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Dr. Léa Cabrol and Nayla Serey are traveling from Iceland to northeastern Greenland aboard the Le Commandant Charcot.

Until October 14, two women scientists from the BASE Millennium Institute will take part in a new scientific expedition to the Arctic Ocean. The third campaign will travel from Iceland to northeastern Greenland, including the Svalbard archipelago and Tromsø, Norway. The expedition aims to collect new data on microbial communities, environmental gradients, and the methane cycle.

Against the backdrop of climate change and the global biodiversity crisis, studying the rapidly changing polar oceans provides valuable insights into how microorganisms respond to different environmental conditions. This challenge has brought together national and international institutions through the Millennium Institute for Antarctic and Sub-Antarctic Ecosystem Biodiversity (BASE) to study what is known as “less visible biodiversity” and its important role in biogeochemical processes, particularly the methane cycle.

Thus, scientists Dr. Léa Cabrol and doctoral researcher MSc Nayla Serey have embarked on a new expedition aboard the icebreaker Le Commandant Charcot, operated by French company PONANT EXPLORATIONS. The expedition will build on the scientific record gathered during previous campaigns in Arctic and Antarctic waters, while providing new insights into the microbial communities that inhabit these waters.

“We have an extensive record of the Arctic and Antarctic oceans, and this new expedition will allow us to build on it by incorporating areas we have not previously been able to study and increasing the resolution of our sampling. We will also have the opportunity to compare the same geographic area at two different points during the summer season,” says Dr. Léa Cabrol, a researcher at the BASE Millennium Institute.

This expedition aims to gather new data on microbial communities, environmental gradients, and the methane cycle.

The 2026 campaign will build on two previous Arctic expeditions. The first took place in 2024, with a route toward the North Pole, while in 2025 the team sailed from Reykjavík to northeastern Greenland. This time, the expedition will depart from Iceland, continue toward northeastern Greenland, and pass-through Svalbard before concluding in Tromsø, Norway.

The new route will expand the geographic coverage of the sampling effort and include areas that could not be studied during the previous campaign. In particular, it will cross several oceanographic fronts—zones where the physicochemical properties of the water, such as temperature, salinity, and nutrient concentrations, change dramatically over just a few kilometers. These areas serve as key natural laboratories for better understanding how environmental change affects the marine microbial world.

During the expedition, the scientists will continuously collect surface seawater samples and also sample water at different depths using the oceanographic equipment available on board. They will also have access to sea-ice platforms, allowing them to study the microorganisms living in the ice and in the water beneath it as the ice melts. On board, the scientists will use the ship’s laboratories to process the samples, filter water, and measure dissolved methane.

This is the third expedition the team of female scientists has conducted in the Arctic.

Back in their laboratory in Santiago, Chile, the scientists will extract genetic material from the samples to study the composition and function of microbial communities using next-generation sequencing. The data collected during the expedition will also contribute to Nayla Serey’s doctoral research, adding new observations on microbial communities and their relationship with environmental conditions. In this way, the campaign will add a new dataset to the record established during the 2024 and 2025 expeditions, allowing the team to continue investigating how these parameters vary across the Arctic Ocean.

“Taking part in a new Arctic expedition is a privilege as an early-career researcher. Our scientific data are the result of international collaborative work, and I believe they can make a significant contribution to my doctoral thesis”, says Nayla Serey. Her thesis, “Prokaryotic Communities Associated with the Methane Cycle in Polar Oceans: Diversity, Functional Potential, and Response to Environmental Change,” developed in collaboration with Dr. Léa Cabrol and Dr. Julieta Orlando, examines how microbial communities respond to environmental changes in the polar oceans and how these changes influence their role in the methane cycle in these regions.

During the expedition, the researchers were able to witness the famous Northern Lights, which are characteristic of the planet’s northern hemisphere.

The temporal comparison will be one of the key elements in complementing the data collected in 2024 and 2025. While those expeditions took place at the beginning of the summer season, the 2026 campaign will be conducted later in the season. “Even when sampling takes place in similar geographic areas, environmental conditions can vary depending on the time of year when the samples are collected,” the scientists explain.

A vital scientific connection

The study region encompasses a connection between the Arctic and Atlantic oceans, where fronts form as different water masses interact. In these areas, the team will be able to observe variations in parameters such as temperature, salinity, and nutrient concentrations, and examine how these environmental gradients relate to the composition and distribution of microbial communities. To this end, samples will be collected for microbiological analyses, while methane measurements will be carried out using specialized equipment.

Back in their laboratory, the scientists will extract genetic material from the samples to study the composition and function of the microbial communities.

“We want to study how microbial communities vary along these environmental gradients in the polar oceans and how they are linked to the methane cycle. The new sampling sites will allow us to complement the information we already have and observe these variations across a broader geographic scale,” Nayla Serey emphasizes.

