Metadata record for data expected ASAC Project 11 See the link below for public details on this project. From the abstract of the referenced paper: The Australian Antarctic Division carried out an extensive sampling program for pelagic and benthic fauna in Prydz Bay, Antarctica (Indian Ocean sector) in January to March 1991. A total of 341 cephalopod specimens comprising 256 squids and 85 octopods were captured for study. This preliminary report presents capture records of eight species of squids: Brachioteuthis sp., Kondakovia longimena, Bathyteuthis abyssicola, Mastigoteuthis psychophila, Psychroteuthis glacialis, Alluroteuthis antarcticus, Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni and Galiteuthis glacialis. The Octopods captured are Megalehedone senei and several species of Pareledone. Psychoteuthis glacialis is reported to congregate on the bottom near the shelf edge at the depth of 400-600 metres. No distinctive pattern in diel vertical movement was found for any of the species captured. Evidence suggests the existence of ontogenetic descent in Galiteuthis glacialis. Cephalopod catches from the extensive sampling program for fishes and zooplankton were studied. For the pelagic fauna, half-hour duration IYGPT hauls were taken at three depths at 63 stations evenly distributed over Prydz Bay area. The three depths fished by the IYGPT at each station were near the surface, near the bottom or 800 m whichever was less, and the midpoint between those two depths. The 63 stations coincided with most of the stations used in the zooplankton sampling program which employed an RMT 1 + 8 net and sampled from 0-200 metres. Additionally 21 benthic samples were taken using bottom trawl, fished for half hour duration on the shelf of Prydz Bay.

This dataset contains data on the habitats, distribution and numbers of Adelie Penguins (Pygoscellis adeliae) along the Vestfold Hills coast (including colonies on the mainland and offshore islands) during November 1973. The data are obtained from counts at the colonies and black and white photographs. Some aerial photographs were taken at Davis in 1981-82 and 1987-88, and will be compared to the results of this survey. The results are listed in the documentation. A total of 174178 26127 breeding pairs were counted. An increase in Adelie penguin population was found at most locations in East Antarctica. Data from this record has been incorporated into a larger Adelie penguin dataset described by the metadata record - Annual population counts at selected Adelie Penguin colonies within the AAT (SOE_seabird_candidate_sp_AP). It also falls under ASAC project 1219 (ASAC_1219).

Metadata record for data from ASAC Project 1252 See the link below for public details on this project. Currently three datasets are attached to this metadata record. Dive data collected in 1988, track data from adult birds collected in 1994 and track data from fledglings collected in 1995. Dive data are available in Microsoft Word format, while the track data are available in Microsoft Excel format. A readme file (txt) is included in each download file to explain column headings, etc. ---- Public Summary from Project ---- To breed successfully the winter-breeding emperor penguins must fatten on two occasions: once before the onset of moult in January, and again prior to the commencement of the new breeding season in March. Interference with the capacity of the penguins to fatten in summer might be detrimental to the their breeding performance and survival later on in winter. This study seeks to determine the likely impact of commercial fishing operations on emperor penguin colonies at the Mawson Coast. More specifically, the data pertains to the locations of emperor penguins when fattening prior to the moult, and prior to the new breeding season. Project objectives: 1. To determine the extent and location of foraging areas of post-breeding adult Emperor penguins in summer. 3. To determine the extent and locations of foraging areas of fledgling Emperor penguins on their first trip to sea. 4. To identify interseasonal and interannual variations in foraging areas in conjunction with changes in seaice conditions and compare these with results from different colonies. 5. To survey the coastline of the AAT to verify the existence (or non-existence) of Emperor penguin colonies. Emperor penguins are icons of Antarctic wildlife and their conservation is of paramount interest to the wider community. They are also key consumers of marine resources in several areas and consequently there is great potential for interactions between feeding penguins and harvesting of fish and krill. Emperor penguins are one of the few species to breed on the fast ice (although there are three known land-based colonies, one of which has all but ceased to exist in recent years). Thus, the breeding habitat of Emperor penguins is subject to direct alteration as a result of climate change. Colonies of Emperors are found across a wide latitudinal range, from deep in the Ross Sea to the tip of the Antarctic Peninsula. This range includes breeding areas where significant changes in seaice are not (yet?) thought to be occurring to areas where seaice is changing rapidly. Accordingly, studies at multiple locations will provide valuable clues on how this species will be affected by a warming Antarctic. Additionally, Emperor penguins are large animals that live in a relatively small number of discrete locations. It is therefore more than feasible, using an international effort, to study an entire species and to make some predictions about their response to a warming world and to current and future fishing practices. This project aims to make the first steps towards an overall conservation assessment of Emperor penguins through studies in several locations around the Antarctic continent. Should these attempts be successful, then a more ambitious international project will be launched to take a species-wide perspective.

