PALMER STATION SCIENCE SITREP March 1997 William R. Fraser, SSL NEWS FROM THE LAB Alice Doyle, Senior Assistant Supervisor, Laboratory Operations The rebuilt Beckman Ultracentrifuge arrived back on station early this month. Unfortunately it was once again found to be malfunctioning. Brad Gore, the instrument technician, began trouble-shooting immediately and a dialog established with engineers at the Beckman Corporation and analysis is underway. Spare parts have been ordered with the cooperation of Science Support in the Denver office and they have been expedited arrive on PD97-03. The older ultracentrifuge was reinstalled for immediate use by the science groups. Marc Pomeroy, the Winter-Over Laboratory Supervisor arrived on station. Marc and I will have a two day turnover before my departure. Brad Gore will remain on station for two more weeks helping Marc get settled in. There has been a flurry of activity regarding the ship schedule. The R/V POLAR DUKE had mechanical difficulties last week at the scheduled time of departure for southbound PD97-03. The ship had to wait on the arrival of parts, putting it a week behind schedule. To help to make up some of the lost fishing time, the northbound PD97-03 will divert to Puerto Williams. Puerto Williams is a more southern port decreasing ship transit time by one day. Twin Otters have been chartered to shuttle passengers and cargo northbound to Punta Arenas and southbound to meet the ship. This schedule will make the ship available for the groups on station that need the ship's support as well as allow the northbound passengers stay on their planned schedules. Back in Denver, the summer support season is in full swing. The Palmer Station Support Information Packets (SIP) were made available this month to new and returning grantees. Please note that the due date back to ASA is 21 April instead of 14 April. For those of you also working on the ship, the R/V LM GOULD SIP should be available in early April. The date for the second Palmer Area Users' Committee meeting was set for 17 May in Englewood, Colorado, and will allow a large ASA contingent to be present. If you would like more information regarding the meeting or the committee (including a list of current committee members), please write Marian at moyherma.asa@asa.org. The following science projects were active at Palmer Station during the month: 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: William R. Fraser (shared with S-035) and Donna L. Patterson. The last month of our research was devoted to scaling earlier-obtained aerial photos of the 66 Adelie Penguin colonies that encompass Palmer's 5 island rookeries. Significant loss of time due to weather (17 Days), however, delayed completion of this work, which we now expect will be finished in about 10 days. As in the past, baseline breeding and population data on other area seabirds were obtained opportunitically to maintain the continuity of databases that in some cases span more than two decades. The status of this work is as follows: Southern Giant Fulmars. Growth studies are continuing on Humble Island, with chicks close to reaching their peak weights of 4.5-7.5 kilos. Chick banding commenced on 5 March and a total of 286 have been banded to date. Access to remote nest sites has been hampered by heavy snow accumulation. South Polar Skuas. Experienced a complete reproductive failure; laboratory time devoted to processing diet samples with the help of S-034. Brown Skuas. Fledglings departed the Palmer Station area in early March. Breeding success for the entire area (local islands, Dream Island and Biscoe Point) was 1.0 chicks per pair. Kelp Gulls. Diet sample collections and censuses completed. Blue-eyed Shags. Diet sample collections and censuses completed. Some samples processed to provide S-034 with a reference collection of otoliths and squid beaks. Marine Mammals. Censuses are continuing. Noteworthy is that a Southern Fur Seal was found dead on a local island, apparently strangled by discarded netting materials. This is the first death observed in the area and the third encounter with this type of entanglement recorded in as many seasons. Dan Weinstein, Randy Sliester, Ralph Bovard and Doug Conlin of ASA have provided great assistance with various aspects of our S-013 research. 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, Karie Sines. The 96-97 Palmer LTER sampling season came to a close this month with four final sampling runs. Complete profile water collection was done on the 3rd, the 8th, the 13th and the 18th. Consistent high winds and large swells prevented any further collections, though initial data analysis shows decreasing productivity and pigment levels, typical of late season, post bloom conditions. All nutrient, pigment and productivity samples were and analyzed by the 20th of the month, and after final HPLC calibrations and a few days of new nutrient analyzer software examination, lab breakdown and packing began on the 21st. S-016 sincerely thanks all ASA support staff, and an a special word of appreciation is extended to the InfoSys and Laboratory Management personnel, for their assistance in making the 96-97 field season a successful one. 