Methane is a potent greenhouse gas whose atmospheric concentration has increased exponentially over the past century. Microorganisms are primarily responsible for both its production and consumption, acting as key regulators of the global climate. The role of the ocean as a source or sink of methane is not yet fully understood, particularly in highly dynamic polar regions such as the Arctic and Southern oceans. It is therefore critical to assess the methane emission and uptake potential of these oceans across broad environmental gradients and over multiple years, and to identify the microorganisms that regulate this cycle.

The expedition is taking place against a backdrop of changes observed across different components of the Arctic system. According to the Arctic Report Card 2025, published by the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), sea surface temperatures in nearly all ice-free regions of the Arctic Ocean during August have shown an increasing trend since 1982, with an average rise of approximately 0.3°C per decade north of 65°N.

This third Arctic oceanographic campaign by the BASE Millennium Institute strengthens comparative research across the two polar oceans and expands the presence of Chilean science in international polar research.

 

Source and photographs: Communications Office, BASE Millennium Institute, Chile.

 

As part of its participation in the 61st Antarctic Scientific Expedition (ECA61) of INACH, the team from the UC Molecular Biodiversity Laboratory, led by Dr. Juliana Vianna, crossed the Antarctic Circle to enhance the surveillance and monitoring of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (H5N1) in the frozen continent.

Punta Arenas.—Under strict biosecurity measures and in coordination with the Chilean Antarctic Institute (INACH), the Chilean Navy, Army, and Air Force, scientists Dr. Fabiola León, Claudia Ulloa, and Carolina Márquez embarked on their scientific journey aboard the Betanzos vessel, operated by DAP. Their mission is to collect samples and conduct laboratory analyses as part of their work at the UC Molecular Biodiversity Laboratory, led by Dr. Juliana Vianna (BASE/CRG, Lili, UC Institute for Sustainable Development), in collaboration with the Millennium Institute BASE.

“After successfully detecting positive cases of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (H5N1) in Antarctica during the ECA60 expedition of INACH in January 2024, we have been working diligently to analyze samples and coordinate research teams studying birds such as penguins, cormorants, and skuas in Antarctica,” says Dr. Juliana Vianna, a Ph.D. in Biological Sciences with a specialization in Ecology and a faculty member at UC.

The Antarctic scientist, who also serves as the deputy director of the Millennium Institute CRG, highlights the importance of studying wildlife health in Antarctica due to the connectivity between species and the continent’s crucial role in global ecosystem balance. “The migration and movement of species can influence the spread of avian influenza, potentially increasing mortality rates. This underscores the importance of continuing field studies to monitor affected areas and species,” emphasizes Dr. Vianna.

The scientific work with birds in Antarctica aims to strengthen the surveillance and monitoring of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (H5N1).

Throughout 2023-2024, the collection and analysis of samples in Antarctica were coordinated by researchers Dr. Fabiola León (UC/BASE/CRG, Lili) and Eduardo Pizarro (UC/BASE/CRG), with international support from the vessel Le Commandant Charcot, operated by Ponant Cruises. In 2025, the research is being conducted aboard the Betanzos vessel, part of the DAP group, reaching beyond the Antarctic Circle into the so-called “deep Antarctica,” specifically in Lagotellerie Island and Aves Island in Margarita Bay.

“Our field experience has been essential in ensuring safe and rigorous scientific work under strict biosecurity measures. It is important to highlight that our campaigns cover a wide geographic range and are conducted at different times of the season, allowing for surveillance over a timeline that helps determine the status of avian influenza at various stages of the nesting season for both flying and non-flying birds,” says Dr. Fabiola León. Her research has taken her to sample emperor, Adélie, gentoo, and king penguins in locations such as Snow Hill Island, Danger Islands, Red Rock Ridge, Cape Hallett, and Sims Island.

Essential biosecurity measures

The “Prevention and Control Protocol for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in Antarctica,” issued by the Chilean Antarctic Institute (INACH), aligns with international recommendations from the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR). These biosecurity measures apply to all expeditions taking place from January to March 2025 in Antarctica and follow the “One Health” guidelines for preserving the health of the unique and fragile Antarctic ecosystem.

“The study of avian influenza and its evolution is essential for understanding viral dynamics and global public health. At our Millennium Institute BASE, we are committed to scientific excellence, working rigorously and collaboratively to address this constantly evolving phenomenon. High-quality science not only allows us to obtain accurate results but also provides the necessary tools to anticipate and mitigate risks associated with the spread of infectious diseases,” states Dr. Elie Poulin, director of the Millennium Institute for Antarctic and Sub-Antarctic Ecosystem Biodiversity.

As part of these protective efforts, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) plays a crucial role. As indicated by the Chilean Institute of Public Health (ISP), PPE includes specialized gear, apparatus, or devices designed to protect the body—either partially or entirely—from specific risks. These measures help prevent occupational diseases, reduce accidents, and minimize their impacts.

