N a t i o n a l I n s t i t u t e o f S c i e n c e a n d Te c h n o l o g y Antarctic Environmental Research
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Annual Activity Report 2009 / Annual Activity Report of National Institute of Science and Technology Antarctic Environmental Research / Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia Antártico de Pesquisas Ambientais (INCT – APA). – 2009. – São Carlos: Editora Cubo, 2010. 102 p. ISSN 2177-918X 1. Environmental Research. 2. Antarctica. CDD 363.7
SUMMARY 4 Introduction 11 Science Highlights 76 Education and Outreach Activities 82 Innovation 84 Infrastructure 94 Facts and Figures 96 Main Events 98 Publications 100 E-mails
INTRODUCTION National Institute of Science and Technology – Antarctic Environmental Research Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia – Antártico de Pesquisas Ambientais (INCT-APA) The importance of Antarctica Research Antarctica is the most preserved region of the planet and one of the most vulnerable to global environmental changes. For this reason, alterations in the Antarctic environment, natural or caused by humans, has the potential to provoke biological, environmental and socio-economic impacts, which can affect the terrestrial system as a whole. Because it is an essential part of the global environmental system, the Antarctic region not only sends out climate signals that affect global climate, but also absorbs global climatic signals. Anthropic environmental impacts occurring on the planet are reflected in Antarctica, including those that emanate from South America. For this reason, the scientific research in the Polar Regions is of great environmental and economic importance, since it contributes to the comprehension of climatic and environmental changes observed in these regions. The monitoring of terrestrial, marine and atmospheric systems is fundamental for the evaluation of such changes, which means collecting environmental data on a continuous basis, with quality control and for a long period of time, registered in a long temporal series, thus permitting a more precise evaluation of future implications, offering support to decision-making. The protection of the environment of Antarctica is one of highest priorities of all the nations that operate on the Antarctic continent. For this reason the region should continue to be the most preserved of the planet, harmonizing the presence of man and the attendance of mankind’s needs related to the mitigation of environmental impact of an ecosystem which is highly fragile. In 1991, the concerns over the consequences of human activity in the Antarctic environment became a reality through the Protocol of the Treaty of Antarctica for the Protection of the Environment, which came into force in 1998. This protocol established directives and
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procedures, which should be adopted in the undertaking of activities in Antarctica. The monitoring of the environmental impact of Brazilian activities in Antarctica is a commitment assumed by the Brazilian Government through the ratification of the Madrid Protocol.
What is the INCT – Antarctic Environmental Research? The National Institute of Science and Technology Antarctic Environmental Research (abbreviated as INCT in Brazilian Portuguese used in this document as INCTAPA hitherto) were created by the Brazilian Ministry of Science and Technology (Ministério de Ciência e Tecnologia (MCT) in search of excellence in scientific activities at an international level in strategic areas defined by the Action Plan 2007-2010 of the Science Programme, Technology and Innovation for Antarctica, by means of programmes and instruments made operational by CNPq and by FAPERJ (Research support Foundations at different levels). The referred initiative has the view to implement a network of atmospheric, oceanic and cryospheric monitoring, in the Antarctic region.
Who are we? INCT-APA consists of more than 70 researchers who in an integrated manner evaluate the local and global environmental impacts in the atmospheric, terrestrial and marine areas of Maritime Antarctica systems and in addition are involved in the related educational and scientific outreach of their activities. The research developed by INCT-APA will contribute to influence initiatives concerning biological diversity and environmental protection of Antarctica, principally in the scope of the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Ministry of the Environment. Furthermore it assists in educational processes with the purpose of divulging Antarctica research to the public in general.
Mission To valorise the region of Antarctica as an opportunity for development of transdisciplinary scientific investigations, promoting education and divulging information and environmental management.
Aims To be an institute of reference in Antarctic environmental research and in the preservation of this continent as an asset for humanity.
The purpose of INCT-APA: t To develop scientific investigations in marine, terrestrial and atmospheric environments in the Antarctic region; t To structure and operate a local and global environmental management system; and t To promote the education and the diffusion of information committed to the construction of a global environmental conscience. The activities of this institute will contribute to influence initiatives concerning biological diversity and
protection of the Antarctic environment, especially in the sphere of the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Ministry of the Environment, including the development of educational, formative and informative processes directly related to Antarctica. See more at: www.inct-antartico.com.br Contact: inctapa@gmail.com
INCT- Antarctic Environmental Research (INCT- ANTÁRTICO DE PESQUISAS AMBIENTAIS) INCT-APA is based at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Institute of Biology, under the coordination of Professor Yocie Yoneshigue Valentin (Botany Department - Institute of Biology/ UFRJ). The team consists of approximately 200 people, amongst them fully certified researchers, undergraduation and graduate students, belonging to 16 universities and other research institutes distributed in eight Brazilian states: Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Espírito Santo, Rio Grande do Norte, Goiás (Brasília), Paraná, Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul.
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1. Rio Grande do Norte
UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL DO RIO GRANDE DO NORTE
Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN) www.ufrn.br
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Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais (INPE) www.inpe.br
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2. Goiás (Brasília - DF)
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Ministério do Meio Ambiente (MMA) www.mma.gov.br 3. Espírito Santo
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Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo (UFES) www.ufes.br t Centro de Artes (CAR/UFES) www.car.ufes.br
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4. Rio de Janeiro Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) www.ufrj.br t Instituto de Biologia (IB/UFRJ) - Departamento de Botânica - Departamento de Biologia Marinha - Departamento de Zoologia - Departamento de Ecologia www.biologia.ufrj.br t Instituto de Microbiologia Professor Paulo de Góes (IMPPG/UFRJ) www.microbiologia.ufrj.br t Núcleo em Ecologia e Desenvolvimento Sócio-Ambiental de Macaé (NUPEM/UFRJ) www.nupem.biologia.ufrj.br t Instituto Alberto Luiz Coimbra de Pós-graduação e Pesquisa de Engenharia/ Programa de Engenharia Elétrica (COPPE/PEE/UFRJ) www.coppe.ufrj.br www.pee.ufrj.br 5. São Paulo Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais (INPE) www.inpe.br Universidade São Paulo (USP) www.usp.br
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6. Paraná Universidade Federal do Paraná (UFPR) www.ufpr.br t Centro de Estudos do Mar (CEM/UFPR) http://200.17.232.45/CEM Universidade Estadual de Ponta Grossa (UEPG) www.uepg.br 7. Santa Catarina Universidade do Vale do Itajaí (UNIVALI) www.univali.br 8. Rio Grande do Sul
t Instituto de Astronomia, Geofísica e Ciências Atmosféricas (IAG/USP) www.iag.usp.br
Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM) www.ufsm.br
t Instituto Oceanográfico (IO/USP ) www.io.usp.br
t Laboratório de Ciências Espaciais de Santa Maria (LACESM) www.lacesm.ufsm.br
Centro de Rádio-Astronomia e Astrofísica Mackenzie (CRAAM/INPE) www.craam.mackenzie.br
Universidade Federal do Pampa (UNIPAMPA) www.unipampa.edu.br
Universidade de Taubaté (UNITAU) www.unitau.br
Universidade de Santa Cruz do Sul (UNISC) www.unisc.br
Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCar) www.ufscar.br
Universidade do Vale dos Sinos (UNISINOS) www.unisinos.br
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INCT - APA MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
MODULE 1
MODULE 2
MODULE 3
MODULE 4
UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL DO RIO GRANDE DO NORTE
INCT-APA – Objectives: 1. To know and monitor Antarctica’s atmosphere and its environmental impact on South America; 2. To know and monitor the impact of global changes on Antarctic terrestrial environment; 3. To know and monitor the impact of human activities on Antarctic marine environment;
4. To develop an integrated management model for monitoring and evaluating local and global environmental changes; 5. To valorise Antarctic science for Brazilian society, promoting education and outreach. The objectives of INCT-APA related to Environmental Research are portrayed in the thematic modules described below:
Luciano Marani
Thematic Research Modules Thematic Module 1
Operated through the knowledge and monitoring of Antarctica’s atmosphere and its environmental impacts on South America Objectives of the module: 1. To monitor and evaluate: t The regions of movement of Antarctic Cold Fronts as far as South America, especially Brazil; t The greenhouse effect perceived in Antarctica; t The chemical alterations of the atmosphere and their influence on the climate, involving: the interaction Sun - Earth, the temperature of the mesosphere and the hole in the ozone layer; 2. To offer supporting information to numeric models of climate and weather forecasting.
Neusa Paes Leme
Antarctic Atmosphere and Environmental Impacts in South America
Operated through the study and monitoring of the impact of global, natural and anthropogenic origins in the Antarctic terrestrial environment. Objectives of the module: 1 To investigate the effect of glacier retraction and its implications on biogeochemical cycles; 2. To measure the alterations to vegetation cover and the alteration to the diversity of vegetation communities; 3. To evaluate the fluctuation and distribution of the bird population; 4. To identify the presence of exotic species and define possible endemic species.
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Lucas KrĂźger
Impact of Global Changes on the Antarctic Terrestrial Environment
Antonio Batista Pereira
Thematic Module 2
Maria Isabel S. Figueiredo
Thematic Module 3
Rafael B. de Moura
Impact of Human Activities on the Antarctic Marine Environment Operate in the study and monitoring of the impact of global, natural and anthropogenic origins in the Antarctic marine environment. Objectives of the module: 1. To study the effects of the environmental impact (natural and anthropogenic) on the comprehension of the ecosystemic processes which require longer temporal series, by means of monitoring of the marine environment; 2. To supplement the processes and environmental management instruments, following the example of Admiralty Bay Management Plan (Plano de Manejo da Baia do Almirantado), with information acquired from studies described in objective 1 of this module.
Jussara Fardim
Thematic Module 4
Environmental Management Operated through the development of integrated environmental management for the Antarctic region, especially for the Admiralty Bay. Furthermore, in the development of tools to valorise Antarctic science for Brazilian society, promoting education, dissemination of scientific information. Objectives of the module: 1. To develop an environmental management system for the Antarctic region, especially Admiralty Bay, encompassing diagnostic, planning, decision-making, implementation, accompaniment and permanent evaluation of the Antarctic environment; 2. To organize a system with the existing environmental indicators and integrate them in the form of a model DPSIR (Drive Forces) 3. To operate a permanent monitoring and evaluation system.
SCIENCE HIGHLIGHTS 12 Module 1
ANTARCTIC ATMOSPHERE AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS IN SOUTH AMERICA 22 Module 2
IMPACT OF GLOBAL CHANGES ON THE ANTARCTIC TERRESTRIAL ENVIRONMENT 32 Module 3
IMPACT OF HUMAN ACTIVITIES ON ANTARCTIC MARINE ENVIRONMENT 68 Module 4
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
MODULE 1
ANTARCTIC ATMOSPHERE AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS IN SOUTH AMERICA
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Sun-Earth Interaction and its Impact in the Upper Atmosphere
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Climatology of the Ozone Layer and the Impact of UV Radiation in the Environment
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Antarctic Meteorology
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The monitoring of the Antarctic atmosphere and ocean and their influence in South America is being built on consolidated basis as continuous studies have been undertaken by Brazilian researchers in the Antarctic region for decades. The idea is to carry on with such studies, which require long-term series, for a better understanding of global changes, and to use the data in numerical models of climate and weather forecasting so more trustable forecast can be done. Such projects, for having not been considered as monitoring activities, throughout these years, had always been threatened of discontinuity. More than two decades of continuous studies on the ozone hole and on the influence of Antarctic cold fronts in our climate, besides other highly relevant studies, must, therefore, have its continuity guaranteed. It is essential that such activities are associated to a long term monitoring program. Antarctica plays an essential role in the thermal equilibrium of the planet. In relation to South America this is especially relevant. The climate of the Southern hemisphere is essentially controlled by air masses originated from the frozen continent. It is well known that the energy which comes from the Sun is not constant and can cause variation on the earth climate, on the global meteorology, and on the environment. Recent studies have shown that the solar radiation can alter the physical-chemical properties of the atmosphere and can influence the wind regime and the amount of UV radiation which reaches the earth surface, as well as the cloud coverage and precipitation. The understanding of the interaction between the chemistry of the atmosphere and climate change is a new and instigating research area. The connection between atmosphere and solar radiation, especially UV, which triggers the chemical reactions and these, on their turn, depend on the temperature, atmospheric circulation and climate, are now been studied in an integrated and systematic manner. New questions are arising with the observed changes on the atmospheric temperature profile, especially with the increase on the troposphere (near surface, as a result of the
green house gases) and the decrease on the low stratosphere (between 15 and 20 Km, because of the destruction of ozone hole) and on the mesosphere (between 90 and 100 Km, caused attributed to the increase of green house gases). The main questions are: What are the chemical changes which are occurring on the different layers of the atmosphere with increase of UV radiation and changes on temperature? What are the consequences for the dynamic, circulation and equilibrium between the atmospheric layers?
Objectives Monitor and Evaluate: Changes in chemistry and atmospheric dynamics and its influence on climate, involving: the interaction Sun – Earth, the temperature in the mesosphere, planetary waves, the Hole in the Ozone, trace gas associated with the chemistry of the ozone layer, greenhouse effect emissions, greenhouse gases caused by human activity in the area of Brazilian Antarctic Station Comandante Ferraz and the impacts of UV radiation in the ecosystem.
Activities Developed The activities of Module 1 is divided into five themes: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Sun-Earth Relationship Dynamics of Upper Atmosphere (Mesosphere) Climatology of Ozone and UV Radiation Meteorology Greenhouse gases and aerosols
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1 SUN-EARTH INTERACTION AND ITS IMPACT IN THE UPPER ATMOSPHERE
Emília Correia1,2*, Jean Pierre Raulin2, Pierre Kaufmann2,3, Fernando C. P. Bertoni2
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1 Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais, São José dos Campos, SP, Brazil CRAAM, Escola de Engenharia, Universidade Presbiteriana Mackenzie, São Paulo, SP, Brazil 3 CCS, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil *e-mail: ecorreia@craam.mackenzie.br
The upper atmosphere has been monitored to study the external forcing importance in the variations of its physical and chemical properties. The main external forcing are the solar phenomena, such as: flares, flux of energetic particles (winds) and giant bubbles of gas expelled from its atmosphere (coronal mass ejection, CME). All these solar phenomena strongly affect the ionized layer of our atmosphere, the ionosphere, especially during the periods the Sun is active. The ionosphere is also a very sensitive flare detector during solar minimum activity, when it is possible to detect weak flares. In the periods the Sun is calm, the forcing from below is competitive with solar forcing. The main forcing from below has been attributed to atmospheric waves mostly of tropospheric origin, especially the planetary waves because of the period similarities. Thus, long term studies are important to improve our understanding of the external forcing of the ionosphere as well its coupling with lower atmospheric layers, which are essential to understand their role in the climate changes. The base of ionosphere (< 100 km altitude), the D-region, is essentially maintained during quiet conditions by the solar Lyman-alpha radiation, which ionizes the minor neutral atmospheric constituent nitric oxide. Variations in the Lyman-alpha produce changes in the ionization rates, and consequently in the D-region state. The disturbances of the lower ionosphere have been monitored by very low frequency (VLF) waves propagating within the waveguide formed between the
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ground and the ionosphere base. The amplitude and phase of VLF waves depend sensitively on the waveguide electrical conductivity, so they can be used as a proxy to estimate the Lyman-alpha solar radiation during periods of low solar activity. During periods the Sun is active, the base of ionosphere is strongly affected by the excess of X-ray emission from the active regions and from solar flares. The X-ray emission of solar flares is detected as VLF phase abrupt variations called sudden phase anomalies (SPAs). Studies of the incidence of SPAs have shown that the ionosphere reference height is lower (about 1 km) at solar maximum (McRae and Thomson, 2004; Raulin et al., 2006), which means the decrease of electron density in the base of ionosphere during solar minimum, becomes possible the detection of weaker X-ray events (Raulin et al., 2010). Long term analysis of diurnal VLF amplitude detected at Brazilian Antarctic Station Comandante Ferraz (EACF, 62.1° S and 58.4° W) from NPM transmitter at Hawaii (Lualualei), shows an overall decrease from 2005 through 2009 that accompanies the decay phase of the 23 rd solar cycle (Figure 1). The greater attenuation rate of VLF amplitude at solar minimum was also found by Thomson and Clilverd (2000) during the decay phase of previous solar cycle, which was explained by the competition between the reduction of solar Lyman alpha in the height range 65-80 km and an increase of the cosmic ray intensity at lower heights. The solar origin forcing could also be due space weather effects, which govern the lower ionosphere
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Figure 1. Long term diurnal VLF amplitude detected at Brazilian Antarctic Station Comandante Ferraz (EACF) from NPM transmitter at Hawaii. Figure also shows the solar irradiances at Lyman-alpha and X-ray, and the stratosphere temperature at southern latitudes between 55° and 75°. It shows the decrease of VLF amplitude has a close association with the decrease of solar irradiance, which occurs in the minimum of solar cycle.
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Figure 2. Example of the annual variation of VLF amplitude. From topo to bottom figure shows: NPM VLF amplitude detected at EACF, the stratosphere temperature at southern latitudes, the zonal wind speed, and the stratosphere parameters heat ux (HF) and Momentum ux (MF), the last ones indicators of disturbed stratosphere. It shows the lower ionosphere is very sensitive to the stratospheric disturbances that occur during the winter polar vortex.
shows faster fluctuations with quasi-periods similar the ones of planetary waves originated in the troposphere (few days). So, these results show the planetary waves are important forcing of the ionosphere by waves from below as previously obtained from different approaches (Dunkerton, 2000, Lastovicka, 2006). Thus the long term studies of the lower ionosphere are important to better determine the relative role and importance of various external forcing and to try to define more reliable predictions methods of its state. The understanding of ionosphere coupling with lower-lying levels of atmosphere is also important to define its role in the climate changes. This work was supported by CNPq/PROANTAR under projects no. 52-0186/06-0 and 52.0182/2006-5. EC woul like to thank CNPq (process no. 300710/2006-2), Proantar/MCT/ CNPq and SECIRM, and INCT-APA (CNPq: 574018/2008-5, FAPERJ: E-26/170.023/2008).
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References
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2 CLIMATOLOGY OF THE OZONE LAYER AND THE IMPACT OF UV RADIATION IN THE ENVIRONMENT Neusa Paes Leme1*; Damaris K Pinheiro2; Cláudio Casiccia3; Eduardo J. Quel4; Elian Wolfran4; Francesco Zaratti5
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Laboratório de Variáveis Ambientais Tropicais – LAVAT, Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais – INPE, Centro Regional do Nordeste – CRN, Natal, Brazil 2 Laboratório Espacial Sul – LASCESM, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria – UFSM, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil 3 Laboratorio de Ozono, Universidad de Magallanes – UMAG, Punta Arenas, Chile 4 CEILAP (CITEFA-CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina 5 Universidad Mayor de San Andres, Laboratorio de Ozono e RUV, La Paz, Bolivia *e-mail: neusa_paesleme@yahoo.com.br
Measurements of UV Radiation
NOAA HYSPLIT MODEL Backward trajectory ending at 00 UTC 08 Oct 07 CDC1 Metereological Data
Continuous measurements of UV radiation were held
Active) very important for biological studies at various latitudes: in Ferraz, King George Island in PuUniverinta Arenas, southern Chile in La Paz, Bolivia, and Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul. Were recorded several events of increased UV radiation during the presence of the ozone hole. In EACF increase of up to 150% in the incidence of
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measures UV-B, UV-A radiation and PAR (Photosintetically
at 29.40 S 58.82 W
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UV radiation in the soil was recorded in 2009.
Continuous measures throughout 2009 in various
150 Meters AGL
Measurement of Total Column Ozone, Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) and Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2)
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latitudes: in Ferraz, King George Island, Punta Arenas, southern Chile, Rio Gallegos, Argentina, in La Paz, Bolivia,
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lat.: -29.4 lon.: -53.82 height: 24000 m AGL
and Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. In implementing
Trajectory Direction: Backward Duration: 144 hrs Meteo Data: reanalysis
these measures, we used the Brewer Spectrophotometer.
Produced with HYSPLIT from the NOAA ARL Website (http://www.arl.noaa.gov/ready/)
Vertical Motion Calculation Method: Isentropic
The Brewer spectrophotometer in Rio Gallegos, Argentina, operated during the year 2009. Shutting down during the winter because it has limitation to operate at temperatures below zero (not have internal heaters).
Figure 1. Backward isentropic trajectory for the day 10.08.2007 on the Southern Space Observatory, Brazil, developed by the HYSPLIT model, obtained by site http://www.arl.noaa.gov/ready/ open/traj.html
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Figure 2. Potential Vorticity maps for the days 06/10/2007 (before the event), 07/10/2007 and 08/10/2007 at the level of potential temperature 620 K, close to 25,000 m.
Measurements of ozone concentration over the region of EACF showed a destruction of 55% and in
Side Effects of the Antarctic Ozone Hole on the South of Brazil
southern South America, the decrease in concentration of the Ozone Layer was 25%. This shows that the ozone hole is still very active and on the last layer of maximum destruction that occurred in 2006 had 15% re recovery. The most important difference between 2006 and 2009 is the permanence of days in the presence of the Ozone Hole. In 2006, lasted from August until November and in 2009 was in August until December.
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The southern region of Brazil is subject to reductions in ozone in the months August to November, when the total ozone would be in its peak season. In these reductions is called side effects of Antarctic ozone hole. A methodology was developed to identify side effects of Antarctic ozone hole over the South of Brazil. The methodology developed can be applied to anywhere in Brazil and the world.
We evaluated the side effects of Antarctic Ozone Hole on the southern Brazil through analysis of data from the Brewer spectrophotometer and TOMS and OMI satellite that contained the lowest values of total ozone only in September and October, 1987 2008. For each selected event, we investigated if the minimum had associated with the arrival of air masses and the external origin of these air masses, low ozone concentration was polar. To that end, we applied a methodology consists of three steps: (1) analysis of the total ozone obtained from satellite imagery and the Brewer Spectrophotometer, (2) generation of retroactive trajectories of air masses through the NOAA HYSPLIT model, and (3) analysis of potential vorticity maps, using parameters such as data reanalysis of NCEP / NCAR (National Center for Environmental Prediction / National Center for Atmospheric Research). This type of methodology is to estimate the contribution of isentropic transport on the variability of ozone content. The maps were generated for the day with an event to a minimum and the previous days, providing a qualitative analysis of the increase or reduction of absolute potential vorticity (PVA). Increases in PVA scale of days, indicating inputs of air masses of polar origin and reduction of
PVA indicate entry of air masses of equatorial origin. The simulation of retroactive trajectories of air masses was performed using the HYSPLIT model (Hybrid Single-Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory), developed by the Air Resourses Laboratory of NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). Of all the events analyzed minimum, there were 18 events of side effects of Antarctic ozone hole, three in September and 15 in October. Of the 18 confirmed events, with mean reductions in total ozone of about 10%, 11 occurred from 2000 to 2008, and only in 2002 did not show side effects, because the ozone hole was atypical that year with intensity much smaller and smaller area. Therefore, we observed the prevalence of side effects during October. During the execution of activities in 2009, there was a need for improvement in the method of analysis of maps of PVA, being necessary to include a range of PV more sensitive to the potential vorticity maps. As an example, we present the event of a side effect of the ozone hole over the South of Brazil occurred in 07 and October 8, 2007, when the values of total ozone for 07 days was 259.5 and for the UD 08 UD 269.3 days, while the average column ozone in October was 292.62 Âą 17.42 UD.
References BAGESTON, J. V. et al. Observation of mesospheric gravity waves at Comandante Ferraz Antarctica Station (62 S). Annales Geophysicae (Berlin), v. 27, p. 2593-2598, 2009. GOMES, V. et al. Photo-induced toxicity of anthracene in the Antarctic shallow water amphipod, Gondogeneia antarctica. Polar Biology, v. 32, p. 1009-1021, 2009.
