AUStraLian ANTARCTIC MAGAZinE ISSUE 15 2008 FIFTY YEarS OF COOPEratiON AUStraLian ANTARCTIC MAGAZinE ISSUE 15 2008 CONTENTS The Australian Antarctic Division, a Division of the 50 years of cooperation 1 Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts, leads Australia’s Antarctic program and seeks OCEAN ACIDIFICATION to advance Australia’s Antarctic interests in pursuit Developing ocean acidification policy 2 of its vision of having ‘Antarctica valued, protected and understood’. It does this by managing Australian Krill business unusual under ‘business as usual’ 4 government activity in Antarctica, providing transport The ocean in a high CO2 world 4 and logistic support to Australia’s Antarctic research Carbon dioxide raises the dead zone 5 program, maintaining four permanent Australian research stations, and conducting scientific research Coral reef history books 6 programs both on land and in the Southern Ocean. The acid test: responses of benthic invertebrates to climate change 8 Australia’s four Antarctic goals are: SCIENCE • To maintain the Antarctic Treaty System Krill mix up the ocean 10 and enhance Australia’s influence in it; Next step for CAML 10 • To protect the Antarctic environment; Young emperor penguins: where do they go? 11 • To understand the role of Antarctica in the global climate system; and A virus amongst the penguins 12 • To undertake scientific work of practical, Whale research and conservation becomes cooperative 14 economic and national significance. Blue genes 14 Australian Antarctic Magazine seeks to inform the SCIENCE SEASON AHEAD Australian and international Antarctic community Evolution of the Antarctic cryosphere 15 about the activities of the Australian Antarctic program. Opinions expressed in Australian Antarctic Mysterious mountains under scrutiny 16 Magazine do not necessarily represent the position Australian Antarctic Science Season 2008–2009 17 of the Australian Government. COOPERATION Australian Antarctic Magazine is produced twice a year. All text and images published in the magazine Vulnerable marine ecosystems in Antarctica 19 are copyright of the Commonwealth of Australia, Scientific meeting focuses on the International Polar Year 19 unless otherwise stated. Editorial enquiries, Celebrating 50 years of cooperation 20 including requests to reproduce material, or contributions, should be addressed to: Treaty Parties meet in Ukraine 21 Planning for protection 22 The Editor Australian Antarctic Magazine FIELD LIFE Australian Antarctic Division Pie and pees – life in Antarctic field huts 23 203 Channel Highway Kingston, 7050 HISTORY Tasmania, Australia. From Wilkes to Casey 24 Australian Antarctic Division Telephone: (03) 6232 3209 PEOPLE (International 61 3 6232 3209) Mawson toons 27 email: [email protected] Runway ends with Antarctic Medal 29 Facsimile: (03) 6232 3288 (International 61 3 6232 3288) IN BRIEF 31 Editor: Wendy Pyper FREEZE FRAME 33 Editorial Advisory Committee: Sally Chambers, Andrew Jackson, Professor Michael Stoddart Production: Jonothan Davis, Jessica Fitzpatrick, Glenn Jacobson, Chris Clarke Graphic Design: Red Jelly ISSN 1445-1735 (print version) RD Australian Antarctic Magazine can be viewed online: FFO <http://www.antarctica.gov.au/magazine>. MCGI W E NDR A FRONT COVER: ROBYN MUNDY Male emperor penguins at Taylor Rookery, 100 km west of Mawson, were photographed incubating their eggs in an ‘emperor huddle’ in June this year. The huddle is a remarkable system of maintaining body warmth in extreme conditions and offers a fantastic sight, particularly when viewed from above. AUSTRALIAN ANTARCTIC MAGAZINE ISSUE 15: 2008 50 YEARS of coopERatioN The United States Antarctic Program’s LC-130 Hercules was a welcome sight on the Davis sea ice runway in October. The runway was specially constructed in a week by Davis station personnel so that an injured expeditioner could be evacuated. Fortunately, international cooperation is an inherent part of operating in Antarctica, thanks largely to the negotiation of the Antarctic Treaty 50 years ago. N ato P OB B This international cooperation is an inherent pages 8–9 discusses, a range of other stressors As this issue of the part of operating in Antarctica, thanks largely to can interact with ocean acidification to affect Australian Antarctic the precedent set during the 1958 International marine ecosystems. By extension, if we are Geophysical Year and the subsequent negotiation to fully understand such a widespread and Magazine goes to of the Antarctic Treaty. It is timely, therefore, complex phenomenon as ocean acidification, that this issue of the magazine looks back on our research cannot be conducted in isolation. press, the Australian 50 years of peace and cooperation in Antarctica and the preparations for the 50th anniversary