Developing macroalgal gardens in Potter Cove
As an associated project to IMCOAST we are focussing on the ecology and ecophysiology of macroalgae in Potter Cove.
Particularly, we are studying these communities on newly open ice-free areas that have resulted from the retreat of Fourcade glacier. These areas have become available for organisms that live attached to sea floor, such as macroalgae! In fact, these organisms have been recorded on the new areas, in places where no macroalgae were found only 17 years ago. On the other hand, these new areas are very affected by ice disturbance, marked changes in salinity and a reduction in the penetration of light, due to a high meltwater inflow.
 A sampling site at Peñón de Pesca |
 A diver collecting the tiles |
 In the laboratory |
Over this expedition, I’ve monitored a long term experiment that started three years ago, when tiles were installed on the sea floor, to simulate a natural bare substrate. This project is part of the cooperation between the Macroalgae groups of the IAA (Lili Quartino, Dolores Deregibus and myself) and the AWI (Christian Wiencke and Katharina Zacher).
Over the years, tiles were colonized mostly by micro and macroalgae. As they are installed at several meters depth, they are sampled by scuba diving. Then, we transport them to the aquarium of Dallmann Lab and set them under controlled temperature and photoperiod. In the laboratory, a detailed analyses of the communities: “little gardens” - as I call them- is performed.
 New algal colonizers on the tiles |
In this part of the project, we hope to get more information about how algal species occupy new available space and replace each other over time, a process called “succession”. In fact, it is very exciting as there is a general lack of information on these patterns in Antarctic coastal waters, particularly in a global change scenario.
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Hola Agustina. En la seccion Contact, Collaborating researchers hay un directorio de e-mails. Saludos
Posted by Gabriela Campana, 23/05/2011 6:44pm (10 years ago)
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Gabriela: Estuve buscando tu mail en la pagina pero la verdad es que no lo encuento. ¿Me lo podrias pasar?
Muchas graciasPosted by Agustina Cuevillas, 22/05/2011 1:57am (10 years ago)
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Hola Agustina,
Muchas gracias por tu interés! Podes contactarme directamente por mail. Saludos,
GabrielaPosted by Gabriela Campana, 18/05/2011 2:23pm (10 years ago)
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Hola Gabriela,
Me interesa mucho tu trabajo, yo estudio biologia en la Universidad de Buenos Aires y estoy buscando algun laboratorio para empezar a hacer algo relacionado con lo que me gusta. Si tenes un espacio o conoces a alguien que pueda estar necesitando una ayuda me vendria muy bien!
GraciasPosted by Agustina Cuevillas, 06/05/2011 12:04am (10 years ago)
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