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The capital of the Los Ríos region becomes a crucial place for researching the resistance of Antarctic fish to hypoxia induced by climate change. Alaska researcher PhD. Kristin O’Brien and chilean researcher PhD. Luis Vargas-Chacoff are collaborating to find conservation responses and strategies to this challenge.

PhD. Kristin O’Brien University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF). Photo: BASE Millennium Institute / A. Bertrand.

With 25 years of experience in Antarctic science, PhD. Kristin O’Brien, professor of biology at the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF), arrived in the city of Valdivia – located in the Los Ríos region, Chile – to work with the researcher from the Faculty of Sciences of the University Austral of Chile (UACh), BASE Millennium Institute and IDEAL Center. PhD. Luis Vargas Chacoff. The aim is to study the ability of Antarctic notothenioid fish and their ancestor, Eleginops maclovinus – also known as snook – to cope with hypoxia generated by climate change.

As temperatures rise, the oxygen level in the oceans decreases, and hypoxic events are becoming more frequent and severe in the world’s oceans. To understand how this phenomenon affects them, the research team has focused their attention on the snook, a species located in the Los Ríos region, and which is the closest ancestor to the most abundant group of fish in the Southern Ocean surrounding the frozen continent: the notothenioids.

“To accurately predict the impacts of climate change on Antarctic fish, it is important to understand the ability of their ancestor, E. maclovinus, to cope with climate change. In addition, because this fish has never inhabited the icy waters of the Southern Ocean, by comparing its biology to its Antarctic relatives, we can identify the traits that allowed Antarctic fish to adapt and thrive in their frigid environment”, explains PhD. Kristin O’Brien.

PhD. Luis Vargas-Chacoff and PhD. Kristin O’Brien working at Calfuco Coastal Laboratory UACh. By: BASE Millennium Institute / A. Bertrand.

Through experiments, the team is measuring the minimum amount of oxygen that these fish require to survive, as well as their physiological and biochemical ability to adapt. The research results are expected to show the ability of these animals to resist lack of oxygen as the ocean warms and may reveal new mechanisms to control hypoxia.

“We have different knowledge that complements each other. I highly value PhD. Vargas-Chacoff’s expertise in stress physiology, osmoregulation, and the immune system of fish. It brings to the project knowledge and experience that the other members of the group do not have so that we can better understand the ability of these animals to resist climate change”, says PhD. Kristin O’Brien, who is  also affiliated with the Institute of Arctic Biology at UAF.

PhD. Kristin O’Brien’s visit included the collection of samples and work at the Calfuco Coastal Laboratory, belonging to the Faculty of Sciences of the UACh. “I am tremendously grateful to PhD. Vargas-Chacoff, the Calfuco Coastal Laboratory and UACh for this opportunity to work with them. Daniela Nualart (PhD student in Aquaculture Sciences, BASE Millennium Institute scholarship) and Francisco Dann have been tremendously helpful and important members of our team while working here. We could not have completed our research without them”, she says.

Research team at Calfuco Coastal Laboratory UACh. By: BASE Millennium Institute / A. Bertrand.

For his part, the Doctor of Sciences, Luis Vargas-Chacoff, recently appointed director of the Graduate School of the UACh Faculty of Sciences, states that “the collaboration with PhD. O’Brien and her team is essential to understand how climate change affects Antarctic fish. Our combined knowledge will allow us to gain a more complete understanding. I am grateful for this opportunity to collaborate on such a crucial project for Antarctic science”.

“As a local researcher, I greatly value the opportunity to contribute to this work. Antarctic science is not only carried out in Antarctica itself; it is vital to recognize that regions such as Valdivia play a fundamental role in this field, being able to contribute with scientific and physiological knowledge of different biological models or native species that can be affected by global climate change”, adds the UACh doctoral student, BASE Millennium Institute and IDEAL Center, Daniela Nualart.

The project is funded primarily by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and also features UAF graduate student Augustus Snyder and PhD. Yangfan Zhang of Harvard University.