Researchers Fabiola León, Claudia Ulloa, and Carolina Márquez wear biosecurity suits for sample collection in Antarctica.

The Millennium Institute BASE/UC/CRG research team emphasizes that in Antarctica, the use of masks, gloves, and coveralls protects both people and the living organisms inhabiting the region. “Introducing new pathogens from humans to birds and mammals or unintentionally transporting and spreading them from healthy colonies to other locations is a critical concern that requires extreme caution,” they note. Additionally, pre- and post-sampling cleaning of equipment before entering any area is a mandatory part of the daily protocol during field expeditions.

“Highly pathogenic avian influenza is a major concern within the international scientific community,” states Dr. Ricardo Jaña, head of INACH’s Scientific Department. “A special group has been organized to gather and analyze evidence across different Antarctic research sites, establishing an information system through reports,” he adds.

Jaña highlights that this effort extends beyond Chile, as other countries are also contributing data from their research expeditions. “South Korea has recently reported findings in the Fildes Peninsula area, and Chile, through its campaign in Margarita Bay, has also documented cases from different bird populations,” he notes.

INACH’s Scientific Department head and expert in Natural Resources/Glaciology affirms that “this concern extends beyond Antarctica.” “In the local region, a working group led by the Ministry of Agriculture has been established, with our colleague Marcelo González serving as an institutional representative,” he concludes.

Through tools such as infographics and specialized publications, the Chilean Antarctic Institute has provided guidelines and recommendations, which can be downloaded from https://www.inach.cl/expedicion-antartica/protocolo-influenza-aviar/.

Blood Sample Analysis in Penguins Helps Study Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (H5N1)

The early detection and epidemiological surveillance of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in the Antarctic Peninsula are being led by various virology and wildlife teams from the Chilean Antarctic Institute’s National Antarctic Science Program (PROCIEN). Since 2024, two avian influenza testing laboratories have been operating at Escudero Base and O’Higgins Base to support areas of national and international interest and establish connections with the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) programs.

This initiative is complemented by Antarctic governance actions, where Chile is leading an intersessional contact group under the Antarctic Treaty on Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza. This group includes, for example, Dr. Luis Valentín Ferrada, a professor at the University of Chile and researcher at the Millennium Institute BASE.

A joint effort between universities, top-tier research institutes, and Antarctic operators underscores the significance of collaborative work and scientific research in Antarctica to understand and mitigate the risks associated with avian diseases in this unique region.

 

 

By: Nadia Politis
Photographs: Constanza Barrientos/Millennium Institute BASE

Aboard the French research vessel Le Soléal (Ponant Cruises) collaborative effort between PhD. Claudio González-Wevar (UACh/BASE/IDEAL) and Professor Hamish G. Spencer (University of Otago) combines expertise in molecular genomics, evolutionary biology, and biogeography to investigate the distribution, diversity, and evolutionary history of molluscs in the Southern Ocean’s unique and understudied ecosystems. The expedition aims to advance the understanding of subantarctic molluscs through detailed collection and study.

Marking their tenth expedition, the BASE Millennium Institute and Ponant Cruises continue groundbreaking research, this time on Macquarie, Stewart and Auckland Islands, led by PhD. González-Wevar, head of the Laboratory of Antarctic and Subantarctic Molecular Genomics and Ecology (LAGEMAS-UACh). The project is also strengthened by the expertise of Professor Hamish G. Spencer, Sesquicentennial Distinguished Professor from the Department of Zoology at the University of Otago, New Zealand. Together, the team focuses on sampling and analyzing intertidal ecosystems, highlighting the importance of these islands, which host key study groups such as mollusc species Nacella (e.g., terroris, macquariensis), Laevilitorina (e.g., mcphersonae, venusta), and Margarella (e.g., violacea, macquariensis), among others.

The scientific work involves sampling from the subantarctic intertidal zone. Image: Hamish Spencer

“The participation of PhD. Hamish Spencer from the University of Otago has been invaluable. His expertise enabled us to access Stewart Island and collect specimens for our studies”, González-Wevar adds. The expedition covers rare and remote locations, including Traills Bay, the Auckland Islands in New Zealand, and Macquarie Island in Australia. These areas offer unparalleled opportunities for understanding biodiversity and ecological dynamics.

Professor Hamish G. Spencer, underscores the significance of the research: “The biogeography of the Southern Ocean is fascinating and yet understudied. Nevertheless, we have long understood that the world’s strongest oceanic current, the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC), is the major physical player in the distribution of organisms in the subantarctic. In a long-standing collaboration with Professor Claudio González-Wevar of BASE, I am interested in understanding how long-distance dispersal in the ACC has shaped the marine biodiversity around the shores of the Southern Ocean. We have used molluscs as our model organisms and have previously collaborated on projects about limpets (Nacella and Siphonaria), topshells (Margarella), and periwinkles (Laevilacunaria and Laevilitorina)”.

