PALMER STATION SCIENCE SITREP DEC 1996 WILLIAM R. FRASER, SSL The following science projects were active at Palmer Station during the month: NEWS FROM THE LAB Alice Doyle, Senior Assistant Supervisor, Laboratory Operations With the departure of Deneb Karentz, Bill Fraser has taken over as Senior Science Leader. The turnover between the Supervisor, Laboratory Operations, Marian Moyher, and myself was completed with Marian's departure at the end of the month. Please contact me at Palmer Station or Marian at ASAHQ if you need assistance. The damaged Beckman Ultracentrifuge was sent back to Beckman mid- month. The instrument is currently in transit and should arrive at Beckman, Fullerton this week where diagnostics and repairs will begin with the goal of having a working instrument on station for March 1997 in mind. The Instrument Technician (Brad Gore) is currently rearranging Laboratory 6 to allow for the Waters HPLC system and the Hitachi HPLC systems to remain set-up in the lab. This arrangement will make more equipment readily available for use by scientists on station. S-003 OZONE DEPLETION, UV-B RADIATION AND VASCULAR PLANT PERFORMANCE IN ANTARCTICA. Thomas A. Day, Department of Botany and The Center for the Study of Early Events in Photosynthesis, Arizona State University. PERSONNEL ON STATION: Christopher T. Ruhland, Fusheng Xiong and William K. Karl. Studies continued on the effects of UV-radiation and warming on growth and photosynthesis in the only two native antarctic vascular plants Deschampsia antarctica (grass) and Colobanthus quitensis (forb). Whole-plant gas exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence measurements were made throughout December under all 90 of our treatment filter cages that selectively remove different wavebands of UV-radiation and modify temperature. These measurements were conducted under various weather conditions (warm,sunny vs. cool,cloudy) to determine if reversible (down-regulation) or irreversible damage to photosynthetic apparatus is occurring. Initial concentrations of chlorophyll (total, a & b) and bulk concentrations of flavonoids and related phenolics (UV-absorbing) were measured spectrophotometrically in the lab at Palmer Station. These extractions were performed on both species under each of our treatment cages to determine if last year's UV and temperature manipulations affected concentrations of these pigments in this year's developing foliage. In addition, over fifteen hundred tillers and shoots of D. antarctica and C. quitensis were tagged, censused and mapped for baseline demographic growth analysis measurements (absolute and relative growth rates, tiller and leaf production, leaf length and leaf size index). Individual cages were photographed to provide initial cover estimates and will be compared to cover estimates at the end of the growing season. We are expecting that these analyses will help elucidate interactions of UV and temperature on growth and photosynthesis in antarctic vascular plant species. S-013 CHANGES IN ADELIE PENGUIN POPULATIONS AT PALMER STATION: EFFECTS OF LONG TERM HUMAN DISTURBANCE AND ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE. William R. Fraser, Montana State University. PERSONNEL ON STATION: John C. Carlson, Donna Patterson, William R. Fraser (shared with S-035). Tour ship visits started in December with the Alla Terasova on the 13th and the Spanish research vessel Hesperaides on the 18th. Tourist numbers, movements and distributions on Torgersen Island were documented through censuses and mapping for both ships. The arrival of the Polar Duke on the 23rd brought Bill Fraser and Donna Patterson to station to complete the field team for the season. Only a few days of field work were lost to bad weather during December and we were able to access all islands at regular intervals to document aspects of the breeding biology of Adelie Penguins. Seven hundred and seventy nest sites located throughout the 66 colonies in the area are being examined at 1-5 day intervals as part of an effort to document the effects of variability in the terrestrial nesting habitat on the breeding success of Adelie Penguins. Human activity--tourism and research--is treated as a component variable in a matrix of variables being employed to define nesting habitat characteristics. Low level aerial photography of colonies is being used to map habitat features using GPS/GIS technologies. S-016 LONG TERM ECOLOGICAL RESEARCH ON THE ANTARCTIC MARINE ECOSYSTEM: AN ICE-DOMINANTED ENVIRONMENT (Phytoplankton Component). Maria Vernet, Scripps Institution of Oceanography. PERSONNEL ON STATION: Personnel on Station: Wendy Kozlowski, Jeffrey Walker (split position with S-028 and