 

By: Constanza Barrientos Soto

Main image: Research team at Calfuco Coastal Laboratory UACh. By: BASE Millennium Institute / Antonia Bertrand

 

The project led by the BASE Millennium Institute of Chile and the University of Burgundy of Dijon, France, seeks to establish a coastal observation network to identify exotic species present in marine ecosystems and promote international collaboration and knowledge exchange.

Patagonia, Kerguelen islands and the Antarctic peninsula are the regions whose coasts will be monitored by the project led by PhD. Elie Poulin, from the BASE Millennium Institute, and PhD. Thomas Saucède from the University of Burgundy. An initiative financed by the National Research and Development Agency (ANID) and the Evaluation and Guidance Committee of Scientific Cooperation with Chile of the Government of France (ECOS).

The project, which lasts three years (2023-2025), aims to establish an observing network for detection of exotic subantarctic and Antarctic species and monitor marine biodiversity using Autonomous Reef Monitoring Structures (ARMS), through the metabarcoding technique. This molecular technique allows the identification and quantification of species in water and sediment samples based on the DNA present in them.

The director of the BASE Millennium Institute and academic at the University of Chile (UCh), PhD. Elie Poulin, points out that “these species, introduced by human activities in non-native ecosystems, can have negative consequences on biodiversity and pristine ecosystems. The initiative seeks to improve understanding of the presence and potential impacts of these species through extensive monitoring in key areas. The project hypothesis states that many of these exotic species do not survive underwater winter temperatures, which keeps them unknown in conventional biodiversity records”.

The ECOS-ANID project “Monitoring of subantarctic alien species in Antarctic Peninsula: setting-up a network of nearshore observing systems in Patagonia, Kerguelen and Antarctica”, has a team of professionals from different regions of Chile and France. From the BASE Millennium Institute: PhD. Karin Gerard (University of Magallanes CIGA UMAG, CHIC, LEMAS), PhD. Angie Díaz Lorca (University of Concepción), Carolina Pérez Troncoso (master’s student at the University of Magallanes), Sebastián Rosenfeld (doctoral student at the University of Chile, CHIC, Apecs Chile) and Erwan Courville (University of Burgundy), From the Sorbonne University, with PhD. Cyrill Gallut.

International collaboration and knowledge exchange

PhD. Thomas Saucède has been collaborating for more than ten years with researchers from the BASE Millennium Institute, in biogeography and phylogeography of marine invertebrates (mollusks, echinoids and fish). Regarding the current project, he points out that “it is a good opportunity to continue collaborating based on our good complementarity in terms of access to the field and to samples throughout the Southern Ocean”.

“It allows us to unite and collaborate in areas such as Patagonia and Antarctica, on the part of the Millennium BASE Institute, and in the subantarctic archipelagos of Crozet and Kerguelen, on my part. “We also complement each other in terms of methodology (genetics, genomics, morphology, taxonomy, biogeography, paleontology) to address important questions related to the origin, evolution and sensitivity of marine species to climate changes at the scale of the Southern Ocean in a comprehensive manner”, he adds.

From left to right: Ewan Courville, PhD. Thomas Saucède and PhD. Elie Poulin. Photo: BASE Millennium Institute / Carolina Gajardo

During March 2024, PhD. Thomas Saucède spent two weeks in PhD. Elie Poulin’s laboratory at the UCh, working alongside the doctoral student, Erwan Courville, who develops his thesis under co-tutorship with both researchers. Erwan is doing a phylogenetic and biogeographic study of the sea urchin genus Arbacia.

“This mobility program gives us the opportunity to co-tutor and train master’s and doctoral students between Chile and France in molecular ecology. Erwan Courville is currently completing a comprehensive phylogenetic and biogeographic study of the echinoid genus Arbacia, including the southern species. “We are working on publishing his results and completing his doctoral thesis”, says the Burgundy University academic.

 

By: Carolina Gajardo y Constanza Barrientos

Main image: Karin Gerard

 

The vacancy is available for chileans and foreigners with an academic degree of Doctor in accredited national programs or their foreign equivalents, in disciplines relevant to the required profile. Applications will be open until April 30, 2024.

