Our publications

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Community assembly among potential invasive plants in Antarctica shaped by life history characteristics and climate warming

30 August, 2024 by Peter Convey

Species arrival sequence in new habitats impacts plant community development. This ‘priority-effect’ is documented, but mechanisms by which early arriving plants dominate future communities are less clear, complicating our ability…

Read more on Community assembly among potential invasive plants in Antarctica shaped by life history characteristics and climate warming

LIGHT-bgcArgo-1.0: using synthetic float capabilities in E3SMv2 to assess spatiotemporal variability in ocean physics and biogeochemistry

30 August, 2024 by Yohei Takano

Since their advent over 2 decades ago, autonomous Argo floats have revolutionized the field of oceanography, and, more recently, the addition of biogeochemical and biological sensors to these floats has…

Read more on LIGHT-bgcArgo-1.0: using synthetic float capabilities in E3SMv2 to assess spatiotemporal variability in ocean physics and biogeochemistry

Biocontrol mechanisms of the Antarctic yeast Debaryomyces hansenii UFT8244 against post-harvest phytopathogenic fungi of strawberries

26 August, 2024 by Peter Convey

The use of yeasts has been explored as an efficient alternative to fungicide application in the treatment and prevention of post-harvest fruit deterioration. Here, we evaluated the biocontrol abilities of…

Read more on Biocontrol mechanisms of the Antarctic yeast Debaryomyces hansenii UFT8244 against post-harvest phytopathogenic fungi of strawberries

Seafloor geomorphology of the Wrigley Gulf shelf, Amundsen Sea, West Antarctica, reveals two different phases of glaciation

19 August, 2024 by Claus-Dieter Hillenbrand

Knowledge of the behaviour of marine-based ice sheets during times of climatic warming, such as the last deglaciation, provides important information to understand how ice sheets respond to external forcing.…

Read more on Seafloor geomorphology of the Wrigley Gulf shelf, Amundsen Sea, West Antarctica, reveals two different phases of glaciation

The diverse and widespread Southern Ocean ophiuroid Amphiura belgicae should be considered a species complex

19 August, 2024 by Chester Sands, Peter Convey

Accurate knowledge of geographic ranges of species is essential for effective conservation management. Species with large distributions and good connectivity are presumed to be resilient to adverse localised/regional conditions, whereas…

Read more on The diverse and widespread Southern Ocean ophiuroid Amphiura belgicae should be considered a species complex

Scaling up ocean conservation through recognition of key biodiversity areas in the Southern Ocean from multispecies tracking data

15 August, 2024 by Philip Trathan

Biodiversity is critical for maintaining ecosystem function but is threatened by increasing anthropogenic pressures. In the Southern Ocean, a highly biologically productive region containing many endemic species, proactive management is…

Read more on Scaling up ocean conservation through recognition of key biodiversity areas in the Southern Ocean from multispecies tracking data

Wind Forcing Controls on Antarctic Bottom Water Export from the Weddell Sea via Bottom Boundary Layer Processes

6 August, 2024 by Christopher Auckland, Povl Abrahamsen, Michael Meredith

The Antarctic Bottom Water (AABW) exported from the Weddell Sea has experienced warming and contraction in the past 30 yrs. Superposed on this decadal trend is substantial annual and interannual…

Read more on Wind Forcing Controls on Antarctic Bottom Water Export from the Weddell Sea via Bottom Boundary Layer Processes

Runs of homozygosity reveal contrasting histories of inbreeding across global lineages of the edible porcini mushroom, Boletus edulis

5 August, 2024

Inbreeding, the mating of individuals that are related through common ancestry, is of central importance in evolutionary and conservation biology due to its impacts on individual fitness and population dynamics.…

Read more on Runs of homozygosity reveal contrasting histories of inbreeding across global lineages of the edible porcini mushroom, Boletus edulis

Historical Southern Hemisphere biomass burning variability inferred from ice core carbon monoxide records

5 August, 2024 by Diana Vladimirova, Dieter Tetzner, Ivo Strawson, Jack Humby, Liz Thomas, Thomas Bauska

Biomass burning plays an important role in climate-forcing and atmospheric chemistry. The drivers of fire activity over the past two centuries, however, are hotly debated and fueled by poor constraints…

Read more on Historical Southern Hemisphere biomass burning variability inferred from ice core carbon monoxide records

Comparative phylogeography, a tool to increase assessment efficiency of polar assemblage resilience and vulnerability

17 July, 2024 by Chester Sands, Peter Convey

The Southern Ocean benthos is remarkably rich and diverse, and managed under a complexity of treaties and conventions, further complicated by geopolitical boundaries. Traditionally, conservation management is largely informed by…

Read more on Comparative phylogeography, a tool to increase assessment efficiency of polar assemblage resilience and vulnerability

When glaciers calve: Large underwater tsunamis discovered at edge of Antarctica, likely affecting ice melt, climate and marine ecosystem

14 July, 2024 by Michael Meredith

The mixing of water in the ocean is a key influence on our climate and ecosystems, but its importance is often under-recognized. Mixing in the seas around Antarctica—a key process…