S-032). Sampling continued into December, with full profile collection done at Palmer inshore station B on the second and E on the third of the month. Stations B and E were sampled again on the seventh, tenth, fourteenth, seventeenth, twenty fourth and thirty first. Preliminary microscopic analysis of the samples from the beginning of the month showed a bloom consisting mainly of Corethron, with Coscinodiscus, several species of Choetoceros, Phaeosystis, Thallasiosira and Rhizosolenia also found in the samples. By mid month, the bloom appeared to be lessening in intensity, and simulated in situ experiments initially confirm that productivity levels dropped significantly by the end of the month. Final HPLC calibrations were also completed this month, and preparation for the January LTER cruise has begun. S-019 REPRODUCTIVE ENDOCRINOLOGY OF FREE-LIVING ADELIE PENGUINS ON TORGERSEN ISLAND, ANTARCTICA. Carol Vleck and Theresa Bucher, Iowa State University. PERSONNEL ON STATION: Carol Vleck, Theresa Bucher, David Vleck, Lori Ross. Our field team was reduced in size on 26 December with the departure of Drs. Theresa Bucher and David Vleck but was supplemented by the able addition of David Lott, graduate student from Iowa State University. December was characterized by favorable weather for zodiac travel, and we reached Torgersen Island on 29 days to carry out complete surveys of all marked birds in the 14 monitored colonies. The hatching dates and mate relief sequence of 259 nests were monitored on each day of field work. The first hatchlings of marked birds appeared on December 12, and all viable eggs had hatched by December 29th. We obtained a total of 519 samples to be used for hormone analysis and blood chemistry. For our incubation period manipulation experiment we switched eggs between nests for 32 pairs to produce clutches with artificially lengthened or shortened incubation periods. Fourteen control pairs had eggs switched among nests but unchanged incubation periods. We obtained plasma samples from these birds during the pip stage, hatch stage, 6-day posthatch stage and on the day that the birds' own eggs hatched. In addition, we obtained plasma samples from 8 birds that were sitting on infertile eggs for 8- 10 days past the normal hatch date. We continued our challenges with a penguin model (to simulate a territorial intrusion) of 10 penguin pairs in the chick brooding stage. We obtained plasma samples both before and after the challenge and are measuring the attack rate against the model with the aid of a video camera. We obtained a small blood sample for DNA analysis from 26 chicks and their putative parents to test genetic relatedness. Approximately half of these samples are from pairs that were observed to change mates between arrival in the colony and egg laying. We obtained samples from many failed birds that have lost their eggs or chicks but continue to stay in the colonies( often with the mate) on the old nest site. Often these nests failed because the mates did not returned in time to relieve the incubating/brooding partners or to help feed the chicks. Samples from the birds that remained in the colony for unusually long times will be assayed for hormones, enzymes and blood constituents associated with stress and fasting. For each blood sample collected we also measured hemoglobin concentration and hematocrit and prepared a blood smear for differential white blood cell count. The level of total glycated hemoglobin (an integrated measure of previous blood glucose level) was measured in 40 birds including birds that had just arrived in the colony and those that had undergone fasts of 10-40 days. S-028 LONG-TERM ECOLOGICAL RESEARCH ON THE ANTARCTIC MARINE ECOSYSTEM: AN ICE-DOMINATED SYSTEM (Prey Component). Robin M. Ross and Langdon B.Quetin, University of California, Marine Science Institute, Santa Barbara. PERSONNEL ON STATION: Janice Jones (shared with S032), Karen Haberman (shared with S032), Jeffrey Walker (shared with S032 and S016). Acoustic runs from station A to station E were completed on 10 Dec, 17 Dec and 24 Dec. A partial run from station A to station C was done on 02 Dec and was cancelled due to high winds. Runs from station J to station F were done on 07 Dec, 13 Dec, 18 Dec and 28 Dec. Successful targetted tows were completed on 04 Dec, 16 Dec and 26 Dec. Animals from those tows were used for IGR experiments, length frequencies, physiological condition factor and chemical composition including CHN plates. We were not successful at catching krill on 11 Dec, 15 Dec and 24 Dec. We would like to thank Randy Sliester for taking such good care of our zodiacs - both patching them and just keeping an eye on them! S-032 LONG-TERM