BAS Environmental Change and Evolution
Lead Research Organisation:
British Antarctic Survey
Department Name: UNLISTED
Abstract
Abstracts are not currently available in GtR for all funded research. This is normally because the abstract was not required at the time of proposal submission, but may be because it included sensitive information such as personal details.
Organisations
People |
ORCID iD |
| J Crame (Principal Investigator) |
Publications
Abel G
(2009)
IMF clock angle control of multifractality in ionospheric velocity fluctuations
in Geophysical Research Letters
Aitken A
(2014)
The subglacial geology of Wilkes Land, East Antarctica
in Geophysical Research Letters
Aitken A
(2012)
Flexural controls on late Neogene basin evolution in southern McMurdo Sound, Antarctica
in Global and Planetary Change
Allcock A
(2011)
Cryptic speciation and the circumpolarity debate: A case study on endemic Southern Ocean octopuses using the COI barcode of life
in Deep Sea Research Part II: Topical Studies in Oceanography
Amaral A
(2012)
Species tree of a recent radiation: The subfamily Delphininae (Cetacea, Mammalia)
in Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution
Amon D
(2013)
The discovery of a natural whale fall in the Antarctic deep sea
in Deep Sea Research Part II: Topical Studies in Oceanography
Barker S
(2010)
Extreme deepening of the Atlantic overturning circulation during deglaciation
in Nature Geoscience
Barnes D
(2011)
The need to implement the Convention on Biological Diversity at the high latitude site, South Georgia
in Antarctic Science
Barnes, D.K.A.; Downey, R.V.
(2014)
Biogeographic Atlas of the Southern Ocean
Bell RE
(2011)
Widespread persistent thickening of the East Antarctic ice sheet by freezing from the base.
in Science (New York, N.Y.)
| Description | The Environmental Change and Evolution programme was designed from the outset to be a multidisciplinary approach to global change in the polar regions. The two principal themes were geological and biological, respectively, with the former providing a temporal framework for environmental change, and the latter looking at both contemporary and deep time responses from polar biological communities. With a comparatively small team we necessarily had to be selective in the types of project that we could undertake, but extensive polar archives of research material were at our disposal to incorporate into all aspects of the programme. Our aerogeophysics team carried out surveys in both East and West Antarctica, but their most spectacular finding was a comprehensive new interpretation of the Gamburtsev Subglacial Mountains, situated more or less in the centre of the continent. Although now covered by the very thick East Antarctic ice sheet, a combination of radar, magnetic and gravity surveys, flown from one of the BAS aircraft as part of a multinational project, revealed a spectacular topography right across a mountain range the size of the European Alps (Ferraccioli et al. 2011). Rifting through the centre of the old Gondwana supercontinent from 250 to 100 million years ago caused the uplift of these mountains before rivers and then glaciers carved the spectacular scenery seen in the subglacial images. Some 34 m.y. ago formation of the East Antarctic ice sheet prevented any further erosion, and effectively froze this "fossil" mountain range in time. As a result of this very comprehensive remote sensing survey we now have a much better idea of the size and shape of the Gamburtsev Mountains, and when they formed. And this is important because they were almost certainly the site of nucleation of the East Antarctic ice sheet, and new data can now be incorporated into global climate models that incorporate the waxing and waning of this major ice sheet. Indeed, the mountains are so large that it is possible that ice accumulated on them more or less continuously from their inception. We have carried out other methods of geological survey too, including use of the multibeam sonar in the hull of RRS James Clark Ross. Over the course of two marine cruises we re-mapped the northern South Sandwich arc in the Scotia Sea and were able to show the full spatial extent of the volcanoes and sea mounts that comprise this region (Leat et al. 2010). The bathymetric data show evidence for relationships between constructional volcanic features, such as volcanoes and sea mounts, and mass wasting by erosion at sea level. Large mass wasting structures below sea level included spectacular debris slides, slumps and avalanches. The largest of the submarine slide scars are in the region of 13 km in length and 2 km in width. Geological maps remain the most effective method of communicating large amounts of geological information. An on-going project to compile over 50 years of geological field data into new geological maps has resulted in the publication of six new sheets over the last four years (2011-2014). These include a 1:625 000 map of the northern Antarctic Peninsula (eastern Graham Land) which is the first truly interpretative geological map of the Antarctic Peninsula. A new bathymetric and geologic map of the South Sandwich Islands has compiled large terrestrial and marine geology datasets and gives unprecedented detail of the complex sea floor of an active intra-oceanic island arc system. These maps form the first part of a new series aiming to cover British Antarctic Territory and represent the only significant mapping effort on the Antarctic Peninsula for 25 years. They will be invaluable sources of information not just to geologists, but to oceanographers, biologists and glaciologists. Riley, T.R., Flowerdew, M.J. & Haselwimmer, C.E. (2011). Geological Map of Eastern Graham Land, Antarctic Peninsula. BAS GEOMAP2 series, number 1, edition 1. 1:625 000 scale. Riley, T.R., Flowerdew, M.J. & Haselwimmer, C.E. (2011). Geological Map of Adelaide Island, SW Graham Land. BAS GEOMAP2 series, number 2, edition 1. 