Spencer elaborates on the mission’s goals: “We now want to expand our work to include more populations and species from the New Zealand and Australian subantarctic islands (Auckland, Campbell and Macquarie). These islands are especially important because they have acted as refugia for some species during past Ice Ages. We are aiming on this cruise to collect samples of all of the above genera, as well as some others for new projects (e.g., the bivalve Gaimardia). Our preliminary work on some of these groups suggests that there has been significant evolutionary radiation in this region, even though it is connected by long-distance dispersal to Patagonia, the Antarctic Peninsula, and the subantarctic islands in the Atlantic and Indian sectors”.

The Auckland and Campbell Islands (New Zealand) and Macquarie Island (Australia) are key sites for scientific research.

 

A Partnership Driving Scientific Excellence

Since 2022, the collaboration between the BASE Millennium Institute and Ponant Cruises has paved the way for groundbreaking research. “This partnership allows us to conduct more and better science while strengthening ties with world-class research teams”, says PhD. Elie Poulin, director of the BASE Millennium Institute.

PhD. Claudio González-Wevar and Phd. Hamish Spencer embarking on a subantarctic expedition.
Image: C. González-Wevar

Together with Dr. Spencer, González-Wevar delves into population genetics, phenotypic plasticity, phylogenetics, and the unique characteristics of New Zealand molluscs. The Auckland, Campbell, and Macquarie Islands are pivotal to their work, particularly Macquarie Island, which UNESCO declared a World Heritage site in 1997. This island’s geological significance, as the only location where mantle rocks are exposed above sea level, underscores its importance for scientific inquiry.

Professor Spencer concludes: “The ultimate goal of our work is to explain the origin of intertidal and nearshore Southern Ocean biodiversity, especially the range of evolutionary outcomes, from widespread species to island-group endemics”.

UNESCO highlights New Zealand’s subantarctic islands as biodiversity hotspots where Antarctic and subtropical waters converge, fostering high marine productivity and unique ecosystems. “These islands boast significant endemism, especially among birds, plants, and invertebrates”, the organization points. This biodiversity underscores the global significance of research conducted by González-Wevar and his team.

 

By: Nadia Politis, BASE Millennium Institute

Main picture: French vessel Le Soléal, operated by Ponant Cruises. By Hamish Spencer.

The Institute of Biodiversity of Antarctic and Subantarctic Ecosystems calls for a public competition for a postdoctoral position in Environmental DNA, Metabarcoding and Metagenomics for biodiversity research in Antarctic and sub-Antarctic areas. Chileans or foreigners may apply. The postdoctoral fellow will join the research team “Biodiversity Observatory”, along with providing transversal support to the research of other groups of the institute. The place of performance is preferably in Punta Arenas, Region of Magallanes and Chilean Antarctica.

This line of research seeks to improve knowledge of Antarctic and sub-Antarctic biodiversity through the characterization and monitoring of marine and terrestrial ecosystems to detect significant changes in macro and microorganism communities because of anthropogenic climate change, using advanced technologies such as environmental DNA analysis (eDNA), metabarcoding and metagenomics.

The researcher will design, develop, and implement bioinformatics workflows to process and analyze massive sequencing data, with special emphasis on metabarcoding and metagenomics methodologies. The researcher will participate in the study of samples previously available in the laboratory and in obtaining new samples through field expeditions. The requirements are to have the academic degree of PhD in accredited national programs or their foreign equivalents, in disciplines related to the required profile: ecology, evolutionary biology, microbiology, or related disciplines, and availability to start working preferably from May 2025.

The documents to be submitted for the application are:

  • Doctorate degree certificate (a simple photocopy is accepted for application, the selected applicants will be asked for the original documents or certificates).
  • Curriculum vitae, highlighting the research carried out, through participation in research projects and published or accepted articles. Include bibliometric indicators such as H index. In addition, include a link to a personal academic portal such as ORCID and/or Google Scholar.
  • A letter of intent
  • Two letters of recommendation

In the event that the selected researcher is a foreign national, he/she must prove residence in the country through a permanent or temporary residence visa or a document that proves the application for a permanent visa with work authorization at the start date of the project. It is also possible to consider a student visa with work authorization. To do so, they must send the document that accredits it and a valid identity card for foreigners. If the selected researcher has a temporary visa, he/she must send the document that accredits him/her and a valid identity card for foreigners. If he/she has permanent residence, he/she must submit the latter document. In qualified cases, the relevance of other visas will be analyzed. The processing of the contract will be subject to the presentation of the aforementioned documents.

Bases and information regarding this competition are available at this link as of January 2025. The submission of background information must be made through the e-mail administracion@institutobase.cl and the deadline is March 31, 2025. The final decision regarding the award of the postdoctoral positions will be made by the Council of Principal Investigators of the ICN2021_002 project, during April 2025.

