Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Jong-Sik Ryu, Hyoun Soo Lim, Hye-Bin Choi, Ji-Hoon Kim, Ok-Sun Kim, Nathalie Vigier
Summary: This study investigates the elemental and Li isotope geochemistry of meltwaters, suspended sediments, soils, and bedrocks in the Barton Peninsula, King George Island, Antarctica. The findings suggest that increasing global surface temperature enhances modern chemical weathering in Antarctica, leading to lower delta Li-7 values in meltwater with intense water-rock interactions.
FRONTIERS IN EARTH SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Jong-Ku Gal, Bohyung Choi, Bo-Kyung Kim, Jin-Woo Jung, Jun-Oh Min, Won Young Lee, Kyung-Hoon Shin, Jeong-Hoon Kim, Sun-Yong Ha
Summary: The study found that the overlap of isotopic niches among seabirds in the Antarctic Peninsula suggests potential diet competition, while the broad isotopic niche width of kelp gulls indicates their adaptation through generalization related to habitat extension and various food sources.
ESTUARINE COASTAL AND SHELF SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Marc Oliva, David Palacios, Jose M. Fernandez-Fernandez, Marcelo Fernandes, Irene Schimmelpfennig, Goncalo Vieira, Dermot Antoniades, Augusto Perez-Alberti, Julia Garcia-Oteyza
Summary: This study reconstructs the glacial history of the Fildes Peninsula in the northern Antarctic Peninsula. It reveals that the deglaciation occurred during the Holocene Thermal Maximum and was followed by glacial expansion under favorable climate conditions. The results contribute to a better understanding of the peninsula's Holocene geoecological dynamics.
LAND DEGRADATION & DEVELOPMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Javier Lenzi, Fiorella Bresesti, Juan Pablo Lozoya, Barbara De Feo, Evelyn Krojmal, Gissell Lacerot, Christina Braun, Franco Teixeira de Mello
Summary: This study characterized the diet and debris ingestion of skuas in the Antarctic region using pellet analysis. It compared the habits of two skua species and found that their diets were generalist and opportunistic. The study also suggested that brown skuas did not displace south polar skuas from penguin breeding colonies. The results highlight the importance of addressing local anthropogenic sources of debris for mitigation efforts.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Nur Adilla Zaini, Van Lun Low, Selam Solomon Gebrelassie, Siti Sofo Ismail, Mohd Hafizi Mahmud, Jamal Houssaini, Won Young Lee, Jeffery K. Tomberlin, Chong Chin Heo
Summary: This study aimed to identify the soil arthropod, nematode, bacterial, and fungal communities associated with penguin carrion. The results showed that decomposition stages, soil location, and species of penguin carrion did not significantly affect these communities.
Article
Microbiology
Nataliya Rybalka, Matthias Blanke, Ana Tzvetkova, Angela Noll, Christian Roos, Jens Boy, Diana Boy, Daniel Nimptsch, Roberto Godoy, Thomas Friedl
Summary: Eukaryotic algae in the top few centimeters of fellfield soils in ice-free Maritime Antarctica play important roles in their habitat. To understand the diversity and distribution of Antarctic terrestrial algae, a pilot study was conducted on the surface soils of Meseta. The study revealed a surprisingly high diversity of soil algae in this region.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Jae Hak Park, Juha Song, Na Ahn, Byoung-Hee Lee, Hyun-Cheol Kim, Woo-Shin Lee, Chang-Yong Choi, Youn-Jeong Lee, Eun-Kyoung Lee, Hee-Soo Lee
Summary: Antibodies to several diseases were detected in samples from adult Gentoo, Chinstrap, and Adelie Penguins at the King Sejong Station in Antarctica, with some penguins showing infections of infectious bronchitis virus and Salmonella. Additionally, necropsy of dead penguin chicks revealed pulmonary hemorrhage and congestion as main findings.