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3 ANTARCTIC METEOROLOGY Alberto Setzer1*; Franco Nadal Junqueira Villela2 and Antonio Gabriel Pontes e Dechiche3
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Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais (INPE/CPTEC), Rede Clima/INCT para Mudanças Climáticas 2 Instituto Nacional de Meteorologia (INMET) 3 Universidade de São Paulo – (IAG/Meteorologia) *e-mail: alberto.setzer@cptec.inpe.br
The participation of the weather team consisted of the following tasks: t Collection / analysis of meteorological data and sending this data to Brazil, making them available to the public via its website: www.cptec.inpe.br/antartica t Staff continued the data collection and made available on the website of the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) and the site of the National Institute of Meteorology data: http://www.antarctica.ac.uk/met/metlog/latest-met /89252.latest-met.html t h t t p : / / w w w. i n m e t . g o v. b r / s o n a b r a / m a p s / automaticas.php t Maintenance and calibration of meteorological instruments to ensure data quality; t Observations of weather every three hours which is the record of cloud cover, the types of clouds, visibility and present time; t Research activities in the areas of climate modeling and numerical weather prediction for EACF and stations of the Antarctic Peninsula.
Main results observed: Average annual temperatures of air in Brazilian Antarctic Station have fallen around -0.6 °C per decade is considered the last 14 years. The downward trend, recorded by the National Institute for Space Research (INPE), can be found, for example, in the years 2007 and 2009, when the bitter winter froze the two freshwater lakes that supply the station. In the years 1995, 2007 and 2009, the extent of ice covering the Admiralty
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Bay during winter even hit the maximum level. Since 1986, when they began collecting data on the Brazilian Antarctic Station, with the exception of 1987, the lowest temperatures in winter (June-July-August) occurred in the last 14 years. In1995, for example, the average winter was -10.3 °C in 2007 and 2009, was -8.5°C. “Throughout 2009, temperatures were below average, except for January and March. The absolute minimum temperature, -25.6 °C, occurred on August 5, and for 18 years minimum in a month of August did not fall below -25 °C”, says researcher Alberto Setzer, INPE. It should be noted that the climate in this region shows great interannual variability, with alternating warm and cold years. Because of these significant changes, which on average are about 3 º C in mean between each year, it is difficult to forecast temperatures for the same next year. “If we consider the annual average of the last 65 years in the region, there was average warming of +0.23 ° C per decade. But for the past 29 years that a practical standpoint configure the 30-year climatology of a conventional pattern, the average data show stability, so no indication of climate warming” concludes Alberto Setzer (Figure 1).
Acknowledgements This work was supported by CNPq/PROANTAR under projects no. 52-0182/2006-5, Proantar/MCT/ CNPq and SECIRM, and INCT-APA (CNPq: 574018/2008-5, FAPERJ: E-26/170.023/2008).
0.0 y = 0,0227x - 47,008 tendência: aquecimento +0,23 °C/década
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-5.0
Figure 1. Average annual temperatures of air in the Admiralty Bay, King George Island(1944-2009, except 1946: 65 years date).
References SETZER, A.; KAYANO, M. Reanálises para altas latitudes no Hemisfério Sul: uma fonte de interpretações errôneas. Revista Brasileira de Meteorologia, v. 24, p.15, 2009. SETZER, A.; ROMÃO, M.; AQUINO, F. E. Antártica: Relação Climática com a América do Sul. Climanálise (São José dos Campos), v. 24, p. 7, 2009.
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MODULE 2
IMPACT OF GLOBAL CHANGES ON THE ANTARCTIC TERRESTRIAL ENVIRONMENT
22
25
Vegetal Communities from Ice-Free Areas of Copacabana, King George Island, Antarctica
27
Monitoring of the Dynamic and Spatial Distribution of Antarctic Seabird Populations in the South Shetland Islands
31
Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) in Antarctica: Chlorinated Pesticides, PCBs and PAHs in Blubber of Seabirds from King George Island, Antarctica
| Annual Activity Report 2009
The Antarctic environment and its biodiversity are fragile and vulnerable to environmental changes. Significant changes are already being observed in the Antarctic Region. Since 1950, 86% of the glaciers in the Antarctic Peninsula have shown noticeable signs of retraction, creating more areas free from ice, with greater expanses of vegetation coverage, modifying the distribution of the vegetation communities. The latter, on the other hand, are subject to decline due to the expansion of human activities. The biodiversity is also being affected by the introduction of exotic species. The growth of phytoplankton has been prejudiced by UV-B radiation, as a consequence of the hole in the ozone layer. The reduction of the sea-ice platforms has altered the reproductive conditions of some species, such as, krill, interfering in the availability of food of other species, leading to drastic reductions of populations, as in the case of the Pygoscellis papua penguin whose population has declined by 62%. The definition of the impact-causing agent is not always linear and can be very complex. The impact caused by global changes may be associated to pressures from human activities, for example, the alteration in the distribution of the bird population, which may be indirectly associated to global aspects or to modification of the environment due to human occupation. There are also natural changes, such as, the freezing and melting of ice, which are also significant agents of environmental change. The increase
in knowledge and long term monitoring can enable the creation of a dynamic baseline, representing the band of natural environmental variability, permitting a better comprehension of the changes occurred. On this theme, the programme proposes to monitor: t The alteration of the vegetation coverage and the plant biodiversity. t The fluctuation and distribution of the bird populations t The presence of exotic species and the definition of possible endemic species On the basis of previous data, it was possible to create a set of biotic and abiotic indicators which possess significant potential to be used in the appraisal of the environmental impact in the ASMA (Antarctic Specially Managed Area) of Admiralty Bay or for studies related to the comprehension of processes of the ecosystem that require consistent temporal series. In this context, parameters were chosen which would serve the proposed objectives and which, simultaneously, could be obtained within the logistical and operational restrictions which are imposed by the Antarctic environment. The terrestrial environment is generally more subject to anthropogenic impacts and any alteration in this ecosystem ends up reflecting in the marine atmosphere and the environment. Since the local impact observed is more restricted to the areas of intensive usage around the research stations of Admiralty Bay, emphasis was given
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to the Brazilian Antarctic Station “Comandante Ferraz� surrounding area. Apart from the latter, the ASMA was considered as a whole, since the natural processes, such as freezing and melting, are also significant agents in the environmental changes of the region. Thus, for the terrestrial environmental, some parameters were selected as environmental indicators described in continuity: Annual sampling: t The fluctuating population of birds: birds, in general, occupy the top of the food chain. To evaluate the fluctuations and behaviour of birds in the interactive process of Admiralty Bay facilitates the establishment of environmental quality. Since birds show big population fluctuations in Antarctica, an annual appraisal is recommended in long term programmes. Five year sampling: t The alteration of the vegetation coverage: the vegetation communities are, generally, the first to be affected by the degradation of the terrestrial ecosystems, which furthermore, are easily observed and measured. The increase of the ice free area in the last few years, principally in the region of Hennequin Point, will be important for the work of monitoring and accompaniment of the evolution of the vegetation community as a consequence of greater visual exposure of areas of vegetation coverage. t The plant diversity: biodiversity is generally altered according to the environmental conditions, be it through human activity or by natural phenomenon. t Population distribution of birds: the majority of reproducing birds, in Admiralty Bay, always nest in the same place with few exceptions. As the latter has occurred for decades, present and previous data can be compared to verify if there has been a retraction in reproduction locations. The latter would indicate the loss of maintenance capacity of the bird population or the possibilities of occupation of other areas.
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| Annual Activity Report 2009
1 VEGETAL COMMUNITIES FROM ICE-FREE AREAS OF COPACABANA, KING GEORGE ISLAND, ANTARCTICA
Antonio Batista Pereira1,2*, Márcio Rocha Francelino2,3 & Luiz Fernando Wurdig Roesch1,2
2
1 Universidade Federal do Pampa - UNIPAMPA, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia Antártico de Pesquisas Ambientais – INCT-APA 3 Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro – UFRRJ, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil *e-mail: antoniopereira@unipampa.edu.br
The vegetal communities from ice-free areas of King George Island show a close relationship with many environmental factors. In this respect, the Antarctic vegetal communities have become a good indicator for the study of climate change, geomorphology and hydrology. Measuring the actual area occupied by each type of community will help to monitor the development of the community and better understand the geo-environmental structure of ice-free areas in Antarctic (Figure 1). The aim of this study has been to map and evaluate the ecological relationships of the vegetal communities with ice-free areas adjacent to Admiralty Bay – Antarctica. The study was carried out in about 450 hectares of ice-free areas located on the west coast of Admiralty Bay, King George Island, Antarctica. The whole area was mapped using a differential GPS (DGPS) model Promark 2. The DGPS was run in the cinematic mode and the coordinators were corrected through the use of a base station and the Ashtech Solutions@ 2.6 programme. The technique allows for a 50 cm precision. The vegetal communities were delimitated by using the square method adapted to the Antarctic conditions and based on its floristic composition, physiognomy and association. Seven vegetal communities were identified by this methodology: 1. Deschampsia Communities; are located in areas found in rocky elevations were the predominant vegetation is composed of Deschampsia antarctica Desv. (Poaceae) (Figure 2), associated with Colobanthus quitensis (Kunth.) Bart. (Caryophylaceae), and mosses represented by small
populations of Sanionia uncinata Hedw. Loeske in dry areas and Bryum spp. in wet areas. 2. Deschampsia and moss communities; these communities occur far from the coastal zone. The presence of Deschapsia antarctica decreases considerably in size and density but there is an increase in the presence of Colobathus quitensis and mosses mainly Sanionia uncinata and Polytrichastrum alpinum (Hedw.) G.L.Sm. in the places under influence of birds. In others areas the predominant populations found, were Polytrichum juniperinum Hedw, P. strictum Brid. and P. piliferum Hedw. 3. Mosses and Deschampsia communities; these are very similar to the Deschampsia and moss communities. However, the major difference is related to the greater biodiversity and biomass of mosses in association with flowering plants. The presence of these communities is strongly associated with the soil moisture and drainage lines. 4. Carpets of moss communities; in these communities there is a predominance of Sanionia uncoinata many in those areas with absence of soil. In this case, the S. uncinata grows directly on the surface of the rocks. 5. Moss communities; the occurrence of these communities is associated with the presence of soil. When soil is present, the biodiversity of mosses is relatively large with the predominance of Polytrichum spp, Syntrichia spp and many species of Bryum.
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3105600
LIano Point
Pieter J. Lenie Station
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Figure 1. Map showing the vegetal communities from ice-free areas of Copacabana, King George Island, Antarctica.
6. Lichen communities; these communities are found in outcrop rocks or areas with large fragments of rocks where the fine sediments are washed out by the water from the defrosting process. There is a predominance of Usnea genera and species of crusty lichens. The biodiversity of these communities are extremely dependent on the influence of the bird colonies. The moss populations are occasional. 7. Emergent communities; these communities are characterised by the presence of small populations of Deschampsia antarctica and Colobanthus quitensis. Mosses are represented by small populations of Sanionia uncinata, Bryum spp and Syntrichia spp.
Acknowledgements
Figure 2. Deschampsia antarctica Desv. (Poaceae) Photo: Ant么nio Batista Pereira.
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| Annual Activity Report 2009
This work was supported by CNPq (process 574018/2008-5), FAPERJ (process E-26/170.023/2008), MMA, MCT and CIRM.
2 MONITORING OF THE DYNAMIC AND SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION OF ANTARCTIC SEABIRD POPULATIONS IN THE SOUTH SHETLAND ISLANDS Maria Virginia Petry and Lucas Krünger
Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos, São Leopoldo, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil e-mail: vpetry@unisinos.br
Antarctic seabirds are affected by Climate Changes and the increase of human activities. Global changes affect seabirds through an indirect effect on food webs; human activities have a direct impact on breeding colonies. Consequences can be seen mainly on seabird breeding success, whose populations may decrease in the future. Thus, contextualized by the increasing human presence in the circumpolar islands of Antarctica and the climatic changes occurring more drastically in Polar Regions, the project is monitoring an important component of top predator communities. The UNISINOS Team has been sampling on South Shetland Islands since the early years of the Brazilian Antarctic Programme, making possible long term analysis of Antarctic Seabird populations. The effect of Climatic Changes on Antarctic seabirds is seen in two ways. Ice cap variation has an impact on sea productivity and therefore on krill reproduction. Increased ice caps in unusually cold years reduces the incidence of light on the seawater, thus reducing the algae bloom, and, smaller ice caps reduces the optimal habitat for krill larvae to develop. Over the annual variations, birds may respond changing their breeding chronology, breeding in spite of the reduced food intake and raise an “unprepared” offspring, or simply abort breeding. Thus seabird monitoring gives insight on the actual status of productivity and Antarctic food web status. The other impact is a little more direct, though more simple. During unusually cold summers, when there is late de-icing on
land, there is reduced availability of optimal area for nesting. Also, they may synchronize their breeding to ideal periods, or even choose not to reproduce in such years. UNISINOS is sampling seabird populations on South Shetlands, nowadays, the monitoring aims to compare population dynamics in King George Island in comparison to other South Shetland islands, and the annual variation of distribution of breeding colonies. The study of seabirds includes population counting, estimates of reproductive success, banding for demographic analysis and mapping through GPS technology. The project is intended to include the use of Light Level Geolocators technology to the activities next summer. By means of the atypical cold year of 2009/2010 austral summer, we had the opportunity to evaluate the responses of seabirds, which would affect the annual offspring. Southern Giant Petrels from Elephant Island presented a success rate of less than 6% of mating couples having successful fledglings. Although, the potential number of 2009/2010 summer breeding pairs estimated from average Population Growth Rate ( =1.019659 ± 19.13%.) in the years 1986 until 1993 is close to the actual verified population (Figure 1). The relationship between average temperature at the beginning of breeding season and number of offspring is significant in three models of regression (Linear R²= 0.54, p=0,06; Quadratic R²=0.68, p=0.1; Cubic R²=0.94, p=0.02) (Figure 2).
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Similar responses may be expected from other species. The relationship between penguin breeding pairs and temperature indicated a low number of Pygoscelis antarctica breeding pairs in the 2009/2010 season as a response to the atypical year, and a slight decrease in P. papua pairs was also observed. The Larus dominicanus
breeding pairs figure also declined that season in Admiralty Bay (Figure 3). Furthermore in relation to temperature, we believe there is a main influence of de-iced land area, in turn, influencing available breeding grounds. Satellite analysis in the future, whereas also more detailed analysis on the influence of temperature on demography plus geolocator information will allow detecting what is the exact
1100
influence. Studies on community ecology and species interaction
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are also in development. I.e., Brown Skuas (Catharacta lonnbergi) may have the effect of proximity with penguin
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colonies and with conspecific nearest neighbor on their 700
breeding success (Figures 4 and 5).
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seabird density over the years (Figure 6).
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Figure 1. Population variation of Southern Giant Petrel on Elephant Island between 1986 and 1993 breeding season, in the following years the expected population increases are based on the average lambda of 1.019659 Âą 19.13%. Note the potential number of breeding pairs in 2009/2010 breeding season is close to the real observed.
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Average temperature on beginning of season Figure 2. Relations between average temperature at the beginning of the breeding season and logaritmized edgling number of southern giant petrels. Three models were tested, and all were signiďŹ cant under A = 90%. The model probably describing better the relation between the variables is the quadratic, since the increase in temperature is also expected to in uence the breeding season.
28
Average number of breeding pairs
Year
| Annual Activity Report 2009
Figure 3. Average number of L. dominicanus breeding pairs at different breeding seasons in Admiralty Bay. The difference in the last sampled season is signiďŹ cantly different from the previous years (Repeated Measures Anova, F4,48=2.81; p=0,036).
Observed Linear Loagarithmic Exponential
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Distance to penguin colony Figure 4. The positive relation between Penguin Colonies and the Conspecific Nearest Neighbour Distance indicates Brown Skua nests close to Penguins are also the closest nests, potentially increasing intra-specific competition and predation.
Figure 5. The survival probability of Brown Skua Chicks is in uenced by the Distance of Penguin Colonies and Conspecific Nearest Neighbours. Near to Penguin colonies the Skua nests are closer to each other, enhancing the intra-specific competition and predation.
62° 5’ 0” S
King George Island
Weddel Sea
Bellingshausen Sea
Larus dominicanus Oceanites oceanicus Phalacrocorax atriceps Pygoscelis adeliae Pygoscelis antartica 62° 10’ 0” S
Pygoscelis papua Sterna vittata Catharacta maccormicki Daption capense Macronectes giganteus 1:90,000 0
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Figure 6. Distribution map of breeding seabird populations at Admiralty Bay during the 2009/2010 season.
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References BEAULIEU, M. et al. When sea-ice clock is ahead of Adélie Penguins’ clock. Functional Ecology, v. 24, p. 93-102, 2010. CROXALL, J. P. Seabirds: feeding biology and role in marine ecosystems. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1987. GILLMAN, M.; HAILS, R. An introduction to ecological modelling: putting practice into theory. London: Blackwell Science, 1997. HARRISON, P. Seabirds: an identification guide. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1983. LESCROËL A, et al. Effect of individual quality, reproductive success and environmental variability on survival of a long-lived seabird. Journal of Animal Ecology, v. 78, p. 798-806, 2009. ONLEY, D.; SCOFIELD, P. Albatrosses, Petrels and Shearwaters of the world. New Jersey: Princeton University Press, 2007. RIBIC, C. A. et al. Top predators in relation to bathymetry, ice and krill during austral winter in Marguerite Bay, Antarctica. DeepSea Research II, v. 55, p. 485-499, 2008. SHENK, T. M.; FRANKLIN, A. B. Modeling in natural resource management: development, interpretation and application. London: Island Press, 2001. WARREN, J. D. et al. Submesoscale distribution of Antarctic Krill and its avian and pinniped predators before and after a near gale. Marine Biology, v. 156, p. 479-491, 2009.
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| Annual Activity Report 2009
3 PERSISTENT ORGANIC POLLUTANTS (POPS) IN ANTARCTICA: CHLORINATED PESTICIDES, PCBS AND PAHS IN BLUBBER OF SEABIRDS FROM KING GEORGE ISLAND, ANTARCTICA Satie Taniguchi1*, Rosalinda C. Montone1, Marcia C. Bicego1, Jose L. Sericano2 1
Universidade de Sao Paulo, Instituto Oceanografico, São Paulo, SP, Brazil Texas A&M University, Geochemical and Environmental Research Group *e-mail: satie@usp.br
2
in the food web as they eat fish, krill, other birds and carcasses. Total PAH contents were similar in all birds with a predominance of compounds with low molecular weight (e.g., naphthalene, 1-methylnaphthalene and 2-methylnaphthalene). The ingestion either from food or during preening is considered to be the primary source of PAHs for birds. Although PAHs are well metabolized by birds and readily excreted, they can be detected in fat depots a short period after the uptake. The detection of POPs in Antarctica wildlife, particularly those species with the greatest fidelity to the Antarctic continent (i.e., penguins) is an evidence of global dispersion of these compounds. 25000 20000 ng.g-1
Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and polycyclic aromatics hydrocarbons (PAHs), were found in preserved blubber samples from Skuas (Catharacta antarctica) and three species of Penguins (Pygoscelis adeliae, Pygoscelis papua and Pygoscelis antarctica) captured in the vicinity of the Brazilian and Polish Antarctic Stations on King George Island. Opportunistic samples of Antarctic terns (Sterna vittata), Snowy Sheatbill (Chionis alba) and Blueeyed Shag (Phalacrocorax atriceps) were also analyzed. Hexachlorobenzene (HCB), selected chlordane-related compounds, dieldrin, mirex and p,p’-DDE were the chlorinated pesticides encountered at the highest levels in all samples. On average, concentrations of chlorinated pesticides were significantly higher in skuas than in any of the other species of birds. For example, concentrations of oxychlordane, dieldrin, mirex and p,p’DDE in skuas were a factor of approximately 15, 10, 25, and 30 times higher in skuas than in penguins, respectively. Similarly, the average total concentration of PCBs was about 70 times higher in skuas than in penguins. In contrast, the concentrations of HCB were comparable in both species of birds. The much higher concentrations of POPs encountered in the blubber of skuas compared to the other species of birds included in this study can be attributed to its position
Skua Penguin
15000 10000 5000 0 HCB
oxychlordane
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Figure 1 - Average concentrations of POPs in Antarctic seabird blubber (ng.g-1)
Reference: TANIGUCHI, S. et al. Chlorinated pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the fat tissue of seabirds from King George Island, Antarctica. Marine Pollution Bulletin, v. 58, n. 1, p. 129-133, 2009.
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MODULE 3
IMPACT OF HUMAN ACTIVITIES ON THE ANTARCTIC MARINE ENVIRONMENT 38
Diversity of Antarctic Marine Microalgae: Effects of Environmental Changes on Composition and Abundance
41
Occurrence, Abundance, Distribution and Identification of Zooplancton with Emphasis on Marine Invertebrate Larvae from Admiralty Bay
44
Natural and Anthropic Impact Assessment on Biochemical and Histopathological Biomarkers of Fishes and Invertebrates at Coastal Region of Admiralty Bay – King George Island
50
Molecular Geochemical Indicators of Sewage Input in the Antarctic Coastal Area (Admiralty Bay, King George Island, Antarctica)
52
Arsenic Content in Five Sediment Profiles from Admiralty Bay, King George Island, Antarctica
58
Meiofauna and Microphytobenthos of Martel Inlet (Admiralty Bay, King George Island, Antarctica)
62
Benthic Macroalgae Diversity in Admiralty Bay (King George Island, Archipelago of South Shetland Islands, Antarctic Peninsula)
65
Admiralty Bay Trophic Relationships: A Summary of Results from Isotopic Analysis
Coordinator
Dr. Helena Passeri Lavrado – UFRJ Vice-coordinator
Dr. Edson Rodrigues – UNITAU Principal investigators (in alphabetical order)
Dr. César de Castro Martins – UFPR Dr. Denise Rivera Tenenbaum – UFRJ Dr. Lucélia Donatti – UFPR Dr. Lúcia de Siqueira Campos – UFRJ Dr. Márcia Bícego – IOUSP Dr. Rolf Weber – IOUSP
Human presence is a source of environmental impact in Antarctica through the establishment of scientific stations, camping sites, presence of vessels, aircraft, and any other logistical support essential for the development of research. Monitoring environmental impacts caused by Brazilian activities in Antarctica has been a commitment by the Brazilian Government ever since the Protocol of the Antarctic Treaty on Environmental Protection, the Madrid Protocol, was signed. The major sources of potential chronic pollution are the sub products of fossil fuel combustion in the marine environment and atmosphere, including the discharge of sewage from the research station. The current state of Admiralty Bay has been evaluated through processes which exist in the water column, marine biota (pelagic and benthic) and sediments. The Antarctic Specially Managed Area (ASMA) of Admiralty Bay was extensively studied for 4 years from 2002-2006 in order to evaluate its current environmental state. This was an initiative by the Brazilian Ministry of Environment in order to generate interdisciplinary Antarctic Research Networks, engaging researchers from different institutions throughout the country, working on two basic themes: Global Environmental Changes (Network 1); and Local Environmental Changes (Network 2). The results from Network 2 allowed the Admiralty Bay marine environment characterization (see Weber & Montone, 2006). The influence from sewage generated
Dr. Rosalinda Carmela Montone – IOUSP Dr. Rubens Figueira – IOUSP Dr. Thaís Navajas Corbisier – IOUSP Dr. Theresinha Monteiro Absher – UFPR Dr. Vivian Helena Pellizari – IOUSP Dr. Yocie Yoneshigue Valentin – UFRJ
at the Brazilian Research Station Comandante Ferraz (EACF or Ferraz Station) towards Admiralty Bay, as well as the concentrations of aliphatic hydrocarbons (AHs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons were observed only in Martel Inlet. These observations were made at a linear distance from Ferraz sewage outlet, i.e., 200 m linear distance for the water column and 700 m for the sediment. The sewage plume dispersion in the shallow coastal zone at Martel is favoured by the hydrodynamics, which are especially influenced by the effect of tides. Consequently, the potential contamination of Admiralty Bay from Ferraz is very localised and restricted to the proximity of the station, especially near the sewage outlet. The increase in availability of easily degradable organic matter, e.g., domestic sewage, can stimulate methanogenesis. This was observed near Ferraz, but also in areas with less human activities, such as near Botany Point, probably due to the contribution of organic matter from animal origin. Although metal concentrations in the sediment of Admiralty Bay are relatively high, their bioavailability is low due to reducing conditions of the sediment, which suggests low risks for the biota. As for other areas in the Antarctic Peninsula region, Admiralty Bay, including Martel Inlet (Figure 1), is an area subject to icescours and anchor-ice. These may disrupt the benthic fauna, turn the sediment more anoxic,
Adriana G. Dalto
Rafael B. de Moura
1
2
Figure 1: Small boat used for monitoring samplings in Admiralty Bay. Figure 2: Water quality is evaluated during early and late summer each year. In detail: Field measures of salinity using a refractometer.