 

From October 24 to 26, 2023, more than a hundred scientific teams will meet at the Teaching and Research Assistance Center of the University of Magallanes (CADI-UMAG). Human footprints in Antarctica, biotechnology, climate change and international Antarctic law are part of the event’s themes.

Punta Arenas, June 2, 2023.- With the motto “Interdiscipline, Science and Future Scenarios”, researchers from all over Chile will meet from October 24 to 26 in Punta Arenas to exchange their advances in polar science and their challenges for the next years.

The eleventh version of the Chilean Congress of Antarctic Research, which after 19 years is once again taking place in this southern city, will also include tables on Antarctic Scientific Communication, Women in Antarctic Science and a keynote talk open to the public. In this way, the most important meeting of Chilean polar knowledge recovers its face-to-face character after the COVID-19 pandemic forced the previous version to be done virtually in 2021.

The State of the Antarctic ecosystem; Antarctic Thresholds: Ecosystem Resilience and Adaptation; Climate change in Antarctica; Astronomy and Earth Sciences; Biotechnology; Human footprints in Antarctica, and Social Sciences and Humanities are the lines of study that converge in the National Antarctic Science Program, administered by the Chilean Antarctic Institute (INACH), with the aim of developing areas of particular national and international interest and establishing links to the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) programmes. In the same way, it guides the financing priorities of the competitive funds. All this universe of topics and interested parties will meet in the city that is the gateway to the White Continent.

The XI Chilean Congress of Antarctic Research is organized by INACH, the Millennium Biodiversity Institute of Antarctic and Subantarctic Ecosystems (BASE Millennium Institute) and the Scientific Committee for Antarctic Research. Registration can be done on the site https://www.inach.cl/xicongresoantartico/ .

In parallel, the “V Chilean Conference on Antarctic Law: Relationship between the Antarctic Treaty System and other international regimes” will be held, promoting multi and interdisciplinarity in polar studies. The meeting will take place on October 24 and 25, in a hybrid manner. Papers and articles will be received that, preferably, address political-legal issues regarding the relationship between the Antarctic Treaty System and the other international regimes that eventually apply or may apply in the Sixth Continent or in the Southern Ocean, such as the Agreement on the Conservation of Biodiversity beyond the Areas of National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) or the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), among others. Abstract submission is available until August 18.

Researchers from the Millennium Institute of Biodiversity of Antarctic and Subantarctic Ecosystems (BASE), Dr. Juliana Vianna and Dr. Fabiola León, became the first Latin American group of scientists to obtain Emperor penguin samples after returning from an international Antarctic campaign that reached the remote Larsen B ice shelf.

Santiago, April 25, 2023 – An international expedition that ventured into deep Antarctica, together with a meticulous work plan, were the ingredients for the researchers from Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, PhD. Juliana Vianna and PhD. Fabiola León, to become the first Latin American scientists who -from Chile- obtained emperor penguin samples, after a 15-day Antarctic campaign to the inhospitable Weddell Sea.

Researchers from the Millennium Institute BASE in the field. Image: M. Institute BASE/ N. Politis

“It was an important preparation work, which began with a monitoring of the scientific work that has been carried out worldwide on emperor penguins, together with the field work, which required walking for several hours on a floating ice platform in the so-called East Antarctic in the Atlantic Ocean”, emphasizes PhD. Juliana Vianna, professor at the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, researcher at the Millennium Institute BASE, and also alternate director of the Center for Genome Regulation (CRG).

Sub-zero temperatures, strict biosafety protocols and walks of more than five hours on the ice were part of the work carried out by both UC scientists in Antarctica. The challenge consisted in taking blood samples from four adult emperor penguins (Aptenodytes forsteri), information that will be analyzed in the coming months in Santiago, thanks to state-of-the-art analysis methodologies that will be developed by scientific teams of the Laboratory of Molecular Biodiversity of the UC Faculty of Biological Sciences. The results will allow us to know details of the genetic and evolutionary history of the emperor penguins, and how this species faces the Climate Change in the Antarctic continent.Years of penguin research

“The results of this expedition will complement the work we have been doing for several years on the genetics of penguins such as the Southern Yellow Tufted (Eudyptes chrysocome), Gentoo (Pygoscelis papua) and Adelie (Pygoscelis adeliae),” says Vianna Ph.D., also a researcher at the UC Institute for Sustainable Development and the LiLi Millennium Nucleus.

Emperor penguin. Image: M. Institute BASE/ N. Politis

“Our work, a pioneer in the field of scientific research with emperor penguins carried out from Chile, included strict biosecurity protocols – such as the use of masks, goggles and gloves – and also took care not to disturb the emperors, which are not accustomed to human presence in these remote latitudes,” says PhD. Fabiola León, research assistant at the Millennium Institute BASE.