1:200 000 scale. Flowerdew, M.J., Riley, T.R. & Haselwimmer, C.E. (2011). Geological Map of the South Orkney Islands, Antarctica. BAS GEOMAP2 series, number 3, edition 1. 1:150 000 scale. Curtis, M.L. (2011). Geological Map of South Georgia. BAS GEOMAP2 series, number 4, edition 1. 1:250 000 scale. Smellie, J.L., Johnson, J.S. & Nelson, A.E. (2013). Geological Map of James Ross Island. I. James Ross Island Volcanic Group. BAS GEOMAP2 series, number 5, edition 1. 1:125 000 scale. Leat, P.T., Fretwell, P.T., Tate, A.J., Larter, R.D., Martin, T.J., Smellie, J.L., Jokat, W. & Bohrmannn, G. (2014). Bathymetry and Geological Setting of the South Sandwich Islands volcanic arc. BAS GEOMAP2 series, number 6, edition 1. various scales. An important part of our investigations into the origins and maintenance of polar biodiversity has been the collection new data on sea floor biological communities from hitherto poorly known regions of the Southern Ocean; particular targets have been the eastern Weddell Sea and the Amundsen Sea on the south-eastern flank of the Antarctic Peninsula. The large data sets collected by various bottom trawl methods have been amalgamated with those obtained by some 21 other countries to form a brand new "Biogeographic atlas of the Southern Ocean" (De Broyer et al. 2014). Some four years in the making, and comprising 1.07 million occurrence records from some 9064 species, this atlas forms the most complete inventory of Antarctic marine biodiversity since 1969. ECE authors contributed to ten of the chapters and played a major role in editing the 500-page volume. Besides collecting basic data we have been using the online archive to investigate the relationship between climate change and biodiversity. For example, it has been suggested that one major group of crabs might be poised to re-invade the Antarctic Ocean if the recent warming trend continues. This is a group of shell-crushers and they could potentially do immense damage to native communities on the sea floor. However, by examining the distribution patterns derived from over 16,000 records of Southern Hemisphere crabs and lobsters, and evidence from the fossil record, it was shown that this group was already present in deeper waters around the continent and, in all probability, had been there for a considerable period of time. In particular, they could have invaded the continental shelf at any time over the last 9000 years, but had clearly chosen not to do so (Griffiths et al. 2013). |
| Exploitation Route | The press release accompanying the Nature paper on the new survey of the Gamburtsev Mountains (Ferraccioli et al. 2011) described them as "the last unexplored mountain range on Earth", and this resonated with a huge cross-section of the world's media. We were inundated with requests for interviews and further information, and this in turn reflected the huge interest that there still is in frontier exploration. And not only is there interest in what lies under the polar ice caps, but also in what lies at the bottom of polar seas. Much of both the Arctic and Antarctic seafloors remain poorly known and our work on various deep sea cruises has also attracted a lot of attention from both the scientific community and the general public. The sheer size of many of the submarine volcanoes within the South Sandwich arc was completely unexpected, as was the nature of the slump scars on their flanks (Leat et al. 2010. These are still under investigation but preliminary studies suggest that they are of sufficient magnitude to have generated large tsunamis. In addition, some parts of the volcanic arc are still active, and there is evidence of very large eruptions in the recent past. The new biogeographic atlas (De Broyer et al. 2014) has very much been an international community project that attracted extra funding from both Fondation Total and the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. Further support over the entire four-year period was obtained from the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) and 'belspo', the Belgian Science Policy Organisation. Both the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences and the British Antarctic Survey played key roles in coordinating the research effort and all the associated office and secretarial services. Without all these contributions the project could not have happened. And it should be emphasised that the 66 chapters within the book contain some 800 maps or organism distributions and 100 colour plates. It is an essential basis for monitoring biodiversity change into the future, and the various biotic responses to projected climate change. SCAR is now playing a key role in the establishment of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in Antarctica and their work will be greatly aided by the comprehensive information contained within the atlas. It has been important to provide a modern and up to date summary of the geology of the Antarctic Peninsula region to a variety of stakeholders. These are not only other geologists but also oceanographers, biologists and climate change scientists who wish to place at least some of their observations within a deeper time framework. Maps are a great way of conveying geological information in a relatively simple format and we have supplied copies to many different types of visitors to BAS. These include politicians, administrators and business people, and we have also sold a surprising number of copies to Antarctic tourists. We find that it is a great way of getting the BAS 'brand' across to a very broad cross-section of the public. |
| Sectors | Environment Government Democracy and Justice Culture Heritage Museums and Collections |
