We employed classical microbiology for isolation of viable organisms, and culture- Keywords Terrestrial Á Climate change Á Biodiversity Á independent DNA analyses. The research provided baseline Adaptation data on microbial biodiversity. Principal findings were that there is significant overlap of the yeasts and filamentous fungi isolated from the historic sites, soil, and historic- Introduction introduced materials (i.e., wood, foodstuffs) and isolated from environmental samples in pristine locations.
    [Show full text]
  • The Fish Component of Pygoscelis Penguin Diets by Nina J Karnovsky
    The fish component of Pygoscelis penguin diets by Nina J Karnovsky A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Biological Sciences Montana State University © Copyright by Nina J Karnovsky (1997) Abstract: Long-term research on the breeding biology and foraging ecology of Antarctic seabirds has shown that these birds are excellent indicators of the environmental conditions of the Southern Ocean marine ecosystem. Since 1976 three species of penguins, the gentoo, Adelie and chinstrap, have been studied on King George Island, Antarctica. The coexistence of the three species during their breeding season could be a result of species-specific differences in prey, foraging habitat and/or feeding behavior. Previous studies have shown that krill is the major component of the diet of all three species. The importance of fish in their diet has been underestimated and not well understood. The objective of this study was to analyze which kinds of fish species, and to what extent, the different penguins rely on fish. I examined interspecific, intraspecific differences in the piscivorous portion of diet of the three penguin species. These data will be used for examinations of interannual variation in the penguin diets in the future. Changes in the percentage of, or a shift in species assemblages of fish eaten (preyswitching) could reflect variations in environmental conditions. Such a change might be expected because krill populations have declined in the past decade due to a decrease in winter sea ice. Krill depend on sea-ice for protection from predators and for feeding on the ice-algae populations.
    [Show full text]
  • Mitochondrial DNA, Morphology, and the Phylogenetic Relationships of Antarctic Icefishes
    MOLECULAR PHYLOGENETICS AND EVOLUTION Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 28 (2003) 87–98 www.elsevier.com/locate/ympev Mitochondrial DNA, morphology, and the phylogenetic relationships of Antarctic icefishes (Notothenioidei: Channichthyidae) Thomas J. Near,a,* James J. Pesavento,b and Chi-Hing C. Chengb a Center for Population Biology, One Shields Avenue, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA b Department of Animal Biology, 515 Morrill Hall, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801, USA Received 10 July 2002; revised 4 November 2002 Abstract The Channichthyidae is a lineage of 16 species in the Notothenioidei, a clade of fishes that dominate Antarctic near-shore marine ecosystems with respect to both diversity and biomass. Among four published studies investigating channichthyid phylogeny, no two have produced the same tree topology, and no published study has investigated the degree of phylogenetic incongruence be- tween existing molecular and morphological datasets. In this investigation we present an analysis of channichthyid phylogeny using complete gene sequences from two mitochondrial genes (ND2 and 16S) sampled from all recognized species in the clade. In addition, we have scored all 58 unique morphological characters used in three previous analyses of channichthyid phylogenetic relationships. Data partitions were analyzed separately to assess the amount of phylogenetic resolution provided by each dataset, and phylogenetic incongruence among data partitions was investigated using incongruence length difference (ILD) tests. We utilized a parsimony- based version of the Shimodaira–Hasegawa test to determine if alternative tree topologies are significantly different from trees resulting from maximum parsimony analysis of the combined partition dataset. Our results demonstrate that the greatest phylo- genetic resolution is achieved when all molecular and morphological data partitions are combined into a single maximum parsimony analysis.