Adult emperor penguins can weigh between 20 and 45 kilos, and can exceed 120 cm in height. The blood samples were obtained from the birds’ feet through a procedure that lasted between four to five minutes, and ended with a small water-based dye mark on the penguins’ chests, which allowed the scientists to identify the species to be studied.

During the weeks that the research team was in the deep Antarctic, PhD. Juliana Vianna and PhD. Fabiola León, together with the support of Julieta Orlando Ph.D from University of Chile and Fabiola León Ph.D, were able to identify the species to be studied. Julieta Orlando from the University of Chile, and the logistic team of the French companies SEDNA Expeditions and Ponant, took samples of Adelie penguin (Pygoscelis adeliae), Antarctic tern (Sterna vittata) and Antarctic cormorant (Leucocarbo bransfieldensis) in the framework of the International Scientific Collaboration Expedition: Weddell Sea and Larsen B Ice Shelf, carried out by the Millennium Institute BASE and scientists from France, United Kingdom and United States at the beginning of this year.

Researchers from the Millennium Institute BASE in the field. Image: M. Institute BASE/ N. Politis

The polar researchers emphasize the importance of collaboration and interdiscipline, anticipating that during this year the penguins will continue to make news from Chile: “Between September 4 and 9 the entire scientific community will meet in Viña del Mar as we will hold the XI International Penguin Congress (https://www.penguin-conference.com), which still has some places available“, says PhD. Vianna.

The Millennium Institute of Biodiversity of Antarctic and Subantarctic Ecosystems, also known as Millennium Institute BASE, belongs to the Millennium Science Initiative, a program of the National Research and Development Agency (ANID), belonging to the Ministry of Science, Technology, Knowledge and Innovation of Chile. More information at institutobase.cl/en/

 

Photographs and text: Millennium Institute BASE

Punta Arenas, April 3, 2023.- Chinstrap penguins, during their reproductive period, feed almost exclusively on krill. But, what will happen to them if the availability of their main food is affected by environmental conditions such as rising temperatures, reduced sea ice and lower marine productivity? Will it negatively impact their populations, their reproduction and, consequently, in their young?

Some answers are contained in a recent study published in Scientific Reports, one of the most important science magazines on the planet, in which researchers from the Scientific Department of the Chilean Antarctic Institute (INACH), Francisco Santa Cruz, Lucas Krüger and César Cárdenas participated, these last two are also members of the Millennium Institute for Biodiversity of Antarctic and Sub-Antarctic Ecosystems (BASE).

Field works. INACH image.

The importance of this article lies in being one of the few works that directly relates food availability, feeding behaviors of a marine predator (chinstrap penguin) and evaluation of environmental parameters. “There are almost no studies linking in a synchronized manner the satellite tracking of marine predators, the acoustic abundance of krill, and satellite environmental information. Even more important is having achieved it during several consecutive campaigns; this allowed us to generate a time series with which we were able to answer key questions. Chile is one of the first countries to achieve this in Antarctica”, says Francisco Santa Cruz, one of the authors of the letter.

In simple words, everything is connected: the amount of sea ice influences the oceanic primary productivity when it melts in spring-summer and, consequently, there is less availability of krill that chinstrap penguins feed on. “The penguins in the study area have adapted in such a way that they synchronize the birth of their chicks with these increases in productivity that are more or less cyclical and predictable. When environmental variations cause oceanic productivity peaks to change in space or time, penguins are probably not able to maintain the same chick survival rates. This is what our results indicated for the colony we have studied”, explains Dr. Lucas Krüger, a specialist in Antarctic birds.

To reach these conclusions, different sampling techniques were combined, such as transects in the INACH Karpuj scientific boat, penguin tracking with GPS devices and TDR depth sensors, as well as aerial photographs taken with a drone. “Thanks to scientific platforms such as Karpuj, we have been able to collect important acoustic data on krill, in order to be able, together with satellite data, to help understand bird feeding patterns and how these are influenced by the environment in the face of changes in krill availability. ”, expressed Dr. César Cárdenas.

The work focused specifically on Punta Armonía, Nelson Island (South Shetland Islands) in the INACH Antarctic Scientific Expeditions of the years 2019-2020 (ECA 56) and 2021-2022 (ECA 58). On the island there is a Specially Protected Antarctic Zone (ASPA), where the environment is protected from human presence in activities such as tourism and intensive research. “In this case, we only focused on Nelson Island, because it is the site where we have been monitoring since 2019, we also took acoustic data to estimate the abundance off the island, which helped to carry out a more complete study that did not it only includes the satellite tracking of the birds”, mentions Cárdenas.

Preliminary results indicate that this population has been reduced by more than half, following the reduction values that were presented in another study, but it remains an important colony of chinstrap penguins in the South Shetland Islands.

