Antarctic Ecosystem Research Workshop Following Ice Shelf Collapse and Iceberg Calving Events

Details

The worldwide publicity surrounding the calving of A-68, the 5,800-km2 iceberg shed in July from the Larsen C Ice Shelf, presents a unique and time-sensitive research opportunity. This event and other ice-shelf losses (e.g., from Larsen A and B, Wilkins, Wordie) are harbingers of warming effects along the Antarctic Peninsula in particular, and ultimately around all of Antarctica.

The aim of this workshop is to gather a group of researchers with a diversity of expertise in Antarctic biological, ecological, and ecosystem sciences to share knowledge, identify important research priorities and knowledge gaps, and outline strategic plans for biological/ecological research to advance understanding of the continent-wide changes that Antarctic ice shelves and associated ecosystems will experience in response to warming. The workshop will provide an opportunity to synergize efforts in investigating Antarctic ecosystems under the direct and indirect effects of ice-shelf collapse, and climatic warming in general. The primary product will be a position paper focusing on ideas, hypotheses, and priorities for investigating the ecological impacts of ice-shelf collapse along the Antarctic Peninsula.

Funding

Funding for travel and accommodation on-site is provided through NSF OPP #1750903.  This funding will support 14 US researchers with significant track records in Antarctic biological-ecological-ecosystem research to attend the workshop. In addition to these 14 experts, the workshop will be open to any US or international researcher able to make significant intellectual contributions to the agenda of the workshop, with the provision that those individuals are able to fund their own travel and subsistence. The capacity of the workshop is 30 and suitable applications will be accepted until the workshop is full.

Tentative Agenda

Day 1 – 18 November 2017

AM:

1. Introductions, presentation of goals and agenda of workshop (0.5 h).
2. Presentations (6 x 20 minute talks) summarizing current knowledge of the response of key ecosystem components and processes (primary producers, plankton and nekton communities, benthic communities, seabirds and marine mammals, under-ice ecosystems, carbon flux) to the presence and loss of Antarctica ice shelves (2 h)
3. Formulation/identification of key open hypotheses/questions concerning marine ecosystem response to ice-shelf loss (1.5 h), followed by lunch (0.5 h)

PM:

4. Organization of 3-5 breakout groups (incl. rapporteurs) around key questions/hypotheses (0.5 h)
5. Breakout groups outline research goals/program to test key open hypotheses/questions (2 h)
6. K-12 interaction with poster and question and answer session (1.5 h)
7. Plenary presentation and discussion by each breakout group of progress (15 min each)

Dinner and evening discussion

Day 2 – 19 November 2017

AM:

8. Plenary review of key questions and breakout results & integration/reorganization of groups (1 h)
9. New breakout groups to flesh out research goals/questions and programs (identify key hypotheses & summarize potential research program, identify locations & duration of program) (2.5 h)
10. Plenary presentations of working groups results (1 h), followed by lunch (0.5 h)

PM:

11. Plenary discussion of gaps, cross-cutting synergies, and feasibility check (1.5 h)
12. Breakout groups reconvene to identify writing leaders and to generate written outline/summary of group results (questions/hypotheses and potential structure of research programs, address gaps, and highlight synergies across programs) (2 h).
13. Plenary to develop writing tasks, responsible parties and timelines for completion of workshop report and position paper (1 h)

Dinner and further discussion

Who

This workshop is being organized by Drs. Jeroen Ingels (Florida State University), Rich Aronson (Florida Institute of Technology), and Craig R. Smith (University of Hawaii at Manoa).

When

November 18 and 19, 2017

Where

Florida State University, Coastal and Marine Laboratory

Workshop Info

When: November 18-19, 2017

Where: Florida State University, Coastal and Marine Laboratory