Read more on When glaciers calve: Large underwater tsunamis discovered at edge of Antarctica, likely affecting ice melt, climate and marine ecosystem

Ancient diversification in extreme environments: Exploring the historical biogeography of the Antarctic winged midge Parochlus steinenii (Diptera: Chironomidae)

11 July, 2024 by Chester Sands, Felipe Simoes, Peter Convey

The terrestrial fauna of Antarctica consists of a limited number of species, notably insects, small crustaceans and other micro-invertebrates. Over long periods of evolutionary isolation, these organisms have developed varying…

Read more on Ancient diversification in extreme environments: Exploring the historical biogeography of the Antarctic winged midge Parochlus steinenii (Diptera: Chironomidae)

Improved Energy Resolution Measurements of Electron Precipitation Observed During an IPDP‐Type EMIC Event

9 July, 2024 by Aaron Hendry, Alexander Lozinski, Mark Clilverd

High energy resolution DEMETER satellite observations from the Instrument for the Detection of Particle (IDP) are analyzed during an electromagnetic ion cyclotron (EMIC)-induced electron precipitation event. Analysis of an Interval…

Read more on Improved Energy Resolution Measurements of Electron Precipitation Observed During an IPDP‐Type EMIC Event

Fungal and fungal-like diversity present in ornithogenically influenced maritime Antarctic soils assessed using metabarcoding

2 July, 2024 by Peter Convey

We assessed soil fungal and fungal-like diversity using metabarcoding in ornithogenically influenced soils around nests of the bird species Phalacrocorax atriceps, Macronectes giganteus, Pygoscelis antarcticus, and Pygoscelis adelie on the…

Read more on Fungal and fungal-like diversity present in ornithogenically influenced maritime Antarctic soils assessed using metabarcoding

Network analyses on photographic surveys reveal that invertebrate predators do not structure epibenthos in the deep (~2000m) rocky Powell Basin, Weddell Sea, Antarctica

2 July, 2024 by Huw Griffiths, Rowan Whittle, Tasnuva Khan

Predator-prey interactions in marine ecosystems control population sizes, maintain species richness, and provide intermediate disturbance. Such ecosystem structuring interactions may be rare in Antarctic epibenthic communities, which are unique among…

Read more on Network analyses on photographic surveys reveal that invertebrate predators do not structure epibenthos in the deep (~2000m) rocky Powell Basin, Weddell Sea, Antarctica

At‑sea distribution of marine predators around South Georgia during austral winter, with implications for fisheries management

1 July, 2024 by Alastair Wilson, Claire Waluda, Kate Owen, Martin Collins, Meghan Goggins, Philip Hollyman, Philip Trathan

The sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia is surrounded by highly productive waters, supporting dense aggregations of Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba), a vital food source for globally important seabird and marine…

Read more on At‑sea distribution of marine predators around South Georgia during austral winter, with implications for fisheries management

Ocean warming and acidification adjust inter- and intra-specific variability in the functional trait expression of polar invertebrates

1 July, 2024 by Lloyd Peck

Climate change is known to affect the distribution and composition of species, but concomitant alterations to functionally important aspects of behaviour and species-environment relations are poorly constrained. Here, we examine…

Read more on Ocean warming and acidification adjust inter- and intra-specific variability in the functional trait expression of polar invertebrates

The Impact of CO2 and Climate State on Whether Dansgaard–Oeschger Type Oscillations Occur in Climate Models

29 June, 2024 by Irene Malmierca Vallet, John Slattery, Louise Sime

Greenland ice core records feature Dansgaard–Oeschger (D-O) events, which are abrupt warming episodes followed by gradual cooling during ice age climate. The three climate models used in this study (CCSM4,…

Read more on The Impact of CO2 and Climate State on Whether Dansgaard–Oeschger Type Oscillations Occur in Climate Models

Life-history stage influences immune investment and oxidative stress in response to environmental heterogeneity in Antarctic fur seals

29 June, 2024 by Cameron Fox-Clarke, Camille Toscani, Claire Stainfield, Jaume Forcada

Immune defenses are crucial for survival but costly to develop and maintain. Increased immune investment is therefore hypothesized to trade-off with other life-history traits. Here, we examined innate and adaptive…

Read more on Life-history stage influences immune investment and oxidative stress in response to environmental heterogeneity in Antarctic fur seals

Twenty‐thousand‐year gap between deglaciation and peat formation on sub‐Antarctic Marion Island attributed to climate and sea level change

28 June, 2024 by Alexander Whittle, Dominic Hodgson

Radiocarbon dating of basal peats has been a key factor in determining minimum ages for deglaciation on sub-Antarctic islands. On Marion Island, peat bogs dominate the landscape below 300 m a.s.l.,…

Read more on Twenty‐thousand‐year gap between deglaciation and peat formation on sub‐Antarctic Marion Island attributed to climate and sea level change

Enzymes and biosurfactants of industrial interest produced by culturable fungi present in sediments of Boeckella Lake, Hope Bay, north‑east Antarctic Peninsula

22 June, 2024 by Peter Convey

This study characterized cultivable fungi present in sediments obtained from Boeckella Lake, Hope Bay, in the north-east of the Antarctic Peninsula, and evaluated their production of enzymes and biosurfactants of…