    [Show full text]
  • Pygoscelis Adeliae) Faeces Sampled at the Cape Crozier Colony, Antarctica
    Journal of General Virology (2014), 95, 1352–1365 DOI 10.1099/vir.0.064436-0 A novel papillomavirus in Ade´lie penguin (Pygoscelis adeliae) faeces sampled at the Cape Crozier colony, Antarctica Arvind Varsani,1,2,3 Simona Kraberger,1 Scott Jennings,4 Elizabeth L. Porzig,5 Laurel Julian,1 Melanie Massaro,6 Annie Pollard,5 Grant Ballard7 and David G. Ainley5 Correspondence 1School of Biological Sciences and Biomolecular Interaction Centre, University of Canterbury, Arvind Varsani Private Bag 4800, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand [email protected] 2Department of Plant Pathology and Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA 3Electron Microscope Unit, Division of Medical Biochemistry, Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, University of Cape Town, Observatory, 7700, South Africa 4Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Oregon Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, US Geological Survey, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA 5HT Harvey and Associates, Los Gatos, CA 95032, USA 6School of Environmental Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Albury, NSW 2640, Australia 7Point Blue Conservation Science, Petaluma, CA 94954, USA Papillomaviruses are epitheliotropic viruses that have circular dsDNA genomes encapsidated in non-enveloped virions. They have been found to infect a variety of mammals, reptiles and birds, but so far they have not been found in amphibians. Using a next-generation sequencing de novo assembly contig-informed recovery, we cloned and Sanger sequenced the complete genome of a novel papillomavirus from the faecal matter of Ade´lie penguins (Pygoscelis adeliae) nesting on Ross Island, Antarctica. The genome had all the usual features of a papillomavirus and an E9 ORF encoding a protein of unknown function that is found in all avian papillomaviruses to date.
    [Show full text]
  • Postlarval and Juvenile Fish (Pisces, Perciformes and Myctophiformes) in the Antarctic Peninsula Region During BIOMASS-SIBEX, 1983/1984*'
    POLISH POLAR RESEARCH (POL. POLAR RES.) ń 1—2 159—165 1985 POLSKIE BADANIA POLARNE Wiesław ŚLÓSARCZYK and Zdzisław CIELNIASZEK Sea Fishereis Institute, al. Zjednoczenia 1, 81-345 Gdynia Poland. Postlarval and juvenile fish (Pisces, Perciformes and Myctophiformes) in the Antarctic Peninsula region during BIOMASS-SIBEX, 1983/1984*' ABSTRACT: During the SIBEX1' programme in December 1983/January 1984, 27 hauls were made from the "Profesor Siedlecki" with a 368 — mesh midwater sampling trwal. A total of 13 fish species at postlarval or juvenile stages was found in the catches. The greatest aboundance and species diversity of juvenile ichthyofauna was observed within shelf waters of the Peninsula. Postlarval and juvenile Pleuragramma antarcticum was the most common and most aboundant species there. Key words: Antarctic, BIOMASS-SIBEX juvenile fish 1. Introduction The knowledge about juvenile Antarctic ichthyofauna in the pelagic phase of its life is still insufficient to understand the mechanisms governing its distribution and migrations, determine the factors influencing its indi- vidual development and survival rate, as well as etablish the interrelations between juvenile fish and the pelagic ecosystem of the Antarctic. More extensive and thorough observations and investigations of the problem were commenced at the end of the 1970's (Rembiszewski, Krzeptowski and Linkowski 1978, Kompowski 1980 a,b, Ślósarczyk 1983a). The FIBEX programme was the first attempt at a presentation of information concerning the distribution and abundance of postlarval and juvenile fish against the background of hydrological conditions prevailing in the areas of study (Kellermann and Kock 1984, Kellermann and Śłósarczyk l} Second International BIOMASS Experiment *> Investigations were supported by the Polish Academy of Sciences (Project MR-I-29A).