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), Tracy Shaw and Doug Conlin Acoustic runs from station A to station E were completed on 03Mar and 18Mar. A partial run from station A to halfway between stations C and D was done on 12Mar, we returned to station due to high winds. Krill schools were only seen on the 18Mar transect. Acoustic runs from station J to station F were completed on 06Mar and 15Mar. Krill schools were not seen on either transect. We searched for krill using the Rubber Duke on 02Mar, 14Mar and 19Mar. No krill were seen in the first two searches. Krill were caught on 19Mar. A growth rate experiment was started and animals were measured for length frequency. We also processed animals for chemical composition/condition factor. End of season teardown and pack up was started on 20Mar. S028 will depart Palmer Station with the next outbound Polar Duke. Many thanks to ASA personnel for making the 9697 season a successful one. S-030 THERMAL ADAPTATION OF POLAR MACROALGAE. Ian R. Davison, University of Maine, Kenneth H. Dunton, University of Texas and Valerie A. Gerard, State University of New York (Stony Brook). PERSONNEL ON STATION: Ian Davison, Ken Dunton and John Heine Davison, Dunton and Heine arrived at Palmer on March 1, 1997. Our research has involved both field (scuba) and laboratory studies. Field research. Dunton and Heine made 13 dives at sites near Hermit and Christine Islands and at the wreck of the Bahia Paraiso; most dives were 20-30 minutes duration to a depth of 15 m, although two deep dives (30 m) were made off Christine Island to study the physiology of deep growing Himantothallus grandifolius. Two underwater quantum sensors deployed in March 1996 were recovered from our site at Hermit. Unfortunately, the sensors were destroyed by ice on 15 July 1996, but the water-tight housings containing the data loggers were not damaged. We retrieved three months of data on light received by the Himantothallus population at a depth of 13 m as well as coincident measurements of surface PAR over the period of one year. We also measured growth of several tagged Himantothallus (n=19) at the same site; these data indicate that the 1-4 m long plants had grown between 0.3 and 1.0 m in one year. In situ measurements of variable chlorophyll fluorescence were made with a diving-PAM (pulse amplitude modulated) fluorometer (Walz, Germany) on Himantothallus growing at different depths. These data indicate a reduction in yield (due to photochemical and/or non-photochemical quenching) occurred in algae in shallow (7.5 m) water, but not in those from mid or deep depths (16 and 30 m). Measurements of electron transport rate suggested that in situ photosynthesis was primarily a function of ambient light regimes, with photoacclimation playing a limited role; these data were supported by laboratory studies (see below). Several dives were made to collect algae for laboratory studies at Palmer and to take to our home institutions for subsequent research. Approximately 30-40 small specimens of Palmaria decipiens (Rhodophyta), 20-30 Desmarestia antarctica (Phaeophyta) and 120 Himantothallus grandifolius (Phaeophyta) were collected to take to the USA. Laboratory research. Laboratory studies focused on photoacclimation in Himantothallus and thermal acclimation in Palmaria and Desmarestia (for comparison with last year's thermal acclimation studies on Himantothallus). In addition, physiological comparisons were made between Himantothallus from shallow and deep sites (7.5 and 30 m). These depth represent the upper distribution limit and the maximum safe depth for time dependent in situ fluorometry studies (the lower limit of Himantothallus is unknown). The photosynthetic physiology of field collected algae from shallow and deep sites was, as expected, similar to those grown in the laboratory at 5 or 100 mmoles photons/m2/s. The major difference between shallow/high light and deep/low light algae were the lower rates of dark respiration (and hence lower light compensation points, Ic) in the latter groups. In addition, variable chlorophyll fluorescence (Fv/Fm) was significantly higher in deep/low light algae than in the shallow/high light groups, although quantum yield measured by oxygen evolution was not significantly different. Other photosynthetic-irradiance parameters were similar in all groups, and indicate that Himantothallus is well adapted to low-light environments. Studies of the response of variable in vivo chlorophyll fluorescence revealed differences between shallow/high light and deep/low light algae with the shallow/high groups having a greater capacity for the dissipation of excess light energy via non-photochemical quenching. Thermal acclimation studies in Palmaria decipiens and Desmarestia antarctica indicated that these species differ markedly from Himantothallus grandifolius, which achieves similar rates of photosynthesis at temperatures between 0 and 15oC. P. decipiens did not exhibit thermal acclimation in response to temperature. Consequently, photosynthesis and growth rates at the growth temperature increased between 0 and 10oC. P. decipiens was unable to survive more than 7 days at 15oC. D. antarctica appeared to be under severe thermal stress at 5, 10 and 15oC; whereas algae at 0oC grew over a 7 day period, there was a progressive loss of weight at higher acclimation temperatures. Algae at temperatures above 0oC also exhibited reduced Fv/Fm and loss of pigmentation, with rates of light-saturated photosynthesis being zero in the 5oC group after 7 days. The three members of our group will be replaced by Dr. Jonas Collen and Dr. Beki Korb who are due to arrive on PD97-4. They will focus on the effect of temperature on nitrogen metabolism of H. grandifolius and P. decipiens, continue ongoing studies into heat-shock protein induction, and collect additional algae to take to the USA. Overall, we consider our season to date to have been highly successful. This is due in no small measure to the excellent support we have received from the ASA personnel. It would be difficult to select a more professional or dedicated group and we are sincerely grateful for their assistance. 