Making environmentally friendly choices is complex: here's a guide to help you at home or out... more Making environmentally friendly choices is complex: here's a guide to help you at home or out shopping
Debris in the marine environment can be either natural, such as floating vegetation or volcanic a... more Debris in the marine environment can be either natural, such as floating vegetation or volcanic ash deposits, or man-made. The man-made human sources cover the whole gamut of material types, from sewage, glass, mineral, fabric and, of increasing concern, plastic or polymeric. Virtually all plastics absorb IR in a highly selective manner, making their IR spectra a useful qualitative diagnostic. The triage of the visible micro (~1mm-5mm), meso, macro or mega particles with portable and handheld FTIR enables rapid determination of the material on-site, and reduces time wasted on non-polymers on-site or at site. Four most prevalent commodity neustonic plastic types, and their FTIR spectral changes correlated with accelerated weathering, were successfully examined chronologically, detailing significant differences in aging profiles and chemical changes. Subsequently, a small spectroscopically identifiable degraded piece of plastic found in Greenland was correlated to the appropriate agin...
Local drivers are human activities or processes that occur in specific locations, and cause physi... more Local drivers are human activities or processes that occur in specific locations, and cause physical or ecological change at the local or regional scale. Here, we consider marine and land-derived pollution, non-indigenous species, tourism and other human visits, exploitation of marine resources, recovery of marine mammals, and coastal change as a result of ice loss, in terms of their historic and current extent, and their interactions with the Southern Ocean environment. We summarise projected increases or decreases in the influence of local drivers, and projected changes to their geographic range, concluding that the influence of non-indigenous species, fishing, and the recovery of marine mammals are predicted to increase in the future across the Southern Ocean. Local drivers can be managed regionally, and we identify existing governance frameworks as part of the Antarctic Treaty System and other instruments which may be employed to mitigate or limit their impacts on Southern Ocean...
The manuscript assesses the current and expected future global drivers of Southern Ocean (SO) eco... more The manuscript assesses the current and expected future global drivers of Southern Ocean (SO) ecosystems. Atmospheric ozone depletion over the Antarctic since the 1970s, has been a key driver, resulting in springtime cooling of the stratosphere and intensification of the polar vortex, increasing the frequency of positive phases of the Southern Annular Mode (SAM). This increases warm air-flow over the East Pacific sector (Western Antarctic Peninsula) and cold air flow over the West Pacific sector. SAM as well as El Niño Southern Oscillation events also affect the Amundsen Sea Low leading to either positive or negative sea ice anomalies in the west and east Pacific sectors, respectively. The strengthening of westerly winds is also linked to shoaling of deep warmer water onto the continental shelves, particularly in the East Pacific and Atlantic sectors. Air and ocean warming has led to changes in the cryosphere, with glacial and ice sheet melting in both sectors, opening up new ice fr...
<p&amp... more <p>The majority of marine plastic pollution originates from land-based sources with the dominant transport agent being riverine. Despite many of the potential ecotoxicological consequences of plastics being well known, research has only just recently begun to explore the source to sink dynamics of plastics in the environment. Despite the widespread recognition that rivers dominate the global flux of plastics to the ocean, there is a key knowledge gap regarding the nature of the flux, the behaviour of microplastics (<5mm) in transport and its pathways from rivers into the ocean. Additionally, little is presently known about the role of biota in the transport of microplastics through processes such as biofilm formation and how this influences microplastic fate. This prevents progress in understanding microplastic fate and hotspot formation, as well as curtailing the evolution of effective mitigation and policy measures.</p><p> </p><p>As part of the National Geographic Rivers of Plastic project, a combined-laboratory and field investigation was conducted. Fieldwork was undertaken in the Mekong River, one of the top global contributors to marine plastic pollution with an estimated 37,000 tonnes of plastic being discharged from the Mekong Delta each year. This flux is set to grow significantly in accordance with the projected population increase in the basin. The results presented herein outline a suite of laboratory experiments that explore the role of biofilms on the generation of microplastic flocs and the impact on buoyancy and settling velocities. Aligned fieldwork details the particulate flux and transport of microplastic, throughout the vertical velocity profile, across the river-delta-coast system, including the Tonle Sap Lake. The results also highlight potential areas of highest ecological risk related to the dispersal and distribution of microplastics. Finally, pilot data on the levels of microplastics within fish from the Mekong system are also quantified to explore the potential impact of biological uptake on the fate and sinks of plastics within the system.</p>
Abstract Benthic communities in several fjords and sheltered bays of the north coast of South Geo... more Abstract Benthic communities in several fjords and sheltered bays of the north coast of South Georgia Island were examined using SCUBA and shore sampling in November 2004. It is one of the most northerly islands within the Polar Front and its well studied, terrestrial biota ...