The Biodiversity Institute of Antarctic and Subantarctic Ecosystems (BASE) seeks to provide a postdoctoral scientific position in Niche Models or Species Distribution Models (SDMs), a call to which Chileans or foreigners can participate to carry out research within the framework of Project ICN2021_002.

Looking for a person, preferably in regions, for biodiversity research in Antarctic and subantarctic areas, with management of software in the field of Geographic Information Systems, preferably ArcGis. In addition, with medium-advanced knowledge of the R language, knowledge of modeling packages and script development.

The submission of background information must be made through the email administracion@institutobase.cl and the deadline expires on April 30, 2024. The final resolution regarding the award of postdoctoral positions will be made by the Council of Principal Researchers of the project in May 2024.

For more details about the contest, review the rules:

PDF bases in English.

PDF Bases in Spanish.

Main image:  BASE Millennium Institute / Pablo Guerrero

Punta Arenas, March 2024.- Earlier this week, Chile announced the detection of positive cases of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (H5N1) in Antarctica, during the LX Antarctic Scientific Expedition (ECA 60) organized by the Institute Chilean Antarctic (INACH).

BASE Millennium Institute team in Antarctica, monitoring penguin colony. Photo: StudioPONANT / Morgane Monneret

For the first time, positive cases of avian flu have been detected in Adelie penguins (Pygoscelis adeliae) and Antarctic shags (Leucocarbo bransfieldensis), marking a milestone in research into the health of wildlife in this territory. This discovery was made by the Millennium Biodiversity Institute of Antarctic and Subantarctic Ecosystems (BASE Millennium Institute) in collaboration with the french company PONANT, with the participation of an international research team led by PhD. Elie Poulin (Universidad de Chile, BASE Millennium Institute) and PhD. Juliana Vianna (Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, BASE Millennium Institute and CGR, Lili, Institute for Sustainable Development UC), in collaboration with PhD. Céline LeBohec, from CNRS, France, and CSM, Monaco, and the Oceanographic Institute of the Albert I Prince of Monaco Foundation (IOM).

The samples were obtained at thirteen breeding sites along the Antarctic Peninsula and the western coast of the White Continent, with international support from the ship Le Commandant Charcot. Following a highly sensitive PCR analysis carried out by PhD. Fabiola León (BASE Millennium Institute, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, CRG, Lili), nine cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1) were detected in penguins and shags, being the first records of these two species in Antarctica.

Adding to this epidemiological surveillance effort is what was carried out near the Czech Johann Gregor Mendel base on James Ross Island by national researchers. An unusual mortality of skuas was reported here in early March, which alerted the team of virologists from the National Antarctic Science Program (Procien) at the Professor Julio Escudero base at INACH. This equipment was transferred aboard the Chilean Navy ship Janequeo to carry out the corresponding sampling. This tuesday, it was finally confirmed that the samples collected returned a positive result for the avian flu virus.

Aerial view of the ship Le Commandant Charcot of the Ponant company. Photo: Ponant

These analyzes are part of the INACH collaborative project “Identification and Characterization of HPAIV H5N1 in Antarctica”, led by PhD. Marcelo González, head of the INACH Scientific Department. The tests were processed at the Escudero base by veterinary doctors specialized in molecular diagnosis, headed by PhD. Víctor Neira, from the Animal Virology Laboratory (FAVET) of the Universidad de Chile.

Since the beginning of monitoring the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus in birds in Antarctica, the Scientific Committee for Antarctic Research (SCAR) has developed a project to monitor the virus in the antarctic and subantarctic territories, a work that is being carried out continuously and systematically from Chile. These findings highlight the importance of collaborative work and scientific research in Antarctica to understand and mitigate the risks associated with avian diseases in the region.

 

By: INACH and BASE Millennium Institute

Main image: Ponant

The alternate director of the Millennium BASE Institute, Julieta Orlando, emphasized the significance of the white continent for the planet, during a keynote talk organized by the Center for Research and Advanced Studies of the Universidad Católica del Maule.

BASE Millenium Institute associate researcher, PhD. Hugo Benítez, and alternate director of the BASE Millennium Institute, PhD. Julieta Orlando. Photo: BASE Millennium I.

