Molecular geochemical indicators of sewage input in the Antarctic coastal area (Admiralty Bay, King George Island, Antarctica)

ABSTRACTThis paper presents the details of lichens and mosses found on whale vertebrae substratum in the Admiralty Bay area, King George Island, Antarctica. Samples were taken in the coastal area at Hennequin Point, a relict of the Antarctic whaling era. The samples were collected from the upper surface of the whale bones found in the study area during the austral summer 2010–2011. A total of 15 lichen and two moss species were found. All species sampled are known in the Admiralty Bay area, both as pioneers and in more advanced succession stages in ice-free areas. These results suggest that the colonisation of whale bones is not new for Antarctic plants, but it is an additional substrate on which these plants can develop. A map showing the distribution of colonised bones and details of the usual substrata for the lichens and mosses found in this study are provided.

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Temporal Distribution of Arsenic and Metals in Soil From King George Island, Antarctica

Frontiers in Marine Science ◽

10.3389/fmars.2021.772742 ◽

2022 ◽

Vol 8 ◽

Author(s):

Tailisi H. Trevizani ◽

Rosalinda C. Montone ◽

Rubens C. L. Figueira

Keyword(s):

Human Activities ◽

Temporal Distribution ◽

Polar Regions ◽

Control Points ◽

King George Island ◽

Admiralty Bay ◽

Direct Exposure ◽

Antarctic Continent ◽

The Antarctic ◽

Continue Monitoring

The polar regions are vulnerable to impacts caused by local and global pollution. The Antarctic continent has been considered an environment that has remained little affected by human activities. Direct exposure to contaminants may occur in areas continuously occupied by research stations for several decades. Admiralty Bay on the southeast coast of King George Island, has potential for being affected by human activities due research stations operating in the area, including the Brazilian Commandant Ferraz Antarctic Station (CFAS). The levels of metals and arsenic were determined in soils collected near CFAS (points 5, 6, 7, and 9), Base G and at two points distant from the CFAS: Refuge II and Hennequin. Samples were collected after the fire in CFAS occurred in February 2012, up to December 2018 to assess the environmental impacts in the area. Al and As were related with Base G. Refuge II and Hennequin can be considered as control points for this region. As a consequence of the accident, the increased levels for Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn, especially at point 9 (inside the CFAS) and in the soil surrounding the CFAS in 2013. The results from 2016 to 2018 demonstrated a reduction in levels of all studied metals near CFAS, which may be related to the leaching of metals into Admiralty Bay; it is thus, being important the continue monitoring soil, sediments, and Antarctic biota.

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Colonization by mites of glacier-free areas in King George Island, Antarctica

Pesquisa Agropecuária Brasileira ◽

10.1590/s0100-204x2009000800013 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 44 (8) ◽

pp. 891-895 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Grzegorz Gryziak

Keyword(s):

West Coast ◽

Protected Area ◽

Soil Samples ◽

Oribatid Mites ◽

King George Island ◽

Admiralty Bay ◽

Near Shore ◽

South Shetlands ◽

Mite Communities ◽

The Antarctic

This work aimed to investigate the ratio of colonization by terrestrial mites on ice-free areas created by the ongoing climate-induced melting of Antarctic glaciers. Glacier retreat opens new ice-free areas for the colonization by vegetation and animals. The study was undertaken on the Antarctic Specially Protected Area no. 128 (West Coast of the Admiralty Bay, King George Island, South Shetlands Islands). Transects marked between the Ecology, Baranowski and Windy Glaciers, and a sea shore were used to collect soil samples. Oribatid mites were found only on near-shore areas, on patches of vegetation of more than 30 years of age. The colonization by mite communities is strongly determined by the presence of plants.

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New records of isopod species of the Antarctic Specially Managed Area No. 1, Admiralty Bay, South Shetland Islands

Polish Polar Research ◽

10.1515/popore-2017-0017 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 38 (3) ◽

pp. 409-419

Author(s):

Karol Zemko ◽

Krzysztof Pabis ◽

Jacek Siciński ◽

Magdalena Błażewicz

Keyword(s):

Southern Ocean ◽

New Records ◽

South Shetland Islands ◽

Small Scale ◽

King George Island ◽

Admiralty Bay ◽

Shetland Islands ◽

The Antarctic ◽

First Time ◽

Marine Basins

AbstractAdmiralty Bay (King George Island) is an Antarctic Specially Managed Area and one the most thoroughly studied small-scale marine basins in the Southern Ocean. Our study provides new data on the isopod fauna in this glacially affected fjord. Twelve species of isopods were recorded in this basin for the first time. Six of them were found for the first time in the region of the South Shetland Islands. The highest number of species new for Admiralty Bay were found in the families Munnopsidae (4 species) and Munnidae (3 species).