Adelie penguin foraging trip duration records for Bechervaise Island, Mawson since 1991-92. Data include average male and female foraging trip durations for both the guard and creche stages of the breeding season. Data based on records of tagged birds crossing the APMS for in and out crossings. Durations determined from difference between out and in crossings in conjunction with nest census records. Data included only for birds which were known to be foraging for a live chick. This work was completed as part of ASAC Project 2205, Adelie penguin research and monitoring in support of the CCAMLR Ecosystem Monitoring Project. The fields in this dataset are: Year trip duration (hours) Mean , standard error, count and standard deviation for male and female foraging trips during guard and creche stages of the breeding season.

Distribution, abundance and dates of relict Adelie Penguin colonies in the Australian Antarctic Territory (AAT). Current mapping efforts have focused on the Windmill Islands in preparation for a PhD study to commence in 2004/05 with the two investigators. The planned PhD study will work at either the Windmill Islands or the Vestfold Hills. This project integrates ASAC projects 1219 and 1322 (ASAC_1219, ASAC_1322). The fields in the excel spreadsheet are: Radiocarbon Samples Isotope Samples Site - list of precise locations provided in the downloadable paper Level - horizontal stratum (depth), given in 5cm blocks Species Material Weight (g) Notes Lab no. Uncorrected Date (BP) - (day) Standard Deviation Delta R - range of corrected date for sample, 2 standard deviations either side of the mean Mean - estimated mean of sample date See the paper included in the download file for further information.

Project 565: The database provides a list of species of ciliates and testate amoebae (Protozoa: Ciliophora; Testacea) recorded in various edaphic habitats, e.g., mineral soils (fellfield), ornithogenic soils, terrestrial mosses, from ice-free coastal areas and inshore islands in the area of Casey Station, Wilkes Land, coastal continental Antarctica. 26 ciliate (9 first records for continental Antarctica, 1 undescribed) and 5 testacean species (3 new records) were found. Sea ice study (Weddell Sea): The ciliate biodivesity was studied in several types of sea ice (mainly young pancake ice) from the Weddell Sea, Antarctica, in the austral autumn 1992 (March-May) during the cruise ANT X/3 of RV Polarstern. 49 ciliate species were predominantly found in sea ice and 6 spp. in the pelagial; 20 of these were new to science. A word document containing a list of species that were recorded as part of the project is available for download from the provided URL. These data have also been incorporated into the biodiversity database.

The aim of the study was to characterise the genetic biodiversity of populations of the copepod Paralabidocera antarctica and the cladoceran Daphniopsis studeri in the Australian Antarctic Territory. Sampling was finalised during November and December 2000. Daphniopsis studeri were sampled from freshwater lakes in the Vestfold and Larsemann Hills, and from small ponds on Heard Island. Paralabidocera antarctica were collected from saline lakes, fjords and embayments around the Vestfold Hills. Each population was analysed at 16 allozyme loci using cellulose acetate electrophoresis. Allozyme data were recorded as multilocus genotypes for each individual. The observed number of multi-locus genotypes were tested against expected values to determine whether populations of Daphniopsis studeri reproduce by obligate or cyclic parthenogenesis. Geographic genetic structure of the crustacean populations was assessed using genetic distance measures and cluster analysis. Local and regional gene flow was estimated using Fst and multivariate statistics. By using genetic tools to measure indirectly dispersal and gene flow among populations with each species, we hope to reconstruct the history of these species in Antarctica and to determine the relative significance of historical versus contemporary ecological conditions.

At Hop Island in the Rauer Group during the 2012/13 field season combinations of data loggers were deployed on different adelie penguins. The data loggers were GPS (two types), time-depth recorders and accelerometers. The accelerometer records head movement to identify when the bird captures prey. The units were later retrieved and the data downloaded. A document included with the data has further information about the data. The data were collected following protocols approved by the Australian Antarctic Animal Ethics Committee and supported through the Australian Antarctic program through Australian Antarctic Science project 4087. Data from GPS units deployed at Hop Island in 2011/12 is described by the metadata record with ID AAS_4087_adelie_penguin_tracking_hop_island_2011_12.