“Protecting Antarctic biodiversity is important for humanity”. With this statement, the alternate director of the Millennium BASE Institute, Julieta Orlando, emphasized why the frozen continent is considered the heart of the planet, during a master lecture she gave at the Universidad Católica del Maule (UCM).

“While Antarc tica looks remote and isolated, it is very interconnected. What happens there can affect other latitudes, including permanent human settlements, and therefore the protection of that biodiversity not only takes care of that balance, but also the global one”, said the associate professor of the University of Chile in the activity organized by the Center for Research and Advanced Studies of Maule (CIEAM, in Spanish), belonging to the campus.

The event, which was attended by the dean of the Faculty of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences of the institution, Claudio Fredes, was aimed at commemorating Antarctica Month.

CIEAM Researcher, PhD. Alexis Castillo. Photo: Universidad Católica del Maule

“It is also important to maintain the balance in this territory because there are many resources within the biodiversity that are not yet known but could prove useful in the future”, stated the PhD of Sciences, who has made several contributions to polar research, considers both charismatic and well-known organisms, as well as imperceptible microorganisms that could mitigate climate change.

The scientist has participated in ten expeditions to the southernmost continent in the world, which celebrates its day every November 6, commemorating the milestone established by former President Pedro Aguirre Cerda when he defined the limits of the Chilean Antarctic Territory in 1940.

PhD. Julieta Orlando, alternate director of the BASE Millennium Institute. Photo: BASE Millennium I. / N. Politis

“The Chilean Antarctic Institute, INACH, envisions Antarctica being recognized not just on a specific day, but throughout a whole month, so that all people, even from Arica, Iquique or Antofagasta, can feel that this territory is an integral part of their country and the planet”, she emphasized.

In addition to Orlando, doctors Aparna Banerjee, Alexis Castillo and Felipe Gordillo, as well as the director of CIEAM and researcher at the Millennium BASE Institute, PhD. Hugo Benítez, shared their experiences on the white continent.

“The center has two Antarctic science projects that were awarded two years ago. With this event, we aimed to showcase our high-level research in the Antarctic environment, and invite students to participate of it with internships and doctoral or master’s theses”, said Benítez.

Click here to visit the CIEAM Website

By: Universidad Católica del Maule

Main picture: BASE Millennium I. / N. Politis

 

 

“I came to Chile for an exchange with the Catholic University of Chile (UC), I wanted to live in a country with research networks in Antarctic science. When I arrived, I sent an email to the Association of Polar Early Career Scientists (APECS) of Chile and to my Edinburgh professors with contacts here, looking for an opportunity to get involved with the Antarctic scientific community from APECS Chile, they offered me to visit the Molecular Ecology Laboratory of the University of Chile (Uch).

Emily Gschwind with the doctoral researcher of the BASE Millennium Institute, Sebastián . Photo: BASE Millennium I. / N. Politis.

My name is Emily Gschwind, I am from Germany, but I am studying marine biology at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland, and that is where I first learned about APECS. Antarctica always caught my attention, so when I was in my first year of college and I met one of my professors, who researches microflora in Antarctica, I asked him about opportunities for ecology students and he told me about APECS.

In this exchange I learned a lot, it was the first time I was so far from home, from my family and friends. Arriving without knowing anyone and with a low level of spanish was the most difficult thing I’ve ever done, but also, thanks to it, I was able to learn and grow. I learned to speak spanish, I met friends who were my second family, I learned to adapt to new places and situations, and I was able to travel and get to know Chile, one of the most beautiful and diverse countries in the world. I was also able to explore new interests, such as rock climbing, salsa dancing, and cooking.

I loved living in Santiago, what I liked the most were the new opportunities that the city offers, from culture and history and social movements, to the mountains and the incredible nature that is around. In Santiago there are always new things to explore. Being a mountaineer, I took advantage of how close the mountain range is to the city, and went hiking almost every weekend. I am from Berlin, a very flat place, so the part of living in Santiago that I liked the most was the opportunity to climb hills so frequently.