and enabling the development of anaerobic microbiota. Results from the analysis of sterols, hydrocarbons and chlorinated compounds showed values that are considered low elsewhere. However, these may potentially contribute towards an increase in microbial activity during the cycle of chemical elements at the bay with a likely reduction of total carbon. Except for sampling stations near the sewage outlet at 20m depth at approximately 100-200m from the coastline, there was no significant difference in the total density of benthic macrofauna between study areas, i.e., those with potential human impacts and reference ones. The fact that changes in the benthic community structure were not significant indicated that the impacts caused by human activities at Ferraz are of small magnitude and range within the benthic system. The scientific work undertaken based on previous studies and integrated data analyses obtained since December 2002 allowed the selection of a set of biotic and non-biotic indicators. These were chosen on the criteria of having potential significance for their use in environmental impact assessments at the ASMA of Admiralty Bay, or for ecosystem studies in which the understanding of ecological processes requires long time series data. Taking into account the logistical and operational restrictions that are imposed by the Antarctic environment, the indicators were also selected in order to
address several more specific scientific questions. In any case, the chosen parameters were classified in two major groups: 1) those related to the seawater; and 2) those related to the benthic system. The basic parameters selected for evaluating the seawater quality are described as follows: 1. Seawater parameters t Temperature and salinity: these are not indicators, per se, but are necessary for checking physical-chemical conditions of the marine environment and freshwater discharge (Figure 2). t Dissolved oxygen: taking into account that sewage discharge or organic compounds are oxidized in the marine environment generating a consumption of dissolved oxygen. t pH: during oxidation of organic matter, CO2 is produced and therefore the pH is reduced. t Silicate, nitrate and phosphate: these nutrients allow the identification of water masses present at Admiralty Bay, allow measurements of terrestrial input due to the thawing, and the entrance of water from the Bransfield Strait. The use of the silicate contents as an indicator of internal processes is fundamental for understanding the biogeochemical cycles that occur at Admiralty Bay. t N-ammoniac, urea and organic phosphorus: used for the evaluation of anthropogenic influences in the surrounding environment of human occupations, but
also for identifying natural processes that occurs in the region (e.g, presence of mammals and birds). The latter may also be shown through nitrate and silicate data when associated with dissolved oxygen values. t a-Chlorophyll: indicate phytoplankton biomass, and allow a rapid evaluation of eutrophication or planktonic biota. t Clostridium perfringens bacteria: efficient faecal matter indicator for the Antarctic region in monitoring programmes as this is a more resistant bacteria to extreme environment conditions than other microbiological indicators. It is used to monitor long term contamination from remote human populations. This has also been the case for the analysis of sediment samples from areas near Ferraz at Martel Inlet, and other monitoring programmes from different stations in distinct areas of Antarctica. t Plankton (phyto-and zooplankton): these organisms are at the base of the pelagic food web, and may be an important route for bioaccumulation of toxic soluble compounds (Figure 3). 2. Benthic system parameters Based on previous studies near Ferraz, it has been suggested that the biota should be studied especially at depths between 20 and 30m in the benthic system. This choice has been made on the basis that previous results have indicated largest benthic faunal diversity present in this zone, and also the organisms suffer less influence from natural environmental impacts (e.g., icescours and anchor-ice) at this depth range, therefore facilitating the distinction between natural from human effects on the benthic system. The following indicators have been suggested for future monitoring of Admiralty Bay taking into account the activities from the Brazilian Station: t Bacteria from the total coliform group: Escherichia coli and Clostridium perfringens. Coliform bacteria (total coliforms and E. coli) are microbial indicators of pollution by human and animal faeces, traditionally used in the evaluation of different environments. The behaviour of these indicators in the Antarctic marine environment is still being evaluated. Usually, total coliforms and E. coli are indicators of recent contamination, and Clostridium
Adriana G. Dalto
3
Figure 3: Zooplankton is one of the pelagic compartments monitored. In detail: salps. These organisms are common during late summer.
represents an indicator of eldest contamination. The latter is also more resistant to adverse environment conditions as well as anoxic sediment surroundings. t Methane biological production: the presence of methane, although not exclusive, may be interpreted as being related to largest availability of easily degradable organic matter, as in the case for most sanitary sewage. Methane is a gas that contributes to the greenhouse effect, and one of the final products of microbial transformation of organic matter in anoxic conditions. Preliminary results comparing Ferraz with the reference sites have shown differences in local patterns of methane emission caused by different methanogenic Archaea communities present at each of these sites. These differences may be due to the introduction of organic compounds and micro-biota from the sewage treatment system outlet. But establishing biogenic methane production as a short, medium and long term indicator depends on continuous observations and time-series data analysis, which is already being achieved through the implementation of this study. t Histopathological Biomarkers: different contaminants present in seawater can lead to cells and tissue damage. These can be studied by light and electronic micro-
4
Edson Rodrigues
scope techniques, especially tissues from fish gills, which are the doorway entrance for dissolved or suspended seawater pollutants. The liver is the organ that neutralizes and metabolizes contaminants, thus being a place where the detoxification process occurs leading to cell damage and other disturbances in the organism. Apart from fish, these tissues may be collected from invertebrates sampled from potentially contaminated and control sites, and / or from organisms maintained under laboratory conditions for bioessays. t Biochemical Biomarkers: Enzymatic levels of xenobiotics biotransformation and antioxidant defences are frequently used as markers for biochemical and cellular responses to anthropogenic contamination in aquatic systems. Studies with Antarctic invertebrates revealed that temperature increase and presence of high levels of some heavy metals may affect the levels of oxidative stress enzymes and lipid lipoperoxidation (LPO) in the tissues. In this case, biomarkers with biochemical responses may be used along with other marine environment chemical and biological monitoring parameters. Monitoring shall be conducted using notothenioid fish (Figure 4), and benthic invertebrates such as Laternula elliptica and Nacella concinna. t Petroleum hydrocarbons (alkanes and PAHs): these contaminants are important to monitor due to the continual use of fossil fuel at Ferraz and Admiralty Bay near other stations (Figure 5). t Faecal sterols and LABs: faecal sterols and linear alkylbenzenes (LABs) are faecal pollution and domestic e uents chemical indicators present in the sediment used in environmental assessments. The faecal sterols, coprostanol and epicoprostanol have been used as chemical tracers, as they are resistant to degradation and, therefore, less susceptible to environmental change. Sterols are present even after the treatment process, as it has been observed at Ferraz Station. These are associated with particulate matter accumulated in the solid residue from the e uents treatment. Linear alkylbenzenes (LABs) are present in small quantities (1-3%) in surfactants used to manufacture detergents. They are highly resistant to
Figure 4: Biomarkers are studied using ďŹ sh and benthic invertebrates. In detail: ďŹ sh blood extraction for biochemical analysis.
degradation processes, being preserved even after the e uent’s tertiary treatment, and can remain in the marine sediment for up to 20 years. t Metals: Cu, Zn, Pb and Fe have also been associated with human activity, and could be bio-accumulated in the marine biota. t Analyses of the microbial community molecular structure: because microbial communities respond quickly to environmental disturbances, the diversity indices associated with these communities are useful in the evaluation of ecological dynamics, and disturbance impacts to these communities. Also, they function as bio-indicators of natural bioremediation processes and community stability in the ecosystem. Results from these kind of studies, analyzed qualitatively (taxonomic identification) and quantitatively using statistical tools, allow the verification of significant differences in diversity between study areas. The microbial community molecular structure may be considered in a long term study. t Benthic meio-, macro- and megafauna: benthic fauna is a component of the marine biota widely used in environmental impact studies, especially in coastal areas
Adriana G. Dalto
Helena P. Lavrado
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6
Figure 5: Small box-corer for sediment and small infauna analysis. This equipment allows simultaneous sampling of many abiotic and biotic parameters used for assessing environmental status of the shallow subtidal zone. Figure 6: Benthic communities are commonly used as a proxy for environmental quality. In detail: Echinoderms and ascidians are often found in the shallow subtidal zone.
(Figure 6). These communities are used because many of these organisms are generally either sessile or sedentary, their density can be easily quantified, their response to many types of pollution is well-known, and may reflect important long term environmental conditions when these are interpreted in an integrated manner. Many studies refer to the use of specific indicators for environmental monitoring, but communities have been targeted as the most popular organization level in ecological impact assessments. Although individual answers to contaminants in vitro are important, generally the analysis of populations and communities in their natural milieu allow a closest to the truth evaluation of the
environment health. The methods for collecting benthic organisms are widely known and standard protocols shall be used in the monitoring programme. Also, micro – and macrophytobenthos will be sampled as they play an important role in the benthic food web. t Trophic web: the use of stable isotopes C and N as trophic web tracers in the marine environment have also been used as an important tool for monitoring sewage pollution and eutrophication, as this type of contamination changes the isotopic signature in living organisms. The long term monitoring of the benthic community may allow the evaluation of structural changes to the trophic web due to human activity.
References: WEBER, R. R.; MONTONE, R. C. (Coord.). Rede-2: Gerenciamento ambiental na Baía do Almirantado, Ilha Rei George, Antártica. [s.n.], 2006. 255p. Relatório Final do Ministério do Meio Ambiente/ CNPq/ SeCIRM/ Proantar).
1 DIVERSITY OF ANTARCTIC MARINE MICROALGAE: EFFECTS OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGES ON COMPOSITION AND ABUNDANCE Denise Rivera Tenenbaum1*, Priscila Kienteca Lange1, José Juan Barrera Alba1, Márcio Murilo Barboza Tenório1, Giselle Parno Guimarães1, Luciano Felicio Fernandes2, Mariana Calixto2, Virgínia Maria Tavano Garcia3
1
Laboratório de Fitoplâncton Marinho, Departamento de Biologia Marinha, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro – UFRJ, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil 2 Departamento de Botânica, Setor de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Paraná – UFPR, Curitiba, PR, Brasil 3
Laboratório de Fitoplâncton e Microorganismos Marinhos, Departamento de Oceanografia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande, Rio Grande, RS, Brasil *e-mail: deniser@biologia.ufrj.br
Introduction In the Antarctic Ocean, phytoplankton constitutes the major group of aquatic primary producers (Medlin & Priddle, 1990), synthesizing organic compounds from inorganic carbon through the process of photosynthesis, being the base of the food web. The phytoplankton is grazed on by Zooplankton (mainly the krill in Antarctic waters), fish larvae and invertebrate grazers, which in turn are consumed by top predators of the pelagic food web. Phytoplankton plays a key role on the biogeochemical cycles and on the transfer of organic matter and energy, being responsible for roughly half of the carbon fixation on Earth (Falkowski et al., 2000). As a consequence, oceans play a key role on the global carbon cycle and climate regulation (Chisholm et al., 2010). Changes on phytoplankton composition and abundance are controlled by environmental factors such as light, inorganic nutrients availability, grazing and physical mechanisms (i.e. upwelling, turbulence, etc). In high latitudes, light is a key limiting factor since the remarkable seasonal variation of solar radiation and ice coverage
lead to strong seasonality, reflected on phytoplankton composition and abundance (Whitaker, 1982). Microscopic algae have the physiological ability to colonize numerous habitats. In Antarctic ecosystems, they have developed the skill to live in sea-ice and, during the summer, as the ice melts and retreats, it seeds the upper ocean with the microbial community from the ice and also fertilizes the ocean with iron and other nutrients (Smetacek & Nicol, 2005). The melting process leads to the formation of a low salinity, stable surface layer, which prevents deep mixing of phytoplankton cells away from optimum light concentrations and a bloom can develop (Smith & Nelson 1985). Since they have a strong relationship with the water masses, the study of phytoplankton species composition and abundance has been used as a tool for environmental monitoring in several ecosystems. In this context, since 2002 the research group FITOMAR (Institute of Biology, UFRJ) has been investigating the microphytoplankton community structure on the inshore region of Admiralty Bay. Traditionally, as noted above, Antarctic microalgae studies have been focused on phytoplankton due to its important role on the pelagic ecosystem. But, many
investigations have demonstrated that high primary production rates observed in several periods were actually due to microphytobenthos contribution, especially in shallow areas (Palmisano & Sullivan, 1983; White et al., 1993). Furthermore, this community constitutes the main food source for benthic invertebrates in bays and inlets, e.g. the Krill (Knox, 1994).
Admiralty Bay Admiralty Bay (62°03’ – 12’S, 58°18’ – 38’W), located at King George Island, is a deep fjord-like embayment with 500 m maximum depth at its center (Rakusa-Suszczewski et al. 1993). The waters from the bay mix with the oceanic deep waters from Bellingshausen and Weddell Seas at its southern opening, which connects to the Bransfield Strait (Rakusa-Suszczewski 1980; Lipski 1987). Water temperatures in early and late Summer are -0,4 ± 0,2 °C and 1,5 ± 0,3 °C, respectively, while salinity varies between 34,6 ± 0,1 and 33,9 ± 0,5, for those periods (Lange et al, 2007). In the context of water column production, Admiralty Bay at nearshore can be considered as Platt et al. (2003) defined as “high nutrient – low chlorophyll (HNLC): showing high inorganic dissolved nitrogen (16.6 – 46.9 μM) and phosphate (0.2 – 9.9 μM) concentrations, while chlorophyll levels are lower than 1.7 μg l-1 (Lange et al, 2007).
What did we do? In the context of the PROANTAR (Programa Antártico Brasileiro), our activities began during the OPERANTAR XX (2002/2003) aiming to study the effects of environmental impacts (natural and anthropogenic) on the phytoplanktonic community structure, through analysis of long-term temporal series. These activities were developed until 2010, through four surveys, including samplings in both early and late austral summer periods.
Phytoplankton variability in Admiralty Bay Microphytoplankton is dominated by diatoms, both in abundance (90%) and in richness (77%). Pennate diatoms are the main group in early summer, while centric diatoms
show higher abundance in late summer (Lange et al., 2007). During the first part of the season, nearshore phytoplankton is characterized by nanoplanktonic organisms (<20 μm) and pennate diatoms, mainly benthic species associated to sea-ice environment (ie. Cocconeis spp., Navicula spp. and Synedropsis spp.). After the melting and retreating of ice, a community characterized by a high abundance of typically pelagic diatoms (Corethron pennatum and several species of Fragilariopsis and Thalassiosira), adapted to the planktonic life, flourishes (Lange et al., 2007).
New motivations Over the past several decades, the marine ecosystem along the western continental shelf of the Antarctic Peninsula (WAP) has undergone rapid warming, leading to changes in planktonic community (Ducklow et al., 2007). As a result, populations of sea ice–dependent species of lower and higher trophic levels are being demographically displaced poleward and are being replaced by ice-avoiding species (e.g., krill and microplanktonic diatoms are being replaced by salps and cryptophytes) (Montes-Hugo et al., 2009). In Admiralty Bay, picoplankton and nanoplankton are the dominant groups, with microplankton diatoms as the second group in abundance. Between the decades of 1990 and 2000, several studies showed a decline in diatoms contribution (Kopczynska, 2008), in relation to those observed in the continental shelf region.
Present and Future Studies New approaches of phytoplankton monitoring in Admiralty Bay will be established by our group, including the analysis of size-fractioned pigments by spectrofluorometry, phytoplankton analysis by FlowCAM® (inflow imaging system) and the analysis of density and biovolume of pico and nanoplankton by epifluorescence microscopy, and also with a higher sampling frequency effort. Additionally, the composition of microphytobenthos species will be carried out to study the effects of environmental changes over this community in the nearshore Antarctic ecosystem.
References CHISHOLM, S. W.; FALKOWSKI, P. G.; CULLEN J. J. Dis-Crediting Ocean Fertilization. Science, v. 294, p. 309-310, 2010. DUCKLOW, H. W. et al. Marine pelagic ecosystems: the West Antarctic Peninsula Philos. Transactions of the Royal Society of London, Serie B, v. 362, p. 67-94, 2007. FALKOWSKI, P. et al. The Global Carbon Cycle: A Test of Our Knowledge of Earth as a System. Science, v. 290, p. 291-296, 2000. KNOX, G. A. The biology of the Southern Ocean. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1994. p. 193-220. KOPCZYNSKA, E. E. Phytoplankton variability in Admiralty Bay, King George Island, South Shetland Islands: six years of monitoring. Polish Polar Research, v. 29, n. 2, p. 117-139, 2008. LANGE, P. K. et al. Microphytoplankton assemblages in shallow waters at Admiralty Bay (King George Island, Antarctica) during the summer 2002–2003. Polar Biology, v. 30, p. 1483-1492, 2007. LIPSKI, M. Variations of physical conditions, nutrients and chlorophyll a contents in Admiralty Bay (King George Island, South Shetland Islands). Polish Polar Research, v. 8, p. 307–332, 1987. MEDLIN , L. K.; PRIDDLE, J. Polar Marine Diatoms. Cambridge, UK: British Antarctic Survey, 1990. p. 214. MONTES-HUGO, M. et al. Recent Changes in Phytoplankton Communities Associated with Rapid Regional Climate Change Along the Western Antarctic Peninsula. Science, v. 323, p. 1470-1473, 2009. PALMISANO, A. C.; SULLIVAN, C. W. Sea ice microbial communities (SIMCO). I. Distribution, abundance and primary production of ice microalgae in McMurdo Sound, Antarctica in 1980. Polar Biology, v. 2, p. 171-177, 1983. PLATT, T. et al. Phytoplankton biomass and residual nitrate in the pelagic ecosystem. Proceedings of the Royal Society A, v. 459, p. 1063-1073, 2003. RAKUSA-SUSZCZEWSKI, S. Environmental conditions and the functioning of Admiralty Bay (South Shetland Islands) as part of the near shore Antarctic ecosystem. Polish Polar Research, v. 1, n. 1, p. 11–27, 1980. RAKUSA-SUSZCZEWSKI, S.; MIETUS, M.; PIASECKI, J. Weather and climate. In: RAKUSA-SUSZCZEWSKI, S (Ed.). The Maritime Coastal Ecosystem of Admiralty Bay. Warsaw: Dept. Antarctic Biol, Polish Academy of Science, 1993. p. 19–25. SMETACEK, V.; NICOL, S. Polar ocean ecosystems in a changing world. Nature, v. 437, p. 362–368, 2005. doi:10.1038/ NATURE04161 SMITH, W. O.; NELSON, D. M. Phytoplankton bloom produced by a receding ice edge in the Ross Sea: Spatial coherence with the density field. Science, v. 227, p. 163–166, 1985. doi:10.1126/SCIENCE.227.4683.163 WHITAKER, T. M. Signy Island, South Orkneys, the Antarctic. Proceedings of the Royal Society London B, v. 214, n. 1195, p. 169-189, 1982. WHITE, D. C. et al. 1993. Nearshore benthic marine sediments. In: FRIEDMANN, E. I. Antarctic Microbiology. New York: Wiley & Liss, Inc., 1993. p. 219-240.
2 OCCURRENCE, ABUNDANCE, DISTRIBUTION AND IDENTIFICATION OF ZOOPLANCTON WITH EMPHASIS ON MARINE INVERTEBRATE LARVAE FROM ADMIRALTY BAY Theresinha Monteiro Absher1*, Andrea Cancela da Cruz-Kaled2, Karin Lutke Elbers2
1
Centro de Estudos do Mar, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Pontal do Sul, PR, Brazil 2 Curso de Pós-Graduação, Instituto Oceanográfico, USP, São Paulo, SP, Brazil *e-mail: tmabsher@ufpr.br
Zooplankton is one of the components of plankton and consists of a diversified group of invertebrate that live in the water column of the oceans, seas, rivers and lakes. They have an important role in the cycling of nutrients in the oceans since they are consumers of primary producers (phytoplankton) and in turn are consumed by larger organisms. According with the time of permanence in the plankton the zooplankton can be divided in two major groups: Holoplankton - organisms that stay in the plankton during all their life cycle and Meroplankton – organisms that are planktonic only during a phase of their life cycle and are made up mainly of larval stages of benthic marine invertebrates that possess life cycles with pelagic-benthic coupling (pelagic larvae associated to benthic adult). Each group of benthic organisms has a defined type of larvae, making it thus possible to identify the occurrence of the group at a certain time of the year. The study of the planktonic components are essential in monitoring programs and thus help to understand the abundance and distribution of shallow water benthic species. Meroplankton are good indicators for establishment of the factors that contribute or disturb the resilience and persistence of those communities. Previous studies at Admiralty Bay analyzed the vertical distribution of summer zooplankton (Chojnacki & Weglenska, 1984), zooplankton changes during the year (Menshenina & Rakusa-Suszczewski, 1992), the occurrence of gastropod
larvae (Absher et al., 2003) and the seasonal variation of pelagic invertebrate larvae (Freire et al., 2006). The main objective of this work is to assess the occurrence, distribution, abundance and summer variation of zooplankton of shallow areas of Admiralty Bay and its correlation with oceanographic parameters (water and air temperature, salinity, transparency, chlorophyll a concentration, wind speed and direction and nutrients) and thus evaluate the effects of environmental impact from anthropogenic activities. Quantitative sampling using a plankton net with a flowmeter was conducted in the shallow zone of Martel, Mackellar, Ezcurra Inlets, and near Arctowski Polish Station, during the summer 2009/2010. A plankton net of 50 cm diameter and 150 μm mesh size was towed obliquely for 5 minutes at 30 m depth. Two consecutive tows at 5 fixed sampling sites: 1-Ferraz; 2-Botany Point; 3-Machu Pichu; 4-Point Thomas; 5-Arctowski (Figure 1) were accomplished on the same day. One additional station 6-Geleira Lange was sampled once only. The sampling series were accomplished on different dates spaced over at least five days. All samples were preserved in formaldehyde 4% neutralized with sodium borate. One additional tow at each one of the 5 sampling sites was sorted immediately after collection and some selected group of organisms fixed in modified Karnovsky (1995) media for analysis using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) (Figure 2).
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A B Figure 2. Some organisms for SEM analysis. a) Opisthobranchia larva; b) Bipinnaria larva; and c) Copepoda (Crustacea).
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References ABSHER, T. M. et al. Pelagic larvae of benthic gastropods from shallow Antarctic Waters of Admiralty Bay, King George Island. Polar Biology, v. 26, p. 359-364, 2003. CHOJNACKI, J.; WEGLENSKA, T. Periodicity of composition, abundance and vertical distribution of summer zooplankton (1977/1978) in Ezcurra lnlet, Admiralty Bay (King George lsland, South Shetland). Journal of Plankton Research, v. 6, p. 807-827, 1984. FREIRE, A. S. et al. Seasonal variation of pelagic invertebrate larvae in the shallow Antarctic waters of Admiralty Bay, (King George Island). Polar Biology, v. 29, p. 294-302, 2006. MENSHENINA, L.; RAKUSA-SUSZCZEWSKI, S. Zooplankton change during the year in Admiralty Bay (February 1990-January 1991). Polskie Archiwum Hydrobiologii, v. 39, p. 65-76, 1992.
