Newsletter - Annals of the Brazilian Academy of Sciences

ISSUE 53

AABC - volume 94 Suppl. 1 2022

Antarctica is perhaps the remotest place on Earth that arouses attention all around the world. With great pleasure I introduce the present special issue of the Annals of the Brazilian Academy of Sciences (AABC) organized by the Antarctic researchers, Jefferson C. Simões, Marcelo C. Leppe, and Juliana M. Sayão. A total of 57 original articles are presented here covering several aspects of ongoing studies on the frozen continent such as Geosciences (25), Microbiology (11), Ecosystems (7), Soil Science (3), Social Sciences (3), Paleontology (2), Health Sciences (2), Animal Science (2), Cellular and Molecular Biology (1), and Chemical Sciences (1).

Leading the numbers of published articles, in Geosciences the reader will find studies from ornithogenic soils to improvements on measuring the Wet Snow Zone. Other papers deal with isotopes of oxygen recovered from ice cores to indicate climate variation, impacts on recent volcanic activity on the Northern Antarctic Peninsula, and the anthropogenic influence recorded by ice samples.

Under the subject of Microbiology, there are contributions discussing Antarctic fungi, chemotaxonomy of diatoms, and other Antarctic microorganisms.

Still among the highlights of this volume, there are contributions discussing the application of faunal elements to monitor anthropogenic impact and diversity of plant communities (Ecosystems), paleoenvironment using microfossils of Snow Island and a short review regarding the Late Cretaceous vertebrate fauna from the James Ross Island (Paleontology).

I would also like to call your attention to several studies on matters concerning diplomacy and the Antarctic Treaty (Social Sciences).

As usual, We would like to stress that since 2000, all papers published by the AABC can be downloaded free of charge at the SciELO site. We also recommend that you check out previous editions of the Newsletter available at the ABC website.

Please scroll through the text and click on the title of the article that interests you! Enjoy and advertise this issue to your colleagues and students.

Alexander W. A. Kellner
Editor-in-Chief

CHEMICAL SCIENCES

1- Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Antarctic Ice Core: Prior Study by Homogeneous Liquid-Liquid Extraction and High– Performance Liquid Chromatography

MASIEL CERÓN-NECULPAN, JEFFERSON C. SIMÕES, FRANCIELE SCHWANCK & JORGE LASCANI

International Antarctic research is looking for options to facilitate studies on ice and snow cover contamination by intra / extra continental organic compounds and sources identification. We carried out an exploratory study that could simplify logistical and practical difficulties associated with the methodologies for the extraction and concentration of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Antarctic ice firn samples, these compounds are ubiquitous and pollutants worldwide, some of which are highly toxic. The proposed methodology has adequate analytical parameters and avoids mixing samples, and it can preserve the firn core temporal resolution, which is an advantage for application in fieldwork

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HEALTH SCIENCES

2- A 32-day long fieldwork in Antarctica improves heat tolerance during physical exercise

YGOR A.T. MARTINS, RENATA L.F. PASSOS, ALICE L. MARQUES, DAWIT A.P. GONÇALVES, THIAGO T. MENDES, CRISTIAN NÚÑEZ-ESPINOSA, LUIZ O.C. RODRIGUES, SAMUEL P. WANNER, MICHELE M. MORAES, ROSA M.E. ARANTES & DANUSA D. SOARES

Among human physiological challenges faced during an expedition to Antarctica, it is usually considered the defy to a cold environment. However, in Antarctic camps, the individuals make physical efforts during fieldwork displacements while wearing insulative clothes, which transiently increases heat production associated with a barrier for its dissipation. As the repeated increases in core temperature elicit heat-related adaptations, we evaluated a group of campers during an exercise heat stress protocol, before and after an expedition, and observed that staying in a camp in Antarctica provokes thermoregulatory adaptations in the direction of a reduced strain during running in a hot environment.