Read more on Enzymes and biosurfactants of industrial interest produced by culturable fungi present in sediments of Boeckella Lake, Hope Bay, north‑east Antarctic Peninsula

The importance of cloud properties when assessing surface melting in an offline-coupled firn model over Ross Ice shelf, West Antarctica

21 June, 2024 by Andrew Orr, Ella Gilbert, Ruth Price, Thomas Bracegirdle, Tony Phillips

The Ross Ice Shelf, West Antarctica, experienced an extensive melt event in January 2016. We examine the representation of this event by the HIRHAM5 and MetUM high-resolution regional atmospheric models,…

Read more on The importance of cloud properties when assessing surface melting in an offline-coupled firn model over Ross Ice shelf, West Antarctica

Steppe-tundra composition and deglacial floristic turnover in interior Alaska revealed by sedimentary ancient DNA (sedaDNA)

15 June, 2024 by Alistair Monteath

When tracing vegetation dynamics over long timescales, obtaining enough floristic information to gain a detailed understanding of past communities and their transitions can be challenging. The first high-resolution sedimentary DNA…

Read more on Steppe-tundra composition and deglacial floristic turnover in interior Alaska revealed by sedimentary ancient DNA (sedaDNA)

A New Model of Electron Pitch Angle Distributions and Loss Timescales in the Earth’s Radiation Belts

8 June, 2024 by Jack Atkinson, Johnathan Ross, Richard Horne, Sarah Glauert

As the number of satellites on orbit grows it is increasingly important to understand their operating environment. Physics-based models can simulate the behavior of the Earth's radiation belts by solving…

Read more on A New Model of Electron Pitch Angle Distributions and Loss Timescales in the Earth’s Radiation Belts

A large-scale transcontinental river system crossed West Antarctica during the Eocene

5 June, 2024 by Claus-Dieter Hillenbrand, Robert Larter

Extensive ice coverage largely prevents investigations of Antarctica’s unglaciated past. Knowledge about environmental and tectonic development before large-scale glaciation, however, is important for understanding the transition into the modern icehouse…

Read more on A large-scale transcontinental river system crossed West Antarctica during the Eocene

Coupled ice–ocean interactions during future retreat of West Antarctic ice streams in the Amundsen Sea sector

3 June, 2024 by Alexander Bradley, Rosie Williams, David Bett, Paul Holland, Robert Arthern

The Amundsen Sea sector has some of the fastest-thinning ice shelves in Antarctica, caused by high, ocean-driven basal melt rates, which can lead to increased ice streamflow, causing increased sea…

Read more on Coupled ice–ocean interactions during future retreat of West Antarctic ice streams in the Amundsen Sea sector

A comparison of two statistical postprocessing methods for heavy‐precipitation forecasts over India during the summer monsoon

3 June, 2024 by Andrew Orr

Accurate ensemble forecasts of heavy precipitation in India are vital for many applications and essential for early warning of damaging flood events, especially during the monsoon season. In this study…

Read more on A comparison of two statistical postprocessing methods for heavy‐precipitation forecasts over India during the summer monsoon

Top predator feeding ecology and microplastic (MP) contamination on the far eastern South American coast: Evidence of MP trophic biotransfer

1 June, 2024 by Simon Morley

This study describes the feeding ecology, spatial distribution of each ontogenetic phase and the corresponding plastic debris contamination, in the Caribbean sharpnose shark, Rhizoprionodon porosus as a function of spatial-temporal…

Read more on Top predator feeding ecology and microplastic (MP) contamination on the far eastern South American coast: Evidence of MP trophic biotransfer

Pathogenic potential of an environmental Aspergillus fumigatus strain recovered from soil of Pygoscelis papua (Gentoo Penguins) colony in Antarctica

1 June, 2024 by Peter Convey

Aspergillus fumigatus is a common opportunistic pathogen in different animals, including birds such as penguins. For the first time, a fungal strain identified as A. fumigatus was isolated from soil…

Read more on Pathogenic potential of an environmental Aspergillus fumigatus strain recovered from soil of Pygoscelis papua (Gentoo Penguins) colony in Antarctica

Simultaneous organic aerosol source apportionment at two Antarctic sites reveals large-scale and eco-region specific components

29 May, 2024 by Anna Jones, Thomas Lachlan-Cope

Antarctica and the Southern Ocean are the most pristine areas of the globe and represent ideal places to investigate aerosol-climate interactions in an unperturbed atmosphere. In this study, we present…

Read more on Simultaneous organic aerosol source apportionment at two Antarctic sites reveals large-scale and eco-region specific components

Surface snow bromide and nitrate at Eureka, Canada in early spring and implications for polar boundary layer chemistry

23 May, 2024 by Xin Yang

This study explores the role of snowpack in polar boundary layer chemistry, especially as a direct source of reactive bromine (BrOx = BrO + Br) and nitrogen (NOx = NO + NO2) in the Arctic springtime. Surface snow…

Read more on Surface snow bromide and nitrate at Eureka, Canada in early spring and implications for polar boundary layer chemistry