3 NATURAL AND ANTHROPIC IMPACT ASSESSMENT ON BIOCHEMICAL AND HISTOPATHOLOGICAL BIOMARKERS OF FISHES AND INVERTEBRATES AT COASTAL REGION OF ADMIRALTY BAY – KING GEORGE ISLAND Edson Rodrigues1, Lucélia Donatti2, Gannabathula Sree Vani1, Helena Passeri Lavrado3, Flávia Sant’Anna Rios2, Cecília N.K. Suda1, Cláudio Adriano Piechnik2, Cíntia Machado2, Edson Rodrigues Júnior2, Mariana Feijó de Oliveira1, Flávia Baduy Vaz da Silva2, Luciana Badeluk Cettina2 1
Laboratório Bioquímica e Ecofisiologia de Organismo Antárticos, Universidade de Taubaté, Taubaté, SP, Brazil Laboratório de Biologia Adaptativa, Departamento de Biologia Celular, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, PR, Brazil 3 Laboratório de Benthos, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil e-mail: edsonrod@unitau.br, rodedson@gmail.com
2
Marine environments near the scientific stations and local anchoring of ships are considered potential pollution sites in Antarctica. Human waste, the burning of fuel oil and its possible leakage from ships during transport to the stations are major sources of pollution. The metabolic responses and histopathology of fish and benthic invertebrates of Admiralty Bay, King George Island, are a part of environmental monitoring research proposed in Module 3 INCT-APA for the region. The Antarctic fish Notothenia rossii and Notothenia coriiceps and invertebrates Nacella concinna were selected as target organisms for studies of biomarker responses during the XXVIII Brazilian expedition to Antarctica. The aim of these studies is to establish a baseline for biochemical and histopathological biomarkers and to understand, through bioassays, the effect of pollutants on biological responses of Antarctic organisms. Bioassays with pollutants (fuel oil, sewage and heavy metals) aim to distinguish the biological responses caused by seasonal variations in natural environmental conditions from those imposed by the presence of pollutants in Admiralty Bay ASMA. In aquatic environments, the absorption of toxic substances, mainly by phytoplankton and zooplankton, results in the high concentration of these substances in organisms belonging to higher trophic levels in the food chain.
These substances then eventually reach a large number of organisms, including fish and invertebrates. Through the use of different biomarkers it is possible to detect the presence of pollutants in water and sediment, in the organisms that inhabit these environments. Fish and invertebrates are good bioindicators of environmental quality in aquatic ecosystems, since they occupy different positions in the food chain and have varying spatial distribution. These features allow for a direct and indirect evaluation of the health of several components of the aquatic environment. Using histopathological, cellular, biochemical and molecular analysis, the health of fishes and invertebrates, collected directly from nature or through the bioassays, can be evaluated. The histology can be used as a tool for identifying biomarkers of fish fauna and invertebrates. The lesions detected in cells, tissues or organs exposed to pollutants represent an integration of the cumulative effects of these substances at the biochemical and physiological levels (Meyer et al., 2002). Biomarkers are not normally associated with severe adverse effects caused by toxic stress agents. The early biomarker response is much more important as a marker of future adverse biological effects than as an indicator of serious environmental problems. The effects caused by toxic stress agents are often compensated or repaired at the molecular level, without compromising the higher
level of biological performance of the organism (Lam and Gray, 2003). Considered the best preserved region of the planet, pollution in Antarctica is restricted to areas surrounding the scientific stations and places frequented by research ships and tourists (Kennicutt II, 1995). The wreck of Paradise Bay in 1989 and the leakage of 600,000 liters of fuel oil and the subsequent contamination of the organisms in the subtidal and intertidal zone with hydrocarbons, highlights the risk of pollution from the sinking ships (Kennicutt II et al., 1992). The stress effects of pollutants on the metabolism of fish and invertebrates have been used as biomarkers of anthropogenic activity in monitoring projects (Regoli et al., 2002; van der Oost et al., 2003).
The Antarctic Specially Managed Area (ASMA) of Admiralty Bay is formed by glaciers and narrow bays, similar to the fjords, and occupies a total area of 362 km2 (ArigonyNeto et al., 2004). During the summer, several species of birds and marine mammals migrate to these places for reproduction. This area also houses three scientific stations, two with ongoing activities throughout the year, including the Brazilian station Comandante Ferraz. The field activities of the biomarker team were initiated during the summer of XXVIII Brazilian Antarctic Expedition (November 2009 - March 2010). Gills and foot muscle of the limpet N. concinna were collected as part of biomarker studies of the costal intertidal zones (Figure 1). Further, samples of biological fluids (blood and bile) and tissues (liver, epaxial muscle, brain, kidney and gills) were
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Figure 1. Nacella concinna occurs in patches in the intertidal zone (A). The foot muscle (B) and gills (C) were obtained by dissection. The scanning electron microscopy (D) showed the respiratory lamellae.
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Figure 2. Obtaining N. coriiceps tissues for morphological and biochemical analysis.
collected from the Antarctic fish N. coriiceps and N. rossii (Figure 2) as part of biomarker studies of the subtidal. In both cases, tissues and fractionated biological fluids (plasma and bile) were collected, and frozen immediately in liquid nitrogen. For histopathological analysis, tissues were fixed in Alfac or in Karnovisky. All biological material was transported to our laboratories at the University of Taubaté and the Federal University of Paraná. The sampling sites (Figure 3) were selected based on their proximity to pollution sources, penguin colonies and large areas without human and/or ornithogenic influence.
Figure 3. Sampling sites of fishes and limpets at Admiralty Bay – King George Island.
These initial studies were conducted to establish the natural levels of major biochemical biomarkers (enzymes of energy metabolism, antioxidant defenses, xenobiotic metabolism and osmoregulator responses) and histology (normal morphological patterns) in tissues of N. rossii, N. coriiceps and N. concinna, as a baseline for monitoring the Admiralty Bay ASMA. The activities of hexokinase (HK), glycogen phosphorylase (GPAs), enolase (ENO), phosphofructokinase (PFK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), citrate synthase (CS) and malate dehydrogenase (MDH) are being determined as potential markers of energy metabolism; gill ATPase Na/K as a marker for osmoregulation response; etoxyresorufindietilase (EROD) and glutathione-S-transferase as markers of stage I and II metabolism of xenobiotics, respectively, glucose6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PDH), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) as markers of antioxidant defense, arginase (ARG) as a marker of the metabolism of nitric oxide, polyamines and phospho-Larginine. The high-pressure chromatography (HPLC) of bile, to be done at IOUSP, will also establish the hepatic excretory profile for the xenobiotic metabolism.
In tissues, hyperplasia, fusion, aneurysm and gill epithelium detachment are some of the changes that will be analyzed. Further, the fish hepatic tissue will be examined for, melano centres - macrophages, necrosis foci, leukocyte infiltration and vacuolization, among others (Mallatt, 1985; Roberts, 2001). This is because the liver is an important organ in toxicology studies. This organ performs many vital functions in animals, among them the detoxification of the body, with the biotransformation of xenobiotics (Hinton and LaurĂŠn, 1990). Gills, in turn, are a way for the soluble xenobiotics action (Stentiford et al., 2003); they are in direct contact with the environment and any damage to their structure may interfere with respiration and ionic homeostasis (Van Den Heuvel et al., 2000). Initial Histological studies of the livers of N. rossii and N. coriiceps revealed that hepatocytes have a polyhedral shape, with single central spherical shaped nucleus with one or more nucleols. The predominant chromatin in the hepatocyte nuclear region is euchromatic and is widely dispersed. The heterochromatin concentration is much less and appears only is some nuclear regions. The hepatic tissue has vessels of many different sizes, distributed in the
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hepatic parenchyma. The central lobular vein, branches into sinusoid penetrates its wall (Figure 2). The morphological structure of gills of these fish follows the standard pattern of teleosts, formed by arches filaments and lamelle. Gill epithelium is composed of various types of cells, particularly squamous lining cells, chloride and mucus-producing cells (Figure 2). The monitoring of the subtidal of Admiralty Bay will also include studies of the bivalve filter feeder Laternula elliptica. Studies of specimens collected in Potter Cove, close to Admiralty Bay, revealed that this bivalve meets the necessary prerequisites for monitoring the region, as it has the capacity to bioaccumulate heavy metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PHAs) (Curtosi et al., 2010; Rodrigues et al., 2007). During the austral winter, this bivalve reduces its filtration rate, retracts its siphon to a position below the sediment surface and is in a state of dormancy using proteins as the main energy source (Rodrigues et al., 2007). Accordingly, the renal tissue has a high potential for generating ATP and argininolytic capacity compared to the gills, gonads, siphon and digestive gland (Figure 4) (Rodrigues et al., 2009). The kinetic evidence of two or more forms of arginase in the renal tissue and elevated resistance to inhibition by heavy metals (Figure 5) as compared to the behaviour of the zebra mussel arginase could be related to the living habits of bivalve and the naturally elevated levels of heavy metals in the coastal waters of some regions of the Antarctic Peninsula and adjacent islands.
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Figure 5. Effect of metal ions on the renal arginase activity of L. elliptica. Argininolytic basal activity is represented by the control that probably contains residual amounts of Mn2+, the probable physiological divalent cation. The remaining activities were determined in the presence of metal ions to a final concentration of mmol.L-1. (Rodrigues et al., 2009).
Consequently, the physiological studies with L. elliptica has clarified important metabolic aspects related to the living habits of the organism and could also provide important clues for defining additional biomarkers for monitoring the region.
References ARIGONY-NETO, J.; SIMÕES, J. C.; BREMER, U. F. Implemantation of the Admiralty Bay Geographic Information System, King George Island, Antarctica. Pesquisa Antártica Brasileira, v. 4, p. 187-190, 2004. CURTOSI, A. et al. Presence and Distribution of Persistent Toxic Substances in Sediments and Marine Organisms of Potter Cove, Antarctica. Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, p. 1-11, 2010. HINTON, D. E.; LAURÉN, D. J. Integrative histopathological approaches to detectin effects of environmental stressors on fishes. American Fisheries Society Symposium, v. 8, p. 51-66, 1990. KENNICUTT II, M. C. Human contamination of the marine environment - Arthur Harbor and McMurdo sound, antarctica. Environmental Science and Technology, v. 29, p. 1279-1287, 1995.
KENNICUTT II, M. C. et al. Hydrocarbon contamination on the antarctic peninsula. I. Arthur Harbor - subtidal sediments. Marine Pollution Bulletin, v. 24, p. 499-505, 1992. LAM, P. K. S.; GRAY, J. S. The use of biomarkers in environmental monitoring programmes. Marine Pollution Bulletin, v. 46, p. 182-186, 2003. MALLATT, J. Fish gill structural changes induced by toxicants and other irritants: A statistical review. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, v. 42, p. 630-648, 1985. MEYER, B. et al. Seasonal differences in citrate synthase and digestive enzyme activity in larval and postlarval Antarctic krill, Euphausia superba. Marine Biology, v. 141, p. 855-862, 2002. REGOLI, F. et al. Oxidative stress in ecotoxicology: from the analysis of individual antioxidants to a more integrated approach. Marine Environmental Research, v. 54, p. 419-423, 2002. ROBERTS, R. J. Fish Pathology. 3rd ed. London: Churchill Livingstone, 2001. RODRIGUES, E. et al. Arginine metabolism of the Antarctic Bivalve Laternula elliptica (King & Broderip, 1831): an ecophysiological approach. Polar Biology, v. 32, n. 5, p. 691-712, 2009. RODRIGUES, E.; SREE VANI, G.; LAVRADO, H. P. Nitrogen metabolism of the Antarctic Bivalve Laternula elliptica (King & Broderip) and its potential use as biomarker. Oecologia Brasiliensis, v. 11, p. 37 - 49, 2007. STENTIFORD, G. D. et al. Histopathological biomarkers in estuarine ďŹ sh species for the assessment of biological effects of contaminants. Marine Environmental Research, v. 55, p. 137-159, 2003. van den HEUVEL, M. R. et al. Disease and gill lesions in yellow perch (Perca avescens) exposed to oil sands miningassociated waters. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, v. 46, p. 334-341, 2000. van der OOST, R.; BEYER, J.; VERMEULEN, N. P. E. Fish bioaccumulation and biomarkers in environmental risk assessment: a review. Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology, v. 13, p. 57-149, 2003.
4 MOLECULAR GEOCHEMICAL INDICATORS OF SEWAGE INPUT IN THE ANTARCTIC COASTAL AREA (ADMIRALTY BAY, KING GEORGE ISLAND, ANTARCTICA) César de Castro Martins*, Liziane Marcella Michelloti Ceschim, Edna Wisnieski & Sabrina Nart Aguiar
Centro de Estudos do Mar, Universidade Federal do Paraná – UFPR, Pontal do Paraná, PR, Brazil *e-mail: ccmart@ufpr.br
Antarctica has been described as a pristine environment for many years. However, human presence has resulted in fossil fuel combustion, vehicular emissions, fuel spills in the marine and terrestrial environments and sewage waste discharged into the ocean. Currently, most Antarctic research stations (around 79 scientific centres) are located in coastal areas, and they release their untreated sewage containing domestic waste directly into the marine environment. A group of molecular tracers such as steroids and linear alkylbenzenes (LABs) have been successfully used to investigate domestic waste discharges and faecal contamination in different regions, including Admiralty Bay, Antarctica (Martins et al., 2002; 2005). Coprostanol (5 -cholestan3 -ol) and coprostanone (5 -cholestan-3-one) have been widely used as faecal contamination markers because they are present in human faeces (Figure 1). Additionally, epicoprostanol (5 -cholestan-3 -ol) indicates the level of treatment of the faecal matter as it is formed during the extensive anaerobic sewage treatment of wastewaters (Figure 1). Also, LABs are present at levels from 1 to 3% in surfactants and detergents with linear alkylbenzene sulphonates (LASs) due to incomplete sulfonation (Figure 2), and they are frequently discharged via sewage outfalls together with faecal matter. These compounds are usually preserved in the sediment, and can be used as molecular tracers of domestic wastes. The monitoring of environmental conditions, such as hydrocarbon levels (Martins et al., 2004; 2010) and PCBs, near the sewage discharge from the Comandante Ferraz Brazilian Research Station, located at Martel Inlet, Admi-
ralty Bay, King George Island, has been carried out since the austral summer of 1996/97. The aim of this study is to evaluate the sewage contribution from Ferraz station to Admiralty Bay and to compare the historical trend reported in previous studies. This evaluation is based on the results of molecular geochemical indicators such as steroids and LABs from the upper layer of sediments sampled during the austral summers of 2009/10. In Antarctica, monitoring the extent of sewage pollution dispersal is essential as Antarctic Treaty signatory nations must conform to the Protocol on Environmental Protection. Admiralty Bay is the largest around King George Island. The bay area is an Antarctic Specially Managed Area (ASMA), and the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) has recommended environmental studies on present-day conditions of the region. Most sampling sites were located near Ferraz station. This medium size station was established in the summer of 1984, and usually has a population of approximately 50 people during the summer. The sewage system receives intermediate primary and secondary treatment before being discharged through a short pipe (Figure 3) near the sea. The sewage treatment system has been in operation since the austral summer of 1995/96 and was designed to serve a population of 50. For analyses of steroids, sediments are extracted using a Soxhlet system for 8 hours with 70 mL of ethanol. The concentrated extract is submitted to a clean up with column chromatography with deactivated alumina and elution with 15 mL of ethanol. The extract is evaporated till completely dry and derivatized to form trimethylsilyl ethers
HO
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H Coprostanol (5B(H)-cholestan-3B-ol)
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Figure 1. Chemical structures of fecal steroids used as indicators of sewage contribution. 5
3
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CH3 – (CH3)n – CH3
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H2SO4 (conce.) H~ (97 – 99)%
AlCl3 LABs
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Figure 2. Chemical reactions involving LAB and LAS production.
Figure 3. Sample collection close to the sewage outfall under lowtide conditions (austral summer 2005).
using BSTFA (bis(trimethylsilyl)trifluoroacetamide) with 1% TMCS (trimethylchlorosilane) for 90 minutes at 65 °C. The steroid analyses are performed with an Agilent GC 7890A coupled to a flame ionization detector (FID). For analyses of LABs, sediments are extracted using a Soxhlet system for 8 hours with hexanes/dichlo-
romethane (1:1). The concentrated extract is fractionated by adsorption of liquid chromatography into aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons using a column of alumina and silica gel, and hexanes and 3:1 dichloromethane/hexanes for aliphatic and LABs (F1) and aromatic (F2) fractions as eluent, respectively. The fractions are concentrated and the volume adjusted to 1 mL. The LABs analyses are performed with an Agilent GC 6890 coupled to an Agilent Mass Spectrometer Detector (model 5973N). The results of this project and the comparison with previous studies to be developed at Admiralty Bay will provide an insight into the status of sewage contamination in Antarctica and could show that even human occupation for scientific purposes may be responsible for changes in a pristine environment. For this reason, monitoring programs are required to determine continuing trends and prevent the increase of anthropogenic impacts.
References MARTINS, C. C.; VENKATESAN, M. I.; MONTONE, R. C. Sterols and linear alkylbenzenes in marine sediments from Admiralty Bay, King George Island, South Shetland Islands. Antarctic Science, v. 14, p. 244-52, 2002. MARTINS, C. C. et al. Sterols and fecal microorganisms in sediments from Admiralty Bay, Antarctica. Brazilian Journal of Oceanography, v. 53, p. 1-12, 2005. MARTINS, C. C. et al. Aliphatic and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in surface sediments in Admiralty Bay, King George Island, Antarctica. Antarctic Science, v. 16, p. 117–22, 2004. MARTINS, C. C. et al. Historical record of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and spheroidal carbonaceous particles (SCPs) in marine sediment cores from Admiralty Bay, King George Island, Antarctica. Environment Pollution, v. 158, p. 192-200, 2010.
5 ARSENIC CONTENT IN FIVE SEDIMENT PROFILES FROM ADMIRALTY BAY, KING GEORGE ISLAND, ANTARCTICA
Andreza P. Ribeiro1*, Rubens C. L. Figueira1, César C. Martins2, Charles R. A. Silva1, Elvis J. França1, Márcia C. Bícego1, Michel M. Mahiques1, Rosalinda C. Montone1
2
1 Instituto Oceanográfico, Universidade de São Paulo – USP, São Paulo, SP, Brazil Centro de Estudos do Mar, Universidade Federal do Paraná – UFPR, Pontal do Paraná, PR, Brazil *e-mail: aportellar@yahoo.com.br
Admiralty Bay is the largest bay on King George Island, Antarctica, with a total area of around 131 km2 and maximum depth of 530 m. This region is of utmost importance for studies of environmental quality assessment because of the presence of scientific research stations in this region. Since the early 80’s scientific research has been focused on the Brazilian Antarctic Station “Comandante Ferraz”. In addition, the Polish Station Henry Arctowiski (Ezcurra Inlet) and the Peruvian Machu Picchu Station are also based in the bay. All activities require the consumption of fossil fuel for their operation. Fossil fuel is recognized as an important input of major pollutants (organic compounds) and trace elements (As, Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn). Among trace elements, arsenic is highly toxic even in low concentration in the environment. Accordingly, this work presents the results of arsenic in 92 samples, representing five sediment profiles from different sites (Comandante Ferraz Station, Botany Point, Ulmann Point, Arctowski Station and Barrel Point) in Admiralty Bay. The highest As content was observed for Barrel Point profile (ranging from 7 to 11 mg.kg-1). Otherwise, by using the enrichment factor and the geochronology analysis, the Brazilian Antarctic Station presented the most relevant enrichment for this metalloid, suggesting its increase due to the human activities in the bay. Studies on contamination of aquatic systems have been focused on sediments, because this layer acts as a reservoir for many chemical substances, such as metals
and metalloids. The depositional feature of the elements in the sediment gives a fingerprint of the contamination, providing information on the history of the contamination (Dinescu et al, 1998; Banin et al, 1998; Ribeiro et al, 2005). However, tracing the origin of the contaminants is not an easy task since the determination of background concentrations of chemical elements (in a range of environmental matrices, including sediments) are based on degree of temporal and spatial variability of a small number of samples. Sampling might not be representative of the whole studied area, in which local variance can exceed the analytical uncertainty, thereby increasing the complexity of geochemical fingerprint studies (Gasparon and Matschullat, 2006). A large number of studies have certainly reported the impact of human activities on the Antarctic environment. However, studies for determining baseline levels of metals and metalloids are still scarce. Furthermore, information from available data sets of the impacted sites is often applied to estimate the elemental levels at a regional scale. As a result, the elemental Antarctic baseline values may have exceeded the natural content in the region. Therefore, the development of studies to distinguish anthropogenic and natural sources from metals and metalloids in the Antarctic environment has become a concern and an important issue for the international scientific community (Gasparon and Matschullat, 2006). The Admiralty Bay located in King George Island is the largest embayment in the South Shetland Islands, which
samples. The profiles were collected in five sampling sites (Table 1) distributed in Admiralty Bay (Figure 1), during the 25th Brazilian Antarctic Expedition in the 2006/2007 austral summer (Martins et al., 2010). Samples were taken from upper and lower zones of sediment profiles. From the upper zone, the profiles were sliced into 1 cm layers (subsamples). Afterwards, the samples were analyzed by Inductively Coupled
58° W 64° S
presents the character of a fjord, with a branching system of inlets. There are three branches: Ezcurra Inlet to the south-west; Mackellar Inlet to the north; and Martel Inlet in the north-east (Rakusa-Suszczewski, 1980). The bay has three research stations, Arctowski, Comandante Ferraz and Macchu Picchu, which are operated by Poland, Brazil and Peru, respectively (Montone et al., 2001; Santos et al., 2006; Martins et al, 2010). The Brazilian Antarctic Station “Comandante Ferraz” consumes 320,000 L of Arctic-grade diesel oil, with a mean monthly consumption of around 23 tons of fuel (Bícego et al., 2009). Further, incinerator and vehicular exhaust emissions are potential sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the region. The Arctowski Station consumes about 100,000 L of diesel fuel per year. The lowest consumption is observed for the Peruvian Macchu Picchu Station due to its operation only in the austral summer (COMNAP, 2008). Therefore, the current consumption of fossil fuel by the research stations poses a potential risk of direct release of organic compounds and trace elements into the environment (Fishbein, 1981; Vouk and Piver, 1983; Bícego et al., 2009; Taniguchi et al., 2009). Among the trace elements, arsenic is widely distributed in the environment and highly toxic, being considered the king of poisons. In fact, diverse anthropogenic sources have been studied for increasing the cycling of As in the environment (Niagru et al., 2007), including fossil fuel (Vouk and Piver, 1983). Therefore, the aim of this study has been to investigate the behaviour of the metalloid As in sediment profiles from Antarctica. The enrichment factor and the geochronology analysis were used to assess anthropogenic and/or natural sources of As in the
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Figure 1. Study area and sampling sites in Admiralty Bay, King George Island.
Table 1.The geographical description of the sampling units for sediment profile sampling at Admiralty Bay, King George Island, Antarctic Peninsula Site
Name
Latitude
Longitude
1 2 3 4 5
C.Ferraz Station (FS) Botany Point (BP) Ulmann Point (UP) Arctowiski Station (Act) Barrel Point (BaP)
62o05.033’S 62o05.841’S 62o05.530’S 62o10.410’S 62o10.274’S
058o 22.898’ W 058o 20.320’ W 058o 20.100’ W 058o 31.245’ W 058o 35.504’ W
Profile depth (m) 40 30 20 20 -
Sedimentation Rate (cm.year-1) 0.35 ± 0.03 0.28 ± 0.03 0.11 ± 0.01 0.13 ± 0.03 0.33 ± 0.01
Table 2. Trace element ranges (mg kg-1) determined in the Antarctic sediments and compared with literature values As (mg.kg-1) 2 - 12 8 - 23 4-6 4-5 4-7
Site Admiralty Bay1 C.Ferraz2 Botany3 Mc Murdo Station4 Princess Regnheld Station5 1
This study; 2Santos et al. (2007); 3Santos et al. (2006), 4Negri et al. (2006); 5Waheed et al. (2001)
Arsenic (mg.kg-1)
Depth (cm)
Plasma – Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP OES). The methodology for determining the trace elements was based on the digestion method 3050A (USEPA, 1996). For estimating the sedimentation rate, High Resolution Gamma Ray Spectrometry (HRGRS) was applied to determine 137 Cs after 30 days in order to achieve secular equilibrium (Figueira, 1998). Table 1 presents the sedimentation rates for the profiles collected in Admiralty Bay. Table 2 shows the content ranges of As in 92 sediment samples of the profiles from different sites in the Admiralty Bay. Furthermore, the data set was compared with literature values available elsewhere (Table 2) for the Antarctic Environment. Arsenic was in the same order of magnitude of previous contents already published by specialized literature. Otherwise, the highest contents of As were observed by Santos et al (2007) in sediments from the Brazilian Antarctic Comandante Ferraz Station. Figure 2 presents the distribution of chemical elements in the profiles, in which As in BaP and FS sediments were slightly higher than the other sampling sites. Previous studies have related the local pollution with hydrocarbon caused by accidents during fuel transference within the Antarctic environment. These events could also contribute for the As enrichment in the region (Bargagli, 2005). In spite of the difficulty of understanding the association among trace elements and mineralogy of sediments, the contamination of sediments was evaluated through the calculation of the enrichment factor – EF (Salomons and Förstner, 1984). Normalizers, such as Al, Li, Fe and Sc, have been widely employed to estimate the anthropogenic contribution for the chemical element distribution in the sediment profiles (Dinescu et al, 1998; Banin et al, 1998; Ribeiro et al, 2005). Here, samples from the lower zone of sediment profiles as well as the normalizer Sc were used in the calculations. In this analysis, five-category ranking is commonly adopted to denote the degree of anthropogenic contamination: EF values lower than 2 indicates minimum contamination; EF in the range of 2 – 5, moderate contamination; EF in the range of 5 – 20, significant contamination; EF in the order of 20 – 40, very high contamination, while EF higher than 40, extremely high contamination (Sutherland 2000; Liu et al., 2010).
