PALMER STATION SCIENCE SITREP NOV 1996 The following science projects were active at Palmer Station during the month: NEWS FROM THE LAB Marian Moyher, Supervisor, Laboratory Operations Our Palmer_Science alias problems are fixed, and you are all receiving one copy of this report this month. The new alias list will be maintained in Denver, and is similar to other alias lists maintained there. A few of you also have trouble getting email to Palmer Station even though you use the correct email address (i.e.: moyherma@palmer.usap.nsf.gov). For those receiving "connection not authorized from this address" messages, please try this form instead: name%palmer.usap.nsf.gov@atsvax.rsmas.miami.edu where name = a person's first six letters of their last name followed by first two letters of their legal first name (Alice Doyle = DoyleAl). I know it's a long address, but it works! Along with new grantee groups arriving this month (S-016, S-028 and S-032, see reports below), the new Senior Assistant Supervisor, Laboratory Operations Alice Doyle also arrived. While turnover between the two lab supervisors continues, Alice has taken charge of the day to day lab ops. Please contact either one of us here at Palmer if you need assistance. As mentioned in our July report, ASA has purchased a new Beckman ultracentrifuge and rotor. This month saw the arrival of the equipment here on station. Unfortunately, the centrifuge was damaged in transit, and the frame bent. The unit will be returned to Beckman for rebuild. Beckman is aware of our goal to have the new ultracentrifuge operating on station by March, 1997 in time for our austral fall season, and will work with us to achieve this goal. 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. The field team arrived on station on November 11 and the first trip to Stepping Stones Island, the main focal point of our study, occurred the following day. Radiation exclusion filters that remove different wavebands of ambient UV radiation and modify temperatures were cut in the Palmer Station carpentry shop and in place on pre-exisiting cages around terrestrial vascular plants within the first week. Ten additional water and nutrient supplemental treatment replicates were added to the field site. In addition, micrometerology monitoring stations under our treatment cages were established using microloggers in combination with thermocouples, humidty and quantum sensors and UV-A and UV-B dosimeters. Baseline photosynthetic rates have been measured in all 90 treatment cages on developing Deschampsia antarctica and Colobanthus quitensis. Gas-exchange measurements were performed using a portable infrared gas analysis system in conjunction with a modified leaf chamber to measure bulk photosynthetic rates on a whole-plant basis. In addition, we are monitoring chlorophyll fluorescence parameters with a modulated fluorometer to determine the effects of UV radiation and warming on photosystem II function. We are now conducting our field measurements of chlorophyll fluorescence with both light- and dark-adapted plants. Parameters being measured include photochemical and non-photochemical quenching, quantum yield of electron transport and induction kinetics of chlorophyll fluorescence. We are expecting that these analyses will provide a more detailed mechanistic understanding on the response of the photosynthetic apparatus on Antarctic vascular plants to both UV radiation and warming. S-007 UV-PHOTOBIOLOGY OF PLANKTONIC DEVELOPMENTAL STAGES OF ANTARCTIC BENTHIC INVERTEBRATES. Deneb Karentz, University of San Francisco and Isidro Bosch, State University of New York, Geneseo. PERSONNEL ON STATION: Isidro Bosch, Deneb Karentz, Andy Opet, Greg Wardle SCUBA activities for this project were concluded due to the departure of Ross Hein, one of two divers in the group. Improved weather conditions this month permitted a shift in emphasis of our research efforts to outdoor and in situ experiments. A description of the outdoor experiments can be found in last month's sit rep. For in situ experiments, embryos at selected stages of development are set out in an array of racks deployed at different depths below a bouy that is tied to a tether line. These incubations are allowed to run for 5 days. After 5 days embryos are harvested for analysis of developmental success and processed for subsequent analyses of DNA damage, chromosome aberrations at anaphase, ubiquitin protein synthesis, and expression of nervous system marker genes (S1 and S2). Studies on the gametes and embryos of the sea star Psilaster charcoti and Perknaster aurorae were completed this month. We found Perknaster embryos to be particularly succeptible to UV-B, even though their eggs and embryos were similar in size and yolk content to those of Psilaster charcoti. To fully document the development of these species, larval cultures have been maintained for several weeks in the laboratory and the larvae are at a stage where they are competent to metamorphose. Adults of the sea urchin Sterechinus neumayeri became fully gravid this month. Complete spawning was readily inducible in the laboratory and it was also detected in field populations. With an abundant supply of gametes we were able to complete a series of 9 outdoor experiments and 10 in situ experiments under different light regimes and ozone conditions. More detailed analyses of these experiments is under way. In addition to our work with the common echinoderm species, we have continued our efforts to obtain embryos of the ubiquitous limpet,Nacella concinna, for experimental work. Last week for the first time successful fertilization and early development was observed in cultures. Efforts to obtain mass cultures of embryos for experimental work continue. Hydrographic data continue to be collected on at least a weekly basis (CTD casts, vertical profiling of UV and PAR; collection of whole water samples for the quantification of chlorophyll, DNA, phytoplankton cell densities and stable carbon isotopes). Phytoplankton and zooplankton collections have also been made for the purpose of characterizing