... Variability in intertidal communities along a latitudinal gradient in the Southern Ocean Cath... more ... Variability in intertidal communities along a latitudinal gradient in the Southern Ocean Catherine L. Waller ... CL Waller (&) School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Brighton, Moulsecoomb, Brighton BN2 4GJ, UK e-mail: clwaller@brighton.ac.uk Page 2. 810 ...
Recent studies have revealed a previously unanticipated level of biodiversity present in the Anta... more Recent studies have revealed a previously unanticipated level of biodiversity present in the Antarctic littoral. Here, we report research on the ecophysiological strategies adopted by intertidal species that permit them to survive in this environment, presenting cold-tolerance data for the widest range of invertebrates published to date from the Antarctic intertidal zone. We found significant differences in levels of cold
Aim To describe the distribution of biodiversity and biogeographical patterns of intertidal organ... more Aim To describe the distribution of biodiversity and biogeographical patterns of intertidal organisms in southern temperate and polar waters. We hypothesized that there would be differences in community structure between the Antarctic, which is most affected by ice, and the Sub-Antarctic and other neighbouring regions. We also hypothesized that rafting and West Wind Drift will be the significant drivers of biogeographical patterns. Additionally, the size, age, isolation, volcanic or glacial history of a region and the presence of large, beach dwelling, mammals and birds would all play a role in determining the level of biodiversity observed. Location South Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans and the Southern Ocean. Methods We examined all available intertidal records from the Antarctic and Sub-Antarctic with additional data from neighbouring regions for comparison and context. We compiled 3902 occurrences of 1416 species of high southern latitude intertidal organisms from 229 locations and used PRIMER 6 to perform multivariate statistical analyses. Results The Antarctic and Sub-Antarctic are shown to be distinct biogeo-graphical regions, with patterns driven by a small number of widely distributed species. These wide-ranging molluscs and macroalgae dominate the biogeo-graphical structure of the Southern Ocean intertidal, most likely as a result of rafting in the Antarctic Circumpolar Current. East Antarctic intertidal habitats are potentially isolated by the Ross and Weddell Sea ice shelves but represent a great unknown in this biogeographical scheme. Main Conclusions The view that the Antarctic intertidal is a lifeless desert does not hold true, with Antarctic Peninsula intertidal communities being richer and more diverse than those in southern South America and the Sub-Antarctic islands. Changing conditions in the Antarctic and Sub-Antarctic intertidal mean that a representative baseline is needed (acquired through standardized and quantitative sampling) to assess future changes and to detect any invasive species.
Making environmentally friendly choices is complex: here's a guide to help you at home or out... more Making environmentally friendly choices is complex: here's a guide to help you at home or out shopping
Debris in the marine environment can be either natural, such as floating vegetation or volcanic a... more Debris in the marine environment can be either natural, such as floating vegetation or volcanic ash deposits, or man-made. The man-made human sources cover the whole gamut of material types, from sewage, glass, mineral, fabric and, of increasing concern, plastic or polymeric. Virtually all plastics absorb IR in a highly selective manner, making their IR spectra a useful qualitative diagnostic. The triage of the visible micro (~1mm-5mm), meso, macro or mega particles with portable and handheld FTIR enables rapid determination of the material on-site, and reduces time wasted on non-polymers on-site or at site. Four most prevalent commodity neustonic plastic types, and their FTIR spectral changes correlated with accelerated weathering, were successfully examined chronologically, detailing significant differences in aging profiles and chemical changes. Subsequently, a small spectroscopically identifiable degraded piece of plastic found in Greenland was correlated to the appropriate agin...
Local drivers are human activities or processes that occur in specific locations, and cause physi... more Local drivers are human activities or processes that occur in specific locations, and cause physical or ecological change at the local or regional scale. Here, we consider marine and land-derived pollution, non-indigenous species, tourism and other human visits, exploitation of marine resources, recovery of marine mammals, and coastal change as a result of ice loss, in terms of their historic and current extent, and their interactions with the Southern Ocean environment. We summarise projected increases or decreases in the influence of local drivers, and projected changes to their geographic range, concluding that the influence of non-indigenous species, fishing, and the recovery of marine mammals are predicted to increase in the future across the Southern Ocean. Local drivers can be managed regionally, and we identify existing governance frameworks as part of the Antarctic Treaty System and other instruments which may be employed to mitigate or limit their impacts on Southern Ocean...
The manuscript assesses the current and expected future global drivers of Southern Ocean (SO) eco... more The manuscript assesses the current and expected future global drivers of Southern Ocean (SO) ecosystems. Atmospheric ozone depletion over the Antarctic since the 1970s, has been a key driver, resulting in springtime cooling of the stratosphere and intensification of the polar vortex, increasing the frequency of positive phases of the Southern Annular Mode (SAM). This increases warm air-flow over the East Pacific sector (Western Antarctic Peninsula) and cold air flow over the West Pacific sector. SAM as well as El Niño Southern Oscillation events also affect the Amundsen Sea Low leading to either positive or negative sea ice anomalies in the west and east Pacific sectors, respectively. The strengthening of westerly winds is also linked to shoaling of deep warmer water onto the continental shelves, particularly in the East Pacific and Atlantic sectors. Air and ocean warming has led to changes in the cryosphere, with glacial and ice sheet melting in both sectors, opening up new ice fr...
