Research team on the recent Gough Island takeover expedition.
Phytoplankton are microscopic plants that live in the ocean, and just like plants on land they need to have enough food to grow and be happy. However, some places in the ocean don’t have enough food for them whereas some places do. The Southern Ocean Carbon & Climate Observatory (SOCCO) team based at CSIR, Trace Metals team based at Stellenbosch University (TracEx) and the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment: Oceans and Coasts team are trying to figure out where those places are (in the Southern Ocean).
During the Gough Island takeover expedition:
The Trace Metal Biogeochemistry research teams sampled upstream and downstream of Gough Island to look at how the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC) interacts with the island to resuspend sediments from the seafloor. This resuspended sediments acts as a source of trace metals to the surface mixed layer in support of phytoplankton blooms. The team used a 12 bottle mini-CTD rosette system (see image below, right) to sample for dissolved trace metals, particulate trace metals and organic trace metal chemistry.
TEAM
Trace Metal Biogeochemistry
Projects Name
Seasonal Iron speciation in the Southern Ocean, from open ocean environments to naturally fertilized sub-Antarctic Islands (Marion and Gough Island)
Principal Investigator
Dr Thomas Ryan-Keogh
Senior Researcher at the Southern Ocean Carbon-Climate Observatory (SOCCO), CSIR South Africa
Co-Principal Investigator (On board DFFE team leader)
Dr TN Mtshali
Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE)
Including all ship-based scientists sampling for trace metals
The project in more detail:
The Southern Ocean (SO) is one of the largest high-nutrient low-chlorophyll regions in the World’s Ocean, where primary productivity is limited by iron bioavailability, thereby impacting the strength and efficiency of biological carbon pump. There are, however, exceptions with large phytoplankton blooms persistently observed downstream of the sub-Antarctic Islands. While extensive research has focussed on iron-biogeochemistry around Kerguelen and Crozet islands, no such studies have been conducted at Marion and Gough islands.
Furthermore, whilst our previous studies have made substantial advances toward addressing the gaps in seasonal data coverage through the Southern oCean seAsonaL Experiment (SCALE) 2019 winter and spring expeditions, there is still a paucity of dissolved iron data in the SO, especially from autumn to late spring. This is severely hampering our understanding of the full seasonal biogeochemical iron cycle and its impact on primary production. This project aims to continue its focus on seasonality by expanding seasonal coverage of iron measurements to include autumn (Marion) and late-spring (Gough) expeditions for more comprehensive coverage of the SO seasonal cycle, with a particular focus on quantifying biogeochemical cycling of iron-pool around these understudied islands.
This project is funded by: The National Research Foundation, South African National Antarctic Programme funding (NRF-SANAP).
The South African Environmental Observation Network (SAEON), managed by the National Research Foundation (NRF) requires the services of an EDI Coordinator responsible for driving and supporting transformation in marine and polar sciences in South Africa, coordinating the South African Polar Research Infrastructure (SAPRI) Mentorship Programme, and compiling the SAPRI Code of Conduct (CoC).
As per job advertisement:
Key Responsibilities:
Collaborate with NRF-SANAP, DFFE, DSI and other key stakeholders to understand past efforts and design a forward looking, phased approach to transforming marine and polar sciences
Collaborate with historically disadvantaged institutes to promote marine and polar sciences
Collaborate with previously disadvantaged individuals who are interested in marine and polar sciences
Collaborate with current and past SANAP and MARS stakeholders to understand the blockages with regards to transformation
Responsible for coordinating the design and implementation of the SAPRI mentorship programme, including all elements such as the needs to be addressed, programme length and structure, mentee and mentor recruitment, strategies for mentee-mentor matching, activities, addressing mentee and/or mentor challenges to participate (e.g. technological barriers, funding), etc.
Organise and chair meetings of the mentorship programme organisational committee and ensure that minutes are recorded
Design and implement a programme monitoring and evaluation strategy
Report writing at the end of each iteration of the programme and work on strategies to ensure programme sustainability
Compile the SAPRI Code of Conduct (CoC)
Review existing SA polar / marine CoCs (e.g. SEAmester, etc)
Form and chair a CoC Action Group
Represent SAPRI and South African polar community on EDI committees (e.g. SCAR, SOOS, others) and give talks, presentations, webinars on EDI where relevant
Organise workshops for SAPRI stakeholders and community to create awareness of EDI
The South African Environmental Observation Network (SAEON) Egagasini Node, based in Cape Town, Western Cape, requires the services of a Top Predator Monitoring Coordinator responsible for the day-to-day operational and logistical management of the Marion Island Marine Mammal Programme (MIMMP), and the Albatross & Petrel Programme (APP), as part of the South African Polar Research Infrastructure (SAPRI).