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
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Ferraz Ulmann Botany Arctowski Barrel
Figure 2. Arsenic contents (mg kg-1) in the sediment profiles from the Admiralty Bay.
According to Figure 3, the enrichment was observed mainly for As at the Comandante Ferraz Station during the period between 1986 and 2006. Comandante Ferraz Station was built in the summer of 1984 on the eastern coast of the Keller Peninsula. Firstly, the station was planned to have eight containers for accommodating only 12 researchers. After one year, the station was expanded to 33 containers for the accommodation of about 30 people. Nowadays, the Brazilian Antarctic station has a building area of 2,250 m2 with capacity for 56 people (Weber and Montone, 2006). Therefore, as mentioned above, a large amount of fossil fuel has been needed for the maintenance of the scientific station. Considering the enrichment of As (ranging
from 0.5 to 2.3) started in 1986, this human activity was suggested as a potential source of this chemical element in the Antarctic ecosystem. Nevertheless, the As levels in sediment profiles agreed with the shale reference level of 13 mg kg-1 (Turekian and Wedepohl, 1961) and results from other studied sites, in which there were no indication of relevant anthropogenic impacts (Turekian and Wedepohl, 1961, Waheed et al., 2001; Santos et al., 2005; Abrahim and Parker, 2008). As observed for the Comandante Ferraz Station, Barrel Point (Figure 3) also presented some enrichment; however, EF values ranged from 1.2 to 1.9 have indicated no anthropogenic contamination in Barrel Point.
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values, the vertical distribution pattern was considered similar for all sediment profiles since EF values were in the range of 0.3 – 2 (Figure 3). Therefore, results indicated a local dependence and slight association of human activities with the increase of As concentrations in Admiralty Bay. Valuable information has been provided for environmental monitoring, controlling and preventing environmental contamination based on the determination of labile fractions of arsenic in sediments from Antarctica.
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Despite some samples presenting high As content
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Figure 3. Enrichment factor (EF) according to the sediment dating for arsenic.
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References ABRAHIM, G. M. S.; PARKER, R. J. Assessment of heavy metal enrichment factors and the degree of contamination in marine sediments from Tamaky Estuary, Auckland, New Zealand. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, v. 136, p. 227-238, 2008. BANIN, A.; ESHEL, G.; ROEHL, K. E. Heavy metal and trace element adsorption to recharge basin soils of Shafdan reclamation project. Report. 1997-1998. 215 p. BARGAGLI, R. Antarctic Ecosystems Environmental Contamination: Climate Change, and Human Impact. Springer: Ecological Studies, 2005. v. 175, 397 p. 2005. BÍCEGO, M. et al. Results from a 15-year study on hydrocarbon concentrations in water and sediment from Admiralty Bay, King George Island, Antarctica. Antarctic Science, v. 21, p. 209-220, 2009. COUNCIL OF MANAGERS OF NATIONAL ANTARCTIC PROGRAMS – COMAP. Main Antarctic facilities operated by National Programs in the Antarctic Treaty area (south 60o S). 2008. Available from: <http://www.comnap.aq/ facilities>. DINESCU, L. C. et al. Investigation of the vertical distribution of major and trace elements in Matita Lake (Danube Delta) sediments by activation analysis. Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, v. 238, p. 75-81, 1998. FIGUEIRA, R. C. L. et al. Goiânia, ten years later. Instrumental Analysis by Gamma Spectrometry of low level Cs137 in marine samples. Viena, 1998. p. 327-329. FISHBEIN, L. Sources, transport and alterations of metal compounds: an overview I. Arsenic, beryllium, cadmium, chromium and nickel. Environmental Health Perspectives, v. 40, p. 43-64, 1981. GASPARON, M.; MATSCHULLAT, J. Geogenic sources and sinks of trace metals in the Larsemann Hills, East Antarctica: Natural processes and human impact. Applied geochemistry: journal of the International Association of Geochemistry and Cosmochemistry, v. 21, p. 318-334, 2006 LIU, E.; SHEN, J.; YANG, L. Assessment of heavy metal contamination in the sediments of Nansihu lake catchment, China. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, v. 161, p. 217-227, 2010. MARTINS, C. C. et al. Historical record of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and spheroidal carbonaceous particles (SCPs) in marine sediment cores from Admiralty Bay,King George Island, Antarctica. Environmental Pollution, v. 158, p. 192-200, 2010. MONTONE, R. C.; TANIGUCHI, S.; WEBER, R. R. Polychorinated biphenyls in marine sediments of Admiralty Bay, King George Island, Antarctica. Marine Pollution Bulletin, v. 42, p. 611-614, 2001. NEGRI, A. et al. Contamination in sediments, bivalves and sponges of McMurdo Sound, Antarctica. Environmental Pollution, v. 43, p. 456-467, 2006. NRIAGU, J. O. et al. Arsenic in Soil and Groundwater Environment. In: Bhattacharya, P. et al. (Eds.). Trace Metals and other Contaminants in the Environment. [s.n.]: Elsevier, 2007. p. 3-60. RAKUSA-SUSZCZEWSKI, S. Environmental conditions and functioning of Admiralty Bay (South Shetland Islands) as part of the near shore Antarctic ecosystem. Polish Polar Research, v. 1, p. 11–27, 1980. RIBEIRO, A. P.; FIGUEIREDO, A. M. G.; SÍGOLO, J. B. Determination of heavy metals and other trace elements in lake sediments from a sewage treatment plant by neutron activation analysis. Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, v. 263, p. 645-651, 2005. SALOMONS, W.; FÖRSTNER, U. Metals in the hydrocycle. Berlin: Springer-Verlag, 1984. 349 p. SANTOS, I. R. et al. Sediment geochemistry in coastal maritime Antarctica (Admiralty Bay, King George Island): Evidence from rare earths and other elements. Marine Chemistry, v. 107, p. 464-474, 2007.
SANTOS, I. R. et al. Baseline mercury and zinc concentrations in terrestrial and coastal organisms of Admiralty Bay, Antarctica. Environmental Pollution, v. 140, p. 304-311, 2006. SANTOS, I. R. et al. Heavy metal contamination in coastal sediments and soils near the Brazilian Antarctic Station, King George Island. Marine Pollution Bulletin, v. 50, p. 185-194, 2005. SUTHERLAND, R. A. Bed sediment-associated trace metals in a urban stream, Oahu, Hawaii. Environmental Geology, v. 39, p. 611-627, 2000. TANIGUCHI, S. et al. Chlorinated pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the fat tissue of seabirds from King George Island, Antarctica. Marine Pollution Bulletin, v. 58, p. 129-133, 2009. TUREKIAN, K. K.; WEDEPOHL, D. H. Distribution of the elements in some major units of earth’s crust. Bulletin Geological Society of America, v. 72, p. 175-192, 1961. UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY – US-EPA. Method 3050B. Acid digestion of sediments, sludges and soil. Revision 2. December, 1996. VOUK, V. B.; PIVER, W. T. Metallic elements in fóssil fuel combustion products: amounts and form of emissions and evaluation of carcinogenicity and mutagenicity. Environmental Health Perspectives, v. 47, p. 201-225, 1983. WAHEED, S. et al. Antarctic marine sediments as fingerprints of pollution migration. Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, v. 250, p. 97-107, 2001. WEBER, R. R.; MONTONE, R. C. Gerenciamento ambiental na Baía do Almirantado, Ilha Rei George, Antártica. [s.n.]:[S.l.], 2006. 255 p. (CNPq-PROANTAR: Rede 2).
6 MEIOFAUNA AND MICROPHYTOBENTHOS OF MARTEL INLET (ADMIRALTY BAY, KING GEORGE ISLAND, ANTARCTICA) Thaís Navajas Corbisier1*, Rodrigo Soares Pereira Skowronski 2; Paula Foltran Gheller1 & Mônica Angélica Varella Petti1
Instituto Oceanográfico, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil 2 PIR2 Consultoria Ambiental, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil e-mail: tncorbis@usp.br
Studies on the meiofauna community in Admiralty Bay started in 1991, when samples were collected through SCUBA diving in front of the Brazilian Station “Comandante Ferraz” (Martel Inlet) at depths ranging from 6 to 25 m. The dominant groups were Nematoda and Harpacticoida, followed by nauplii and Polychaeta. The density of meiofauna in Martel Inlet, excluding the ice scour affected areas, was high, and varied from 3,523±2,117 to 7,641±388 ind.10 cm-2 (mean ± SD) at 6-11 m depth, and from 3,479±1,205 to 8,216±3,030 ind.10 cm-2 at 18-25 m depth (Skowronski et al., 1998). Further samplings, including measurement of microphytobenthic biomass, were done at 15-20 m depth in seven areas of Martel Inlet: in front the Brazilian Station (CF), Yellow Point (YP), Rock O´Connor (RO), Ullman Point (UP), Botany Point (BP), Hennequin Point (HP) and Plaza Point (PP) (Figure 1). The sampling was undertaken during two consecutive summers (1996/97 and 1997/98) and the results revealed that high meiofaunal densities are characteristic of this whole inlet, varying between 1,952±326 and 6,738±1542 ind.10 cm-2 and were correlated with the percentage of gravel, silt and clay (Skowronski & Corbisier, 2002). In both summers, the areas with the highest densities were CF and UP and also HP in the first summer and PP in the second (Figure 1). There was no significant difference in the densities between the two summers, although the higher value of microphytobenthic biomass, the potential food for the meiofauna, was recorded in the first summer.
Horizontal differences were found in the microphytobenthic biomass throughout the inlet and seemed to be more related to the sediment characteristics, but no clear pattern of microphytobenthic distribution could be distinguished. An inter-summer variation was observed: the first summer showed the highest microphytobenthic biomass apparently related to more hydrodynamic conditions, which causes the deposition of allochthonous material (Skowronski et al., 2009). A positive correlation between the microphytobenthos biomass and the meiofaunal densities was observed during the second summer, when the microphytobenthos biomass was approximately 25% lower than in the first summer (Skowronski et al., 2009). This might have acted as a limiting factor to the meiofauna in some of the areas (Skowronski & Corbisier 2002). It may be supposed that the stronger hydrodynamic conditions of the first summer led to a high deposition of phytodetritus (phaeopigments), which masked the interaction between the meiofauna and the microphytobenthos. The bathymetric variation of the meiofauna and the microphytobenthos was also evaluated along transects (10 to 60 m depth) in five areas (CF, YP, RO, UP and BP) in Martel Inlet during the summer of 1997/98 and 2004/05 (Gheller, 2007; Skowronski et al., 1998; 2009). Concerning the microphytobenthos, mean biomass values were inversely related to the depth gradient. The highest values were found at 10 to 20 m (mean ± SD: 136.2±112.5 mg Chl a.m-2, 261.7±455.9 mg Phaeo.m-2),
62° 03’
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Sampling areas 58° 39’
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58° 15’
Figure 1. Admiralty Bay, King George Island. Sampling areas: PP - Plaza Point; CF - off Brazilian Antarctic Station “Comandante Ferraz”; YP - Yellow Point; RO - Rock O´Connor; UP - Ullmann Point; BP - Botany Point; HP - Hennequin Pointr; RE – Refuge 2. Adapted from Braun et al. (2001).
slightly lower at 20 to 30 m (55.6±39.5 mg Chl a.m-2, 108.8±73.0 mg Phaeo.m-2), and the lowest ones were found at 40 to 60 m (22.7±23.7 mg Chl a.m-2, 58.3±38.9 mg Phaeo.m-2), comparable to those found in tropical regions at depths between 0 and 5 m (Cahoon, 1999). There was also a reduction in the Chl a/Phaeo ratio in relation to depth, from 3.2±3.2 at 10-20 m to 0.7±1.0 at 40-60 m, showing a higher contribution of senescent phytoplankton and/or macroalgae debris at the deeper sites and the limited light flux reaching the bottom. The decrease of meiofauna densities in relation to increasing depth was observed. CF and RO had their highest densities at 25 m, while YP and UP had theirs at 10 m. It would seem that the influence of the ice scours
at the first two sites disturbed the shallower zone at about 10 m, because at UP and YP the local topography and circulation hindered the effect of excavation by ice blocks (Skowronski, 2002). Ice scours in shallow Antarctic zones have a negative effect on the meiofauna (Skowronski et al., 1998; Lee et al., 2001). Below 40 m the densities were much lower possibly because of the reduction in food supply, mainly the microphytobenthos (Skowronski, 2002; Gheller, 2007). The high benthic microalgal biomass on the two-first centimeters of sediments of the shallow coastal zone must be ecologically important to sustain the abundant benthic communities in Martel Inlet, since Admiralty Bay is considered an area where the pelagic primary production is low (Brandini & Rebello,
1994; Lange et al., 2007). The coupling of many abundant benthic macroinvertebrates and the meiofauna with the organic matter of the microphytobenthos was verified by carbon stable isotopic analysis (Corbisier et al., 2004). Nematodes are the dominant meiofaunal group of Martel Inlet soft bottoms, representing more than 85% of this fauna, from 6 to 60 m depth. Until now 98 genera belonging to 28 families were identified (Skowronski et al., 1998; Skowronski, 2002; Gheller, 2007). This is a high diversity when compared to the values found in the few studies undertaken in the Antarctic coastal zone (between 19 and 49 genera and 11 to 19 families) (Vanhove et al., 1998; Lee et al., 2001). The most frequent genera were the non-selective depositivores Sabatieria, Odontophora, Axonolaimus, Paralinhomoeus and Daptonema and the epistrate feeders Microlaimus, Dichromadora, Prochromadorella and Acantholaimus. The predators/omnivores and selective depositivores genera were less numerous. The diversity of genera was related to the grain size and the availability of food, mainly microphytobenthos (Skowronski, 2002; Gheller, 2007). A study on meiofaunal polychaetes in the nearshore zone in front of the Brazilian Station (Martel Inlet) showed that more than 70% were young individuals, mainly of three species: Apistobranchus glacierae, Leitoscoloplos kerguelensis and Ophryotrocha notialis. However, these are considered temporary meiofauna,
and their distribution patterns were strongly related to the macrofaunal polychaetes in the same area (Bromberg et al., 2000; Petti et al., 2006). Samples between 100 to 500 m depth were collected in Admiralty Bay in the summer of 2008/09 and 2009/10 during the International Polar Year (MABIREH Project), so additional information about the microphytobenthos and the meiofauna in deeper areas will be available soon. Due to the meiofauna characteristics, such as small size, limited mobility, short life cycle lived entirely in the sediment, reproductive strategy without a larval dispersion phase, and intimate association with and dependence on the bottom environment (sediment and interstitial water), this community has been used for environmental monitoring (Coull & Chandler, 1992; Schratzberger et al., 2000). In this sense, a meiofaunal study was undertaken in the summer of 2004/2005 and aimed to verify possible impacts due to the Brazilian activities, comparing CF with a reference area (BP) (Gheller, 2007). Results showed no significant differences in composition and abundance of meiofauna and nematodes between the two areas, which could indicate an anthropogenic impact near the Brazilian Station. A monitoring program (INCT-APA) was also established since this last summer (2009/10) when the meiofauna and the microphytobenthos were sampled at three sites in Martel Inlet (CF, UP and BP) and one in Mackellar Inlet (RE) (Figure 1).
References BRANDINI, F. P.; REBELLO, J. Wind effect on hydrography and chlorophyll dynamics in the coastal pelagial of Admiralty Bay, King George Island, Antarctica. Antarctic Science, v. 6, p. 433-442, 1994. BRAUN, M. et al. King George Island Satellite Map (1:100.000). 2001. BROMBERG, S. et al. Polychaete distribution in the nearshore zone of Martel Inlet, Admiralty Bay (King George Island, Antarctica). Bulletin of Marine Science, v. 67, p. 175-188, 2000. CAHOON, L. B. The role of benthic microalgae in neritic ecosystems. Oceanogr. Oceanography and Marine Biology: An Annual Review, v. 37, p. 47-86, 1999. CORBISIER, T. N. et al. Trophic relationships in the nearshore zone of Martel Inlet (King George Island, Antarctica): D13C stable isotope analysis. Oceanography and Marine Biology: An Annual Review, v. 27, p. 75-82, 2004. COULL, B. C.; CHANDLER, G. T. Pollution and meiofauna: ďŹ eld, laboratory and mesocosm studies. Oceanogr. Oceanography and Marine Biology: An Annual Review, v. 30, p. 191-271, 1992.
GHELLER, P. F. 2007. A meiofauna e os Nematoda da enseada Martel (Antártica) e seu uso em monitoramento ambiental. 103 f. Dissertação (Mestrado) – Instituto Oceanográfico, Universidade de São Paulo. LANGE, P. K. et al. Microphytoplankton assemblages in shallow water Admiralty Bay (King George Island, Antarctica). Polar Biology, v. 30, p. 1483-1492, 2007. LEE, H. J. et al. Recolonisation of meiofauna after catastrophic iceberg scouring in shallow Antarctic sediments. Polar Biology, v. 24, p. 918-925, 2001. PETTI, M. A. V. et al. Bathymetric distribution of the meiofaunal polychaetes in the nearshore zone of martel Inlet, King George Island Antarctica. Antarctic Science, v. 18, p. 163-170, 2006. SCHRATZBERGER, M. et al. The structure and taxonomic composition of sublittoral meiofauna assemblages as an indicator of the status of marine environments. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, v. 80, p. 969-980, 2000. SKOWRONSKI, R. S. P. Distribuição espacial e variação temporal da meiofauna, com ênfase para o grupo Nematoda, na enseada Martel (Antártica). 112 f. Tese (Doutorado) – Instituto Oceanográfico, Universidade de São Paulo. SKOWRONSKI, R. S. P.; CORBISIER, T. N. Meiofauna distribution in Martel Inlet, King George Island (Antarctica): sediment features versus food availability. Polar Biology, v. 25, p. 126-134, 2002. SKOWRONSKI, R. S. P.; CORBISIER, T. N.; ROBLES, F. R. Meiofauna along a coastal transect in Admiralty Bay, King George Island (Antarctica). Pesquisa Antártica Brasileira, v. 3, p. 117-131, 1998. SKOWRONSKI, R. S. P. et al. Distribution of microphytobenthic biomass in Martel Inlet, King George Island (Antarctica). Polar Biology, v. 32, p. 839–851, 2009. VANHOVE, S. et al. The metazoan meiofauna in its biogeochemical environment: the case of an antarctic coastal sediment. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, v. 78, p. 411-434, 1998.
7 BENTHIC MACROALGAE DIVERSITY IN ADMIRALTY BAY (KING GEORGE ISLAND, SOUTH SHETLAND ISLANDS, ANTARCTIC PENINSULA) Yocie Yoneshigue Valentin,1* Adriana Galindo Dalto1 & Lísia Mônica de Souza Gestinari2 1
Laboratório de Macroalgas Marinhas Marinho, Departamento de Botânica, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro – UFRJ, Rio de Janeiro-RJ, Brazil 2 Núcleo em Ecologia e Desenvolvimento Sócio-ambiental de Macaé – NUPEM, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro – UFRJ, Macaé-RJ, Brazil *e-mail: yocievalentin@gmail.com
Marine macroalgae are among the main primary producers in the coastal ecosystem of our planet be they in tropical locations, temperate or polar. They are formed from an evolutionary complex thallus, possessing a high morphological diversity, of colours and in terms of dimension (Figure 1). They constitute one of the most important renewable marine resources functioning as: direct food for oriental people, using colloids from their
1
2
3 4 Figure 1. Morphological diversity of macroalgae. Photos: 1 - Rafael B. Moura; 2 and 4 - Adriana G. Dalto; 3 - Andre L. Monnerat.
cellular walls in a number of industry segments, apart from playing an important role in the nutrient cycles, source of new pharmacological products, amongst others. C. Skottsberg was the pioneer in research of macroalgae in Antarctica through Swedish expeditions in this region in 1901-1903 (Lüning, 1990). According to the author, the flora of macroalgae in the Antarctic region consists of approximately 100 species of which some 30% are endemic to the Antarctic Peninsula, mainly represented by five species of the Desmarestia (Peters et al., 2000). One of the characteristics of this faraway ambience is the absence of the Order Laminariales, substituted by the predominance of Desmarestiales, which can reach a high biomass (279 tons of dry matter) registered at certain times of the year (Goméz, 1997) (Figure 2). These photosynthesizing organisms form expressive submarine forests in sublittoral areas covered by irregular or rocky bottom of the Sub-Antarctic Islands (Denlille et al., 1997) making up the flora of the Southern Hemisphere, which is adapted to the environmental stress of the freezing and melting processes. Gomez (1997) proved in his studies that Antarctic macroalgae, which develop in temperatures of below 0°C are capable of photosynthesizing at comparable rates to those macroalgae of temperate latitudes. This capacity is clearly responsible for the high productivity and abundance of macroalgae in shallow waters of this cold region. In these extreme environments such as the Antarctic region these plants are also key organisms for the shelter,
Figure 3. Morphological diversity of the associated meiofauna.
Figura 2. Heterokontophyta: Himantothallus grandifolius. Photo: Rafael B. Moura.
nursing ground and food for other various marine creatures of the trophic level of the food web. Studies concerning fauna associated to the thalli of the macroalgae in Polar Regions are relatively scarce, especially those related to meiofauna associated with these algae (Figure 3). In Admiralty Bay (Antarctic Peninsula these studies are still rare and emphasize above all the amphipods (Wakabara & Tararam, 1983; Tararam et al., 1995; Wakabara et al., 1990; Nascimento, 1999 a,b,c,d; Berardo & Piera, 2006). In spite of this ecological importance, only three studies have been published on Admiralty Bay, related to these macroalgae (Zielinski, 1981, 1990 and Oliveira et al., 2009), one of the biggest of King George Island. Apart from this, these macroalgae are important sources of organic material after the degrading of their thalli in the water expanse, in several locations of the Antarctic coast. Especially in Admiralty Bay these large scale photosynthesizing organisms cover 30% of the bottom of its shallow areas (Oliveira et al., 2009) (Figure 4). To continue to study these benthic organisms for their relevance as indicators of past, present and future conditions, as a consequence of environmental alterations, is justified. For example, if the Antarctic region should
Figure 4. Macroalgae biomass washed ashore in the tidal shoreline in front of the Brazilian Antarctic Station Comandante Ferraz, Admiralty Bay. Photo: Rafael B. Moura.
be affected by climatic modifications, consequently temperature alterations to the marine environment could occur, which in turn would cause alterations to the diversity of the local species, favouring the arrival of invading species from low latitude locations, modifying the degree of characteristic endemism of the Antarctic region (Oliveira et al., 2009). One of the tools to test the substitution of species is the taxonomic survey, which is one of the objectives of this study. Admiralty Bay, including the Martel Inlet, is an Antarctic Specially Managed Area (ASMA). The Inlet sustains a great amount of change over the length of the year regarding its coverage of ice, creating disturbances in the climatic conditions, which could negatively affect the benthic flora and macro plus meiofauna linked to these macroalgae fronds, making the sediment more anoxic and permitting the development of anaerobic microbiota. The dynamics of the marine biota is still unknown in the light of these disturbances. The photosynthesizing benthic
organisms survey through long temporal series, favours the
In this context, the intention is to study the diversity
monitoring of the marine environment as to environmental
of the macroalgae of the Antarctic Peninsula, especially
and biological indicators, in this way permitting the
of Admiralty Bay (King George Island, South Shetland
analysis of the subsequent effects of the pressures created
Islands), as well as the diversity of the meiofauna linked
by the presence of the humans in Antarctica.
to the thalli structure of these macroalgae.
