| Summary: | Even in remote environments, human and natural systems are connected. Pressing environmental and social changes warrant the field of science to not only continue to enhance understanding of the natural world, but also consider the socio-ecological implications of research in the coupled human-natural system. Additionally, a need exists for communication of knowledge to, and application of that knowledge by the public and policymakers. The marine pelagic ecosystem of the Western Antarctic Peninsula plays a critical role in global biogeochemical cycling along with many other ecosystem services. Its remote and hostile, yet breathtaking landscape has also captivated humans since its discovery. In the last 60 years, the region has experienced rapid warming and intensified exposure to anthropogenic activities. Research is needed that assesses ecosystem change with novel, adaptive techniques while considering best means to communicate knowledge gained. In my Master’s thesis, I provide examples of the application of opportunistic surveys at the Western Antarctic Peninsula to (i) enhance understanding of biological and biogeochemical responses to a changing ocean, (ii) apply such research to outreach and education, and (iii) consider best means of facilitating future research, outreach, and education via science-informed policy of the Antarctic. Specifically, I used glider-borne acoustics to assess the distribution and drivers of the anomalous abundance of the gelatinous tunicate, Salpa thompsoni, observed in the austral summer of 2020 in Palmer Deep Canyon on the Western Antarctic Peninsula. I then used data from the survey as the focal point of a four-lesson curriculum that I designed for elementary grade students. Finally, I reviewed the interplay of science and policy in the Antarctic, the role of American policy in facilitating research in the Antarctic, and the value of a US Antarctic research fleet to US interests and commitments in the Antarctic. Collectively, this document is meant to illustrate the ...
|
|---|