Antarctic Expedition: CFE researchers study pollution and diseases in marine ecosystems
As part of the ICE-CAP project, funded by the Portuguese Polar Program, the Bulgarian Antarctic Program, and the University of Coimbra, samples are being collected to study the effects of pollution from microplastics, heavy metals, rare earth elements, and diseases on marine ecosystems.
Researchers from the CFE Marine Research Lab and members of the TERRA Associate Laboratory, José Xavier and José Seco, are currently on Livingston Island, Antarctica, on a scientific mission that is crucial to understanding the environmental impacts on the Southern Ocean. The expedition is part of the ICE-CAP project, an international effort funded by the Portuguese Polar Program, the Bulgarian Antarctic Program, and the University of Coimbra.
The main objective of this campaign is to collect biological and environmental samples to study the effects of pollution from microplastics, heavy metals, rare earth elements, as well as the prevalence of diseases in Antarctic marine ecosystems. The fieldwork involves monitoring and collecting samples of emblematic and sensitive species, including gentoo penguins, chinstrap penguins, various species of fish, and leopard seals.
The team left in November and, after almost a month in Antarctica, the scientific work has progressed steadily. According to the latest report from the researchers, the study of seals (leopard, Weddell, and crabeater) is still going on. “We’ve also been collecting samples from chinstrap penguins… and the collection of fish, caught with nets and fishing rods, is almost done,” say researchers José Xavier and José Seco on the expedition blog. In addition, the Plastisphere experiment—which assesses microbial colonization on plastic particles—placed at Johnson Docks remains active and will be monitored in the coming weeks.
Pode ler os relatos completos da expedição e as curiosidades sobre a vida na Antártida no blogue cientistapolarjxavier.blogspot.com
A participação dos investigadores José Xavier e José Seco nesta expedição sublinha a relevância e o alcance global da investigação desenvolvida pelos membros do TERRA na área dos ecossistemas. Os resultados não só contribuirão para o conhecimento da saúde do Oceano Austral, mas também fornecerão insights essenciais sobre como a poluição global afeta sistemas marinhos cruciais.
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