References BERARDO, M. T. V.; PIERA, F. E. Description of a new species of Pseudharpinia (Amphipoda: Phoxocephalidae: Harpiniinae) from Admiralty Bay, King George, Antarctic Peninsula. Nauplius, v. 14, p. 75-82, 2006. DENLILLE, D. et al. Influence of subantarctic Macrocystis bed metabolism in diel changes of marine bacterioplankton and CO2 fluxes. Journal of Plankton Research, v. 19, n. 9, p. 1251-1264, 1997. GOMÉZ, I. M. Life strategy and ecophysiology of Antarctic macroalgae. Berichte zur Polarforschung, v. 238, p. 1-99, 1997. LÜNING, K. Seaweeds: Their environment, biogeography, and ecophysiology. New York: Wiley, 1990. 518 p. NASCIMENTO, E. F. I. Desmarestia menziesii, habitat para a meiofauna, na Enseada Martel, Baía do Almirantado, Antártica. In: SEMINÁRIO SOBRE PESQUISA ANTÁRTICA, 7, São Paulo. Livro de Resumos...1999a NASCIMENTO, E. F. I. Algas Marinhas Bentônicas da Baía do Almirantado, Península Antártica. In: REUNIÃO BRASILEIRA DE FICOLOGIA,8, Porto de Galinhas, Recife-PE. Livro de Resumos... 1999b NASCIMENTO, E. F. I. Habitat para a meiofauna, na enseada Martel, Baía do Almirantado, Antártica. In: CONGRESSO NACIONAL DE BOTÂNICA, Blumenal-SC. Livro de Resumos... 1999c NASCIMENTO, E. F. I. Harpacticoida Copepods on Desmarestia menziesii at Martel Cove, Aldmitant Bay, King George Island, Antarctica. In: INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON COPEPODA, 7. Proceedings’… 1999d OLIVEIRA, E. C. et al. The seaweed flora of Admiralty Bay, King George Island, Antarctic. Polar Biology, v. 32, p. 1639–1647, 2009. PETERS, A.; RAMIREZ, M. E.; RÜLKE, A. The phylogenetic position of the subantarctic marine macro-alga Desmarestia chordalis (Phaeophyceae) inferred from nuclear ribosomal ITS sequence. Polar Biology, v. 23, p. 95–99, 2000. TARARAM, A. S.; WAKABARA, Y.; MIYAGI, V. K. The Amphipod fauna of the west Antarctic region (South Shetland Islands and Bransfield Strait). Polskie Archiwum Hydrobiologll, v. 42, p. 347-365, 1995. WAKABARA, Y.; TARARAM, A. S. Amphipoda (Crustacea) da I expedição brasileira à Antártica. In: SIMPÓSIO DO PROGRAMA ANTÁRTICO. Resumos... São Paulo: Instituto Oceanográfico da Universidade de São Paulo, 1983. p. 26-26. WAKABARA, Y. et al. Records of Amphipoda collected during I and II Brazilian Antarctic Expedition. São Paulo: Universidade de São Paulo, 1990. p. 1-9. (Relatório do Instituto de Oceanografia) ZIELINSKI, K. Benthic macro-algae of Admiralty Bay (King George Island, South Shetland Islands) and circulation of algal matter between the water and the shore. Polish Polar Research., v 2, p. 71–94, 1981. ZIELINSKI, K. Bottom macro-algae of Admiralty Bay (King George Island, South Shetland Islands, Antarctic). Polish Polar Research v. 11, p.95–131, 1990.
8 ADMIRALTY BAY TROPHIC RELATIONSHIPS: A SUMMARY OF RESULTS FROM ISOTOPIC ANALYSIS Thaís Navajas Corbisier, Sandra Bromberg & Mônica Angélica Varella Petti*
Instituto Oceanográfico, Universidade de São Paulo – USP, São Paulo - SP, Brazil *e-mail: tncorbis@usp.br
Information on marine trophic relationships is usually obtained from diet studies or analysis of carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes from organisms. The first trophic study with this kind of analysis in Admiralty Bay (Figure 1) was undertaken in front of the Brazilian Station “Comandante Ferraz” (CF) during the summer of 1996/97. The link between the various potential energy sources and the coastal shallow water community was evaluated using the carbon isotope ratio ( 13C). Three primary sources of organic matter have been identified: SPM (phytoplankton and suspended particulate matter); microphytobenthos; and macroalgae fragments. Higher values of 13C are due to the carbon contribution of these fragments and of microphytobenthos (Corbisier et al., 2004). There is a bentho-pelagic coupling between the plankton and suspension feeders such as the bivalve Laternula elliptica, the ophiuroid Ophionotus victoriae and the fish Chaenocephalus aceratus. Benthic grazers such as the gastropod Nacella concinna, deposit feeders such as the bivalve Yoldia eightsi and the nematodes show a close relationship with the microphytobenthos. Several deposit feeders and/or omnivores (polychaetes, amphipods, sea urchins, and holothurians) seem to have a mixed diet with macroalgae fragments and organic matter from the sediment, including microphytobenthos and/or meiofauna. Benthic carnivores and/or scavengers, such as the isopods Paraserolis polita and Glyptonotus antarcticus, the sea star Odontaster validus, the nemertean Parborlasia corrugatus and carnivorous polychaetes, generally show a considerable isotopic carbon ratio overlap throughout the food chain without any clear coupling with the primary
sources of organic material. Their diet probably consists of a wide variety of prey. In the summer of 2000/2001, Bromberg (2004) compared the trophic web in front of Wanda Glacier (WG) and of CF, opposite sides in Martel inlet (Figure 1). The isotopic carbon ratios of the suspension feeders were similar. Some invertebrate grazers and deposit feeders presented higher ratios at CF than at WG, which was attributed to the hydrodynamic differences between the two sites, reflected in the C signature of the microphytobenthos. Further, the carnivore invertebrates, such as the nemertean P. corrugatus, which have a smaller range of prey available at WG, had lower 13C values than at CF. The infaunal polychaetes and the amphipods were analyzed with more detail in this study. The polychaetes showed a high variation in the ratios, with values close to those of the macroalgae and nematodes (Levinsenia gracilis and some terebellids), and of the microphytobenthos (Rhodine antarctica and Ammotrypane sp). The most part of them presented ratios intermediate between these sources of food, suggesting a great diversity of food habits. Amphipods presented similar values, which also reflect a wide spectrum of feeding strategies. The general comparison of the results in two summer periods at CF (1996/97 and 2000/01) showed higher ratios in 2000/01, which were more evident in the depositivores and necrophages/carnivores, suggesting a different contribution from some source of organic material (Bromberg, 2004). In the summer of 2003, the sources of organic matter and their flow in the coastal benthic trophic web were examined, using isotope ratios of C and N, at four different
62° 03’
58° 15’
62° 03’
58° 39’
UP CF WG
BP
Sampling areas 58° 39’
0
1 km
62° 15’
62° 15’
ARCT
58° 15’
Figure 1. Admiralty Bay, King George Island. Sampling areas: ARCT – south to the Polish Station Henry Arctowski; CF - off Brazilian Antarctic Station Comandante Ferraz; UP - Ullmann Point; BP - Botany Point; WG - Wanda Glacier. Adapted from Braun et al. (2001).
sites from Admiralty Bay (Figure 1): in front of Ferraz Station (CF); at Botany Point (BP); at Ullman Point (UP); and south to the Polish Station “Arctowski” (ARCT). Major differences were found between the isotopic ratios from the components of the ARCT communities compared to those within Martel Inlet (Corbisier et al., unpublished results). Near Arctowski Station the environment is more subject to high hydrodynamics, and also to outflows from the penguin colony in the central part of the bay. Thus, the shallow water benthic community does not depend on organic matter from the sediment, but rather on SPM and macroalgae, mainly Himantothallus grandifolius. The
sediment at ARCT presented a very high 15N signature (15 and 18‰) clearly due to the presence of the penguin colonies which contribute with organic material through faeces. Mizutani and Wada (1988) reported high values of the isotopic signatures of N in guano and the soil of the penguin colony in Antarctica (13.4 to 31.8‰). The 13C value of the sediment was low (about -28‰), close to that of the SPM, possibly due to the local hydrodynamics. This signature may also be related to the organic contribution of the penguin colony (Mizutani & Wada, 1988), with similar values to those obtained at ARCT. Conversely, in the three sites within Martel Inlet the sources of organic
matter were highly linked to the microphytobenthos and sediment, as well as to the SPM and macroalgae. Considering the four areas studied, 15N ranged from low values (-0.9 to 1.9‰) of SPM and macroalgae to 9.0 to 12.1‰ of benthic carnivores, showing around 3.5 to 4.5 steps in the trophic web. ARCT and BP presented a shorter benthic trophic web: 15N of consumers ranged from 2.8‰ (krill) to 10.8‰ (carnivore nemertean), at ARCT, and from 1.5‰ (ascidians) to 9.1‰ (carnivore polychaete), at BP. The 15N values of consumers ranged between 2.0‰ (ascidians) and 10.9‰ (a sea star) at UP and from 1.2‰ (ascidian) to 12.1‰ (priapulan) at CF (Corbisier et al., unpublished results). The numbers of trophic levels are in accordance with the studies in the continental shelf of temperate, tropical and subtropical regions (Corbisier, 2006). The trophic web at ARCT, a more dynamic area, and at BP, under the influence of glaciers, had low diversity of food sources and are less complex than those at UP and CF
where the diversity and quantity of organic matter were high, mainly from microphytobenthos (Skowronski & Corbisier 2002; Bromberg, 2004; Skowronski et al. 2009). These communities were also more diverse regarding taxonomic groups. In Admiralty Bay, the trophic chain in the shallow coastal zone, under the seasonal ice-cover and with benthic communities of high density and biomass, is more complex than in oceanic areas where the organic matter of pelagic origin is the main source of food. Following a general monitoring program established for the next 5 years (INCT-APA), new results of stable isotopes are intended to be obtained in the summer of 2010/2011 in order to compare different periods and areas, aiming to verify the existence of some changes which could be attributed to anthropogenic activities, such as the influence of sewage. This kind of approach was used near the McMurdo Station, in Antarctica (Conlan et al., 2006).
References BRAUN, M. et al. King George Island Satellite Map (1:100.000). 2001. BROMBERG, S., 2004. A macrofauna bentônica da zona costeira rasa e o seu papel na trama trófica da enseada Martel, Baía do Almirantado (Ilha Rei George, Antártica). Ênfase para o grupo Polychaeta (Annelida). Dissertation - Instituto Oceanográfico, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo. CONLAN, K. E.; RAU, G. H.; KVITEK, R. G. D13C and D15N shifts in benthic invertebrates exposed to sewage from McMurdo Station, Antarctica. Marine Pollution Bulletin, v. 52, p. 1695-1707, 2006. CORBISIER, T. N. Trofodinâmica do ecossistema bentônico de plataforma continental da costa sudeste do Brasil: Uso de isótopos estáveis de carbono e nitrogênio. Dissertation - Instituto Oceanográfico, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, 2006. CORBISIER, T. N. et al. Trophic relationships in the nearshore zone of Martel Inlet (King George Island, Antarctica): isotope analysis. Polar Biology, v. 27, p. 75-82, 2004.
13
C stable
MIZUTANI, H.; WADA, E. Nitrogen and carbon isotope ratios in seabird rookeries and their ecological implications. Ecology, v. 69, p. 340-349, 1988. SKOWRONSKI, R. S. P.; CORBISIER, T. N. Meiofauna distribution in Martel Inlet, King George Island (Antarctica): Sediment features versus food availability. Polar Biology, v. 25, p. 126-134, 2002. SKOWRONSKI, R. S. P. et al. Distribution of microphytobenthic biomass in Martel Inlet, King George Island (Antarctica). Polar Biology, v. 32, p. 839–851, 2009.
MODULE 4
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
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An Environmental Management System for the Brazilian Antarctic Station “Comandante Ferraz”
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Environmental Technology Project - ARQUIANTAR
74
Bioremediation as a Potential Alternative for Soils of EACF Contaminated with Petroleum Hydrocarbons
| Annual Activity Report 2009
The usage of an effective and efficient management system in order to understand the present global climatic changes having as focal point the Antarctic continent, is one of the big challenges of the Brazilian Antarctic Programme (PROANTAR). The latter has been important in the systematic collection of data in the most diverse scientific areas for the purpose of understanding the structure and functioning of Antarctica. However, the information should be organized by means of a model that can be capable of putting together relevant information and in this way assist towards the integration of researchers through an ample discussion of appropriate protective measures for the region. The search for management models, thus becomes a significant factor for the understanding of the relationships between the origin and the consequences of the environmental problems, as well as of their dynamics. Thus a model that can develop a strategy of integration and environmental analysis becomes relevant to the present monitoring Programme. An important instrument for environmental management consists not only in the establishment of indicators which can measure how to make progress possible in the direction of the established objectives in
Marcelo Lamour
the several public policies and monitoring programmes, but also in understanding if these are being effective and efficient over the long term. The present proposal seeks to organize the existing system of indicators and integrate them in the form of a DSPIR model (Driver-Pressure-State-Impact-Response), and in this way put into practise a system of accompaniment and permanent appraisal having as a basis the monitoring programme already established by the Antarctic Programme. This is a new approach to a management system which uses several technical, institutional, legal and administrative tools for the purpose of understanding reality. The environmental management process should be structured by a decision-making process that can have as its objective the development of a system that can clearly cover the phases of, diagnosis, planning, political adoption, implementation, accompaniment and appraisal in loco. In this way, it will be possible to achieve the strategic objectives of appropriate development to guarantee the environmental quality of the area studied. On this theme, the programme intends to cover: t The Monitoring Process t The Geographic Information System t The Environmental Management System
Jussara Fardim
Adriana G. Dalto
2
3
1
INCT-APA – Annual Activity Report 2009 |
69
1 AN ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FOR THE BRAZILIAN ANTARCTIC STATION “COMANDANTE FERRAZ” Alexandre de Avila Lerípio1 and Mariana Sá Vianna2
2
1 Universidade do Vale do Itajaí, CTTMAR, Engenharia Ambiental, Santa Catarina, Brazil Ministério do Meio Ambiente, Secretaria de Biodiversidade e Florestas, Brasília-DF, Brazil e-mail: leripio@terra.com.br
The Brazilian Antarctic Program (PROANTAR) recently approved the implementation of an Environmental Management System (EMS) for the Brazilian Antarctic Station “Comandante Ferraz”. The main objective is to strengthen the compliance with the principles governing the protection of the Antarctic environment established in the Madrid Protocol, thus limiting the negative environmental impacts on atmospheric, terrestrial and marine environments. The EMS for the Brazilian Antarctic Station will be implemented according to the requirements of ABNT NBR ISO 14001:2004, a certification standard granted following an audit by a certification body that verifies if all the requirements are fulfilled. The EMS in an organization aims to diagnose and define significant environmental aspects and impacts resulting from the several activities, besides establishing procedures and creating plans to meet goals arising from the definition of feasible indicators. Everything is periodically reviewed, characterizing the process of continuous improvement. The development of the EMS is being conducted by the INCT-APA (The Brazilian National Science and Technology Institute for Antarctic Environmental Research). This includes the diagnosis, elaboration and the whole implementation phase of the EMS, all of which will be done with the supervision of the MMA (Ministério do Meio Ambiente - Ministry of the Environment). By the end of this period, the Environmental Management System should be totally incorporated into the routine
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| Annual Activity Report 2009
procedures of the Brazilian Antarctic Station, as part of PROANTAR. EMS related activities started during Antarctic Operation XXVIII, in the summer of 2010, with the presence of INCT-APA and MMA representatives at the Brazilian Antarctic Station. Work included the evaluation of the Station’s level of compliance to the ISO 14001:2004 standards, at this moment (i.e. before any action regarding the implementation), and the result was considered good, with 42.3% compliance. Besides mapping out the relevant processes and activities conducted at the Brazilian Antarctic Station, the Environmental Aspects and Impacts Assessment and related significance evaluation was undertaken, considering Risk Analysis criteria – severity, magnitude and frequency. 231 aspects and impacts concerning the Station were identified (Figure 1 and 2). Benchmarking related activities were also conducted and, at this initial stage, involved visits to other Stations in Admiralty Bay, such as Arctowski (Poland), Copacabana (USA) and Machu Picchu (Peru). The environmental management system will improve the procedures of the Brazilian Antarctic Station by establishing controls for safety and efficiency of the processes identified. Therefore, it should create cost reductions and many advantages for the partners of PROANTAR – Brazilian Navy, Ministry of Science and Technology and Ministry of the Environment – which will be deeply involved in the implementation of the EMS.
Management review
Internal env. manag. system audit
Records
Nonconformity and prev./correct. action
Evaluation of legal compliance
Monitoring and measurement
Emergency preparedness and response
Operational control
Document control
Documentation
Comunication
Competence, training and awareness
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Figura 1. Internal structures of a manufactory sector at the Brazilian Antarctic Station Comandante Ferraz. Photo: Alexandre de Ávila Lerípio.
Requirements of ISO 14.001:2004 Attendance level
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Figure 2. Requirements of ISO 14.001:2004 (Attendance level).
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2 ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY PROJECT - ARQUIANTAR Cristina Engel de Alvarez Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo – UFES, Espirito Santo, Brazil e-mail: cristinaengel@pq.cnpq.br
The project is aimed mainly at assessing the direct effects caused by the construction of buildings in Antarctica by Brazilians and developing specific technologies for Antarctic buildings founded on the tripod comfort/safety x impact minimization x efficiency. The studies have been divided into ten main approach foci: 1. Corrosion; 2. Acoustics; 3. Landscape; 4. Waste; 5. Territorial planning; 6. Quality of indoor air; 7. Water; 8. Wastewater; 9. Thermal performance; and 10. Energy. Considering the results obtained in 2009, in continuity there is a synthesis of the main results obtained in the specific investigations concerning water, landscape, acoustics, and corrosion which led to making use of these results for developing the SAM – Standard Antarctic Module (MAP – Módulo Antártico Padrão).
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Aiming at developing a specific methodology to assess the impact on the landscape, we gathered pictures in the summer of 2009/2010 in order to create an initial database (landscape starting point) for continuous monitoring of the Keller Peninsula at pre-established intervals: 2, 5, 10 and 50 years. The methodology proposed for obtaining the images assumed the definition of georeferenced points (Image Reference Points-IRP) on and offshore (Figure 1). In each IRP, 8 pictures were obtained (clockwise: N, NE, L, SE, S, SO, O, NO), which allowed recording the whole surrounding area (360°).
Accoustics Since 2003, an impact assessment has been carried out at the EACF in order to identify and control noise. This on-site investigation is based on the methodology developed in a partnership with Instituto de Pesquisa Tecnológica do Estado de São Paulo (IPT). Through this measurement, it was possible to verify that the engine room (generators) and maintenance activities on metallic surfaces were the main source of impact due to the high level of sound pressure from the generators. Inside the Station, however, the poor acoustic insulation of the cabins was identified as the main discomfort factor, both because of the transmission of noise and because of sparse acoustic privacy. The generators were replaced during the Antarctic Expedition XXVIII (OPERANTAR XXVIII) operation and further measurements were made in order to identify the sound pressure level of the new equipment. The data collected will be treated statistically for future assessment. However, the noise reduction has been already noticeable regarding the new equipment. Interestingly, other machines have taken over the position of discomfortcausing noise makers such as the aquarium compressors, which operate continuously.
SAM – Standard Antarctic Module (MAP – Módulo Antártico Padrão) The basic design for a standard modular unit was created in order to develop solutions based on efficiency, sustainability (environmental, economic, and cultural), safety and available logistics for the future Brazilian buildings to be installed in Antarctica. This basic design was intended for use in both the pre-Antarctic environment – where the Brazilian facilities are currently located – and the environmental conditions of the continent (Figure 2). The alternative materials to those used in the Brazilian Antarctic Program (PROANTAR) project were previously defined in the basic design. Initial efficiency simulation tests were also carried out. Their improvement, however, will depend on the project progress.
Corrosion In 2002, the assessment methodology for corrosion studies and the procedures for installing Comandante Ferraz Atmospheric Corrosion Station were developed. The corrosion test coupons were monitored until the summer of 2009/2010, when they were removed for final laboratorial tests to be carried out in Brazil. Their assembly supports and residue generated were then removed so as to preserve the integrity of the place. Monitoring was carried out through quarterly photographic recording, and the results were published annually. All the methodology being in compliance with relevant Brazilian standards. Figure 2. on the left, general view of SAM and, on the right, general scheme of the building system.
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3 BIOREMEDIATION AS A POTENTIAL ALTERNATIVE FOR SOILS OF EACF CONTAMINATED WITH PETROLEUM HYDROCARBONS Alexandre Soares Rosado1, Juliano de Carvalho Cury1, Raquel Silva Peixoto1, Hugo Emiliano de Jesus1, Helena Dias Müller Villela1, Vivian Helena Pellizari2, Ana Lúcia Gerardi Spínola2, Carlos Ernesto Gonçalves Reynaud Schaefer3, Paulo Negrais Seabra4, Charles W Greer5
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Laboratório de Ecologia Microbiana Molecular – UFRJ, Rio de Janeiro , Brazil 2 Instituto Oceanográfico – USP, São Paulo, Brazil 3 Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil 4 Petrobras, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 5 Biotechnology Research Institute – Canadá *e-mail: arosado@globo.com
Natural environments have been affected by oil spills around the world for decades. In some cases, the attempt to cleanup can be made using physical and chemical methods. However, for the Antarctic environments this is not so simple. Displacement of the machinery necessary for the application of physical methods would be very expensive whereas the application of chemical methods would be dangerous considering the risks of additional environmental impacts. Bioremediation techniques are relatively more costeffective and benign. This technique is based on the ability of some microorganisms (especially some bacteria) to use the petroleum hydrocarbons as energy source. Considering the low-risk, the best cost-effective choice to be applied in oil-contaminated sites, presenting high rates of hydrocarbon degradation, is the monitored natural attenuation. However, in some cases, environmental factors can cause the recalcitrance of the pollutant. The more frequent cause of recalcitrance is the depletion of nutrients (especially N and P) due to input of large quantities of carbon sources (petroleum hydrocarbons). An alternative to overcome this problem is the addition of fertilizers (e.g. N-P-K, MAP, DAP). This technique is known as biostimulation. However, some precautions
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must be taken. For the biostimulation the most important aspect is to avoid the excess of fertilizer, which could cause side effects like eutrophication. Temperature is a critical factor for bioremediation success. In Antarctic soils, low temperatures can decrease the rate of biodegradation even when nutrients are available in satisfactory concentrations. An alternative to overcome this difficulty is to increase the number of cells of a consortium of degraders in artificial mediums under conditions of optimum growth before the introduction in nutrient-amended polluted soils. This technique is known as bioaugmentation. Theoretically, bioaugmentation is a more promising technique than biostimulation. However, the effectiveness of bioaugmentation is variable due to the low rates of survival and degrading capability of introduced microorganisms. Furthermore, in Antarctic soils the implementation of this technique is not feasible since the introduction of alien species should be avoided. An alternative to overcome these difficulties is to introduce indigenous microorganisms capable of degrading oil to the contaminated site. The purpose of the work that is being implemented is to test different doses of fertilizer in microcosms and mesocosms and to isolate and cultivate microorganisms
that use petroleum hydrocarbons as C source. During the microcosms and mesocosms experiments, the physical-chemical characteristics of soil, content of TPHs (total petroleum hydrocarbons) and biological changes based on molecular approaches will be determined. Autochthonous microorganisms capable of growth in mediums containing petroleum hydrocarbons as sole C source will be selected during the isolation and cultivation experiments. The obtained isolates will be characterized and stored. Based on the results of these preliminary studies, the possibility of implementation of a bioremediation process in contaminated soils around the Brazilian Antarctic Station Comandante Ferraz (EACF) will be evaluated. Molecular approaches will be used to characterize microbial structures of the contaminated soil before and during the preliminary studies, allowing us to monitor the changes caused by bioremediation processes on the microbial diversity. PCR-DGGE (denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis) technique can be used to determine changes of microbial structures whereas cloning and sequencing techniques can be used to characterize the taxonomic and functional diversity of soil under different
treatments based on marker genes, in addition to the characterization of the obtained isolates. Oil contamination of soils of EACF was caused by a tank rupture in the mid eighties in addition to little spills and intense use of motor vehicles. In some sites the presence of oil can be visually detected, which leads us to believe that a monitored natural attenuation is not feasible. Soil samples of the diesel contaminated area around the EACF were collected in March 2010 and transported to the Laboratory of Molecular Microbial Ecology of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. We are performing experiments on microcosms testing different fertilizers concentrations on soil of EACF with variable levels of contamination. Based on the results of these experiments, an in situ mesocosm experiment will be installed in the EACF area to evaluate the feasibility of the implementation of a biostimulation- and/or bioaugmentation-based bioremediation strategy for the contaminated sites. During all the experiments samples will be collected, processed and stored for physicalchemical and microbiological characterization and determination of the content of TPHs.