Emily Gschwind. Photo: BASE Millennium I. / N. Politis.

This experience has motivated me to link my scientific career with Antarctica more than ever, I have always been interested in Antarctic science, and this experience made my dream of working in it a real possibility for me. I am sure that I want to continue with this type of research (marine ecology) in the future, and especially on the white continent. Thanks to this experience I have seen the importance of Antarctic research, and also the great variety of topics that are studied and everything that this work means.

At first I was a little nervous, because it was my first marine biology internship, and my first experience working in a laboratory, but working with Sebastián Rosenfeld and PhD. Elie Poulin has been a great experience. I am very grateful to them for helping me, teaching me and making me feel welcome in the team. I learned a lot and gained a lot of confidence.

Now I plan my scientific career doing ecological research in Antarctica, working in the field. But in the near future, I’m going to finish my final year of undergraduate first, and then I see myself pursuing a master’s and then a PhD in marine ecology, but I’m not sure yet specifically. I would like to do more internships and further explore my interests in marine ecology before deciding. Hopefully in one of these steps I can return to Chile!“

By: Emily Gschwind

—

Emily Gschwind is an undergraduate student at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland and carried out taxonomic identification of shallow molluscs from the Weddell Sea, South Georgia Island and the Falkland/Malvinas islands, within the framework of conducting biodiversity inventories promoted by the BASE Millennium Institute supported by the doctoral researcher and specialist in molluscs PhD. (c) Sebastián Rosenfeld and by the director of the Molecular Ecology Laboratory of the University of Chil, also director of the BASE Millennium Institute, PhD. Elie Poulin.

Main photo: BASE Millennium I. / N. Politis

Five researchers from Punta Arenas, Valdivia and Santiago from the Millennium Institute Biodiversity of Antarctic and Subantarctic ecosystems (BASE) and the Universities of Magallanes, University Austral of Chile, and University of Chile, presented their scientific advances at the prestigious SCAR Biology Symposium held until the 4 August in the city of Christchurch.

Principal investigator Millennium Institute Biodiversity of Antarctic and Subantarctic ecosystems (BASE) and Laboratory of Antarctic and Subantarctic Genomics and Molecular Ecology Laboratory (LAGEMAS), Claudio Gonzalez-Wevar.

More than 300 researchers from 35 different countries, in the first SCAR face-to-face meeting in three years, they were exchanging advances and challenges in science in the city of Christchurch, New Zealand, until the 4 August 2023. The thirteenth version of the SCAR Biology Symposium presented a delegation from the Millennium Institute Biodiversity of Antarctic and Subantarctic ecosystems (BASE)

For the principal researcher of the BASE Millennium Institute, PhD. Claudio González-Wevar, the symposium is a key opportunity to present the latest results obtained from his Fondecyt 1210787 project, including new data on species from New Zealand, Antarctica and South America: “Among the most interesting results is that a species of Laevilitorina (Laevilitorina venusta) is distributed between Antarctica and Macquarie Island (Australia), making it one of the first examples of the same species found on both sides of the Polar Front”, he says.

The associate professor at the Institute of Marine and Limnological Sciences, Faculty of Sciences at the Universidad Austral de Chile, says his results suggest that “Laevilitorina venusta is a model species for physiological studies, as this lineage would have the ability to survive in Antarctic and sub-Antarctic environments. This is part of one of the project’s objectives, and Julia Saravia will develop her postdoctoral project in this area,” says González-Wevar.

PhD. Andrea Piñones, associate researcher Millennium Institute Biodiversity of Antarctic and Subantarctic ecosystems (BASE) and academic Universidad Austral de Chile

On the other hand, the associate researcher of the BASE Millennium Institute and oceanographer PhD. Andrea Piñones, presented the interaction between high frequency physical processes, such as coastal circulation and the impact of the tide, in the generation of biological hotspots in the South Shetland Islands: “Understanding how dynamic oceanographic processes are or could be generating favorable places for Antarctic marine organisms helps us to describe their current state”, says the also researcher of COPAS Coastal and IDEAL Center.