ECOLOGICAL RESEARCH (LTER) ON THE ANTARCTIC MARINE ECOSYSTEM: AN ICE DOMINATED ENVIRONMENT (Modeling Component). Ray Smith, University of California, ICESS, Santa Barbara. PERSONNEL ON STATION: Janice Jones (shared with S-028), Karen Haberman (shared with S032), Jeffrey Walker (shared with S- 028 and S-016). CTD, PRR and water collection for salinity and chlorophyll determination was carried out at stations E and B on 10 Dec, 17 Dec and 24 Dec. S016 sampled in tandem with us on these days and collected water samples from various depths for water column chlorophyll analysis. Sampling at stations E, H and J was done on 07 Dec, 18 Dec and 28 Dec. S016 sampled with us at station E and went on to station B to collect water for us to do water column chlorophyll analyses. Early in the month we had a high wind day (02 Dec) which resulted in sampling of station B only, followed by station E sampling on 03 Dec. Similarly, on 13 Dec it was too rough to sample at station E, we continued back to sample at H and J, and went back out to sample E on 04 Dec in tandem with S016. A CTD cast was done at the dock on 24 Dec for Tony Amos to use the data for tidegauge calibration. Thanks to Bill Nicholson for repairing the doors on ROZE. S-035 LONG TERM ECOLOGICAL RESEARCH ON THE ANTARCTIC MARINE ECOSYSTEM: AN ICE-DOMINATED ENVIRONMENT (Seabird Component). William R. Fraser, Montana State University PERSONNEL ON STATION: Eric Holm, Peter Duley, William R. Fraser (shared with S-013). A key assumption guiding LTER seabird research is that the persistence of any seabird population over time reflects the coincident availability of suitable nesting and foraging habitats. Variability in one or both of these habitats can thus be viewed as being an important determinant of change in the magnitude and/or direction of seabird populations. Within this conceptual model, research by the seabird component of the LTER focuses on understanding how the physical environment influences the abundance and distribution of prey on which these predators depend. The terrestrial aspects of this model are embraced in the scope of objectives described for S-013, with which the LTER seabird work shares resources, personnel and data. Both programs also contribute to the broader, international objectives of the CCAMLR Ecosystem Monitoring Program, which in the U.S. falls under the direction of the National Marine Fisheries Service. LTER-related field work on Adelie Penguins thus encompasses three categories, breeding biology, foraging ecology and demography. During December most of our efforts were focused on determining chick hatching chronology and patterns of mortality at our long-term research sites on Humble Island, where approximately 100 nests are being monitored daily as part of an area-wide network of sites (see S-013) designed to yield comparative reproductive data. The Humble site is LTER-specific because this research is closely coupled with telemetry studies that begin in January on the island. The last week of December was thus also devoted to setting up and testing the telemetry equipment that will be deployed to examine variability in foraging trip durations of Adelie Penguins. Baseline breeding and population data on other area seabirds were, as in the past, obtained opportunitically to maintain continuity in databases that in some cases span more than two decades. Brown and South Polar skuas, Cormorants, Giant Petrels and Kelp Gulls are the focus of these efforts. With the exception of Giant Petrels, not enough data are available on other species to discern trends at this writing. In the case of the former, the total breeding population shows a slight decrease from 1995-96 (415 vs. 425 pairs). Censuses also disclosed strong recruitment of the 1988-89 and 1989-90 cohorts into the breeding population. This species is declining in some Antarctic and sub-Antarctic sectors and it is thought the long-line fishing may be one of the responsible agents. Long-line hooks and leaders have recently begun to show up in the Palmer population. S-091 GLOBAL SEISMOGRAPH STATION AT PALMER STATION. R. Butler, Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology (IRIS). No personnel were on station. The system has been monitored by the station science technician. On 04/05 December, the IRIS system experienced a recurrence of a glitch seen twice within the last six months, in which the data flow between the DA and DP appeared to be interrupted because of problems in the comms link between them. Between three and five hours of data were lost. ASL believes this problem to be a software bug, and they have sent new tapes with an updated version of the program, which will be loaded at the next