JOURNAL OF WILDLIFE DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Piotr Androsiuk, Katarzyna J. Chwedorzewska, Justyna Dulska, Sylwia Milarska, Irena Gielwanowska
Summary: Deschampsia antarctica exhibits wide ecotypic variation in diverse Antarctic habitats, adapting to different environmental conditions and soil properties. Genetic variation identified through retrotransposon-based iPBS markers suggests low genetic diversity, high population differentiation, and potential genetic drift within populations.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Zoology
Yeong-Deok Han, Sergey V. Mironov, Jeong-Hoon Kim, Gi-Sik Min
Summary: This study is the first investigation of feather mites associated with birds living on the Barton Peninsula in Antarctica, identifying seven species including two new species. Partial sequences of mitochondrial COI were provided as DNA barcodes for all seven feather mite species.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Ulrike Falk, Adrian Silva-Busso
Summary: This paper focuses on the groundwater flow aspects in a small hydrological catchment on King George Island, Antarctica, using various methods to establish a conceptual hydrogeological model and assess groundwater flow discharge.
HYDROLOGY AND EARTH SYSTEM SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Tailisi H. Trevizani, Rosalinda C. Montone, Rubens C. L. Figueira
Summary: The polar regions are susceptible to pollution, and the Antarctic continent was believed to be less affected by human activities. Research stations in these areas may have direct exposure to contaminants. Soil samples taken near the Brazilian Commandant Ferraz Antarctic Station showed increased levels of metals and arsenic. After a fire incident, certain heavy metals had elevated levels in the soil samples, but there was a decrease in metal levels from 2016 to 2018.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Pablo A. A. Heredia Barion, Jorge A. A. Strelin, Stephen J. J. Roberts, Cornelia Spiegel, Lukas Wacker, Samuel Niedermann, Michael J. J. Bentley, Emma J. J. Pearson, Nadia T. Manograsso Czalbowski, Sarah J. J. Davies, Bernhard Schnetger, Martin Grosjean, Stephanie Arcusa, Bianca Perren, Emma P. P. Hocking, Gerhard Kuhn
Summary: New research on Potter Peninsula reveals that deglaciation began around 8.2 ka and experienced two readvances at around 7 ka and 1.7-1.4 ka. These glacier fluctuations on Potter Peninsula are broadly simultaneous with other regions on the Antarctic Peninsula, possibly influenced by solar insolation, southern westerlies, and the Southern Annular Mode.
FRONTIERS IN EARTH SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Gabriela Garmendia, Angie Alvarez, Romina Villarreal, Adalgisa Martinez-Silveira, Michael Wisniewski, Silvana Vero
Summary: This study characterized fungal communities in the coastal waters of King George Island in maritime Antarctica using both culture-dependent and high-throughput sequencing methods. The results showed higher fungal diversity with HTS compared to culture methods, with some fungal groups only detected by HTS. The study highlights the importance of using both culture and HTS methods to obtain a more comprehensive understanding of microbial communities.
WORLD JOURNAL OF MICROBIOLOGY & BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Youmin Kim, Hankyu Kim, Min-Su Jeong, Dowoon Kim, Juyang Kim, Jaehak Jung, Hae-Min Seo, Hyun-Jin Han, Woo-Shin Lee, Chang-Yong Choi
Summary: Microplastics were found in the stomach and upper intestines of 14 dead gentoo penguin chicks collected on King George Island, Antarctica. A total of 378 microplastics were identified, with an average of 27.0 microplastics per individual. The concentration of microplastics in the penguin chicks was higher than previously reported in their feces, suggesting local sources of marine plastic waste as a possible cause.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Maria Osinska, Robert Jozef Bialik, Kornelia Anna Wojcik-Dlugoborska
Summary: The study investigated the impacts of glacial meltwater on marine environments near diverse glaciers of King George Island, Antarctica. Findings showed changes in water quality parameters due to glacier meltwater influence, including decreased salinity, temperature, and dissolved organic matter contents, as well as increased pH, turbidity, and dissolved oxygen values. Glacial meltwater was shown to have the most correlation with dissolved organic matter content and the least correlation with water temperature in the studied coves.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)