Representing the Chilean chapter of the Association of Polar Early Career Scientist (APECS), Phd. Claudia Maturana, researcher at the BASE Millennium Institute, will present the main results of her postdoc, linked to the connectivity of different populations of a freshwater crustacean (Branchinecta gaini): “We need to understand what the effective dispersal capacity of organisms is in order to predict changes in distribution in the face of the possible effects of climate change,” she says.

Sebastian Rosenfeld, doctoral researcher Millennium Institute Biodiversity of Antarctic and Subantarctic ecosystems (BASE).Vice President of the Association of Polar Young Researchers, APECS Chile, (Association of Polar Early Career Scientist, APECS).

Similarly, the doctoral researcher of the Millennium Institute BASE, CHIC and the GAIA Antarctic Research Center UMAG, Sebastian Rosenfeld, presented the results of his doctoral thesis focused on the global phylogeny of littorinid gastropods, research also conducted in the framework of his INACH project DG-10-22. Rosenfeld, is also Vice-President of ACPECS-Chile and researcher at the Universidad de Magallanes (UMAG), stresses the importance of communicating his research results: “I will show some of the new species we are describing, and also the scenarios we are proposing to explain the current diversity patterns of Laevilacunaria, Pellilitorina and Laevilitorina. In a context of climate change, it is very important to know in detail the biodiversity that currently inhabits Antarctic and Subantarctic environments,” he says.

Claudia Maturana, researcher attached to Millennium Institute Biodiversity of Antarctic and Subantarctic ecosystems (BASE).

Finally, the geneticist and researcher attached to the BASE Millennium Institute and Postdoctoral Fellow of the Austral University of Chile (UACh), Phd. Julia Saravia announced advances focused on two species of high-latitude fish: the notothenids Harpagifer bispinis (Diablito de los canales, sub-Antarctic), and Harpagifer antarcticus (Spiny Pillar) that inhabit Antarctica: “The increase in ocean temperatures due to global climate change combined with the intensification of human activity represents a great challenge for native fish of high latitudes”, says.

The XIII SCAR Biology Symposium took place from August 4, 2023 in New Zealand and brought together hundreds of researchers from all over the world, in matters of acclimatization, adaptation and resistance of Antarctic flora and fauna, ecosystem patterns and processes, molecular ecology, biogeography and biosafety among others. More information in https://www.confer.co.nz/scarbiology2023

Julia Saravia, researcher attached to Millennium Institute Biodiversity of Antarctic and Subantarctic ecosystems (BASE) and Postdoctoral fellow Universidad Austral de Chile (UACh).

SCAR (Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research), established in 1958, is an influential non-governmental organization composed of scientists from various disciplines. Its main objective is to promote, facilitate and coordinate worldwide scientific research in the Antarctic region. Adopting a collaborative approach, SCAR has become a fundamental pillar in advancing knowledge and understanding of the unique ecosystems and phenomena that characterize Antarctica.

 

 

Delegation of BASE Millennium Institute present at XIII SCAR Biology Symposium 2023, New Zealand (until august 4, 2023)

Complete program at: https://www.confer.co.nz/scarbiology2023/programme/

Dr. Claudio González-Wevar (Valdivia)

Principal investigator Millennium Institute Biodiversity of Antarctic and Subantarctic ecosystems (BASE) and Laboratory of Antarctic and Subanthartic Genomics and Molecular Ecology Laboratory (LAGEMAS). Academician of the Australian University of Chile (UACh) and researcher at the Center for Dynamic Research of Marine Ecosystems of High Latitudes (IDEAL).

Dr. Andrea Piñones (Valdivia)

Associate researcher Millennium Institute Biodiversity of Antarctic and Subantarctic ecosystems (BASE) and academic Universidad Austral de Chile and Institute of Marine and Limnological Sciences (UACh). Researcher of COPAS Coastal and Center for Dynamic Research of Marine Ecosystems of High Latitudes (IDEAL).

