Concentration of trace elements in feathers of three Antarctic penguins: Geographical and interspecific differences

Antarctica is often considered as one of the last pristine regions, but it could be affected by pollution at global and local scale. Concentrations of Al, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Cd and Pb were determinated by ICP-MS in feathers (n = 207 individuals) of gentoo, chinstrap and Adélie penguin collected in 8 locations throughout the Antarctic Peninsula (2006-2007). The highest levels of several elements were found in samples from King George Island (8.08, 20.29 and 1.76 μg g⁻¹ dw for Cr, Cu and Pb, respectively) and Deception Island (203.13, 3.26 and 164.26 μg g⁻¹ dw for Al, Mn and Fe, respectively), where probably human activities and large-scale transport of pollutants contribute to increase metal levels. Concentrations of Cr, Mn, Cu, Se or Pb, which are similar to others found in different regions of the world, show that some areas in Antarctica are not utterly pristine.     

Rapid amino acid cycling in arctic and antarctic soils

Amino acids constitute one of the largest inputs of organic nitrogen (N) to most polar soils and have been hypothesized to be important in regulating vegetational succession and productivity in Arctic ecosystems. Our understanding of amino acid cycling in these soils, however, is poor. The aim of this study was to investigate the size and rate of turnover of the amino acid pool in a range of Arctic and Antarctic soils. Our results indicate that in polar soils with either high or low ornithogenic inputs the amino acid pool is small in comparison to the inorganic N pool (NO^–₃ and NH⁺₄). The free amino acid pool constituted only a small proportion of the total dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) pool in these soils. Here we show that these low concentrations may be due to rapid use by the soil microbial community in both Arctic and Antarctic soils. The turnover of the amino acid pool in soil was extremely rapid, with a half-life ranging from 2 to 24 h, indicating that this N pool can be turned over many hundred times each summer when polar soils are frequently unfrozen. The implications of amino acids in N cycling and plant and microbial nutrition are discussed.     

Determination of Q1, an unknown organochlorine contaminant, in human milk, Antarctic air, and further environmental samples

Q1, an organochlorine component with the molecular formula C(9)H(3)Cl(7)N(2) and of unknown origin was recently identified in seal blubber samples from the Namibian coast (southwest of Africa) and the Antarctic. In these samples, Q1 was more abundant than PCBs and on the level of DDT residues. Furthermore, Q1 was more abundant in seals from the Antarctic than the Arctic. To prove this assumption, gas chromatography-electron-capture negative ion mass spectrometry (GC/ECNI-MS), which is sensitive and selective for Q1, allowed for screening of traces of Q1 even in samples with particularly high levels of other organochlorine contaminants. Q1 was isolated by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) from a skua liver sample. A 1:1 mixture with trans-nonachlor in electron-capture detectors (ECDs) was used to determine the relative response factor with ECNI-MS. The ECNI-MS response of Q1 turned out to be 4.5 times higher than that of trans-nonachlor in an ECD. With GC/ECNI-MS in the selected ion-monitoring mode, four Antarctic and four Arctic air samples were investigated for the presence of Q1. In the Antarctic air samples, Q1 levels ranged from 0.7 to 0.9 fg/m(3). In Arctic air samples, however, Q1 was below the detection limit (<0.06 fg/m(3) or 60 ag/m(3)). We also report on high Q1 levels in selected human milk samples (12-230 microg/kg lipid) and, therefore, suggested that the unknown Q1 is an environmental compound whose origin and distribution should be investigated in detail. Our data confirm that Q1 is a bioaccumulative natural organochlorine product. Detection of a highly chlorinated natural organochlorine compound in air and human milk is novel.     

