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  • Metadata record for data from AAS (ASAC) Project 2933. While it is generally thought that Antarctic organisms are highly sensitive to pollution, there is little data to support or disprove this. Such data is essential if realistic environmental guidelines, which take into account unique physical, biological and chemical characteristics of the Antarctic environment, are to be developed. Factors that modify bioavailability, and the effects of common contaminants on a range of Antarctic organisms from micro-algae to macro-invertebrates will be examined. Risk assessment techniques developed will provide the scientific basis for prioritising contaminated site remediation activities in marine environments, and will contribute to the development of guidelines specific to Antarctica. Juvenile Gastropod toxicity tests, Kingston 2007 During 2007 a series of toxicity tests, using Antarctic marine invertebrates, were conducted at Australian Antarctic Division laboratories in Kingston, Tasmania, to test the sensitivity of Antarctic nearshore biota to a range of common metal contaminants. This data record describes two such tests, using juveniles of the microgastropod Skenella paludionoides. The first test (T01) was a 14 day test (start date: 20/08/2007) using juveniles less than 7 days old. The second test (T02) was a 12 week test (start date: 10/09/2007) using juveniles of the same cohort, that were less than 28 days at the commencement of the test. A range of concentrations of three single metals (cadmium, copper and zinc) were applied as test treatments to determine this species sensitivity to these common metal contaminants. T01 included all three metals, T02 used copper and zinc only. Data are provided in the excel file: CaseyKingston0607_Microgastropod.xlsx This file includes descriptive test details, test data and measured metal concentrations of test solutions. Scanned copies of laboratory notebook and test scoresheets are provided in PDF files: - CKing_ Ecotox Kingston 0607.pdf - Kingston07-microgastropod-juv-T01.pdf

  • Metadata record for data from AAS (ASAC) Project 2933. While it is generally thought that Antarctic organisms are highly sensitive to pollution, there is little data to support or disprove this. Such data is essential if realistic environmental guidelines, which take into account unique physical, biological and chemical characteristics of the Antarctic environment, are to be developed. Factors that modify bioavailability, and the effects of common contaminants on a range of Antarctic organisms from micro-algae to macro-invertebrates will be examined. Risk assessment techniques developed will provide the scientific basis for prioritising contaminated site remediation activities in marine environments, and will contribute to the development of guidelines specific to Antarctica. Amphipod and Isopod toxicity tests, Kingston 2007 Filename: Amphipod and Isopod test results.xls Test animals were collected from near shore environments at Casey Station, East Antarctica during Dec 2006 - Jan 2007, and transported to culturing facilities at the Australian Antarctic Division in Tasmania, where tests were conducted during 2007. The test animals were exposed to metals in non-renewable static tests in vials containing 50 mL of the test solution at ambient Antarctic coastal salinity of 34 ppt. Tests were held in temperature controlled cabinets (incubators) at a temperature of 0 degrees C (plus or minus approximately 1 degrees C). Five to eight test animals were introduced into each of 3 replicate vials per treatment at test commencement, and were exposed for 10 to 12 weeks during which periodic observations were made. Test solutions were renewed in weekly water changes. Periodic observations (time since start of test) are given in hr (hours), d (days) or w (weeks). At each observation time, test animals were scored in one of the Endpoint categories described on each worksheet. Each worksheet provides data for a particular test taxa (slater isopods, small red isopods, spider amphipods and Orange Long Antennae Amphipods - taxonomy to be verified) for a given test number (T01, T02) and a given metal contaminant (copper, zinc, cadmium). Test information is provided in the first 14 rows of each worksheet, e.g. Site of collection, Test start date, Endpoint categories etc. ASU = artificial settlement units (plastic scourers used by Sarah Richards, which had been deployed in Newcomb Bay in approximately the year 2000). Conc micrograms/L are nominal concentrations. Measured concentrations are provided in the worksheet: /Amph and Isop T01-02 CHEMISTRY SUMM Test temperature was 0 degrees C unless otherwise stated. Unit for all temperature data is degrees C. The file contains the following worksheets: Worksheet: /Amph and Isop T01-02 CHEMISTRY SUMM Chemistry data as provided also in Kingston 07 Chemistry_Amph and Iso.xls described below. Worksheet: /Slater isopods T01 Cu Test taxa: Slater isopod; Test ID: T01, Kingston 2007; Metal contaminant: copper Worksheet: /Slater isopods T01 Zn Test taxa: Slater isopod; Test ID: T01, Kingston 2007; Metal contaminant: zinc Worksheet: /Slater isopods T01 Cd Test taxa: Slater isopod; Test ID: T01, Kingston 2007; Metal contaminant: cadmium Worksheet: /Small red isopods T02 Cu Test taxa: Small red isopods; Test ID: T02, Kingston 2007; Metal contaminant: copper Worksheet: /Small red isopods T02 Zn Test taxa: Small red isopods; Test ID: T02, Kingston 2007; Metal contaminant: zinc Worksheet: /Spider Amphipods T01 Cu Test taxa: Spider Amphipods; Test ID: T01, Kingston 2007; Metal contaminant: copper Worksheet: /Orange LongAnt Amph T01 Cu Test taxa: Orange Long Antenae Amphipods; Test ID: T01, Kingston 2007; Metal contaminant: copper Filename:Kingston 07 Chemistry_Amph and Iso.xls Metal concentrations in test solutions were analysed using an ICP-AES, by Ashley Townsend at the Central Science Laboratory, University of Tasmania, Hobart. Worksheet: /Amph and Isop T01-02 Summary Summary of chemistry data for Amphipod and Isopod tests Worksheets: /From Ash.... Series of raw data worksheets provided by Ashley, each with date stamp (ddmmyy).