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Bathymetric distribution of the meiofaunal polychaetes in the nearshore zone of Martel Inlet, King George Island, Antarctica

Antarctic Science ◽

10.1017/s0954102006000186 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 18 (2) ◽

pp. 163-170 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Mônica A. Varella Petti ◽

Edmundo Ferraz Nonato ◽

Rodrigo S.P. Skowronski ◽

Thaïs Navajas Corbisier

Keyword(s):

Sediment Cores ◽

King George Island ◽

Nearshore Zone ◽

Bathymetric Distribution ◽

Polychaete Species ◽

Admiralty Bay ◽

Soft Sediments ◽

Distributional Patterns ◽

The Antarctic

Polychaetes, the dominant macrofaunal taxa of the Antarctic soft sediments, provided more than 40% of the animals found in Martel Inlet. However, little information is available on the composition of meiofaunal communities in polar areas. This study identified the meiofaunal polychaete species and described their bathymetric distribution in the nearshore zone. Sediment cores were taken by divers from 6–25 m depth in the summer of 1991 and 1994 in front of the Brazilian Antarctic Station (Martel Inlet, Admiralty Bay). Additional sampling was done at the 18 m depth in 1994 in order to study the influence of ice scouring. A total of 1895 specimens in 17 families were found. Three species (Apistobranchus glacierae, Leitoscoloplos kerguelensis and Ophryotrocha notialis), all of them belonging to the temporary meiofauna, provided more than 70% of the total polychaete fraction. This meiofaunal component showed similar distributional patterns to those of the macrofaunal polychaetes in this area.

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Detecção de Mudanças Ambientais na Antártica através de Dados de Sensoriamento Remoto e Mapas Históricos

Pesquisas em Geociências ◽

10.22456/1807-9806.20307 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 28 (2) ◽

pp. 337

Author(s):

JORGE ARIGONY NETO ◽

JEFERSON CARDIA SIMÕES ◽

ULISSES FRANZ BREMER ◽

FRANCISCO ELISEU AQUINO

Keyword(s):

Ice Cover ◽

South Shetland Islands ◽

King George Island ◽

Ice Shelves ◽

Admiralty Bay ◽

Shetland Islands ◽

Climatic Variations ◽

Glacier System ◽

Ice Retreat ◽

The Antarctic

Ice masses in the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica, are relatively thin and near or at the melting pressure point. They are, therefore, very sensitive to climatic variations. This work discusses glaciers retreat observed since 1950s in the Antarctic Specially Managed Area (ASMA) of Admiralty Bay in King George Island. From 1956 to 1979 this area lost 4.3 km2 (2%) of its ice cover. Further 4.9 km2 disappeared (10% of the original ice cover, i.e. in 1956). The ice retreat magnitude in this period cannot be attributed to in-built variations of the glacier system. Further, it is associated to similar glaciers retractions and ice shelves collapses in the northern most part of the Antarctic Peninsula. Probably this general ice retreat results from or is enhanced by the atmospheric warming recorded for the region since 1940s.

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First Italian Expedition to Antarctica, 1975–76

Polar Record ◽

10.1017/s003224740000067x ◽

1977 ◽

Vol 18 (115) ◽

pp. 379-379

Keyword(s):

King George Island ◽

Admiralty Bay ◽

Original Intention ◽

Set Up ◽

The Antarctic

The 15-man expedition did not get off to a good start. The ship originally chartered for the Antarctic voyage, the Repunte, was impounded in a Uruguayan shipyard and vital supplies were sequestered by the Uruguayan customs authorities. It was in a Norwegian vessel, the Rig Mate, that the party eventually landed at Admiralty Bay, on King George Island. The original intention had been to set up a permanent base on Ross Island, but the delay in Montevideo called for a change of plan. So the first Italian base in the Antarctic was established at Admiralty Bay, at a spot named ‘Conca Italia’ by the expedition. The base is well suited for eight people, with an area of 80 m2 instead of the planned 130 m2.

