K122 - Protecting the Ross Sea Ecosystem/Penguin contaminants project

Top predators in Antarctica are coming under increasing ecosystem-scale pressure from human activity (field stations), fishing and climate variability and change in high latitude regions.  Antarctic top predators integrate complex changes in the physical and biological conditions affecting their food resources, which makes them ideal sentinels for the state of the Ross Sea ecosystem. The New Zealand and the United States Governments have proposed that the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) establish a Ross Sea Region Marine Protected Area (RSRMPA) to conserve marine living resources; maintain ecosystem structure and function; protect vital ecosystem processes and areas of ecological significance; and promote scientific research. A key component of the proposal is the establishment of a Research and Monitoring Plan to provide baseline monitoring prior to establishing the proposed RSRMPA and enable future assessment of whether the proposed RSRMPA is achieving its stated objectives.  Climate change and commercial fishing are two potential drivers of ecological change in the Ross Sea, but the ability to predict or manage impacts is limited by lack of information. We investigate and quantitatively evaluate the abundance, foraging ecology, habitat use, functional importance of Adelie penguins in the Ross Sea ecosystem. These data will provide reference points to identify what food resources are critical to these predators and for detecting future ecological change to allow responsible environmental stewardship of the Ross Sea.  These data will allow us to update and refine existing ecosystem models in order to improve their performance, and hence predict the likely effects of fisheries, and inform plans for improved spatial protection and management of Antarctic marine living resources