| Description | The Amundsen Sea is the most southerly part of the Pacific Ocean and is one of the least explored areas and with changes in sea-ice extent and melting of ice shelves it is also one of most rapidly changing areas in Antarctica. Based on benthic samples taken in 2008 an international team of taxonomist lead by marine biologists from the British Antarctic Survey was able to publish the first species inventories for the mega- and molluscan (sea shell) faunas of the Amundsen Sea, and to describe and compare the benthic assemblages. To date more than 320 species were identified of which at least 10% new to science. Unlike many other seas around Antarctica, the Amundsen Sea shelf was not dominated by large non-moving sponges but instead by mobile echinoderms (starfish, urchins, brittlestars and sea cucumbers) and a community of deep sea related animals which inhabit the on-shelf deep basins. Studies like this are important to detect and predict future climate change affects to the marine fauna in an area of rapid change as they set a baseline for the management of environmental change and are working towards assessing natural assets for economic and environmental benefits. Linse K, Griffiths HJ, Barnes DKA, Brandt A, Niki Davey N; David B, DeGrave S, d'Udekem d'Acoz C, Eleaume M, Glover A, G. Hemery L, Mah C, Martín-Ledo R, Munilla T, O'Loughlin M, Pierrat B, Saucede T, Sands C, Strugnell JM, Enderlein P. (2013) The macro- and megabenthic fauna on the continental shelf of the eastern Amundsen Sea, Antarctica. Continental Shelf Research 68, 80-90 Moreau C, Linse K, Griffiths, HJ, Barnes DKA, Kaiser S, Glover A, Sands CJ, Strugnell JM, Enderlein P, Geissler P (2013) Amundsen Sea Mollusca from the BIOPEARL II expedition. ZooKeys 294, 1-8 Beneficiaries: Biodiversity scientists with special interests in conservation and the likely effects of climate change on marine faunas. The geophysical component of ECE has made a significant contribution to furthering our understanding of what lies under the vast Antarctic ice sheet. This is the largest area of unexplored continental crust on Earth and covers an area larger than North America and Central America combined. We knew before that the ice was, in places, extremely thick but our most recent surveys have shown that occasionally huge mountain peaks poke up almost to the surface. The sub-glacial Gamburtsev Mountains of central Antarctica are larger than the European Alps and bear testament to a vast mountainous region that was very rapidly encased in thick ice some 34 million years ago. There are also some huge depressions, known as sub-glacial basins, in East Antarctica and we are beginning to understand that these might also be zones of instability in a rapidly warming world. Our improved knowledge of the topography of sub-glacial Antarctica is being built into advanced computer models so that we can make better predictions as to what might happen to the vast ice sheets if the world goes on warming. One of the important products of the more routine aspects of geological surveying is a series of new geological maps of the Antarctic Peninsula region. Based on a scale of 1:150000, these have been produced in conjunction with the British Geological Survey to a high technical standard. The folded versions are the same size as OS maps in the UK and have proved very popular with both members of the public in the UK and Antarctic tourists. At the same time they provide an accurate and up to date summary of the geology of one of the key areas of British Antarctic Territory, and can be used by scientists and policy makers alike. |
| Sector | Environment,Government, Democracy and Justice,Culture, Heritage, Museums and Collections |
| Impact Types | Cultural Economic Policy & public services |
| Description | Development of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in Antarctica (ECE) |
| Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
| Impact | EVOLHIST members are actively involved in development of marine protected areas (MPAs) in the Southern Ocean. These are areas of restricted exploitation from fisheries which protect marine biodiversity and its associated seafloor habitats. This enhances the sustainable credentials for existing fisheries, which are managed by CCAMLR (Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources). A first technical workshop on developing systematic conservation planning for MPAs in domains of the Weddell, Bouvet-Maud and Amundsen-Bellingshausen Seas was held in Brussels, Belgium between 11 and 14 September 2012 with EVOLHIST members Katrin Linse and Huw Griffiths. Biodiversity data were aggregated and conservation objectives were developed for the individual domains. These will be included in future systematic conservation planning processes, which will be developed through CCAMLR using the data aggregated at the workshop. EVOLHIST scientists David Barnes and Huw Griffiths were centrally involved in a scientific workshop and stakeholder meeting (18-19/04/2012) to determine new protections within the MPA spanning South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands for both benthic and pelagic species. During the meeting, new offshore no-take protection zones and a ban on fishing at depths over 2.25km were proposed. These were reported to the South Georgia Government, who then incorporated these proposals into law in their fisheries management of the region. Target audience(s): Government Department |
| Description | Managing Antarctic biodiversity through the Antarctic Treaty (ECE) |
| Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
| Impact | EVOLHIST member Peter Convey has been actively involved in Antarctic management policy discussions since 2012, co-authoring a high impact Science paper on future conservation of the Antarctic, and reporting on the current status and management of invasive species in the marine and terrestrial Antarctic. In another review he considers how well the Antarctic Treaty is able to protect Antarctic biodiversity in the future, recommending the advance development of a strategic response to the anticipated changes in climate and human impacts in the region. His work was recently presented to a well-attended joint meeting of the All Party Parliamentary Groups on Biodiversity and the Overseas Territories. Target audience(s): Government Department |