tape change. S-106 STUDIES OF LIGHTNING-INDUCED ELECTRON PRECIPITATION OF THE IONOSPHERE. U. Inan, Stanford University. No personnel were on station. The system has been monitored by the station science technician. Narrowband recording sessions were abnormally short on 24 and 25 December. Throughout the month there were several periods during which the GOES clock was observed to be drifting relative to the programmer clock. The connections between the antenna and the clock unit were examined and re-seated, but this failed to solve the problem. The drifts caused sampling errors in the narrowband acquisition program, but they did not cause the program to abort. S-204 MEASUREMENTS OF ATMOSPHERIC O2 IN RELATION TO THE GLOBAL CARBON CYCLE. Ralph Keeling, Scripps Institution of Oceanography. No personnel were on station. Air samples are collected on a semi-weekly basis by the station physician. The samples are return shipped to Scripps for analysis of O2 and CO2 content. The goal of the program is to resolve seasonal and interannual variations in atmospheric O2 (detected through changes in O2/N2 ratio) which can aid in the determination of rates of marine biological productivity and ocean mixing and aid in the separation of the global sink for anthropogenic CO2 into terrestrial and oceanic components. The program involves air sampling at a network of sites in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. Palmer Station is especially well situated to resolve signals due to carbon cycling in the Southern Ocean. S-254 CHLORINE-AND BROMINE-CONTAINING TRACE GASES IN ANTARCTICA. R.A. Rasmussen, Oregon Graduate Institute for Science and Technology. No personnel were on station. Air samples are taken on a weekly basis by the station physician. The samples are returned to the Institute for analysis of a number of trace components, especially chlorine- and bromine-containing gases. These elements have been implicated in the chemical processes that contribute to the austral-spring depletion of the ozone layer over Antarctica. This work will contribute to a better understanding of the buildup of trace constituents, particularly those of high-latitude marine origin. S-257C COLLECTION OF ATMOSPHERIC AIR FOR THE NOAA\CMDL WORLDWIDE FLASK SAMPLING NETWORK. James T. Peterson, Environmental Research Laboratories, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. No personnel were on station. Air samples are taken on a weekly basis by the station physician. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Climate Monitoring and Diagnostics Laboratory team continue long-term measurements of trace atmospheric constituents that influence climate. The Palmer Station air samples are returned to the NOAA laboratory for analysis of trace constituents, including carbon dioxide. These measurements are part of NOAA's effort to determine and assess the long-term buildup of global pollutants in the atmosphere. These data will be used to determine how the rate of change of these parameters affects climate, particularly by including them in climate model studies. S-275 UM/DOE-EML REMOTE ATMOSPHERIC MEASUREMENTS PROGRAM. C. Sanderson, Department of Energy, Environmental Measurements Laboratory. No personnel were on station. The system has been operated by the station science technician. One sample filter was exposed for the duration of each week, and a weekly schedule of calibration, background, and sample counts was maintained. The air intake was examined for moisture accumulation on 20 December. None was observed. T-312 TERASCAN SATELLITE IMAGING SYSTEM. R. Whritner, Scripps Institution of Oceanography. No personnel were on station. The system has been operated by the station science technician. Throughout the month of December, the TeraScan system collected, archived, and processed DMSP and NOAA telemetry, maintaining a schedule of 15-17 passes per day. NOAA and DMSP telemetry was archived for S-032 when the LTER grid was clear. Several visible light TeraScan images were produced in support of the R/V POLAR DUKE's cruise to the BAS station Rothera. T-513 UV MONITORING NETWORK. C. Booth, Biospherical Instruments, Inc. No personnel were on station. The system has been operated by the station science technician. Throughout the month, raw irradiance data were collected daily and transmitted to BSI, and preliminary irradiances and integrals were produced in support of Science. Scheduled absolute scans were performed on 01 and 15 December. An attempt to replace the mercury lamp holder was not successful because the new and old holders had incompatible bolt hole patterns. Absolute and multiwavelength scans were performed both before and after the replacement attempt.