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) and Doug Conlin (after 06Mar) CTD, PRR and water collection for salinity and chlorophyll determination were carried out at stations E and B on 03Mar, 13Mar and 18Mar. Water was sampled for salinity and chlorophyll determination at Bonaparte Point and Gamage Point on 03Mar, 12Mar and 18Mar. Water was collected by S016 for salinity and chlorophyll at stations E and B on 08Mar. CTD, PRR and water collection for salinity and chlorophyll determintation were carried out at stations H and J on 15Mar. S032 began end of season teardown and pack up on 21Mar and will depart Palmer Station 04April. We would like to thank all station support personnel for making the 9697 season a successful one. S-034 PALEO-HISTORY OF THE PALMER LONG-TERM ECOLOGICAL RESEARCH (WESTERN ANTARCTIC PENINSULA) REGION. Stephen Emslie, Western State College. PERSONNEL ON STATION: Stephen Emslie, Sharon Delsack. Surveys and excavations of abandoned penguin rookeries continued through March in the Palmer Station region. Two sites were located and excavated on Humble and Litchfield Islands; other potential sites were identified on Cormorant Island and Norsel Point. The site at Litchfield appears to be the richest so far and excavation of a 1x1 m test pit produced abundant remains of penguins, mostly bones of chicks, and thousands of eggshell fragments that indicate long-term occupation of this rookery in the past. Fine screening of the matrix also produced over 100 squid beaks, fish bones and otoliths that probably represent former penguin diet. Preliminary examination of the penguin bones from Litchfield suggest that they represent Chinstrap penguins (Pygoscelis antarctica), though additional analyses with comparative skeletal material are needed to verify the identifications. In addition to the excavations in abandoned rookeries, control samples of sediments were excavated from beach terraces to compare with those collected in the rookeries. Four such sites were excavated on two terraces at Litchfield where penguins do not breed. These samples provide data on natural accumulation of bone, fish remains and squid beaks associated with areas heavily used today by fur and elephant seals. Preliminary analyses indicate that these areas do not have high concentrations of squid and fish remains as found in the abandoned rookeries. Additional testing in modern and abandoned rookeries will continue in April. 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: William R. Fraser (shared with S-013). All program objectives were completed in early March. The rest of the month was devoted to assisting S-034 as time and weather permitted. S-036 EVOLUTION OF AN OXYGEN-BINDING HEMOPROTEIN IN AN UNIQUE ENVIRONMENT: MYOGLOBIN IN THE HEMOGLOBINLESS ANTARCTIC ICEFISHES. Bruce D. Sidell, University of Maine. PERSONNEL ON STATION: Kristin O'Brien, Theresa Grove, Zoe Eppley On 1 March, Polar Duke arrived at Palmer Station from Punta Arenas carrying field team members O'Brien, Grove and Eppley. During 2-5 March trawling operations were carried out aboard Polar Duke in Dallman Bay (vicinity of Atrolabe Needle) for capture of fish specimens. Fishing operations were conducted in cooperation with field team personnel from project S-037 (H.W. Detrich, P.I.). Fifty-nine trawls were made using the 20 ft. otter trawl. Specimens captured included: approximately 200 G. gibberifrons, 74 C. aceratus, 8 D. mawsoni, 10 C. rastrospinosus, 3 P. georgianus, 28 N. coriiceps, 8 C. gunnari. Animals were transported to Palmer Station and transferred to the station's aquarium to be held for experimentation. Research plans have been adjusted to accomodate changes in the ship schedule due to a Med-evac from Palmer Station and unscheduled repairs to the ship. These changes have delayed the arrival of two members of our field party, resupply and have resulted in the loss most of the scheduled time for fishing on cruise 97-3. During the month of March, station-based laboratory science activities progressed on several fronts. Tissues from N. coriiceps were sampled and fixed for subsequent electron microscopal studies at our CONUS laboratory. Determinations of activities of key enzymes of energy metabolism were made with heart ventricle, and oxidative skeletal muscles of G. gibberifrons, C. aceratus, C. rarospinosus and N. coriiceps. Methods are being dveloped to extract and quantify icefish ventricular proteins involved in calcium homeostasis. Work was also begun to determine subtrate concentrations and enzyme activities for key enzymes involved in lipid metabolism and intracellular transport. The results of our experiments will shed light upon the mechanisms used to maintain cellular function of oxidative muscle tissues at cold body temperature and to compensate for the absence of