<p&amp... more <p>The majority of marine plastic pollution originates from land-based sources with the dominant transport agent being riverine. Despite many of the potential ecotoxicological consequences of plastics being well known, research has only just recently begun to explore the source to sink dynamics of plastics in the environment. Despite the widespread recognition that rivers dominate the global flux of plastics to the ocean, there is a key knowledge gap regarding the nature of the flux, the behaviour of microplastics (<5mm) in transport and its pathways from rivers into the ocean. Additionally, little is presently known about the role of biota in the transport of microplastics through processes such as biofilm formation and how this influences microplastic fate. This prevents progress in understanding microplastic fate and hotspot formation, as well as curtailing the evolution of effective mitigation and policy measures.</p><p> </p><p>As part of the National Geographic Rivers of Plastic project, a combined-laboratory and field investigation was conducted. Fieldwork was undertaken in the Mekong River, one of the top global contributors to marine plastic pollution with an estimated 37,000 tonnes of plastic being discharged from the Mekong Delta each year. This flux is set to grow significantly in accordance with the projected population increase in the basin. The results presented herein outline a suite of laboratory experiments that explore the role of biofilms on the generation of microplastic flocs and the impact on buoyancy and settling velocities. Aligned fieldwork details the particulate flux and transport of microplastic, throughout the vertical velocity profile, across the river-delta-coast system, including the Tonle Sap Lake. The results also highlight potential areas of highest ecological risk related to the dispersal and distribution of microplastics. Finally, pilot data on the levels of microplastics within fish from the Mekong system are also quantified to explore the potential impact of biological uptake on the fate and sinks of plastics within the system.</p>
Abstract Benthic communities in several fjords and sheltered bays of the north coast of South Geo... more Abstract Benthic communities in several fjords and sheltered bays of the north coast of South Georgia Island were examined using SCUBA and shore sampling in November 2004. It is one of the most northerly islands within the Polar Front and its well studied, terrestrial biota ...
... Variability in intertidal communities along a latitudinal gradient in the Southern Ocean Cath... more ... Variability in intertidal communities along a latitudinal gradient in the Southern Ocean Catherine L. Waller ... CL Waller (&) School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Brighton, Moulsecoomb, Brighton BN2 4GJ, UK e-mail: clwaller@brighton.ac.uk Page 2. 810 ...
Recent studies have revealed a previously unanticipated level of biodiversity present in the Anta... more Recent studies have revealed a previously unanticipated level of biodiversity present in the Antarctic littoral. Here, we report research on the ecophysiological strategies adopted by intertidal species that permit them to survive in this environment, presenting cold-tolerance data for the widest range of invertebrates published to date from the Antarctic intertidal zone. We found significant differences in levels of cold
Aim To describe the distribution of biodiversity and biogeographical patterns of intertidal organ... more Aim To describe the distribution of biodiversity and biogeographical patterns of intertidal organisms in southern temperate and polar waters. We hypothesized that there would be differences in community structure between the Antarctic, which is most affected by ice, and the Sub-Antarctic and other neighbouring regions. We also hypothesized that rafting and West Wind Drift will be the significant drivers of biogeographical patterns. Additionally, the size, age, isolation, volcanic or glacial history of a region and the presence of large, beach dwelling, mammals and birds would all play a role in determining the level of biodiversity observed. Location South Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans and the Southern Ocean. Methods We examined all available intertidal records from the Antarctic and Sub-Antarctic with additional data from neighbouring regions for comparison and context. We compiled 3902 occurrences of 1416 species of high southern latitude intertidal organisms from 229 locations and used PRIMER 6 to perform multivariate statistical analyses. Results The Antarctic and Sub-Antarctic are shown to be distinct biogeo-graphical regions, with patterns driven by a small number of widely distributed species. These wide-ranging molluscs and macroalgae dominate the biogeo-graphical structure of the Southern Ocean intertidal, most likely as a result of rafting in the Antarctic Circumpolar Current. East Antarctic intertidal habitats are potentially isolated by the Ross and Weddell Sea ice shelves but represent a great unknown in this biogeographical scheme. Main Conclusions The view that the Antarctic intertidal is a lifeless desert does not hold true, with Antarctic Peninsula intertidal communities being richer and more diverse than those in southern South America and the Sub-Antarctic islands. Changing conditions in the Antarctic and Sub-Antarctic intertidal mean that a representative baseline is needed (acquired through standardized and quantitative sampling) to assess future changes and to detect any invasive species.
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