Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Marina F. McCowin, Patrick C. Collins, Greg W. Rouse
Summary: This study presents the complete mitochondrial genomes of ten new Vestimentifera species, including the first sequencing of mitochondrial genomes for Alaysia spiralis, Arcovestia ivanovi, Lamellibrachia barhami, Lamellibrachia columna, Lamellibrachia donwalshi, and unnamed species of Alaysia and Oasisia. Phylogenetic analysis revealed Lamellibrachia as the sister group to the remaining Vestimentifera, with Riftia pachyptila showing a distinct relationship. Additional analyses were conducted on tree topologies, substitution saturation, ancestral state reconstruction, and divergence estimates. Furthermore, a new species of Alaysia from the Manus Basin was described.
MOLECULAR PHYLOGENETICS AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Laura M. Phillips, Rachel Leihy, Steven L. Chown
Summary: This study focuses on the type locality criterion for area protection in Antarctica and reveals the inadequacy of the current protected areas network. By analyzing a comprehensive database of type localities, the study identifies numerous unprotected areas that should be considered for future conservation efforts. The authors propose alternative approaches to deploy the type locality criterion, such as systematic conservation planning and emphasis on species habitat.
CONSERVATION BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Zoology
Yue Sun, Lei Yu, Xinzheng Li
Summary: A new species of the orbiniid genus Phylo, P. heterochaetus sp. nov., is described based on material collected from the northern Yellow Sea, China. This is the thirteenth species in Phylo. Additionally, Phylo fimbriata is recorded for the first time from China seas.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Rachel I. Leihy, Lou Peake, David A. Clarke, Steven L. Chown, Melodie A. McGeoch
Summary: Open data on biological invasions are crucial in regions with shared responsibility for invasive species control, such as the Antarctic. Despite successful invasion policies, centralized data on invasive species are lacking. This dataset provides comprehensive information on introduced and invasive species in the Antarctic region, including their identity, establishment, eradication status, and impact. The data serve as a baseline for combating the increasing risk of biological invasion in the region.
Article
Soil Science
Steven L. Chown, Dana M. Bergstrom, Melissa Houghton, Kate Kiefer, Aleks Terauds, Rachel I. Leihy
Summary: The study supports the predictions of the Antarctic climate-diversity-invasion hypothesis, indicating that climate change affects the abundance and diversity of indigenous fauna in the Antarctic region. Invasive alien species have negative impacts on indigenous fauna. The research shows that the density of indigenous fauna on invaded islands in the Antarctic is significantly lower than on uninvaded islands.
SOIL BIOLOGY & BIOCHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Patricia Morales, Jose L. Roscales, Juan Munoz-Arnanz, Andres Barbosa, Begona Jimenez
Summary: This study evaluated the levels of various POPs in penguin eggs in Antarctica, finding differences in concentrations between chinstrap and gentoo penguins, with PCBs being the predominant pollutant. Interspecies differences in POP levels correspond well with potential trophic position differences among species.
Article
Environmental Sciences
J. A. Padilha, G. O. Carvalho, W. Espejo, A. R. L. Pessoa, L. S. T. Cunha, E. S. Costa, J. P. M. Torres, G. Lepoint, K. Das, P. R. Dorneles
Summary: This study evaluated the levels of eighteen trace elements in feathers and eggs of five migratory species breeding on the Antarctic Peninsula, and their association with stable isotopes. It was found that the concentrations of Li and Mg in the feathers of South polar skua, which migrate to the Northern Hemisphere, were one order of magnitude higher than those of Snowy sheathbill, a southern migrant species. Feathers had higher concentrations for 11 out of 18 metals compared to eggs. The study also revealed that migration and trophic ecology influenced the concentrations of Fe, Mn, Cu, and Se in Antarctic seabird feathers.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2023)
Article
Zoology
Joana Zanol, Pat Hutchings
Summary: This article describes a new giant species from New South Wales, Australia, with unique characteristics, living in sandy sediments in coastal waters and difficult to collect due to its high mobility.
Article
Microbiology
Pablo Villanueva, Ghislaine Vasquez, Carlos Gil-Duran, Vicente Oliva, Anai Diaz, Marlene Henriquez, Eduardo Alvarez, Federico Laich, Renato Chavez, Inmaculada Vaca
Summary: The genus Pseudogymnoascus represents a diverse group of fungi widely distributed in different cold regions on Earth, with limited knowledge on its species. This study identified four new species of Pseudogymnoascus from Antarctic marine sponges, marking the first report of new species from Antarctica and the Southern Hemisphere. The new species show distinct phylogenetic lineages and differences in conidia shape, size, arthroconidia chains, and colony appearance compared to currently known species.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Zoology
Pan-Wen Hsueh
Summary: This study describes two new species and one new record species of the genus Pseudonereis collected from ecological surveys of the coasts of Taiwan and an offshore island. The key differences among the species include characteristics such as jaw morphology, ridge patterns, and presence of heterogomph spinigers in the neuropodia.