As per job advertisement:
Key Responsibilities:
Day-to-day responsibility for operational and logistical management of the MIMMP and APP program
Liaising with Mammal Research Institute (University of Pretoria) to ensure successful transfer of MIMMP to SAPRI
Liaising with Percy FitzPatrick Institute for African Ornithology (University of Cape Town) to ensure successful transfer of APP to SAPRI
Oversight of MIMMP and APP field personnel team selection, training and supervision for continued collection of long-term monitoring data
Raw data integrity and workflow to SAPRI – DPS oversight
Equipment and consumable management and procurement
Upkeeping of permits, ethics and reporting administration
Situated in the South Atlantic Ocean, positioned equidistantly between South Africa and South America, lies a highly significant breeding ground for seabirds known as Gough Island. This remote island serves as the breeding habitat for 24 distinct avian species, many of which are found nowhere else on the planet. Regrettably, the avian inhabitants now share their home with an invasive species, specifically the house mouse. These non-native mice, introduced to the island by human activity, are causing severe harm to the island’s native wildlife, including plants and animals that have thrived there for millennia. The mice’s voracious appetite leads to the consumption of over two million seabird eggs and chicks annually, driving certain species perilously close to extinction.
In an effort to safeguard the birds, the Gough Island Restoration Programme was launched with the aim of eradicating the mice. In 2021, the Gough Island Restoration Programme attempted to eradicate mice from the island in one of the most challenging and logistically complex island eradications ever ventured.
Although the endeavor did not achieve complete success, it significantly reduced the mouse population, providing a respite for the birds. During this period, the avian inhabitants managed to successfully raise numerous chicks.
Scientists continue to monitor the birds and gather valuable information that will hopefully aid in future endeavors to eliminate the mice entirely. Part of this takeover and the overwintering field team’s work programme will relate to follow-up activities to further underpin efforts to restore Gough Island.
Team
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB)
Project Name
The Gough Island Restoration Programme
Principal Investigator
Dr Antje Steinfurth
Field Team Leader
(Gough68 & Gough69)
Dr Lucy Dorman
Field Officer (Gough68)
Ms Rebekah Goodwill
Field Officer (Gough69)
Ms Hannah Greetham
More about the work on the island for this takeover:
“During takeover our team is carrying out a census of Tristan Albatrosses and Southern Giant Petrels across the whole island, the so-called round island survey. At this time of year, the Southern Giant Petrels are starting to breed while the Tristan Albatross chicks are about to fledge. The number of fledged Albatross chicks will then be compared to numbers of breeding pairs that were counted at the beginning of the year and so breeding success for this Critically Endangered bird can be calculated (more than 99% of the global population breed exclusively on Gough Island). The round island survey also provides the team with the opportunity to monitor the abundance and distribution of the two landbird species, the Gough Bunting and the Gough moorhen. This takeover the team will also be taking some soil samples from the upland parts of the island. This is to help monitor the ecosystem in the wake of the mouse eradication attempt”.
The RSPB Gough Island Restoration Programme takeover team (L-R): Hannah Greetham, Antje Steinfurth, Lucy Dorman and Rebekah Goodwill.
The RSPB overwintering team members’ work:
They will focus on Gough’s bird life, monitoring the breeding success of species, providing estimates of their populations and survival and documenting the impacts of House Mice.
For more information visit about The Gough Island Restoration Programme, click on the link below.
The following vacancies are advertised by The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) for positions based on Antarctica and Marion Island.
Antarctica, SANAE IV (the 4th South African National Antarctic Expedition Station):
The successful applicant will spend a full year (December 2023 to February 2025) at SANAE base. There is no option to return to South Africa before February 2025.
Marion Island:
The successful applicant will spend a full year (April 2024 to May 2025) at Marion Island. There is no option to return to South Africa before May 2025.
Anche Louw, Co-Principal Investigator of Antarctic Legacy of South Africa and Digital Marketing and Communications Manager of the South African Polar Research Infrastructure, 06 October 2023.