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A GIS for the Antarctic specially managed area of Admiralty Bay, King George Island, Antarctica

Geo-spatial Information Science ◽

10.1007/bf02826972 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 4 (2) ◽

pp. 8-14 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Jefferson Simões ◽

F. Ferron ◽

Matthias Braun ◽

J. Neto ◽

F. Aquino

Keyword(s):

King George Island ◽

Admiralty Bay ◽

The Antarctic

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Changes in acanthocephalan infection of the Antarctic fish Notothenia coriiceps in Admiralty Bay, King George Island, over 29 years

Polish Polar Research ◽

10.2478/v10183-012-0005-4 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 33 (1) ◽

pp. 99-108 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Zdzisław Laskowski ◽

Małgorzata Korczak-Abshire ◽

Krzysztof Zdzitowiecki

Keyword(s):

Dominant Species ◽

Antarctic Fish ◽

Common Species ◽

South Shetland Islands ◽

King George Island ◽

Admiralty Bay ◽

Shetland Islands ◽

Notothenia Coriiceps ◽

The Antarctic ◽

Subdominant Species

Changes in acanthocephalan infection of the Antarctic fishNotothenia coriicepsin Admiralty Bay, King George Island, over 29 yearsA comparison between the levels of infection with Acanthocephala of the fishNotothenia coriicepsin Admiralty Bay (South Shetland Islands, Antarctic) in 1978/79 and 2007/08 is presented. The same eight acanthocephalan species, three echinorhynchids maturing in fish,Aspersentis megarhynchus(dominant species),Metacanthocephalus johnstoni(subdominant species) andM. dalmori(common species), and five polymorphids maturing in mammals and birds,Corynosoma hamanni, C. pseudohamanni(both co-dominant species),C. arctocephaliandC. bullosum(both common species), andC. shackletoni(rare species), were found. Echinorhynchids were more numerous in 2007/08 (mean abundance 46.54 versus 35.35 in 1978/79), whereas polymorphids more numerous in 1978/79 (mean abundance 74.35versus36.40 in 2007/08). The overall results therefore demonstrated that echinorhynchids were more numerous than polymorphids in 2007/08 and the reverse was true in 1978/79. This situation is dependent mainly upon the decreased infections withC. hamanni, C. pseudohamanniandC. bullosum, and to a lesser degree upon the increasing of infections withM. johnstoni.The decrease of the threeCorynosomaspp. is possibly associated with the decreasing of populations of final hosts, seals, on the shore of Admiralty Bay in the vicinity ofArctowskiStation.

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Net radiation and turbulent energy exchanges over a non-glaciated coastal area on King George Island during four summer seasons

Antarctic Science ◽

10.1017/s095410200700082x ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 20 (1) ◽

pp. 99-112 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Taejin Choi ◽

Bang Yong Lee ◽

Seong-Joong Kim ◽

Young Jun Yoon ◽

Hee-Choon Lee

Keyword(s):

Antarctic Peninsula ◽

Coastal Area ◽

Turbulent Energy ◽

Shortwave Radiation ◽

Net Radiation ◽

King George Island ◽

Local Climate ◽

Monthly Average ◽

Energy Exchanges ◽

The Antarctic

AbstractRecently, the Antarctic Peninsula has received more attention due to the pronounced warming in that region. Non-glaciated coastal areas on the Peninsula can be significant energy sources for the atmosphere when they are exposed during summer despite the high degree of cloud associated with the frequent passage of low pressure systems. An eddy covariance system was established in December 2002 to evaluate the turbulent energy exchanges between the atmosphere and a non-glaciated coastal area on King George Island. Monthly average downward shortwave radiation was less than 210 Wm-2 in summer. Due to the low albedo of 0.12, monthly average net radiation reached > 130 Wm-2, a magnitude that was significantly larger than the reported magnitudes of < ~70 Wm-2 at glaciated areas with a high albedo on the Peninsula. The sum of monthly average sensible heat (< 64 Wm-2) and latent heat (< 20 Wm-2) fluxes amounted up to ~80 Wm-2, which was an order of magnitude larger than those at glaciated areas on the Antarctic Peninsula. Given that non-glaciated areas should be enlarged if the warming continues, more attention may need to be paid to the role of non-glaciated areas in the local climate to predict climate change on the Antarctic Peninsula.

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