the plankton community over time and depth. Diatoms have been the the most abundant phytoplankton taxa, although both colonies and single motile cells of Phaeocystis have been present throughout the spring. The common sea star (Odontaster validus), ribbon worm (Parborlasia corrugatus) and ascidian tunicate (Cnemidocarpa verrucosa) continued to dominate the larval plankton. For the first time this season, in conjunction with the onset of the phytoplankton bloom, embryos of the sea urchin Sterechinus neumayeri were detected in surface waters. Additional work has been continuing on the MAA content of various tissues of Nacella concinna. Weekly collections of adults are being analyzed for the presence of specific MAAs. This monitoring program will help to determine if previously observed seasonal variations in MAA content are an annual occurrence and if the observed changes are related to the spawning cycle. To date there is some indication of spawning in field populations. Analyses of tissue MAA content are near completion. 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 Field work picked up considerably in November as the majority of Adelie penguins arrived at the colonies, built nests, and laid eggs. All field work was conducted with the help of S-035 personnel. Only a few days of field work were lost to bad weather during November and we were able to access all islands at regular intervals to document arrival numbers and peak breeding pair counts. Selected colonies continued to be counted during November with a shift from only counting the number of adults to counts of adults plus active nests. Seven hundred and seventy individual nests located throughout all colonies in the area were selected to be monitored throughout the season. These nests were mapped and checked every 5 days throughout the month to provide estimates of reproductive success for individuals within all colonies. In addition, both members of a subsample of breeding pairs to be monitored were banded and monitored daily on Torgersen Island. Low level aerial photography of colonies continued when weather conditions allowed. Documentation of snow depths surrounding selected colonies continued as well. 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: Wendy Kozlowski, Jeffrey Walker (split position with S-028 and S-032) S-016 arrived on station 11 Nov, and quickly went about the job of unpacking and getting laboratory, deck and zodiac equipment set up for sample collection and processing. The Legend was set up and tested by 16 Nov, deck and aquarium incubators for primary productivity experiments were calibrated and running by 19 Nov, and the HPLC was set up and, with a few part replacements, functioning by 21 Nov. Calibration of the instrument has begun and will continue into the month of December. The first sampling run of the season was 20 Nov, with full profile sampling done at Palmer inshore stations E and B. Weather remained pleasant, and both stations were again sampled on 22 Nov and 25 Nov. On all sampling days, water was collected at 50% ambient light depth for short term, gross primary production experiments, picoplankton sample filtration and preservation, netplankton sample preservation, and with station B water, transparent exopolysaccharide filtration. Water from six depths (corresponding to 100%, 50%, 30%, 13%, 4%, and 0.5% of ambient light) at both stations was collected and filtered for CHN and HPLC pigment analysis, used in 24 hour, simulated in situ productivity experiments, and frozen for nutrient analysis (to be analyzed February/March 1997 at Palmer Station). S-016 would like to thank the Palmer info-sys team for their expedient and indispensable assistance with the computers in Lab 10. 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 During November we reached Torgersen Island on 24 days, including 21 consecutive days bracketing the peak egg laying period for Adelie penguins. Wind and ice conditions prevented travel to the island on only 6 days early in the month. We obtained a total of 430 samples to be used for hormone analysis and blood chemistry. We are now following the reproductive success of 251 banded pairs of birds in 14 different colonies on the nonrestricted side of Torgersen Island. Many of these pairs consist of birds banded last year. An additional 187 birds were banded in November so that both members of each pair are banded. Forty-three of these pairs are part of a fidelity study, chosen to contrast birds paired with last year's mate and birds paired with a new mate. For these pairs we have obtained repeated plasma samples during the courtship phase to determine whether the hormone profiles or nesting chronology differ between groups. We used a model penguin to measure the behavioral response of penguins to a simulated territorial intrusion. This was done with 10 pairs during courtship and 10 pairs during incubation with approximately half of these pairs nesting on the perimeter of the colony and half nesting toward the center. We obtained plasma samples both before and after the challenge for hormone analysis. To measure the behavioral and hormonal response to variation in length of incubation, we banded and sampled 46 pairs of birds. Eggs will be switched between nests to produce 16 pairs with unusually long incubation periods, 16 pairs with unusually short incubation periods, and 14 control pairs with unchanged incubation period. To supplement our stress series samples from the 1995/96 field season, we obtained serial plasma samples during handling for 30 minutes from four birds during the courtship phase on Torgersen Island and six birds during the courtship phase on Dream Island. We also used deuterium dilution methods for later estimation of water and fat content in six newly arriving birds on Torgersen Island. We obtained samples from 12 failed breeders, 33 male birds experiencing longer than average first bouts of incubation (i.e. long total fasting times) and eight pairs of incubating birds at the time of the first cross-over between the male and the female. For