Symposium S1: SICB Wide Symposium – New Frontiers in Antarctic Marine Biology

The unique marine environment of Antarctica provides an exciting opportunity to showcase aspects of the biology of its rich and diverse marine life. The symposium topics are timely, presented by leaders in the field, and will encompass cutting edge science, novel techniques, and future directions. Topical areas include the recent dramatic ecological impacts of climate changes across multiple trophic levels, advances in molecular and physiological aspects of cold adaptation in marine algae, invertebrates and fish, the role of chemical ecology in structuring nearshore macroalgal-mesograzer interactions in communities of the Antarctic Peninsula, revising phylogeographic patterns in Antarctica in the age of ‘omics,’ and advances in the use of biogeochemical markers to track diets and movement of Antarctic marine predators.

The Antarctic marine environment is characterized by constant, low water temperatures (commonly -1.8 °C), yet marked seasonal patterns of pack-ice movement and photoperiod. The offshore biotic system is fueled by upwelled, nutrient-rich, deep circumpolar waters, which support rich primary production during the Antarctic austral summer. Although Antarctic marine biology is a relatively young science, research has gone far beyond descriptions of plants and animals found in Antarctic waters. In particular, Antarctic researchers have used the unique and isolated environment as a natural laboratory to understand general processes occurring around the globe. Dynamics of production, reproduction, and ecological stability and interaction have been well developed in the past three decades. Indeed, in some ways we know more about the remote Antarctic environment today that we do about more familiar environments closer to home. Importantly, the ecological impacts of the dramatic climate changes underway in western Antarctica and the Antarctic Peninsula make understanding the fundamental biology their particularly pressing.

This symposium, funded in large part by the NSF Antarctic Organisms and Ecosystems program, follows in the footsteps of three highly successful, NSF-supported society-wide symposia on Antarctic marine biology that occurred ~ 10, 20, and 30 years ago, respectively.

Sponsors: SICB Co-Sponsoring Divisions DCPB, DEE, DIZ
TCS, AMS

Organizers

• James McClintock
• Charles Amsler
• Bill Baker
• Art Woods
• Amy Moran

Speakers

S1-1 Saturday, Jan. 4, 07:45 MCCLINTOCK , JB*; AMSLER, CD; BAKER , B; MORAN , A; WOODS , HA :

Introduction to the Symposium: New Frontiers in Antarctic Marine Biology

S1-2 Saturday, Jan. 4, 08:00 HEISER, S*; SHILLING, AJ; AMSLER, CD; MCCLINTOCK, JB; BAKER, BJ:

Allies, Cheaters and Thieves: Macroalgal-Mesograzer Interactions on the Western Antarctic Peninsula

S1-3 Saturday, Jan. 4, 08:30 POLITO, MJ*; MICHELSON, CI; MCMAHON, KW:

Advances in the use of biogeochemical markers to track the diets and movement of Antarctic marine predators

S1-4 Saturday, Jan. 4, 09:00 ZIEGLER, AF*; HAHN-WOERNLE, L; POWELL, B; LUNDESGAARD, Ø; CAPE, M; SMITH, CR:

From Glaciers to Benthos: Fjord Ecosystem Processes in a Changing Climate

S1-5 Saturday, Jan. 4, 10:00 STEINBERG, DK*; CONROY, JA; THIBODEAU, PS:

New Insights Into Patterns of Zooplankton Abundance Along the Rapidly Changing Western Antarctic Peninsula

S1-6 Saturday, Jan. 4, 10:30 MAHON, AR*; HALANYCH, KM:

Revisiting phylogeographic patterns in Antarctica in the age of ‘-omics.’

S1-7 Saturday, Jan. 4, 11:00 COUNTWAY, PD*; MATRAI, PA:

Antarctic Microbial Interactions Revealed by Continuous Flow Incubation and Variable Rates of DMSP Supply

S1-8 Saturday, Jan. 4, 11:30 GAST, RJ*; SANDERS, RW:

You are what you eat: mixotrophic protists in Antarctic marine plankton communities

S1-9 Saturday, Jan. 4, 13:30 YOUNG, JN*; DAWSON, HM; RUNDELL, SM:

Responses of Antarctic Microalgae to Seasonal Shifts in Temperature and Salinity

S1-10 Saturday, Jan. 4, 14:00 HINDLE, AG:

Diving deep: Mechanistic insights into the extreme physiology of Antarctic seals

S1-11 Saturday, Jan. 4, 14:30 TODGHAM, AE:

Two Plus Two Doesn’t Equal Four: The Importance of Incorporating Realistic Environmental Variability in Understanding the Resilience of Antarctic Fishes to Climate Change

S1-12 Saturday, Jan. 4, 15:00 WOODS, HA*; MORAN, AL:

Reconsidering the oxygen-temperature hypothesis of polar gigantism: successes, failures, and nuance