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

• Published in: Journal of Sea Research
• Main Authors: Xavier, José C., Barbosa, Andrés, Agustí, Susana, Alonso-Sáez, Laura, Alvito, Pedro, Ameneiro, Julia, Ávila, Conxita, Baeta, Alexandra, Canário, João, Carmona, Raquel, Catry, Paulo, Ceia, Filipe, Clark, Melody S., Cristobo, Francisco J., Cruz, Bruno, Duarte, Carlos M., Figuerola, Blanca, Gili, Josep Maria, Gonçalves, Ana R., Gordillo, Francisco J. L., Granadeiro, José P., Guerreiro, Miguel, Isla, Enrique, Jiménez, Carlos, López-González, Pablo J., Lourenço, Sílvia, Marques, João C., Moreira, Elena, Mota, Ana M., Nogueira, Marta, Núñez-Pons, Laura, Orejas, Covadonga, Paiva, Vitor H., Palanques, Albert, Pearson, Gareth A., Pedrós-Alió, Carlos, Peña Cantero, Álvaro L., Power, Deborah M., Ramos, Jaime A., Rossi, Sergi, Seco, José, Sañé, Elisabet, Serrão, Ester A., Taboada, Sergi, Tavares, Sílvia, Teixidó, Núria, Vaqué, Dolors, Valente, Tiago, Vázquez, Elsa, Vieira, Rui P.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier 2013
• Subjects: Antarctic; Arctic; Marine biology; Polar science; Portugal; Spain; The Antarctic; Antarc*; Association of Polar Early Career Scientists; Climate change; IASC; Ocean acidification; SCAR
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10773/24409; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seares.2013.05.013

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. The research described here was mainly funded by the Portuguese and Spanish Ministries of Science and by the European Union. We would like to thank Angel Borja for their organization of the SIEBM conference in San Sebastian and all colleagues that were actively involved in conducting marine polar research in Portugal and Spain, including those that reviewed drafts of the manuscript. We also acknowledge Ana Quartin and Sónia Mendes da Silva of the Polar Office of the Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, the captain and crew of the CCGS Amundsen for their help during cruises CASES and ...