in Finally, it is with a mixture of sadness and Antarctic Division 2009 of the signing of the Antarctic Treaty. anticipation that I announce my departure from the Australian Antarctic Division to take up the Cooperation and collaboration are also is reconstructing its position of Chief Executive Officer at the ACE cornerstones of many of our Antarctic science CRC in early 2009. I am looking forward to the projects this season. While some of the projects Antarctic science season challenge of leading this remarkable institution planned for 2008–09 may not proceed as and preparing to build a new collaboration when after a rocky start. scheduled, due to the changes wrought on the program funding for the ACE CRC ceases in the schedule by the evacuation, a number of 2010. I am pleased that through the CRC I can Many of you may have heard about the quad bike international projects will go ahead. Australia maintain close links with many in the Antarctic accident involving an Australian expeditioner on is participating in two large projects outlined community in Australia and overseas. a field trip near Davis in October. Fortunately, on pages 15–16. This participation includes expeditioners and head office staff are well significant logistical support, by the Australian I would like to express my deep gratitude for trained and equipped for these uncommon Antarctic Division, to a project investigating the friendships and support provided by my events. Within hours the injured expeditioner Antarctica’s enigmatic Gamburtsev Mountains. professional colleagues at the Australian Antarctic was receiving medical care back on station, while These relatively unchartered mountains, buried Division, and elsewhere around the world, over experts at head office were galvanising resources under hundreds of metres of ice, may hold clues the last 10 years. Your support for me is as good in Australia and Antarctica for further medical to the origin and evolution of Antarctica and, an example as I can imagine of the spirit of support and an eventual evacuation. After some by extension, the Earth’s current climate. cooperation that unites the Antarctic community delays due to bad weather the expeditioner was This issue of the magazine also focuses on and underpins the work we do in one of the world’s successfully returned to Australia on a United the critical subject of ocean acidification. amazing places. From the big picture global States Antarctic Program LC-130 Hercules and is The Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems concerns of climate change, to the stresses of now receiving specialist medical care. Cooperative Research Centre (ACE CRC) hosted organising a medical evacuation, we have been a workshop this year, attracting national united by a common concern for Antarctica. The incident highlights the small but ever- and international scientists working on this What a privilege it has been to work with you. present risks of working in such remote problem in tropical, temperate and Antarctic locations. It highlights also the importance waters. While the effects of ocean acidification of trained personnel who can cooperate well will appear first in the cold, Southern Ocean under pressure. Throughout the incident waters, research elsewhere will provide clues Australia worked closely with international to possible biological responses in the less AJ PRESS colleagues to explore all evacuation options. accessible Southern Ocean. As the article on Director, AAD 1 OFT R OPC H AUSTRALIAN ANTARCTIC MAGAZINE ISSUE 15: 2008 Russ OCEAN ACIDIFICATION: AUSTRALIAN IMPACTS IN THE GLOBAL CONTEXT Ocean acidification, caused by increased levels of atmospheric carbon At the end of the meeting the group released a short public communiqué dioxide (CO2) dissolving in the ocean, is likely to have serious consequences outlining current scientific knowledge, gaps in the knowledge and the way for marine ecosystems and biodiversity in Australian waters and the forward – http://staff.acecrc.org.au/ace-notes/OAcommunique.pdf Southern Ocean over this century. The following articles are based on research presented at the meeting. While At a meeting convened by the Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems Cooperative some of the research has an Australian focus, many of the changes described Research Centre (ACE CRC) in June this year, scientists from national and will be detected first in the Southern Ocean, where the colder water increases international research and government institutions summarised the current the solubility of CO2. The Southern Ocean has a high inventory of anthropogenic state of knowledge about ocean acidification and its effects on ocean (human-made) CO2 and is already closer to carbonate mineral saturation chemistry and the marine