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3- Heart rate variability, thyroid hormone concentration, and neuropsychological responses in Brazilian navy divers: a case report of diving in Antarctic freezing waters

RÚBIO S. BRUZZI, MICHELE M. MORAES, YGOR A.T. MARTINS, ALEXANDRE S.R. HUDSON, ROBERTO V.P. LADEIRA, CRISTIAN NÚÑEZ-ESPINOSA, SAMUEL P. WANNER & ROSA M.E. ARANTES

The permanence in the Antarctic environment, characterized by the acronym ICE (isolation, confinement, and extreme condition), challenges to the human body, and diving in these freezing waters can represent a stressful condition. In this case report, we followed four divers - two divers who submerged for short-term diving into Antarctic water and two divers who helped the first ones in the submersion -, evaluating psychophysiological variables [autonomic cardiac control, thyroid hormones, skin temperatures, mood, working memory, and sleepiness]. In summary, we observed that short-term diving in icy waters affects the thyroid axis, autonomic cardiac control, skin temperatures, and decreased sleepiness.

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CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY

4- Effect of heat stress on the antioxidant defense system and erythrocyte morphology of Antarctic fishes

MARIA ROSA D.P. DE SOUZA, TANIA ZALESKI, CINTIA MACHADO, PRISCILA K. KANDALSKI, MARIANA FORGATI, ELVIRA D’ BASTIANI, CLÁUDIO A. PIECHNIK & LUCÉLIA DONATTI

Notothenia rossii and Notothenia coriiceps are important representatives of the antarctic ichthyofauna. In addition to being endemic species, are susceptible to climatic changes in temperature, such as those that have been recorded in the Antarctic Peninsula. For this reason were chosen as the focus of this work, that was aim to investigate the effects of heat stress on morphology and antioxidant defense of these animals erythrocytes. The antioxidant defense showed punctual changes. However shape change and nuclear bubble formation were observed that can compromise the viability of erythrocytes.

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MICROBIOLOGY

5- Antarctic fungi applied to textile dye bioremediation

DANIELA M. KITA, PATRICIA GIOVANELLA, THAÍS T. YOSHINAGA, ELISA P. PELLIZZER & LARA D. SETTE

In the present study, eleven filamentous fungi were selectively isolated from Antarctic samples and submitted to textile dye decolorization analysis. Isolates LAMAI 2400 and LAMAI 2402 showed more than 90% of decolorization at 15 ºC and  81.86 and 98.89% at 28 ºC, respectively. Both fungal isolates were recovered from marine sediment samples, identified as Penicillium cf. oxalicum, and classified as mesophilic-psychrotolerant. Results indicate the potential of these extremophiles fungi for bioremediation of textile dyes at low and moderate temperatures and open new perspectives for studies related to Antarctic mycology, including pathways and genes involved in the degradative process.    

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6- Antarctic environments as a source of bacterial and fungal therapeutic enzymes

IGOR G.O. LIMA, JAMES R.S. BISPO, ADSON Y.H. AGOSTINHO, ALINE C. DE QUEIROZ, MAGNA SUZANA A. MOREIRA, MICHEL RODRIGO Z. PASSARINI, VALÉRIA M. DE OLIVEIRA, LARA D. SETTE, LUIZ HENRIQUE ROSA & ALYSSON WAGNER F. DUARTE

Enzymes produced by microorganisms have different actions in the industrial sector, including those of pharmacological interest, such as therapeutic enzymes used in treatment of human diseases. In this sense, the search for new enzymes is strategically important and microorganisms from little-known environments such as Antarctica may be interesting. Most of the microbial enzyme studies from Antarctica have been aimed at treating acute lymphocytic leukemia such as L-asparaginase, followed by superoxide dismutase an antioxidant enzyme. Thus, this research highlights the potential of microbial isolates from the South Pole in the pharmaceutical biotechnology sector.