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Qiang Shen, C. K. Shum, Hansheng Wang, Liming Jiang, Banghui Yang, Chaoyang Zhang, Jinglong Dong, Fan Gao, Weiyu Lai, Tiantian Liu
Summary: A new method is proposed to estimate the measurement biases of glacier elevation products using altimetry crossovers relative to a known stable ice surface. The results show that the measurement biases vary depending on the measurement methods and specific campaigns.
IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON GEOSCIENCE AND REMOTE SENSING
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Jorge Gago, Miquel Nadal, Maria Jose Clemente-Moreno, Carlos Maria Figueroa, David Barbosa Medeiros, Neus Cubo-Ribas, Lohengrin Alexis Cavieres, Javier Gulias, Alisdair Robert Fernie, Jaume Flexas, Leon Aloys Bravo
Summary: Deschampsia antarctica is a native vascular plant in Antarctica, and the availability of nutrients in the soil affects its photosynthetic and stress tolerance mechanisms. Plants growing on low-nutrient availability soils have more limiting photosynthetic and stress tolerance performances, while plants in nutrient-rich soils show vigorous growth without appreciable levels of stress.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Katharina Kohlenbach, Henry Knauber, Angelika Brandt, Hanieh Saeedi
Summary: This study analyzed the species richness, composition, and distribution patterns of Polychaeta and Sipuncula in the Northwest Pacific. It identified the need for further research due to the presence of unknown or unsampled species in the region.
Article
Microbiology
Beenish Naz, Ziyang Liu, Lucie A. Malard, Izhar Ali, Hongxian Song, Yajun Wang, Xin Li, Muhammad Usman, Ikram Ali, Kun Liu, Lizhe An, Sa Xiao, Shuyan Chen
Summary: Dominant plant species in Antarctic terrestrial ecosystems have a significant influence on bacterial antagonistic interactions through their effects on soil physicochemical properties and bacterial abundance. This study examined the direct and indirect effects of the Antarctic grass Deschampsia antarctica and the Antarctic moss Sanionia uncinata on bacterial antagonistic interactions. The results showed that the dominant plants significantly influenced bacterial antagonistic interactions, with grasses and mosses directly affecting the interactions and exerting indirect effects through changes in soil edaphic properties and bacterial abundances.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Michael P. Meredith
Summary: Dense water production in the seas around Antarctica plays a crucial role in carbon storage and slowing global warming. However, a new model suggests that the efficiency of this carbon storage may be greatly reduced by system changes by the end of this century.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Giulia Fassio, Maria Vittoria Modica, Maria Chiara Alvaro, Barbara Buge, Daniele Salvi, Marco Oliverio, Stefano Schiaparelli
MOLECULAR PHYLOGENETICS AND EVOLUTION
(2019)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Paola Piazza, Stefano Antonio Gattone, Alice Guzzi, Stefano Schiaparelli
Article
Zoology
Guido Bonello, Marco Grillo, Matteo Cecchetto, Marina Giallain, Antonia Granata, Letterio Guglielmo, Luigi Pane, Stefano Schiaparelli
Article
Plant Sciences
Stefano Schiaparelli, Igor A. Jirkov
Summary: This study discusses the taxonomy of two ampharetid genera found in the Terra Nova Bay area of Antarctica, describing a new species with distinct characteristics. The transfer of a species to a different genus based on amended diagnoses is also highlighted. Additionally, a dichotomous key for identifying ampharetid genera in Antarctica and a checklist of species in Terra Nova Bay are provided to aid in species recognition for untrained individuals.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF TAXONOMY
(2021)
Article
Fisheries
Steven J. Parker, Svein Sundby, Darren Stevens, Davide Di Blasi, Stefano Schiaparelli, Laura Ghigliotti
Summary: The study found that fertilized eggs of Antarctic toothfish have strong positive buoyancy and may be associated with sea ice, providing protection and abundant food sources for juveniles. The presence of sea ice can affect fish growth, transport, and survival.