Dr. Claudia Maturana (Santiago)

Researcher attached to Millennium Institute Biodiversity of Antarctic and Subantarctic ecosystems (BASE) and Cape Horn International Center for Studies of Global Change and Biocultural Conservation, CHIC, (Cape Horn International Center). Member of the Board of Directors of the Association of Young Polar Researchers, APECS Chile, (Association of Polar Early Career Scientist, APECS).

Dr. Julia Saravia (Valdivia)

Researcher attached to Millennium Institute Biodiversity of Antarctic and Subantarctic ecosystems (BASE) and Postdoctoral fellow Universidad Austral de Chile (UACh). Researcher Laboratory of Antarctic and Subantarctic Genomics and Molecular Ecology (LAGEMAS) and Center for Dynamic Research of Marine Ecosystems of High Latitudes (IDEAL).

Sebastián Rosenfeld (Santiago-Punta Arenas)

Doctoral researcher Millennium Institute Biodiversity of Antarctic and Subantarctic ecosystems (BASE). Researcher University of Magallanes (UMAG), the GAIA Antarctic Research Center UMAG and the Cape Horn International Center for Studies of Global Change and Biocultural Conservation, CHIC, (Cape Horn International Center). Vice President of the Association of Polar Young Researchers, APECS Chile, (Association of Polar Early Career Scientist, APECS).

 

Main picture: (Names from left to right) PhD. Claudia Maturana, PhD. Sebastián Rosenfeld, PhD. Claudio González-Wevar, PhD. Andrea Piñones, and PhD. Julia Saravia

By: Carolina Gajardo and Nadia Politis

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.

In collaboration with PhD. Claudio González-Wevar, principal investigator of the Millennium Biodiversity Institute of Antarctic and Subantarctic Ecosystems (BASE), PhD. Hamish Spencer came to Valdivia to address the students of the Faculty of Sciences of the Austral University of Chile (UACh).

PhD. Hamish Spencer and PhD. Claudio González-Wevar, at the UACh Faculty of Sciences. Photo: BASE Millennium I./ J. Cova

“The key role of marine algae as a raft”, was the keynote talk given by PhD. Hamish Spencer, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Zoology at the University of Otago, New Zealand. PhD. Spencer’s participation at the Universidad Austral de Chile (UACh) is part of a Fondecyt Regular 1210787 collaborative project, and during his visit, he exchanged reflections with the students of the UACh Faculty of Sciences in Valdivia.

The talk, coordinated by the principal investigator of the BASE Millennium Institute, also UACh, Centro Fondap IDEAL and LAGEMAS, PhD. Claudio González-Wevar, focused on the ability of algae to form large floating structures in the ocean in the form of ” rafts”, fulfilling the task of providing habitat, shelter and food resources for various marine organisms such as crustaceans, mollusks, echinoderms, fish, seabirds and even mammals.

“It was good to know that there are other people who are interested in using genetic tools to try to understand what is happening to many species, in particular the raft function of algae in the Southern Ocean,” said PhD. Hamish Spencer. He also stressed the importance of linking research from different countries, specifically between Chile and New Zealand: “I really like the work we have been doing, as we have a set of different species and we are getting a very clear picture of them”, he pointed.

PhD. Spencer is Professor in the Department of Zoology at the University of Otago, New Zealand. Photo: BASE Millennium I. / J. Cova

Similarly, PhD. Claudio González-Wevar valued the collaboration and joint work that has existed with PhD. Hamish Spencer, and highlighted the relevance of carrying out this type of instances. “The talks are very important to attract potential thesis students and show the community what we do”, he said.

Finally, PhD. Hamish Spencer expressed his fascination for the interest of Chilean students in this type of research, and invited future scientists to “enter into new challenges and explore the world of scientific research in places that get out of their comfort zone.”

 

By: Jemima Cova and Constanza Barrientos

Photographs: BASE Millennium I./ J. Cova

The project promoted from the Magallanes region by the Patagonian Institute of Cultural Studies (INPAEC), in collaboration with researchers from the BASE Millennium Institute, is now available on Spotify, Ivoox and the INPAEC YouTube channel.