In this sense, the study that has just been published is connected to other previous research published by Krüger at the beginning of March, where it is suggested that the increase in the frequency of years of low krill availability due to the increase in winter temperatures , could eventually explain the population trends that are verified in the northernmost areas of the Antarctic peninsula. However, it will be necessary to verify if this phenomenon is repeated in more colonies for this hypothesis to be accepted.

The importance of Marine Protected Areas

For Dr. César Cárdenas, this study is a new piece to the puzzle of the work carried out in the INACH Marine Protected Areas Program and also the annual monitoring that has been carried out at Punta Armonía since 2019. This type of study highlights the importance of protecting The antartica. “The environment is changing, so it is necessary to improve our knowledge of how organisms behave and how they are affected by environmental changes, which will increase in the future according to climate change projections,” he points out.

These INACH researchers are working on a proposal for a Marine Protected Area (AMP) for Domain 1 (Antarctic Peninsula), a tool for ocean conservation and to safeguard biodiversity and manage fisheries, while restoring and preserving the ecosystem function, which is strongly challenged by climate change.

Francisco Santa Cruz and Lucas Krüger in INACH’s Karpuj boat. INACH image.

The MPA for Domain 1 is critical to prevent another driver of krill decline, such as fisheries, from having an additional impact, eventually reducing the ability of chinstrap penguins to adapt to changes in their environment. For example, in periods of low krill availability, fisheries could prevent them from being caught and still available to penguins.

Nuria Salmerón and Solenne Belle also participated in the scientific article “Environmental changes generate less availability of Antarctic krill, affecting the reproduction of chinstrap penguins in the Antarctic Peninsula”, who completed their master’s thesis in 2022 at INACH by the International Master of Science in Marine Biological Resources (IMBRSea), from the University of Ghent, Belgium. As authors, the contribution of Nicolás Alegría from the Fisheries Research Institute (Inpesca), Júlia Gronmann Finger, Denyelle Hennayra Cora and María Virginia Petry from the Ornithology and Marine Animals Laboratory of the University of Vale do Rio dos Sinos (UNISINOS) and Cristina Hernandez from the University of Magallanes.

 

By: Chilean Antarctic Institute (INACH)

Main image: Francisco Santa Cruz

The directors of both centers of the National Agency for Research and Development (ANID) will meet on March 16 to share their experiences diving in Antarctic waters, and as part of a collaborative international expedition.

Monday, March 13, 2023.- “Let’s dive into Antarctica?: experiences and learning from an international scientific expedition to the Weddell Sea”, is the title of the virtual discussion organized by the Millennium Institute for Biodiversity of Antarctic and Subantarctic Ecosystems (BASE) and the Millennium Nucleus for the Ecology and Conservation of Temperate Mesophotic Reef Ecosystems (NUTME). The event will be broadcast on digital platforms of both institutions, on Thursday, March 16 at 6:00 p.m.

At the meeting, the Director of the Millennium Institute BASE, Dr. Elie Poulin, will share views on diving and science, together with the Director of the Millennium Nucleus NUTME, Alejandro Pérez-Matus, who for 15 days were part of an international scientific expedition that took them through the inhospitable Larsen B platform and diving in the depths of the Weddell Sea, in Antarctica.

Moderated by Nadia Politis, a journalist specialized in science and Director of the Communications Department of the Millennium Institute BASE, the guests will discuss technical aspects of diving in icy waters, their personal experiences in the expedition dives they shared in December 2022 and the impact that diving has on science.

The event has the support of the University of Chile, the Faculty of Biological Sciences of the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, the Subtidal Ecology Laboratory SUBELAB, U-Antártica, the Association of Young Polar Scientists (APECS-Chile), and the Antarctic Youth Coalition of Punta Arenas (AYC-PUQ).

 

You can access the YouTube channel of the Millennium Institute BASE here.

 

Punta Arenas, March 1, 2023.- Nearly 60% of the world population of chinstrap penguins (Pygoscelis antarcticus) reproduce in the Antarctic Peninsula and its northernmost maritime islands (South Shetland Islands and Orkney Islands), an emblematic species of the White Continent that has experienced a dramatic decline of about 30% of its population in just three generations.

This categorical data is part of a study carried out by the researcher of the Chilean Antarctic Institute (INACH) and the Millennium Institute BASE, PhD. Lucas Krüger and recently published by the specialized magazine Diversity, where it also reveals that in a period of 40 to 50 years , 62% of the colonies (groups of penguins) suffered declines greater than 50%.

He also warns that these conditions already mentioned (30% decrease in three generations), would place it in the category of vulnerability to extinction, according to the criteria used by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

To carry out this elaborate analysis, standardized records and counts of penguins in the Antarctic peninsula for six decades (since 1960) were studied. Likewise, since 2017, an international group of scientists has been dedicated to compiling all the existing information and making it available on a free access platform that is updated every year and that is on the website: https://www. .penguinmap.com/ 

Photography: Chilean Antarctic Institute (INACH)

 

Possible causes of the decrease

The dramatic levels of decline in these populations are added to the fact that the suspected causes are probably not reversible in the short or medium term.

