Polar marine biology science in Portugal and Spain: Recent advances and future perspectives

Xavier, José C. et al. Polar marine ecosystems have global ecological and economic importance because of their unique biodiversity and their major role in climate processes and commercial fisheries, among others. Portugal and Spain have been highly active in a wide range of disciplines in marine bio...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of Sea Research
Main Authors: Xavier, José C., Barbosa, Andrés, Agustí, Susana, Alonso-Sáez, Laura, Duarte, Carlos M., Gili, Josep Maria, Isla, Enrique, Palanques, Albert, Pedrós-Alió, Carlos, Sañé, Elisabet, Teixidó, Nuria, Vaqué, Dolors
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2013
Subjects:
Antarctic
Arctic
The Antarctic
Antarc*
Association of Polar Early Career Scientists
Climate change
IASC
Ocean acidification
SCAR
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/10261/89723
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seares.2013.05.013
Description
Summary:Xavier, José C. et al. Polar marine ecosystems have global ecological and economic importance because of their unique biodiversity and their major role in climate processes and commercial fisheries, among others. Portugal and Spain have been highly active in a wide range of disciplines in marine biology of the Antarctic and the Arctic. The main aim of this paper is to provide a synopsis of some of the results and initiatives undertaken by Portuguese and Spanish polar teams within the field of marine sciences, particularly on benthic and pelagic biodiversity (species diversity and abundance, including microbial, molecular, physiological and chemical mechanisms in polar organisms), conservation and ecology of top predators (particularly penguins, albatrosses and seals), and pollutants and evolution of marine organisms associated with major issues such as climate change, ocean acidification and UV radiation effects. Both countries have focused their polar research more in the Antarctic than in the Arctic. Portugal and Spain should encourage research groups to continue increasing their collaborations with other countries and develop multi-disciplinary research projects, as well as to maintain highly active memberships within major organizations, such as the Scientific Committee for Antarctic Research (SCAR), the International Arctic Science Council (IASC) and the Association of Polar Early Career Scientists (APECS), and in international research projects. © 2013 Elsevier B.V. Peer Reviewed

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