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7- Using metabarcoding to assess Viridiplantae sequence diversity present in Antarctic glacial ice

PAULO E.A.S. CÂMARA, GRACIELE C.A. MENEZES, OTAVIO H.B. PINTO, MICHELINE C. SILVA, PETER CONVEY & LUIZ H. ROSA

Antarctica contains most of the glacial ice on the planet, a habitat still largely unexplored. Recent warming is leading to glacial retreat, releasing biological material. We used molecular tools to investigate the presence of plant DNA in Antarctic glacial ice from six glaciers. We found DNA from a total of 16 taxa including 11 green algae and five flowering plants. The green algae may indicate the presence of a viable algal community in the ice and included species not previously recorded in Antarctica. The flowering plant DNA is most likely due to pollen or tissue fragments introduced by humans.

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8- Chemotaxonomic characterization of the key genera of diatoms in the Northern Antarctic Peninsula

RAUL RODRIGO COSTA, CARLOS RAFAEL B. MENDES, MÁRCIO S. DE SOUZA, VIRGINIA MARIA TAVANO & EDUARDO R. SECCHI

The Antartic Peninsula has experienced one of the largest atmospheric warming rates on Earth over last decades. This increase in air temperature has driven substantial physical changes (for example, reduced sea ice and glacier retreat) impacting whole ecosystem along the region. In this line, researchers from the Federal University of Rio Grande have shown how the great diversity of diatom genera can be associated with their corresponding chemotaxonomic subgroups. These results shed light on pigment profile differences between diatoms type-A and diatoms type-B, which may have an ecological implication, helping for better understanding diatom responses under a climate change scenario.     

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9- Fungal impact on archaeological materials collected at Byers Peninsula Livingston Island, South Shetland Islands, Antarctica

GRACIÉLE C.A. DE MENEZES, BÁRBARA A. PORTO, GERUSA A. RADICCHI, FERNANDA C. SOARES, ANDRÉS ZARANKIN & LUIZ H. ROSA

We identified cultivable fungi present on the surface of archaeological sealers’ artifacts from the beginning of the 19^th century in Antarctica. The fungal genera Antarctomyces, Linnemannia, Penicillium, Mortierella, Talaromyces, and Trichoderma. Penicillium was dominant on artifacts. Our results showed that the Antarctic artifacts harboured cosmopolitan mesophilic, cold-tolerant, and endemic psychrophilic fungal taxa. To avoid accelerate degradation of artifacts in the collection, preventive steps should be adopted to avoid further microbial contamination during Antarctic fieldwork and transportation to Brazil. The preventive protocol may represent a better alternative to avoid artifact microbial proliferation to preserve rare Antarctic archaeological heritage.

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10- Potential for resistance to freezing by non-virulent bacteria isolated from Antarctica

ELIZANDRA R.B. MOREIRA, JÚLIA R. OTTONI, VALÉRIA M. DE OLIVEIRA & MICHEL RODRIGO Z. PASSARINI

Antarctic microorganisms have mechanisms to overcome injuries caused by low temperatures, making them sources of compounds with antifreeze activity. However, it is mandatory that such compounds do not pose a risk to human health. The potential of Antarctic bacteria to resist freezing, produce virulence factors and resistance to antibiotics were evaluated. Thirty-one isolates were considered positives for antifreeze compound production. Five strains showed virulence factors (hemolytic and proteinase activity).  None of the isolates showed resistance to the antibiotics. Antarctic bacterial present potential to produce antifreeze compounds and may be considered safe in industrial processes.

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11- Extracellular hydrolytic enzymes produced by yeasts from Antarctic lichens

MAYANNE KARLA DA SILVA, AVERLANE V. DA SILVA, PAULA M. FERNANDEZ, ROSALINDA C. MONTONE, RODRIGO P. ALVES, ALINE C. DE QUEIROZ, VALÉRIA M. DE OLIVEIRA, VIVIANE P. DOS SANTOS, JAIR PUTZKE, LUIZ HENRIQUE ROSA & ALYSSON W.F. DUARTE

Yeasts are microorganisms that occur in different environments, including Antarctica and can produce several molecules of interest to the biotechnology industry, such as extracellular enzymes such as proteases, lipases, cellulases, among others. The objective of this study was to evaluate the production of extracellular enzymes by yeasts, recovered from Antarctic lichens. A total of 144 isolates were evaluated and 109 (75%) produced at least one of the enzyme tested, with most activities for proteases, cellulases, esterases, lipases, amylase and pectinases, strengthening the potential of Brazilian research with Antarctic microbiology.