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The INCT-APA has undertaken a series of Education and Outreach activities transversal to all its working research modules. In order to bring Antarctica continent close to the heart of Brazilian society, these were aimed at a variety of people, including laymen, school and university students and lecturers, researchers, and decision makers not only in Brazil but also abroad. Between those, two events can be highlighted: the Brazilian National Week for Science and Technology, and the FAPERJ Exhibition – 30 years commemoration.
The Brazilian National Exposition for Science and Technology (SNCT, acronym in Portuguese) was held in Rio de Janeiro from 19th to 25th October 2009. The event was organized by the Brazilian Ministry of Science and Technology (Science and Technology Secretariat for Social Affairs, Science and Technology Outreach Secretariat) with the aim to promote several outreach and education activities, and also to discuss about the education and popularization of science and technology to the students and general public (Figure 1).
Photos: Gisa Eneida M. Machado
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Figure 1: Instructor from the INCT-APA at the National Week of Science and Technology (Rio de Janeiro).
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The FAPERJ Exhibition – 30 years commemoration (Carlos Chagas Filho Foundation for Science of the Rio de Janeiro State) promoted several actions to celebrate its 30 years anniversary and the 100th birthday of its patron Carlos Chagas Filho (1910-2000). The exhibition
was held in the Modern Art Museum of Rio de Janeiro during 24th and 25th March 2010, aiming to aggregate the researchers and entrepreneurs supported by FAPERJ to continue scientific research and technological development (Figure 2).
Photos: Adriana G. Dalto
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Figure 2: Members of INCT-APA at the “Feira FAPERJ 30 anos”, the commemorative event of the thirty years State of Rio de Janeiro Research Foundation (FAPERJ). (A) Dr Jerson Lima Silva, Scientific director of FAPERJ, Dr Yocie Yoneshigue Valentin INCT-APA coordinator; (B) Dr Carlos Alberto Aragão de Carvalho Filho, President of CNPq (National Council for Science and Tecnology), Dr Yocie Yoneshigue Valentin (INCT-APA coordinator) and Dr Lúcia Siqueira Campos (Executive Office for International Science); (C) students visiting the INCT-APA exposition; (D) members of INCT-APA.
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Transfer of Knowledge and Technology It is viewed that the knowledge and technology transfer may occur by members of the INCT-APA’s team to the technical and scientific community and vice-versa. In this sense, the following activities are highlighted for 2009:
Module 1 t Training of a Chilean researcher on the methodology for preparing the chemistry and launching of the ozone balloons;
Photos: Maria VirgĂnia Petry
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Figure 3: course on Offshore Seabirds Census.
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t Training an Argentinean researcher to measure the ozone using the Brewer spectrophotometer; t Meteorological Data Sampling Equipment training for students and technical staff contributing to Module I.
Module 2 t Training course on Offshore Seabirds Census. Objective: training students according to standard census methodologies, observation and correct identification of offshore seabirds. Moreover, relating the sightings with environmental variables and seabird distribution, concerning migratory routes.
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Other training courses: t Training team members in the usage of the sediment remote sampler Mini Box-Corer used by several research groups from Module III; t Water sampling training for hydrological studies; t Continuous Plankton Recorder (CPR) Training Course was coordinated by Dr Graham Hosie from the Australian Antarctic Division, and participants (lecturers and students) from Brazil and other South American
Adriana G. Dalto
t Antarctic Ecology and Evolution: molecular tools. 40 hours/5 days. Locality: Guayaquil. Instructor: Dr Elie Poulin. Obs: Two research of the INCT-APA undertook this course, Dr. Adriana G. Dalto and MSc Rafael B. de Moura; t Methods for the study of microbial ecology applied to extreme environments. Locality: La Libertad.18 hours/3 days. Instructor: MSc Rubens Tabeu Delgado Duarte; t Methods for the study of Antarctic meiofauna. 12 hours/2 days. Instructor: Locality: Guayaquil. Instructor: Dr Adriana G. Dalto (Figure 3); t Marine mammals in Antarctic: diversity, threats, and conservation. 12 hours/2 days. Locality: La Libertad. Instructors: Dr Manuela Bassoi and MSc Cristina Castro. An undergraduate student, André Monnerat Lanna, from the INCT-APA undertook this course financed by the CAML.
Rubens T. D. Duarte
Capacity Building Courses in South America in partnership with CAML, Instituto Antartico Ecuatoriano (INAE), and PROSUL (BioMAntar):
Figure 4: Instructors from the INCT-APA at the ‘V Simposio Latinoamericano sobre Investigaciones Antárticas y II Simposio Ecuatoriano de Ciencia Polar’ in Guayaquil, Ecuador.
countries at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), a partnership between the Census of Antarctic Marine Life, the INCT-APA and PROSUL BioMAntar (Figure 4).
Module 4 t Knowledge transfer related to bioremediation by a Canadian researcher during the XXVII Antarctic Expedition (Austral summer 2008/09).
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Graphic Design: Gabriel Hernades
Supplementation Other Outreach Activity t Other outreach activities were undertaken by the INCT-APA, some of which general to the institute, and some related to each research Module. There were more than 19 technical, scientific and information talks, several articles, news and interviews in the media (virtual, newspapers, radio and television). A list of these activities is provided below: t Logo design – the institutional logo represents the hourglass where Antarctica maybe visualised at the uppermost section, whilst South America at the lowest section. Time flies and we need to act fast in order to conserve the Antarctic and South American environments. The three lines seen between sections sustain the hourglass and represent the themes from each of the modules I, II and III; aggregated by the whole set, or Module IV. The drop symbolises the retreating ice marking time going by, and it is urgent that we act! t Webpage online at www.inct-antartico.com.br (in construction). t Preparation of two folders. t Preparation of a general institutional video. t Preparation of another video script. t News on six sub-projects from the Oceanographic Institute at the University of São Paulo, which are involved in the INCT-APA, published at the information bulletin ‘Diário de Bordo’, year 3, nº 19 – January to March 2009. t News on the revue Rio Pesquisa (FAPERJ), year II, nº 7 June de 2009. t Sub-Project from Module 3, ZooplanktonAntarctica, blog created by Karin Elbers (see zooplanktonantartica.blogspot.com/). t INCT-APA Calendar 2010 financed by the Ministry of Environment. t Photos related to the Antarctic environment taken mainly in Admiralty Bay have been recorded and organized for Education and Outreach usage and stored in an image database.
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Manuela Bassoi
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Figure 5: Continuous Plankton Recorder (CPR) Training Course.
t Highlight on Polar Palooza: during September 2009, POLAR PALOOZA, an International Polar Year (IPY) Project led by Geoffrey Haines-Stiles, made a tour of Brazil featuring high-energy public presentations on the polar regions and climate change by active polar researchers from the Arctic and Antarctica, including Drs Manuela Bassoi and Lucia S. Campos from the INCTAPA. Amazing videos and materials produced by all those involved were shown to primary and secondary pupils, university students, and the public in general. The tour in Brazil included the following locations: Porto Alegre, São Paulo, and Rio de Janeiro.
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Figure 6: Polar Palooza, an IPY Project, in joint activities with members of the INCT-APA and INCT-Criosfera in Brazil. Polar researchers involved: Jefferson Cardia Simões (glaciologist, Brazil), Kathy Licht (geologist, USA), Erli Costa (ornithologist, Brazil), Manuela Bassoi (oceanographer, Brazil), George Divoky (ornithologist, USA), Lúcia S. Campos (biologist, Brazil), and Sridhar Anandakrishnan (glaciologist, USA).
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DEVELOPMENT OF THE ROV (REMOTELY OPERATED UNDERWATER VEHICLE) LUMA FOR BIODIVERSITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT RESEARCH IN THE ANTARCTICA By Ramon R. Costa and Liu Hsu COPPE/PEE/UFRJ e-mails: ramon@coep.ufrj.br; liu@coep.ufrj.br
Since 2005, the GSCAR (RESEARCH GROUP FOR SIMULATION AND CONTROL IN AUTOMATION AND ROBOTICS) of PEE/COPPE has been developing a ROV named LUMA (Light Underwater Mobile Asset). Initially (2002), the ROV was designed and built for flooded adduction tunnels of tunnel hydroelectric facilities under a project financed by the electric energy company AMPLA and ANEEL, the National Electric Energy Agency. From 2005, the ROV started to be modified and adapted to operate in the Antarctica Ocean. In 2006, the ROV integrated the International Polar
Adriana G. Dalto
Year project “Marine Antarctic Biodiversity in relation to Environmental heterogeneity at Admiralty bay, King George Island and Adjacent areas at the Bransfield Strait (MABIREH)” to serve as an auxiliary tool in research related with the characterization of the marine fauna and flora in the Admiralty Bay. Its main initial tasks are, to make a photographic survey of the marine life, and to collect data and environmental samples (organisms, rocks, sediments). The activity is being developed with the collaboration of the Biology Institute of UFRJ and the recently created INCT-APA (Instituto Nacional de
Adriana G. Dalto
Adriana G. Dalto Mariana Sá Viana ROV
Ciência e Tecnologia Antártico de Pesquisas Ambientais). Three missions for testing the ROV LUMA have already taken place at the Estação Antártica Comandante Ferraz (EACF), the latest one in February 2010. In the ROV LUMA, the ARV (Autonomous Remotely Operated Vehicle) concept has been adopted, which makes it different from the usual commercial ROV’s. Following this concept, the ROV LUMA is powered by on board batteries. Indeed, it is then possible to operate the ROV from small vessels without a proper electric energy source. Furthermore, the tether is low weight once it does not have to convey electric energy but only to transmit data. At present, the ROV is rated to operate to depths of about 500 m. The ROV LUMA has been constantly improved with the inclusion of new sensors and equipments such as, hydro-acoustic altimeter, HD video camera, lasers, new thrusters, etc. Recently, the development of the ROV has been granted with a substantial 2009 PROANTAR/CNPq funding. The future goals are: 1. To adapt the ROV LUMA to operate down to 1000 m depth. 2. To develop an adequate communication channel to transmit images and videos of high definition. 3. To design an active camera attitude control to acquire stable images. 4. To design advanced control systems to guarantee efficient navigation and partially autonomous navigation. 5. To design sampling devices for relevant biological and environmental sampling of the underwater regions to be explored. One can note from the literature that the development of ROV for the Antarctic conditions is still incipient. The technical documentation about the subject is rather scarce. It becomes evident that this technology is not yet easily available and deserves to be developed in Brazil, in particular for the application described here.
INFRASTRUCTURE The majority of Brazilian research in Antarctica is developed in the Admiralty Bay (King George Island, South Shetland Islands, Antarctic Peninsula) where is located the Brazilian Antarctic Station Comandante Ferraz – EACF, acronym in Portuguese), and coastal and oceanic regions adjacent to this bay (Figure 1). 1
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Figure 1: (A) Antarctic Peninsula; (B) Admiralty Bay (King George Island, South Shetlands). Source: Núcleo de Pesquisas Antárticas e Climáticas (UFRGS, Brazil). Maps: Rafael B. de Moura.
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The Antarctic research activities, held by INCTAPA, have a logistic support of Brazilian Airforce (Força Aérea Brasileira-FAB, acronym in Portuguese) and Brazilian Navy (Marinha do Brasil – MB, acronym in Portuguese).
Adriana G. Dalto
Logistic Support for Antarctic Research
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The Brazilian Airforce (FAB) promotes the transport of researchers from/to Brazil and Punta Arenas (Chile), and from Punta Arenas to the Chilean Base in Antarctica, where the vessels are waiting to transport the researchers to the Brazilian Station (Figure 2).
Vessels The Brazilian Navy maintains a research station, the Comandante Ferraz Antarctic Station (EACF), and the vessels R/V Ary Rongel (H-44) and R/V Almirante Maximiano (H-41). The R/V Ary Rongel (H-44) is 75m long, has a dry laboratory, a wet laboratory, two winches (geological and oceanographic) at the stern, and 24 places for researchers (Figure 3).
Figure 2: Flying from Punta Arenas (Chile) to Antarctica (C-130).
The R/V Almirante Maximiano (H-41) is 94m long, is equipped with 6 laboratories (dry and wet) and can held 26 researchers. The winches are not yet installed, but they will be installed on starboard side of the vessel (Figura 4).
Jussara Fardim
Adriana G. Dalto
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Figure 3: R/V Ary Rongel (H-44)
Figura 4: R/V Almirante Maximiano (H-41).
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Brazilian Antarctic Station Comandante Ferraz (EACF) The Brazilian Antarctic Station is located in Admiralty Bay (King George Island, South Shetland Islands, Antarctic Peninsula) (Figure 5). The EACF occupies about 2250 m2 of constructed area and has the capacity to house up to 56 researchers. The accommodations include: 21 cabins (number of beds vary in each cabin), living room, kitchen, one
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Figura 5: Brazilian Antarctic Station Comandante Ferraz (EACF).
Sandra Bromberg
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Figure 6: Boat for sampling in shallow waters.
library, seven bathrooms, one communication room, three drying rooms, four laboratories, two aquarium rooms, two workshops (electronic and electric), one sickbay, four storehouses, one gym, one incinerator, one engine room, and one helipad. Besides the laboratories mentioned above, there are five external research modules. Furthermore, to support research in the marine environment there are three Zodiac boats and a small boat for sampling in shallow waters (Figure 6 and 7).
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Figure 7: Drying Room and research laboratories. Photos: Sandra Bromberg (A); Adriana G. Dalto (B, C, D, E); Edson Rodrigues (F).
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The study of the Atmosphere in the Brazilian Antarctic Station has the support of five field labs for monitoring and measurements, collecting data of the Ionosphere, Weather, Ozone, UV Radiation, Dynamics of Upper Atmosphere Neutral, and Greenhouse gases. Each laboratory has different activities and its instruments are installed outside the module and they are operated continuously throughout the year (Figure 8).
Adriana G. Dalto
8 Figure 8: Laboratory for monitoring and measurements of the antarctic atmosphere.
Some Associated Laboratories (In alphabetical order) ADAPTIVE BIOLOGY LABORATORY (SCB, UFPR – Department of Cell Biology) Research Head: Dr. Lucélia Donatti The Adaptive Biology Laboratory, Department of Cell Biology, Division of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Parana (UFPR), develops an integrated research involving the study of morphological and physiological adaptations of Antarctic and tropical fish in relation to environmental changing conditions, locally and globally. The studies also evaluate the adaptability of fish and invertebrates from the consequences of climate change in metabolism and enzyme systems, which could effects the behavior, morphology, and physiology. The Adaptive Biology Laboratory uses equipment of the Centre for Electron Microscopy and the Division of Biological Sciences, both from UFPR, such as scanning electron microscope JEOL JSM-6360 LV, the transmission electron microscope JEOL 1200EX II, Porter Blum Sorval MT-2 ultramicrotome, fluorescence microscope Zeiss Axiophot and confocal scanning System Radiance 2100 Bio Rad. ANTARCTIC BENTHOS AND MEIOBENTHOS ECOLOGY LABORATORIES (IO, USP – Biological Oceanography Department) Research Head: Dr. Thaís Navajas Corbisier Both laboratories have basic infrastructure to develop studies on the ecology and taxonomy of marine macrobenthos (general and especially Polychaeta), meiobenthos (general and especially Nematoda), and benthic trophic interactions, using stable isotopes analysis. Presently, there are studies on the effects of natural and anthropogenic impacts on benthic ecosystem processes in Antarctica with a long temporal series data. (INCT-APA/Module 3). Ecological studies on meiofauna and Nematoda along the southeast continental shelf of Brazil and trophodynamic studies of the benthic communities in Antarctica and in the SE Brazilian continental shelf using stable isotopes are also in progress. The laboratories are equipped with microscopes and stereomicroscopes, oven, freezer, freeze-dryer, analytical balance, and other basic equipments.
BENTHOS LABORATORY (IB, UFRJ – Marine Biology Department) Research Head: Dr. Andrea de Oliveira Ribeiro Junqueira and Dr. Helena Passeri Lavrado The Benthos Lab is located at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) and develops studies in marine biology and ecology with emphasis on benthic communities from soft and hard bottoms. Currently, the research lines focus on aspects related to bioinvasion in the marine environment and benthic ecology of extreme environments, like the Antarctic ecosystems and the deep ocean. The laboratory is equipped with many optical and stereo microscopes, digital image analysis system, furnaces, analytical balances and other lab and fieldwork equipment conducting research with macro – and megabenthic organisms (Figure 9). Nowadays, the lab has a team of 25 people, including scientists, marine biologists, undergraduate, and graduate students.
BIOCHEMICAL LABORATORY (IBB, UNITAU – Department of Biology) Research Head: Dr. Edson Rodrigues The biochemical laboratory of UNITAU has a basic structure to: a) process the biological samples and obtain subcelular fractions; b) determination of tissue and serum levels of several enzymes of the antioxidant defense system, energetic metabolism, and xenobiotics and L-arginine metabolism. Since 1984, the laboratory is involved in studies about biochemical and physiological behavior of Antarctic organisms (birds, fish, and invertebrates). The laboratory infrastructure has tissue homogenizers, refrigerated centrifuge, micro tube centrifuge, ultracentrifuge, microplate thermoblock, sonicator for rupture of cells and subcelular structures, spectrophotometer UV/VIS with continuous scanning, microplates spectrofluorometer, and also basic equipments.
Photos: Adriana G. Dalto
9 Figure 9: Benthos Laboratory (Marine Biology Department, IB/UFRJ).
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INTERDISCIPLINARY CENTRE FOR BIOTECHNOLOGY RESEARCH (UNIPAMPA, Campus São Gabriel) Research Head: Dr. Luiz Fernando Wurdig Roesch and Dr. Antônio Pereira Batista The Interdisciplinary Centre for Biotechnology Research, also called CIP-Biotec, was established in 2009 in the UNIPAMPA, Campus São Gabriel – RS, Brazil. The Centre has an area of 1200 sq. ft. that houses all of the equipment necessary for modern molecular biology research including PCR machines, RT-PCR machine, electrophoresis equipment with power supplies, Nanovue spectrophotometer, LI-COR DNA sequencing, laminar flow hood, light microscope, incubators, centrifuges, and desktop computers. The Centre is devoted to supporting research projects for many senior lectures in the Campus including Microbial Ecology and Environmental Quality, Ecology and Diversity of Forest Ecosystems, Vegetal Resources, Cytogenetic of Birds, and Eukaryotic Gene Regulation.
MARINE MACROALGAE LABORATORY (IB, UFRJ – Botany Department) Research Head: Dr. Yocie Yoneshigue Valentin The laboratory is able to develop basic research studies from marine macroalgae taxonomy and ecology to applied phycology on biotechnology and bioprospecting studies. Nowadays the laboratory develops taxonomic and bioprospecting studies in different sites such as Rasa Beach (Buzios, RJ), Guanabara Bay (State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil), and Antarctica region. Furthermore, the laboratory is involved in multidisciplinary projects. The main objective is inducing growth and reproduction of the larger seaweeds that may be used in many ways. For these culture facilities are found: equipment for maintenance of controlled conditions as walk-in-plant growth chambers which have builts-in-lights temperature control systems and, in some instances, humidity control. Also, a number of scientific equipment, as refrigerated water baths, tanks of fibreglass, plant growth chambers, which constitute the supporting apparatus to culturing of marine macroalgae.
Photos: Adriana G. Dalto
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b Figure 10: Marine Macroalgae Laboratory (IB/UFRJ, Botany Department). (A) Optical equipments; (B) culture facilities.
MARINE ORGANIC CHEMISTRY LABORATORY (IO, USP) Research Head: Dr. Rolf Roland Weber, Dr. Rosalinda Montone and Dr. Marcia Bícego The Laboratory of Marine Organic Chemistry (LabQOM) is located in the Oceanographic Institute of the University of São Paulo (USP) and has infrastructure to develop studies in Fossil and biogenic hydrocarbons in marine environment , Persistent Organic Pollutant (POPs) as organochlorine pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polybrominated diphenylether in marine environment, Fecal sterols and linear alkylbenzenes (LABs) as indicators of sewage pollution in marine environment, and Organic Geochemical Markers to study oceanographic and paleoceanographic processes. The lab presents the following infrastructure: t Laboratory of samples processing (lyophilization, extraction, clean up, evaporation) t Equipments: Microwave oven for organic extraction; 2 Gas chromatograph with flame ionization detector (GC-FID); 2 Gas chromatograph with electron capture detector (GC-ECD); 1 Gas chromatograph with mass
espectrometer (GC-MS); 2 High performance liquid chromatograph HPLC (fluorescence – UV); 1 EA-GCIRMS (Laboratory of Geochemistry). MARINE PHYTOPLANKTON LABORATORY (FITOMAR, IB,UFRJ, Marine Biology Department) Research Head: Dr. Denise Rivera Tenenbaum The Marine Phytoplankton Laboratory (FITOMAR) of UFRJ has the necessary structure for phytoplankton taxonomy and ecology studies, including the adequate computer and optical resources. To analyze the auto and heterotrophic components of pico, nano and microplankton size fractions, the laboratory has biological and inverted microscopes, both with fluorescence and image analysis systems. Currently, FITOMAR lab develops researches on phytoplankton community at Admiralty Bay (King George Island, Antarctic – CNPq/ INCT APA), and collaborate on the projects ‘Longterm monitoring of Guanabara Bay, RJ (PELD)’, and ‘Relationships between the structure of phytoplankton communities and inorganic carbon incorporation rates at the Tropical and South Atlantic Ocean (MCT/CNPq).
Márcio M. B. Tenório
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Figure 11: Inverted Fluorescence Microscope (Olympus IX70).
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NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR SPACE RESEARCH (INPE) Research Head: Dr. Neusa Paes Leme, Dr. Alberto Waingort Setzer, Dr. Emília Corrêa and Dr. Damaris Kirsch Pinheiro INPE has five laboratories to support the data collection in Antarctica and are located in Sao Jose do Campos, SP, Sao Paulo, Atibaia, SP, Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul and in Natal, Rio Grande do Norte. They have all the necessary infrastructure for computational technology, computers for analysis and data storage and electronic material for the complete equipments maintenance. In Sao Jose dos Campos we have a Chromatograph Laboratory for analysis of greenhouse gases (air samples) that are collected in Ferraz.
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Figure 12: INPE laboratories. (A, B, C) Chromatograph laboratory (São José do Campos-SP, Brazil); (D) CRAAM/ INPE Laboratories (Atibaia-SP, Brazil); (E) INPE laboratory in Natal (Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil).