    [Show full text]
  • 2008-2009 Field Season Report Chapter 9 Antarctic Marine Living Resources Program NOAA-TM-NMFS-SWFSC-445
    2008-2009 Field Season Report Chapter 9 Antarctic Marine Living Resources Program NOAA-TM-NMFS-SWFSC-445 Demersal Finfi sh Survey of the South Orkney Islands Christopher Jones, Malte Damerau, Kim Deitrich, Ryan Driscoll, Karl-Hermann Kock, Kristen Kuhn, Jon Moore, Tina Morgan, Tom Near, Jillian Pennington, and Susanne Schöling Abstract A random, depth-stratifi ed bottom trawl survey of the South Orkney Islands (CCAMLR Subarea 48.2) fi nfi sh populations was completed as part of Leg II of the 2008/09 AMLR Survey. Data collection included abundance, spatial distribution, species and size composition, demographic structure and diet composition of fi nfi sh species within the 500 m isobath of the South Orkney Islands. Additional slope stations were sampled off the shelf of the South Orkney Islands and in the northern Antarctic Peninsula region (Subarea 48.1). During the 2008/09 AMLR Survey: • Seventy-fi ve stations were completed on the South Orkney Island shelf and slope area (63-764 m); • Th ree stations were completed on the northern Antarctic Peninsula slope (623-759 m); • A total of 7,693 kg (31,844 individuals) was processed from 65 fi nfi sh species; • Spatial distribution of standardized fi nfi sh densities demonstrated substantial contrast across the South Orkney Islands shelf area; • Th e highest densities of pooled fi nfi sh biomass occurred on the northwest shelf of the South Orkney Islands, at sta- tions north of Inaccessible and Coronation Islands, and the highest mean densities occurred within the 150-250 m depth stratum; • Th e greatest species diversity of fi nfi sh occurred at deeper stations on the southern shelf region; • Additional data collection of environmental and ecological features of the South Orkney Islands was conducted in order to further investigate Antarctic fi nfi sh in an ecosystem context.
    [Show full text]
  • Passenger Logbook: Expedition Antarctica
    Logbook HAN 1601 Expedition Antarctica The World’s Southernmost Nursery USHUAIA – USHUAIA 10th – 28th January 2016 aboard MS HANSEATIC South Georgia Island (Mount Paget is the rounded dome on the left, Grytviken is hidden out of sight in a harbor; photo January 2014). Text: Richard MacDonald Photographs: Richard MacDonald & lecturer staff “One hand for the boat.” 2 MS HANSEATIC MS Hanseatic anchored New Island, Falkland Islands, 12 January 2016. Built: March 1993 Registered Port: Nassau Flag: Bahamas Weight: 8,378 GRT Overall length: 122.80 m/403 ft Beam: 18 m/59 ft Draught: 4.91 m/16 ft Main Engines: 2 MAK 8M453 C 2 x 2,940 kW 2 Propellers CP, 300 cm Speed: 16 knots Complement: 171 passengers 125 officers and crew 3 DECK & ENGINE CREW Ship’s Officers Captain: Thilo Natke Chief Officer: Nicole Schnell Chief Engineer: Giulio Vlacic Hotel Manager: Doris Adler Maître d’hôtel: Mirko Kirchhöfer Ship’s Surgeon: Dr. Ursula Bellut Chief Purser: Hendrik Fongern Chief Chef: Udo Grigas Pianist Magdelena Majerovả The shore party prepares to greet the first Zodiac of passengers landing at Whaler’s Bay, Deception Island, Antarctica. 4 HOTEL & EXPEDITION STAFF Cruise Director: Ulrike Schleifenbaum Hostess: Bettina Schlennstedt Cruise Sales Birgit Volberg Zodiac driver: Claas Stanko Expedition Leader: Dr. Arne Kertelhein Lecturer (climate & glaciology): Dr. Gerit Birnbaum Lecturer (geology): Heike Fries Lecturer (polar history): Dr. Arne Kertelhein Lecturer (polar history): Dr. Hans-Joachim “HaJo” Lauenstein Lecturer (biology): Richard MacDonald Lecturer (biology): Sylvia Stevens Your Expedition Lecturer Team for Hanseatic Cruise 1601 (from left to right): Sylvia Stevens, Gerit Birnbaum, Heike Fries, HaJo Lauenstein, Richard MacDonald, and Arne Kertelhein.
    [Show full text]