myoglobin. Sucess of our season to date has been greatly enhanced by excellent support from ASA personnel, crew and master of Polar Duke and the support personnel of Palmer Station. They are all gratefully acknowledged. S-037 STRUCTURE, FUNCTION, AND EXPRESSION OF COLD-ADAPTED TUBULINS AND MICROTUBULE-DEPENDENT MOTORS FROM ANTARCTIC FISHES. William Detrich, Northeastern University, Boston, MA. PERSONNEL ON STATION: Sandra Parker, Mikael Rutberg, David Lau Upon our arrival at Palmer Station in March 1997, we initiated this year's Palmer-based research program. Experiments underway at this time include: 1) purification of erythrocyte tubulins from blood of Gobionotothen gibberifrons (Parker); 2) purification of the microtubule motor protein, kinesin, from brains of Gobionotothen gibberifrons (Parker, Rutberg); 3) pcr experiments comparing the organization of the alpha-tubulin gene cluster of Notothenia coriiceps with Notothenia angustata, a temperate relative (Parker); 4) partial purification of N. coriicep's hematopoietic transcription GATA 1 from red blood cells (Lau); 5) preparation of nuclear extract from N. coriiceps red blood cells (Lau); 6) initial in vitro transcription assay at 0oC using the above nuclear extract (Lau); 7) transfecting skin and gonad cells from N. coriiceps and Chaenocephalus aceratus with different constructs of kinesin-like protein from zebrafish, coupled to a green fluorescence protein (Rutberg); and 8) sampling and freezing of additional Antarctic fish tissues and blood to support our research activities in our CONUS laboratory (Parker, Lau). Also we conducted a fishing trip in conjunction with Project S-036 (Sidell). The details of this trip have been summarized in the March S-036 SITREP and will not be repeated here. We are anxiously awaiting the arrival of four additonal members of S- 037 who have been delayed in Punta Arenas due to mechanical problems of the Polar Duke and will hopefully have addional fish for us when they arrive. 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. The DP computer was shut down prior to the planned T-5 power outage on 25 March. The batteries powering the DA computer in the vault lasted through the approximately seven and a half hours of the outage, and normal operation resumed when the DP was restarted immediately after power was restored. 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. On 18 March the posts that support the cable running up the glacier to the antenna were reset. Several of the nails holding the messenger cable were broken and several others were nearly broken; all these were replaced with new nails on 21 March. The VLF equipment was powered by generator throughout a planned power outage on 25/26 March. The only impacts were the loss of the first seven minutes of Beta recording on 26 March and a slight glitch in narrowband recording when the experiment was switched from generator to line power at 0102 UT. On 28 March, the ice pedestal under the VLF antenna tower was chipped away to return the base to the level of the glacier. The pipes anchoring the plywood base were removed, the pipe holes were redrilled, and two of the four pipes were replaced (the other two were significantly bent). Nine of the twelve guy and loop postholes were also redrilled. Essential assistance during this work was provided by the Power Plant Mechanic and the Station Manager. On 29 March two new sections of pipe were installed to replace the bent pieces. All guy ropes were retensioned, and the antenna loops were adjusted. 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 clock on the RAMP computer was set back one hour on 17 March in order to follow Palmer Station off daylight savings time. The RAMP sampling pump was shut off for approximately eight hours on 25 March during a planned power outage, but the counting equipment was powered by generator and operated without interruption during the outage. 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 February, the TeraScan system collected, archived, and processed DMSP and NOAA telemetry, maintaining a schedule of 15-17 passes per day. NOAA and DMSP telemetry were archived for S-032 when the LTER grid was clear. AWS transmissions were monitored from Bonaparte Point, Hugo Island, and RACER Rock. New calibration coefficients were received from the University of Wisconsin for the S-283 AWS units that were installed last December at Bonaparte Point and Hugo Island. The entry of the coefficients into the TeraScan DCS database file enables the TeraScan to translate the broadcasts from these stations into physically meaningful quantities. A DMSP thermal infrared image and an ice contour map derived from SSM/I telemetry, both of the northwestern Weddell Sea area, were provided to the R/V POLAR DUKE prior to its departure from Palmer Station during PD97-2. The TeraScan was shut off for the duration of a planned power outage on 25/26 March, missing four passes that would otherwise have been captured. 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 replacement programmable power supply was received from BSI and installed on 04 March. An absolute calibration was performed on 24 March with the site spare lamp. The UV Monitor was shut down and switched over to generator power prior to a planned power outage on 25/26 March and then shut down again and returned to line power following the outage. No scans were missed.