Sex differences in mass loss rate and growth efficiency in Antarctic fur seal (Arctocephalus gazella) pups at Macquarie Island

We investigated the relationship between the mass gained by a pup during a period of maternal attendance (as an index of milk intake) and the duration of the preceding foraging trip in relation to the mass-specific rate of mass loss during fasting periods and the growth rate of Antarctic fur seal (Arctocephalus gazella) pups at Macquarie Island. We found that (1) serially weighed male pups grew significantly faster than females pups and that (2) fasting female pups lost mass at a significantly higher rate (2.55% day⁻¹) than male pups (2.12% day⁻¹) of the same mass; (3) during periods of maternal attendance, there were no intersexual differences in the amount of mass gained by pups of the same size, hence (4) female pups required a higher daily mass gain to grow at the same rate as male pups. Our results show that intersexual differences in growth rate may be accounted for by intersexual differences in mass-specific rate of mass loss, because females lost 0.42% more of their total mass per day (i.e. 4.2 g kg⁻¹ day⁻¹) compared with male pups of the same body mass. Despite intersexual differences in growth rates, our results indicate equality of maternal expenditure between the sexes. Intersexual differences in the rate of mass loss may be due to differences in the metabolic rate, activity level and/or body composition of male and female pups. Received: 19 August 1998 / Received in revised form: 19 April 1999 / Accepted: 19 April 1999     

THE COMPARISON BETWEEN SOUTHERN ANDES AND ANTARCTIC PENINSULA A REVIEW, NEW PROGRESS AND PROSPECT

The comparative research of southern Andes and Antarctic Peninsula is a key to explain the break-up of Gondwanaland. "Cuspate" , "Arcuate", "Continuing". "Overlapping" and "Modified Gulf of California" model illustrated, to some extent, southern Andes-Antarctic Peninsula relations. However, those models did not discuss the dynamic mechanism and specific evolution process of the two Plates' divergence. "Wedge" model, on the bases of eight geological evidences including tectono-stratigraphic unit, strike-slip fault system, carthquake, igneous activity and so on, not only discussed southern Andes-Antarctic Peninsula relations and its evolution process, but also presented an argument that Scotia minor-plate, which once acted as one part of Pacific Plate wedged in between the two Plates and gave rise to the break-up of Gondwanaland-The argument represents the the latest achievement made in geological research there. On the whole, all models mentioned-above are, more or less, of one-sided view. Where the dynam     

中国东海至南大洋航线海洋近地层大气NOx分布特征

为了探究我国东海至南大洋航线海洋近地层大气NO_x的分布特征,于2015年11月-2016年1月,利用中国极地科学考察船"雪龙号"的观测平台,采用Saltzman法对中国东海至南大洋航线海洋近地层大气NO_x日均浓度进行了监测.结果表明,中国东海至南大洋航线海洋近地层大气ρ（NO_x）的变化范围为0.001~0.038 mg/m3,ρ（NO）的变化范围为0.001~0.033 mg/m3,ρ（NO₂）的变化范围为0（未检出）~0.015 mg/m3.中国东海至南大洋航线海洋近地层大气中,NO是NO_x的主要成分.南极圈外海洋近地层大气中NO_x的分布特征显示距离陆地越近,ρ（NO_x）越高,NO₂/NO（二者质量浓度比值）越大,反映出海陆差异及人为污染对海洋近地层大气的影响.远离陆地的南大洋航段ρ（NO_x）显示较低的大洋背景值.南桑威奇群岛的火山活动导致附近海域异常高浓度的NO_x分布,ρ（NO_x）最高值达0.160 mg/m3,ρ（NO）为0.145 mg/m3,ρ（NO₂）为0.015 mg/m3.西风带的阻隔导致该区域NO_x向周围扩散时,难以穿越西风带,向南极大陆边缘扩散的趋势更加强烈,影响大范围南大洋近地层大气NO_x分布.人为活动可能是南极半岛和中山站附近海洋近地层大气高ρ（NO_x）和高NO₂/NO的原因之一.      