  • Metadata record for data from AAS (ASAC) Project 2933. While it is generally thought that Antarctic organisms are highly sensitive to pollution, there is little data to support or disprove this. Such data is essential if realistic environmental guidelines, which take into account unique physical, biological and chemical characteristics of the Antarctic environment, are to be developed. Factors that modify bioavailability, and the effects of common contaminants on a range of Antarctic organisms from micro-algae to macro-invertebrates will be examined. Risk assessment techniques developed will provide the scientific basis for prioritising contaminated site remediation activities in marine environments, and will contribute to the development of guidelines specific to Antarctica. Brown Ostracod toxicity tests, Kingston 2007 Test animals were collected from near shore environments at Casey Station, East Antarctica during Dec 2006 - Jan 2007, and transported to culturing facilities at the Australian Antarctic Division in Tasmania, where tests were conducted during 2007. The test animals were exposed to metals in non-renewable static tests in vials containing 50 mL of the test solution at ambient Antarctic coastal salinity of 34 ppt. Tests were held in temperature controlled cabinets (incubators) at a temperature of 0, 2 or 4 degrees C (+/- approximately 1 degrees C). Ten test animals were introduced into each of 3 to 5 replicate vials per treatment at test commencement, and were exposed for 10 weeks during which periodic observations were made. Test solutions were renewed in weekly water changes. Periodic observations (time since start of test) are given in hr (hours), d (days) or w (weeks). At each observation time, test animals were scored in one of the Endpoint categories described on each worksheet. Each worksheet provides data for a particular test taxa (Brown Ostracods - taxonomy to be verified) for a given test number (T01, T02, T03, T04, T05,) and a given metal contaminant (copper, zinc, cadmium and lead). Test information is provided in the first 14 rows of each worksheet, e.g. Site of collection, Test start date, Endpoint categories etc. ASU = artificial settlement units (plastic scourers used by Sarah Richards, which had been deployed in Newcomb Bay in approximately the year 2000). Concentration micro grams per litre are nominal concentrations. Measured concentrations are provided in the file: Brown Ostracod_chemistry.xls, as described below. Test temperature was 0 degrees C unless otherwise stated. Unit for all temperature data are degrees C. See the readme file in the download for more information.