For the rest, there is some controversy in the scientific community regarding the factors that may be leading to the decline in chinstrap penguin populations. Recent evidence suggests that “the most likely reason is the spatiotemporal change in krill abundance in the northern part of the Antarctic Peninsula due to warming and winter sea ice retreat. It is also probable that other factors act together, mainly associated with climate change, affecting the survival of the nestlings in the breeding colonies and of the juveniles in their first year of life”, declares Lucas Krüger.

Other relevant hypotheses are related to the recovery of whale populations, which are also important consumers of Antarctic krill, in addition to the increase in krill fisheries in Antarctica. “These factors could have contributed to population dynamics, although evidence suggests this could only occur when there are years of low krill abundance”, he adds.

Photography: Chilean Antarctic Institute (INACH)

 

Projections

The INACH researcher explains that the models that have projected changes in the ecosystem of the Antarctic Peninsula in the face of different environmental scenarios indicate that current decline trends should be followed up.

“But at the same time, it is complex and difficult with the current knowledge that is available, to give an accurate estimate of the future of the species. For now, we can say that in the recent past the populations have declined considerably, and could be put at risk if the trends continue. Better understanding how this species relates to rapid environmental changes in the Antarctic Peninsula is critical,” he says.

The Antarctic Peninsula is one of the areas of the planet that has suffered the most rapidly from the effects of global warming in recent years and these changes are of great concern to scientists around the world.

The INACH is a technical body of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with full autonomy in everything related to Antarctic matters of a scientific, technological and dissemination nature. INACH complies with the National Antarctic Policy by encouraging the development of excellent research, effectively participating in the Antarctic Treaty System and related forums, strengthening Magallanes as the gateway to the White Continent and carrying out actions to disseminate Antarctic knowledge among citizens. .

 

Text and images: Chilean Antarctic Institute (INACH)

The director of the Millennium Institute for Biodiversity of Antarctic and Subantarctic Ecosystems (BASE), Dr. Elie Poulin, with the director of the Millennium Nucleus for the Ecology and Conservation of Temperate Mesophotic Reef Ecosystems (NUTME), Dr. Alejandro Pérez-Matus dived in the Weddell Sea, Antarctica, on a 15-day international expedition that took them to the inhospitable Larsen B ice shelf.

Santiago, January 13, 2023.- The exchange of disciplinary experiences, together with the incorporation of new research methodologies, was the objective of the polar expedition carried out between the centers of excellence of the National Agency for Research and Development (ANID); Millennium Institute for Biodiversity of Antarctic and Sub-Antarctic Ecosystems (BASE) and Millennium Nucleus for the Ecology and Conservation of Temperate Mesophotic Reef Ecosystems (NUTME).

Picture of: Millennium I. BASE/ N. Politis

For the director of the BASE Millennium Institute and academic from the University of Chile, Dr. Elie Poulin, the collaboration meant fundamental support in scientific work in the field, and opened up new possibilities for carrying out projects: “In highly demanding conditions, as it is to carry out scientific diving in Antarctica, it is essential to have disciplinary experience that allows operations to be carried out safely and successfully. Therefore, working with NUTME was a fantastic experience, which we hope to be able to repeat again”, he said.

Meanwhile, the director of the Millennium Nucleus for the Ecology and Conservation of Temperate Mesophotic Reef Ecosystems (NUTME), Dr. Alejandro Pérez-Matus, carried out his first polar expedition, diving in waters as low as -1.5°, and incorporating highly complex equipment in the dives: “We carry out sampling of marine invertebrates and fish, having the possibility of using BRUVs (Baited Remote Underwater Video cameras). This allowed us to observe fish and species for longer than during a scuba dive, which is limited by cold to just a few minutes. In addition, we take underwater photographs to characterize the seabed and associated species. Finally, we managed to extract seawater at the depths visited to carry out environmental DNA filtering in the on-board laboratory”, he pointed out.

Picture of: Millennium I. BASE/ D. Ramírez

During the 15-day expedition that both centers of excellence carried out on board the French ship Le Commandant Charcot, and within the framework of an international collaboration between SEDNA Expeditions and the Instituto Milenio BASE, more than 12 dives were made in the cold Weddell Sea, with long hours of daily work.

Marine invertebrates and fish were collected during the dives for genetic studies, along with high-quality photography and video of Antarctic organisms and unexplored underwater environments. Both centers will share their experiences in Antarctica, through scientific dissemination activities that they will announce jointly at https://institutobase.cl and https://nutme.cl

By: Direction of Communications Millennium Institute BASE

Main picture: A. Pérez-Matus