most of these samples we measured hematocrit, hemoglobin concentration, plasma free fatty acid concentration and the level of glycated hemoglobin as an integrated measure of previous blood glucose level. These blood chemistry measurements (and others to be made later at our home institution using the collected plasma samples) will be combined with body mass and morphometrics to assess body condition in these birds. Finally Theresa Bucher has collected 15 freshly-laid Adelie penguin eggs, including three yolkless "dwarf" eggs, which are being analyzed for total energy content 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) S-028 arrived at Palmer 11 Nov 96. Offload went quickly and smoothly thanks to a magnificent effort by the Palmer Station personnel. We began unpacking and setting up areas in both the aquarium room and lab 2. The zodiacs were set up during several days of beautiful weather and Kriller was taken out on her first test run on 16 Nov 96. We looked for krill on 21 Nov 96 but found none. On 23 Nov we had some luck. A growth rate experiment (IGR) was set up and chemical composition/condition factor samples were taken for processing back in Santa Barbara. On 25 Nov we did the first complete A-E run with the BioSonics acoustic gear mounted on ROZE. A few krill schools were seen between stations C and D. On 27 Nov we did a full acoustic run from station J-F. Krill were seen between J and Spume Island. Friday 29 Nov was our Thanksgiving dinner and we would like to thank the Palmer cooks for making the day a great one! 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), KarenHaberman (shared with S032), Jeffrey Walker (shared with S-028 and S-016) S-032 arrived at Palmer on 11 Nov 96. A quick offload enabled us to begin unpacking immediately. The computers have been set up in lab 2 and have been successfully linked to the Palmer network. ROZE, the electronic zodiac was set up outside over a period of several days of great weather. She was taken out for her first test run on 18 Nov 96. On 20 Nov ROZE was taken out to do a CTD cast for S-007 near Janus Island. This was followed by a PRR cast at station E. We had to abort this sampling day due to equipment failure. Water samples to be used for chlorophyll and salinity analyses were collected at both E and B by S-016 for us. The first full run aboard ROZE was on 22 Nov. We successfully sampled both stations E and B with the CTD and the PRR and collected surface water samples for chlorophyll analysis. Water was also collected at both Bonaparte Point and Gamage Point for both chlorophyll and salinity analysis. S016 collected water samples for us at both stations B and E. Another successful B and E run was completed on 25 Nov. Water samples were collected by S016 for chlorophyll and salinity analyses. On 27 Nov we did CTD and PRR casts at stations H and J. Surface water samples were collected here also. The CTD and PRR data has been FTP'd to Santa Barbara. S-045 LONG TERM ECOLOGICAL RESEARCH (LTER) ON THE ANTARCTIC MARINE ECOSYSTEM: AN ICE-DOMINATED ENVIRONMENT (Seabird Component). William R. Fraser, Montana State University PERSONNEL ON STATION: Eric Holm, Peter Duley Local island access was possible 27 days out of the month with high winds being the obstacle on three days. Sea ice did not impact boating during the month with only occasional brash ice showing up in Arthur Harbor. ADELIES Arrival counts were completed in early November and 40 reproductive success study sites were set up on Torgersen and Humble islands by the 15th. The control study sites were also set up on Humble island. Egg 1 and egg 2 weights were completed by the 17th with peak egg lay assessed as occurring on November 20. Peak egg breeding population counts were conducted on Torgersen, Humble, Litchfield, Christine, Cormorant, Dream, and Biscoe islands on or around the 20 of November. SOUTH POLAR SKUAS Shortcut island skua work began on the 21 of the month with 20 males having arrived by that date. 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 15 November, a new ribbon cartridge was installed in the log printer. At approximately 16 UT on 21 November, the DP computer was found not running. The DP was reset and resumed normal operation, although it did reject the tape that had been in use and switch to the tape in the other drive. Roughly three hours of data were lost. 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. The narrowband recording sessions from 22 through 26 November were abnormally short. Spurious pickup on the triggering line is still the suspected cause, but the low winds during these episodes cast doubt on the suspicion that wind induced static buildup and discharge is at fault. S-275 UM/DOE-EML REMOTE ATMOSPHERIC MEASUREMENTS PROGRAM. J. Prospero/T. Snowdon, University of Miami; 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. 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. 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 November, the TeraScan system collected, archived, and processed DMSP and NOAA telemetry, maintaining a schedule of 15-17 passes per day. NOAA telemetry was archived for S-032 when the LTER grid was clear. An account on the TeraScan computer was configured for a grantee from the Arctic and Antarctic Research Center at Scripps, enabling him to access telemetry any time the Palmer Internet link is active. A new DAT drive was received, replacing the one that failed in August. An ice contour map of the northwestern Weddell Sea was provided to the R/V POLAR DUKE during its stop at Palmer Station on 11 November. 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. A meeting was held with a grantee from S-003 to discuss the use of preliminary UV data for comparison with the grantee's light sensors. As a result of this meeting, the science technician has been providing the grantee with daily preliminary data summaries. Absolute scans were performed on 04 and 17 November. HV levels and the scan schedule were monitored throughout the month and adjusted as necessary to compensate for changing daylight conditions.