A method to estimate pre-exploitation population size

Antarctic fur seals (Arctocephalus gazella) were commercially exploited on the subantarctic island of South Georgia for over 100 years and nearly driven to extinction. Since the cessation of harvesting, however, their populations have rebounded, and they are now often considered a nuisance species whose impact on the terrestrial landscape should be mitigated. Any evaluation of their current population requires the context provided by their historic, pre-exploitation abundance, lest ecologists fall prey to shifting baseline syndrome in which their perspective on current abundance is compared only with an altered state resulting from past anthropogenic disturbance. Estimating pre-exploitation abundance is critical to defining species recovery and setting recovery targets, both of which are needed for the International Union for the Conservation of Nature's recent efforts to develop a green list of recovering species. To address this issue, we reconstructed the South Georgia fur seal harvest from 1786 to 1908 from ship logbooks and other historical records and interpolated missing harvest data as necessary with a generalized linear model fit to the historical record. Using an approximate Bayesian computation framework, harvest data, and a stochastic age-structured population model, we estimated the pre-exploitation abundance of Antarctic fur seals on South Georgia was 2.5 million females (95% CI 1.5–3.5 million). This estimate is similar to recent abundance estimates, and suggests current populations, and the ecological consequences of so many fur seals on the island, may be similar to conditions prior to human harvest. Although the historic archive on the fur sealing era is unavoidably patchy, the use of archival records is essential for reconstructing the past and, correspondingly, to understanding the present. Article impact statement: Defining species recovery requires an understanding of baseline population state, which can be estimated through statistical methods.     

Application of an aerosol electrical mobility spectrum analyzer: Charged-particle polarity ratio measurement in the Antarctic and Arctic regions

An aerosol electrical mobility spectrum analyzer (AEMSA), developed at Hanyang University, was employed to investigate the particle charge characteristics in the Antarctic and Arctic regions. The particle charge characteristics in these areas were compared with the charging state in Ansan, South Korea, located in the midlatitude, where artificial factors, such as human activity, urbanization, and traffic, might result in a higher total concentration. Furthermore, in Ansan, South Korea, the charged-particle polarity ratio was very stable and was close to 1. However, notably different particle charge characteristics were obtained in the Antarctic and Arctic regions. The imbalance between the numbers of positively and negatively charged particles was evident, resulting in more positive charges on the atmospheric particles. On average, the positively charged particle concentrations in the Antarctic and Arctic areas were 1.4 and 2.8 times higher, respectively, compared with the negatively charged particles. The developed AEMSA system and the findings of this study provide useful information on the characteristics of atmospheric aerosols in the Antarctic and Arctic regions and can be further utilized to study particle formation mechanisms.     

南极旅游资源分类及空间分布特征

南极地区以其独特的旅游资源吸引了越来越多人的注意,近年来赴南极旅游的游客人数快速增长。但国内外对南极旅游资源的研究却相对滞后,对其分类和评价研究几乎处于空白状态。本文对南极旅游资源的分类及空间分布特征进行了初步研究,并对我国南极旅游业发展提出建议,以期为南极旅游资源的评价、开发与保护提供参考。结果表明：南极地区已开展实质性旅游活动的主要旅游资源单体共558个,按属性可分为8个主类、18个亚类和30个基本类型,自然资源类型丰富,水域景观占比较大;旅游资源的空间分布不均衡,在南极半岛西北部格雷厄姆地沿海及附近岛屿、罗斯海周边岛屿及大陆形成了两个高密度集聚区;气候环境条件和旅游资源的可达性是影响该地区旅游资源空间分布的重要因素;与我国相关的南极旅游资源较少,中国在南极旅游开发中的参与度和成熟度也相对较低,未来应尽快摸清南极旅游资源状况,加强南极旅游影响研究,推动我国南极旅游发展。     

Implementing the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty: Future applications of geographic information systems within the Committee for Environmental Protection

With the entry into force of the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty (the Protocol) in January 1998, key operational aspects of the newly established Committee for Environmental Protection (CEP), such as its advisory capacity to Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meetings (ATCMs) need to be urgently addressed. This paper advocates the use of a geographic information system (GIS) environmental database to reinforce the advisory capacity of the CEP. The demonstrated links between the provisions of the Protocol and GIS capabilities illustrate the potential this has to assist the CEP in delivering informed advice to ATCMs. The range of GIS applications that could be utilized by the CEP in fulfilling its functions are examined by reference to precedents in Europe (CORINE) and Australia (ARIS).