“Bitácora Antártica” (Antarctic Logbook) is the name of the new scientific outreach podcast that seeks to reflect on Antarctica from the perspective of Anthropology, History, Science, Geology and Biodiversity. The proposal, promoted by the Patagonian Institute of Cultural Studies (INPAEC), and its director, Sociologist Silvio Reyes Rolla, seeks to discuss the Antarctic continent and its connection with people and knowledge, from a close, entertaining and reflective format: “We wanted to highlight Science as an agent of change that today is the protagonist of the great reflections of the future”, says Reyes, who is also a poet and cultural mediator.

Through 10 episodes of 40 to 50 minutes, researchers linked to Antarctica reflect on the challenges in the continent and how the Academy, Science and Civil Society work for its protection and awareness, a project in which the BASE Millenium Institute joined, with the participation of five of its researchers: PhD. Elie Poulin, PhD. Julieta Orlando, PhD. Juliana Vianna, PhD. Pablo Guerrero and PhD. Andrea Piñones.

Silvio Reyes Rolla is a Sociologist, Poet, Cultural Mediator and Director of the Patagonian Institute of Cultural Studies (INPAEC).¿

In chapter five, PhD. Andrea Piñones (BASE Millennium Institute, UACh, IDEAL, COPAS) reflects on ecogeographic elements of Antarctica and the so-called trophic chain (Premiere chapter: May 12, 2023). While in chapter six, PhD. Juliana Vianna (BASE Millennium Institute, PUC, CRG, Núcleo Milenio LILI) details the scientific work carried out with Penguins (Premiere chapter: May 15, 2023).

In chapter seven, PhD. Pablo Guerrero (BASE Millennium Institute, UdeC, IEB) gives details about his research on Antarctic plants (Premiere chapter: May 17, 2023), and on the other hand, chapter eight, PhD. Elie Poulin (Instituto Milenio BASE, Uchile) refers to pollution, invasive species and tourism developed in Antarctica (Premiere chapter: May 19, 2023). Finally, in chapter nine, PhD. Julieta Orlando (Instituto Milenio BASE, Uchile) reflects on Bioremediation and antibiotic resistance (Premiere chapter: 22 May 2023).

The podcast “Bitácora Antártica” (Antarctic Logbook), a popularization of history and science about the frozen continent and sub-Antarctic geography, is now available on Spotify, Ivoox and the INPAEC YouTube channel. The proposal has the musical collaboration of the Magellanic group Lluvia Ácida, with the song “Camino de la Ballena”, from the album Archipiélago Coloane. More information at https://www.inpaec.com/bitacora-antartica/

Chapters of “Antarctic Logbook”.

  1. History of Antarctic research. Phd Marcelo Leppe Chapter premiere: May 2, 2023
  2. Antarctic Treaty from the history. Rodrigo Santibáñez Chapter premiere: May 5, 2023
  3. Human condition of research in the Antarctic field. Anthropologist Florencia Vergara – Chapter premiere: May 8, 2023
  4. Geological conformation of Antarctica. Phd. Luis Jara Premiere episode: May 10, 2023
  5. Ecogeographic elements of Antarctica and the food chain. PhD. Andrea Piñones (BASE Millennium Institute – UACh – IDEAL – COPAS) Premiere chapter: 12 May 2023
  6. Penguins and Antarctic fauna. PhD. Juliana Vianna (BASE Millennium Institute – PUC -CRG – Millennium Nucleus LILI) Chapter premiere: May 15, 2023
  7. Antarctic flora. PhD. Pablo Guerrero (BASE Millennium Institute- UdeC) Chapter premiere: May 17, 2023
  8. Pollution, invasive species and tourism in Antarctica. PhD. Elie Poulin (BASE Millennium Institute – Uchile) Chapter premiere: May 19, 2023
  9. Bioremediation and antibiotic resistance. PhD. Julieta Orlando (BASE Millennium Institute – Uchile) Chapter premiere: May 22, 2023
  10. Last Patagonia; the expedition to Madre de Dios Island. Natalia Morata. Premiere episode: May 24, 2023

 

By Carolina Gajardo
Images: Patagonian Institute of Cultural Studies (INPAEC)