  • These data have been collected as part of ASAC (AAS) project 3046 on voyage 3 of the Aurora Australis in the 2011-2012 season. Data were collected from a series of RMT Trawls conducted from the trawl deck of the ship. Public Description of the Project The overall objective is to characterise the response of Southern Ocean calcareous zooplankton to ocean acidification resulting from anthropogenic CO2 emissions. Simulated increases in anthropogenic CO2 suggest a reduction in the calcification rates of calcareous organisms. A change in the calcification in the Southern Ocean may cause marine ecosystem shifts and in turn alter the capacity for the ocean to absorb CO2 from the atmosphere. We plan to take advantage of naturally-occurring, persistent, zonal variations in Southern Ocean primary production and biomass to investigate the effects of CO2 addition from anthropogenic sources on Southern Ocean calcareous zooplankton communities. A download file containing an excel spreadsheet of data can be found at the provided URL. Project objectives: The overall objective of this project is to characterise the impacts of recent, primarily anthropogenic, increases in atmospheric CO2 and related changes in the carbonate chemistry on shell formation by calcareous zooplankton in the Australian sector of the Southern Ocean. Calcareous zooplankton (e.g. planktonic foraminifera and pteropods) will be collected using plankton nets at five Southern Ocean localities during high seasonal flux periods. Planktonic foraminiferal and pteropod species and abundances, calcification rates and geochemistry (stable isotope and trace-metal) will be determined on plankton tow samples. Data from recent plankton tow samples will be compared with data deposited historically in the Southern Ocean and recovered from existing deep ocean sediment cores to provides insights about the extent to which modern carbon conditions may have already generated ecological impacts. The project will also provide a baseline of the present-day impact of ocean acidification and can be used to monitor the influence of future anthropogenic CO2 emissions in Southern Ocean ecosystems.

  • This dataset contains results from the Second International BIOMASS Experiment II (SIBEX II) cruise of the Nella Dan, January 1985. This cruise is the fourth cruise out of a series of six, investigating the distribution, abundance and population structure of krill Euphausia superba in the Prydz Bay region, Antarctica. SIBEX II was co-ordinated with South Africa, Japan and France, and 66 grid sampling stations covered an area from 58 degrees to 93 degrees East and from 60 degrees South to the Antarctic coast. At each sampling station, surveys of krill and other zooplankton were taken, as well as a CTD cast and water collection for phytoplankton pigment, nutrients and primary production measurement. Species identity and abundance data were obtained. The major species investigated were Euphausia superba, Euphausia frigidia, Euphausia crystallorophias and Thysanoessa marcuria. Other pteropods and cephalopods were also studied, as well as results from hydroacoustic surveys of krill biomass. Summary results are listed in the documentation. The fields in this dataset are: species Station Number Haul Type RMT Biomass Weight Flowmeter Latitude Longitude Time Date Ice Sea State Density Sea Floor Maturity This dataset was updated by Angela McGaffin. This download file also contains the original dataset provided in 2007. There are four files available: SIBEX_II_krill.xls (original file) sibex2_krill_morphometrics.xslx sibex2_station_data.xslx sibex2_zooplankton_corrected.xls A minor data update took place on 202211-03 to add a scanned copy of the original acoustics log.

  • This dataset contains results from the Antarctic Division BIOMASS Experiment III (ADBEX III) cruise of the Nella Dan. It is the fifth cruise in a series of six, conducting a long term field survey providing data on distribution, abundance and population structure of the krill Euphausia superba in the Prydz Bay region, Antarctica. The prime purpose of ADBEX III was to study the ecology of the Crabeater Seal, and surveys of krill and other zooplankton were taken off Antarctica in the Australian sector (east of Mawson) in the Enderby Land region between October and November 1985. Species identity and abundance data were obtained. The major species investigated were Euphausia superba, Euphausia frigidia, Euphausia crystallorophias and Thysanoessa marcuria. Other pteropods and cephalopods were also studied. A CTD cast and water collection for phytoplankton pigment, nutrients and primary production measurements were also made at each net sampling station. Summary results are listed in the documentation. The fields in this dataset are: species Station Number Haul Type RMT Biomass Weight Flowmeter Latitude Longitude Time Date Ice Sea State Density Sea Floor Dive Maturity A minor data update was made on 2022-11-03 to add scanned copies of acoustic logs from the voyage.