FISHERIES OCEANOGRAPHY
(2021)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Giorgio Castellan, Lorenzo Angeletti, Simonepietro Canese, Claudio Mazzoli, Paolo Montagna, Stefano Schiaparelli, Marco Taviani
Summary: The study highlights the prevalence of Ca-carbonate production by marine biogenic skeletal organisms in the Antarctic seas. Video surveys conducted in two sites in the Ross Sea region reveal the widespread abundance of low-Mg and high-Mg calcite calcifiers, with evidence of coralline algae coverage on the seabed in shallow areas. This baseline data will be crucial for monitoring the response of polar biota in a rapidly changing ocean.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Nicholas Noli, Davide Di Franco, Stefano Schiaparelli, Angelika Brandt
Summary: This study describes a new species of Pseudidothea, Pseudidothea armata sp. n., from the seafloor of the South Orkney Islands. It is similar to the known species P. scutata, but distinguished by its unique supra-ocular spines and different tubercular pattern. The study adds to our understanding of the diversity of Pseudidotheidae in the Southern Ocean.
BIODIVERSITY DATA JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Gabriele Costa, Giorgio Bavestrello, Simonepietro Canese, Martina Canessa, Claudio Mazzoli, Paolo Montagna, Stefania Puce, Stefano Schiaparelli, Marco Bertolino
Summary: The presence of secondary bio-substrates formed by calcareous organisms in Antarctic seas is crucial for increasing the diversity of sessile benthic fauna. Stylasterid hydrozoa, with their branched carbonate structures, create a three-dimensional habitat that supports a high biodiversity of associated organisms, especially invertebrates.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Mario La Mesa, Simonepietro Canese, Paolo Montagna, Stefano Schiaparelli
Summary: Although the near-shore and coastal habitats around the Antarctic Continent are limited, they are home to a diverse fish fauna dominated by notothenioids. This study conducted an underwater photographic survey in Terra Nova Bay and found that inshore waters are important for the local fish community, providing suitable habitats for settling, foraging, and spawning activities.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Nicholas Francesco Noli, Angelika Brandt, Davide Di Franco, Stefano Schiaparelli
Summary: This paper describes a newly discovered species, Chaetarcturus cervicornis sp. n., found in the Mawson Bank of Ross Sea during the PNRA project CARBONANT. The new species shares similarities with C. bovinus and C. adareanus, but has distinct spine patterns. The study of Chaetarcturus species in the Ross Sea contributes to our understanding of the diversity of Antarcturidae in the Southern Ocean, and highlights the need for further research on the fascinating and understudied fauna in Ross Sea banks.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Marco Grillo, Falk Huettmann, Letterio Guglielmo, Stefano Schiaparelli
Summary: This study utilizes machine learning and open-access data sources to create three-dimensional predictive distribution maps for twenty-six copepod species in the Ross Sea region of Antarctica for the first time. By employing Species Distribution Modeling framework, it reveals the presence and absence of copepods in different areas and depth classes, providing quantitative predictions of the food chain in depth categories.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Wolfgang Sterrer, Martin Sorensen, Matteo Cecchetto, Alejandro Martinez, Raffaella Sabatino, Ester M. Eckert, Diego Fontaneto, Stefano Schiaparelli
Summary: This study reported the discovery of at least two species of the phylum Gnathostomulida in the Southern Ocean and along the shores of the Ross Sea in Antarctica for the first time, utilizing morphological inspection and DNA metabarcoding techniques for species identification.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Alice Guzzi, Maria Chiara Alvaro, Bruno Danis, Camille Moreau, Stefano Schiaparelli
Summary: This study reports the discovery of two sea star species for the first time in the Terra Nova Bay area of Antarctica. The identification of these species was confirmed using both molecular and morphological analyses. This highlights the lack of knowledge even in supposedly well-studied areas and iconic Antarctic organisms.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Stefano Schiaparelli, Maria Chiara Alvaro, Alice Guzzi, Marco Grillo
Summary: The first record of a stranded specimen of Cymbulia parvidentata, a pteropod species of Atlantic origin, was reported in the Ligurian Sea. Measurements distinguished C. peronii from C. parvidentata, with the former being larger. This finding contributes to understanding the diversity of Atlantic pelagic species and suggests possible major changes and Atlantification. Specific citizen-science campaigns are highly desirable to determine the frequency of such events.
BIODIVERSITY DATA JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Alice Guzzi, Maria Chiara Alvaro, Matteo Cecchetto, Stefano Schiaparelli
Summary: The identification of species is crucial for ecological surveys and conservation efforts, and DNA barcoding has greatly assisted in this process. In this study, a combination of molecular and morphological analyses was employed to identify 70 echinoid and 22 crinoid specimens collected from the Ross and Weddell Seas. The results revealed new records for sea urchins and crinoids in the Terra Nova Bay area, including previously misidentified species.