ORGANIC GEOCHEMISTRY LABORATORY (UFPR) Research Head: Dr. César de Castro Martins The laboratory of organic geochemistry and marine pollution of Federal University of Parana (UFPR) has two Agilent 7890 A Gas Chromatograph equipped with a flame ionization detector (GC-FID) for aliphatic hydrocarbons and steroids, and an electron capture detector (GC-ECD) for organochlorine compounds and other persistent organic pollutants (POPs) analysis (Figure13). There are also support equipment such as extraction system, freezedrier, centrifuges, and analytical balances. César de C. Martins
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Figure 13: Gas Chromatograph equipped with a ame ionization detector (GC-FID). Organic Geochemistry Laboratory (UFPR).
ORNITHOLOGY AND SEA ANIMALS LABORATORY (UNISINOS) Research Head: Dr. Maria Virginia Petry The Laboratory of Ornithology and Sea Animals of Vale do Rio dos Sinos University (UNISINOS) has infrastructure for the development of research on bird ecology involving macroecology, community ecology, population ecology, reproductive biology, conservation, and management. Nowadays the laboratory conduce studies on: population distribution, breeding, diet and conservation of Antarctic seabirds; evaluation of anthropogenic impacts over threatened grassland passers at Araucaria Highlands; virological prospection of H5N1 viruses in long distances migrating birds in Antarctic and Southern Brazil. Furthermore, in partnership with Brazilian institutions the laboratory collaborates with other projects. The apparatus available include equipment for biological sampling in loco, cameras, banding material, nets and traps for capturing birds, and stereoscopic microscopes. Maria Virginia Petry
Figure 14: Ornithology and Sea Animals Laboratory (UNISINOS).
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FACTS AND FIGURES Human Resources: Capacity Building The majority of researchers from the INCT-APA are involved in undergraduate and postgraduate activities, besides lecturing several scientific talks and courses during the first year of the institutes’ existence. Consequently, this fact has increased the development of appropriate Antarctic science competences. The demand for fellowships is fairly high especially at the higher level (PhDs, postdoctoral fellows), but younger students have also been engaged in the studies, as well as trained technical staff. There has been
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an increment of fellowships guaranteeing some source of income to a higher number of students, hence they may commit to and engage in further training to become highly qualified professionals. The list below highlights the Antarctic capacity building of human resources during the first year of the INCT-APA, taking into account all the funding provided by CNPq, CAPES, FAPERJ, regional institutes and universities acquired so far:
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The INCT-APA in 2009 participated with several scientific and technical talks, during national and international events. Institute organized an internal workshop in order to promote and support interactions among the INCT-APA scientific members, and also
to discuss the scientific activities and goals for 2009. Furthermore, the INCT-APA co-organized the following international events: Workshop and Symposium ASAI (Antarctic - South American Interactions in the Marine Environment), in November 2009.
National Events
Photos: George Marinho
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1st Internal Workshop of INCT-APA, 30 March to 01 April 2009, Brasília –DF Brazil This event had as its main objective to discuss the future goals for 2009, mainly related to the scientific activities and production, and also education. The workshop allowed the meeting and interaction among the scientific members of INCT-APA, promoting positive discussions and exchange of ideas about the connections among our scientific groups and within the Institutes (Figures 1). At the end of the workshop there was a ceremony to start officially the activities of the INCT-APA, with the presence of Dr Carlos Minc, the Brazilian Minister for the Environment. In addition, on this ceremony it was launched the book “Antártica O bem comum da humanidade” by Dr Tânia Brito, and also the Brazilian Mail released officially the commemorative postage stamp of the International Polar Year (Figure 2). XVII Brazilian Antarctic Research Symposium (SBPA - Simpósio Brasileiro sobre Pesquisas Antárticas, acronym in Portuguese, 29 September 2009, São Paulo (SP) Several researchers of the INCT-APA participated of the XVII Brazilian Antarctic Research Symposium with posters and oral presentations. The vice-coordinator of INCT-APA, Dr Rosalinda Carmela Montone presented the Institute to the scientific community.
Figure 1: 1st Internal Workshop of INCT-APA (Brasilia –DF, Brazil). (A) General view; (B) Dr Yocie Yoneshigue Valentin (Coodinator of INCT-APA) presenting the Institute; (C) Dr Lucia Siqueira Campos presenting the National and International Cooperations linked to INCT-APA.
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Photos: Adriana G. Dalto
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Figure 2: Ceremony to start officially the activities of the INCT-APA. (A) Dr Carlos Minc, the Brazilian Minister for the Environment and Dr Yocie Yoneshigue Valentin, INCT-APA coordinator; (B) Dr Yocie Yoneshigue Valentin, INCT-APA coordinator presenting officially the INCT-APA; (C) launching of the book “Antártica, bem comum da humanidade” by Dr Tânia Brito; and (D) lauching of the commemorative postage stamp of the International Polar Year by the Brazilian Mail, and Dr Rosalinda Carmela Montone, vice-coordinator of the INCT-APA.
International Events Abroad, INCT-APA was first presented in Japan at the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) Xth SCAR Biology Symposium in July last year. Originally, only a poster presentation was planned. During the Symposium and taking into account that the Evolution and Biodiversity in Antarctica Programme (EBA - a science programme of the Life Sciences Standing Steering Committee of SCAR) was discussed. In addition, Dr Yocie Yoneshigue Valentin presented the institute at the ‘V Simposio Latinoamericano sobre Investigaciones Antárticas y II Simposio Ecuatoriano de Ciencia Polar’ in Salinas, Ecuador, 2 to 4 September 2009 (Figure 3). The INCT-APA in collaboration with a PROSUL project (BioMAntar) and the Census of Antarctic Marine Life has contributed to the capacity building of university students and researchers in South America.
During the first week of November 2009 the international workshop and symposium VI Simpósio em Ecologia: Antarctic-South American Interactions in the Marine Environment (ASAI), 5-6 November 2009, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) where the INCT-APA was introduced. Adriana G. Dalto
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Figure 3: Dr Yocie Y Valentin as Keynote Speaker presenting the INCT-APA at the ‘V Simposio Latinoamericano sobre Investigaciones Antárticas y II Simposio Ecuatoriano de Ciencia Polar’ in Salinas, Ecuador. Photos: Manuela Bassoi
4 Figure 4: VI Simpósio em Ecologia: Antarctic-South American Interactions in the Marine Environment (ASAI), 5-6 November 2009, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Brazil.
BOOK CHAPTERS DONATTI, L. et al. Evolução e Biodiversidade na Antártica: uma resposta da vida às mudanças. In: SECRETARIA DE POLÍTICAS E PROGRAMAS DE PESQUISA E DESENVOLVIMENTO, COORDENAÇÃO PARA MAR E ANTÁRTICA. (Org.). Ciência Brasileira no IV Ano Polar Internacional. Brasília, 2009. v. 1, p. 27-39. LUZ, A. P.; KUHN, E.; PELLIZARI, V. H. Occurence, distribution and nature of hydrocarbons-degrading genes in microorganisms from antarctic environment. In: BEJ, A. K.; AISLABIE, J.; ATLAS, R. M. (Org.). Polar Microbiology: The Ecology, Biodiversity and Bioremediation Potential of Microorganisms in Extremely Cold Environments. OHIO: CRC Press (Taylor and Francis), 2009. v. 1.
RAMPELOTTO, P. H. et al. Exobiology at Southern Brazil: Spore Dosimetry and the UV Solar Radiation. In: ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY OF THE PACIFIC. (Org.). APS Conference Series, 2009. TEIXEIRA, L. et al. Diversidade de Bactérias em diferentes solos presentes na Baia do Almirantado, Ilha Rei George, Antártica. In: SECRETARIA DE POLÍTICAS E PROGRAMAS DE PESQUISA E DESENVOLVIMENTO. (Org.). Ciência Brasileira no IV ano polar. Brasília: Ministério da Ciência e Tecnologia, 2009. v. 1, p. 43-45.
NAKAYAMA, C. R. et al. Integração do conhecimento de ecologia microbiana e sua biocomplexidade no ambiente antártico. In: SECRETARIA DE POLÍTICAS E PROGRAMAS DE PESQUISA E DESENVOLVIMENTO, COORDENAÇÃO PARA MAR E ANTÁRTICA. (Org.). Ciência Brasileira no IV ano polar internacional. Brasília: Ministério da Ciência e Tecnologia, 2009. v. 1, p. 47-48.
PAPERS BAGESTON, J. V. et al. Observation of mesospheric gravity waves at Comandante Ferraz Antarctica Station (62 S). Annales Geophysicae, Berlin, v. 27, p. 2593-2598, 2009. BICEGO, M. C. et al. Results from a 15-year study on hydrocarbon concentrations in water and sediment from Admiralty Bay, King George Island, Antarctica. Antarctic Science, v. 21, p. 209-220, 2009. CIPRO, C. V. Z. ; TANIGUCHI, S.; MONTONE, R. C. Occurrence of organochlorine compounds in Euphausia superba and unhatched eggs of Pygoscelis genus penguins from Admiralty Bay (King George Island, Antarctica) and estimation of biomagnification factors. Chemosphere, Oxford, v. 78, p. 767-771, 2010. ECHEVERRÍA, C. A. et al. A new mini box corer for sampling muddy bottoms in Antarctic shallow waters. Brazilian Archives of Biology and Technology, v. 52, p. 629636, 2009. GIMÉNEZ DE CASTRO, C. G. et al. Submillimeter and X-ray observations of an X class flare. Astronomy & Astrophysics (Print) Berlin, v. 507, p. 433-439, 2009.
GOMES, V. et al. Photo-induced toxicity of anthracene in the Antarctic shallow water amphipod, Gondogeneia antarctica. Polar Biology, v. 32, p. 1009-1021, 2009. JUSTINO, F. et al. Harmonic analysis of climatological temperature over Antarctica: present day and greenhouse warming perspectives. International Journal of Climatology, 2010. doi: 10.1002/joc.2090. KAUFMANN, P. et al. Rapid Pulsations in Sub-THz Solar Bursts. The Astrophysical Journal, v. 697, p. 420-427, 2009. KUHN, E.; BELLICANTA, G. S.; PELLIZARI, V. H. New genes detected in Antarctic marine sediments. Environmental Microbiology, v. 11, p. 669-673, 2009. MARTINS, C. C. et al. Historical record of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and spheroidal carbonaceous particles (SCPs) in marine sediment cores from Admiralty Bay, King George Island, Antarctica. Environmental Pollution, v. 158, p. 192-200, 2010. OLIVEIRA, E. C. et al. The seaweed flora of Admiralty Bay, King George Island, Antarctic. Polar Biology (Print), v. 32, p. 1639-1647, 2009.
PEREIRA, B. K. et al. Protective effects of three extracts from Antarctic plants against ultraviolet radiation in several biological models. Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology B, v. 96, p. 117-129, 2009. RAULIN, J. P. et al. The South America VLF NETwork (SAVNET). Earth, Moon and Planets, v. 104, p. 247261, 2009. RAULIN, J. P. et al. The South America VLF Network (SAVNET): Development, Installation Status, First Results. Geofísica Internacional, v. 48, p. 185-193, 2009. RODRIGUES, D. F. et al. Biogeography of two cold-adapted genera: Psychrobacter and Exiguobacterium. ISME Journal, p. 1-8, 2009 RODRIGUES, E. et al. Arginine metabolism of the Antarctic Bivalve Laternula elliptica (King & Broderip, 1831): an ecophysiological approach. Polar Biology (Print), v. 32, p. 691-702, 2009. SETZER, A.; KAYANO, M. Limitações das Reanálises para altas latitudes no Hemisfério Sul: uma fone de interpretações errôneas. Revista Brasileira de Meteorologia, v. 24, n. 3, p. 254-261, 2009.
SETZER, A.; ROMÃO, M.; AQUINO, F. E. Antártica: Relação Climática com a América do Sul. Climanálise, São José dos Campos, v. 24, p. 7, 2009. SKOWRONSKI, R. S. P. et al. Distribution of microphytobenthic biomass in Martel Inlet, King George Island (Antarctica). Polar Biology, v. 32, p. 839-851, 2009. TANIGUCHI, S. et al. Chlorinated pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the fat tissue of seabirds from King George Island, Antarctica. Marine Pollution Bulletin, v. 58, p. 129-133, 2009. VICTÓRIA, F. C.; COSTA, D. P.; PEREIRA, A. B. Life-forms of moss species in defrosting areas of King George Island, South Shetland Islands, Antarctica. Bioscience Journal, Uberlândia, v. 25, n. 3, p. 151-160, 2009. VICTORIA, F. C.; PEREIRA, A. B.; COSTA, D. P. Composition and distribution of moss formation in the ice-free areas adjoining the Arctowski region, Admiralty Bay, King George Insland, Antarctica. Iheringia (Série Botânica), v. 64, p. 81-91, 2009.
PAPERS ACCEPTED FOR PUBLICATION COLABUONO, F. I.; TANIGUCHI, S.; MONTONE, R. C. Polychlorinated biphenyls and organochlorine pesticides in plastics ingested by albatrosses and petrels. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 2010.
PETRY, M. V. et al. Ocorrência e dieta de Macronectes giganteus na costa do Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil. Revista Brasileira de Ornitologia, 2009. (Fascículo especial sobre “Aves do Ambiente Costeiro-Marinho Brasileiro”).
FRANCELINO, M. R. et al. Geomorphology and soil formation under paraglacial conditions in an ice-free area of Admiralty Bay, King George Island, Antarctica. Catena, Cremlingen, 2010.
SCHERER, A. L. et al. Interação entre aves marinhas (Procellariiformes) e golfinhos-pintados-do-atlântico Stenella frontalis em águas oceânicas do sudeste do Brasil. Revista Brasileira de Ornitologia, 2009. (Fascículo especial sobre “Aves do Ambiente CosteiroMarinho Brasileiro”).
FRANCELINO, M. R. et al. Vegetation-Landform relationship in the periglacial environment of Keller Peninsula, Admiralty Bay, King George Island, Antarctica. Pesquisa Antártica Brasileira, 2009. JUSTINO, F. B. et al. Greenhouse gas induced changes in the fire risk in Brazil in ECHAM5/MPI-OM coupled climate model. Climatic Change, 2010. In press. PAES LEME, N. M. P. et al. The Height Of Minimum Ozone In The Ozone Hole Region Over The Brazilian Antarctic Station And Punta Arenas, Chile. Atmospheric Environment, 2009. PAES LEME, N. M. P.; KIRCHHOFF, V.; SILVA, F. R. D. UV-B Enhancements at Brazilian Antarctic Station. Atmospheric Environment, 2009.
SETZER, A.; KIRCHHOFF, V. W. H. J. Episodes of very low surface Ozone in the so.Shetland Islands (62S) and their stratospheric polar origin. Pesquisa Antártica Brasileira. Avaliable from: <http://buscatextual.cnpq.br/ buscatextual/images/curriculo/jcr.gif, 2010>. TEIXEIRA, L. C. R. S. et al. Bacterial diversity in rhizosphere soil from Antarctic vascular plants of Admiralty Bay, maritime Antarctica. ISME J Advance, April 1, 2010. doi:10.1038/ismej.2010.35.
E-MAILS INCT-APA RESEARCH TEAM Thematic Module 1 ANTARCTIC ATMOSPHERE AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS IN SOUTH AMERICA Dr. Neusa Maria Paes Leme – Coordinator of Module 1 (INPE) neusa_paesleme@yahoo.com.br Dr. Amauri Pereira de Oliveira (IAG/USP) amauri@usp.br
Dr. Jacyra Ramos Soares (IAG/USP) jacyra@usp.br
Dr. Arthur José da Silva Rocha (IOUSP) arthur@usp.br
Dr. José Henrique Fernandez (UNITAU) henrique@unitau.br
Dr. Damaris Kirsch Pinheiro (UFSM) damariskp@gmail.com
Dr. José Valentin Bageston (INPE) jvb@laser.inpe.br
Dr. Emília Correia (INPE – CRAAM) ecorreia@craam.mackenzie.br
Dr. Vicente Gomes (IOUSP) vicgomes@usp.br
Thematic Module 2 IMPACT OF GLOBAL CHANGES ON THE ANTARCTIC TERRESTRIAL ENVIRONMENT Dr. Antonio Batista Pereira – Coordinator of Module 2 (UNIPAMPA) antoniopereira@unipampa.edu.br Dr. Andrea de Oliveira Ribeiro Junqueira (UFRJ) ajunq@biologia.ufrj.br
Dr. Maria Virginia Petry (UNISINOS) vpetry@unisinos.br
Dr. Cláudio Vinícius de Senna Gastal Jr. (UNIPAMPA) gastalcv@terra.com.br
Dr. Ricardo José Gunski (UNIPAMPA) rgunski@yahoo.com.br
Dr. Jair Putzke (UNISC) jair@unisc.br
Dr. Uwe Schulz (UNISINOS) uwe@unisinos.br
Thematic Module 3 IMPACT OF HUMAN ACTIVITIES ON ANTARCTIC MARINE ENVIRONMENT Dr. Helena Passeri Lavrado – Coordinator of Module 3 (IB/UFRJ) hpasseri@biologia.ufrj.br/ hplavrado@gmail.com
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Dr. Adriana Galindo Dalto (IB/UFRJ) agdalto@gmail.com
Dr. Cristina Rossi Nakayama (IOUSP) crnakayama@gmail.com
Dr. Andreza Portella Ribeiro (IOUSP) aportellar@yahoo.com.br
Dr. Denise Rivera Tenenbaum (IB/UFRJ) deniser@biologia.ufrj.br
Dr. Cecilia Nahomi Kawagoe Suda (UNITAU) cnksuda@hotmail.com
Dr. Edmundo Ferraz Nonato (IOUSP) efnonato@usp.br
Dr. César de Castro Martins (IUFPR) ccmart@ufpr.br
Dr. Edson Rodrigues (UNITAU) rodedson@gmail.com
Dr. Cleoni dos Santos Carvalho (UFSCar) carvcleo@yahoo.com.br
Dr. Flavia Sant’Anna Rios (UFPR) flaviasrios@ufpr.br
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Dr. Gannabathula Sree Vani (UNITAU) srvani@hotmail.com Dr. José Juan Barrera Alba (IB/UFRJ) juanalba@usp.br Dr. Lísia Mônica de Souza Gestinari (NUPEM/UFRJ) lisiagestinari@ufrj.br Dr. Liu Hsu (COPPE/PEE/UFRJ) liu@coep.ufrj.br Dr. Lucélia Donatti (UFPR) donatti@ufpr.br Dr. Lúcia de Siqueira Campos (IB/UFRJ) luciascampos@gmail.com Dr. Manuela Bassoi (IB/UFRJ) manu.bassoi@gmail.com Dr. Marcelo Renato Lamour (UFPR-CEM) mlamour@ufpr.br Dr. Márcia Caruso Bícego (IOUSP) marciacaruso@usp.br Dr. Márcio Murilo Barboza Tenório (IB/UFRJ) mbtenorio@hotmail.com Dr. Maurício Osvaldo Moura (UFPR) mauricio.moura@ufpr.br Dr. Mônica Angélica Varella Petti (IOUSP) mapetti@usp.br
Dr. Rosalinda Carmela Montone (IOUSP) Vice-coordinator INCT-APA rmontone@usp.br Dr. Rubens Cesar Lopes Figueira (IOUSP) rfigueira@usp.br Dr. Rubens Duarte (IOUSP) rubensduarte13@yahoo.com.br Dr. Sandra Bromberg (IOUSP) bromberg@usp.br Dr. Satie Taniguchi (IOUSP) satie@usp.br Dr. Susete Wambier Christo (UEPG) wambchristo@yahoo.com.br Dr. Tânia Zaleski (UFPR) taniazaleski@gmail.com Dr. Thais Navajas Corbisier (IOUSP) tncorbis@usp.br Dr. Theresinha Monteiro Absher (UFPR) tmabsher@ufpr.br Dr. Vivian Helena Pellizari (IOUSP) vivianp@usp.br Dr. Yocie Yoneshigue Valentin (IB/UFRJ) General Coordinator of INCT-APA yocie@biologia.ufrj.br/ yocievalentin@gmail.com
Dr. Rolf Roland Weber (IOUSP) rweber@usp.br
Thematic Module 4 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT Dr. Marcus Polette – Coordinator of Module 4 (UNIVALI) mpolette@univali.br Dr. Alexandre de Ávila Lerípio (UNIVALI) leripio@terra.com.br
Dr. Neyval Costa Reis Junior (UFES) neyval@inf.ufes.br
Dr. Alexandre Soares Rosado (IMPPG/UFRJ) arosado@globo.com
Dr. Paulo Sérgio de Paula Vargas (UFES) pvargas@terra.com.br
Dr. Cristina Engel de Alvarez (UFES) cristinaengel@pq.cnpq.br
Dr. Raquel Silva Peixoto (IMPPG/UFRJ) r.s.peixoto@globo.com
Dr. Domingos Sávio Lyrio Simonetti (UFES) d.simonetti@ele.ufes.br
Dr. Ricardo Franci Gonçalves (UFES) franci@npd.ufes.br
Dr. Juliano de Carvalho Cury (UFRJ) jccury@hotmail.com
Dr. Roseane Simões Palavizini (IBA/UFRJ) palavizini@gmail.com
Dr. Jussara Farias Fardin (UFES) jussara@ele.ufes.br
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EDUCATION AND OUTREACH ACTIVITIES MSc. Déia Maria Ferreira dos Santos (IB/UFRJ) deia@biologia.com.br
Dr. Benedita Aglai Oliveira da Silva (IB/UFRJ) aglai@biologia.com.br
EXTERNAL COLLABORATORS Thematic Module 1 ANTARCTIC ATMOSPHERE AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS IN SOUTH AMERICA Dr. Alberto Waingort Setzer - Brazil (INPE/REDE CLIMA/ INCT para Mudanças Climáticas) alberto.setzer@cptec.inpe.br
Dr. Francesco Zaratti - Bolivia (University of San Andrès) zaratti@entelnet.bo
Dr. Heitor Evangelista da Silva - Brazil (UERJ/INCT-Criosfera) heitor@uerj.br/ evangelista.uerj@gmail.com
Dr. Cláudio Cassicia R. Salgado - Chile (University of Magallanes - UMAG) claudio.casiccia@umag.cl
Dr. Luciano Marani - Brazil (INPE/REDE CLIMA/ INCT para Mudanças Climáticas) lmarani@dge.inpe.br
Dr. Félix Zamorano - Chile (University of Magallanes - UMAG) felix.zamorano@umag.cl
Dr. Plínio Carlos Alvalá - Brazil (INPE/REDE CLIMA/ INCT para Mudanças Climáticas) plinio@dge.inpe.br
Andrés Mansilla - Chile (University of Magallanes - UMAG) andre.mansilla@umag.cl
Dr. Eduardo J. Quel - Argentina (Argentine Armed Forces Scientific and Technical Research Institute - CITEFA) quel@citefa.gov.ar
Makita Kazuo - Japan (Takushoku University) kmakita@la.takusho
Dr. Elian Wolfram - Argentina (Argentine Armed Forces Scientific and Technical Research Institute - CITEFA) ewolfram@citefa.gov.ar
Hiromasa Yamamoto - Japan (Rikkyo University) yamamoto@rikkyo.ac.jp
Dr. Jacobo Salvador - Argentina (Argentine Armed Forces Scientific and Technical Research Institute - CITEFA) jsalvador@citefa.gov.ar
Thematic Module 2 IMPACT OF GLOBAL CHANGES ON THE ANTARCTIC TERRESTRIAL ENVIRONMENT Lubomir Kowacik - Slovakia (Comenius Univiversity) kovacik@fns.uniba.sk
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Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia Antártico de Pesquisas Ambientais (INCT-APA) Instituto de Biologia , Centro de Ciências da Saúde (CCS) Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) Av. Carlos Chagas Filho, 373 - Sala A1-94 • Bloco A Ilha do Fundão, Cidade Universitária - CEP: 21941-902 Rio de Janeiro- RJ, Brazil +55 21 2562-6322 / +55 21 2562-6302 inctapa@gmail.com www.inct-antartico.com.br
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