Kerguelen Axis 2015-16: Marine science activities in support of research and observing of marine ecosystems in the vicinity of the Kerguelen Axis during 2015-16 austral summer

• Main Authors: Constable, AJ, Blain, S, Bowie, A, Boyd, PW, Chase, Z, Corney, S, Cottie, C, Cox, M, Clarke, L, Deagle, B, Double, M, Doyle, H, Emmerson, L, Hindell, M, Holmes, T, Kawaguchi, S, Kawai, M, Koubbi, P, Laurenceau, E, Macdonald, A, LoMonaco, C, McMinn, A, Melbourne-Thomas, J, Moteki, M, Obemosterer, I, Odate, T, Perez-Tribouillier, HU, Phillips, H, Ratnarajah, L, Rintoul, S, Schallenberg, C, Southwell, C, Swadling, K, Takahashi, K, Talley, T, Tilbrook, B, Trebilco, R, Tonnard, M, Trull, T, Van Der Merwe, P, Walters, A, Welsford, D, Westwood, K, Wojasiewicz, B, Wuttig, K
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, UTAS 2015
• Subjects: Environmental Sciences; Environmental Science and Management; Conservation and Biodiversity; Antarctic; Southern Ocean; Austral; Kerguelen; Antarc*; Antarctic Krill; Sea ice; Copepods
• Online Access: http://www.soos.aq/news/current-news/222-kerguelen-axis-2015-16; http://ecite.utas.edu.au/128581

The Southern Ocean is one of the most rapidly changing environments on Earth. Key questions for understanding the consequences of change in the region include: (i) Will southward movement of the ocean fronts, as well as the extent of winter sea ice, give rise to a contraction in the northern range of polar species such as Antarctic krill? (ii) How will productivity of the region change as a result of changing attributes of physical habitats in areas of iron supply? (iii) What factors might give rise to a shift from a krill-based food web to a food web based on copepods and fish? These questions are central to management of fisheries and conservation in the region. Important to managers is the question on how to most efficiently monitor the ecosystem to determine whether such changes are arising or may arise in the near future. This last question is central to developing biological capability within the Southern Ocean Observing System.