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12- Antarctic-derived yeasts: taxonomic identification and resistance to adverse conditions

GABRIELE S. FARIAS, JULIANA A. SANTOS, PATRICIA GIOVANELLA & LARA D. SETTE

In the present study, five yeasts isolated from Antarctic samples were tested against ranges of temperature, UV radiations, salinity, and pH. Four yeasts were classified as psychrotolerant, with the exception of Camptobasidium sp., which presents psychrophilic characteristics. G. gastrica was the most UV-resistant, growing after exposure to UVB dose of 9144 J/m² and UVC dose of 6102 J/m². C. atlantica showed high cellular growth from 3 to 10% NaCl. G. gilvescens showed higher biomass production at pH 9. The studied Antarctic-derived yeasts have adaptations to extreme conditions, highlighting their potential for biotechnological applications.

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13- Antarctic organisms as a source of antimicrobial compounds: a patent review

MAURÍCIO B. SILVA, ALEXYA O. FEITOSA, IGOR G.O. LIMA, JAMES R.S. BISPO, ANA CAROLINE M. SANTOS, MAGNA S.A. MOREIRA, PAULO E.A.S. CÂMARA, LUIZ HENRIQUE ROSA, VALÉRIA M. OLIVEIRA, ALYSSON W.F. DUARTE & ALINE C. QUEIROZ

In the manuscript entitled “Antarctic organisms as a source of antimicrobial compounds: a patent review”, it was provided a patent review on antarctic antimicrobial compounds. This continent has several organisms that produce different antimicrobial compounds with biotechnological potential for the development of new drugs, and this study compiles patents, as well describes the state of technological development in the field of antimicrobial compounds obtained from Antarctic organisms, highlighting the main countries and researchers active in the field, the species utilized, the compounds obtained, and their possible therapeutic applications.

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14- Morphological diversity of benthic cyanobacterial assemblages in meltwater ponds along environmental gradients in the McMurdo Sound region, Antarctica

CLAUDINEIA LIZIERI, CARLOS ERNESTO G.R. SCHAEFER & IAN HAWES

This study investigated the benthic cyanobacterial diversity in four distinct geographic locations of Antarctica (Lower and Upper Wright Valleys, Ross Island and the McMurdo Ice Shelf). In total, we sampled 25 ponds collecting water and mat samples. For description of cyanobacterial morphotypes, subsamples of mat were directly observed by light microscopy under ten morphological criteria. Twenty-nine morphospecies were described, four assigned to the order Chroococcales, three to Nostocales and 22 to Oscillatoriales. We confirmed that the four studied areas shared many morphotypes. However, each site also contained distinct floristic elements that were rare in or absent from the other sites.

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15- Taxonomic and functional diversity from Antarctic ice-tephra microbial community: ecological insights and potential for bioprospection

CAMILA T. KINASZ, MARIANNE G. KREUSCH, AMANDA G. BENDIA, VIVIAN H. PELLIZARI & RUBENS T.D. DUARTE

Antarctic volcanoes disperse pyroclastic minerals at long distances. The sedimented volcanic materials (tephras) interacting with ice, can produce a unique environment. Here we describe the microbial community of ice from Collins Glacier with tephra layers of Deception Island volcano, its taxonomy and functional diversity, using shotgun metagenomic approach. Taxonomic analysis revealed a diverse community dominated by genus Chitinophaga (13%). Functional diversity revealed complete carbon, nitrogen and sulfur cycles. Carbohydrate metabolism of the community uses organic and inorganic inputs, with photosynthesis playing a key role for CO2. We also demonstrate biotechnological potential, with annotations for styrene degradation and pigment genes.

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ECOSYSTEMS

16- Species composition, diversity and coverage pattern of associated communities of mosses-lichens along a pedoenvironmental gradient in Maritime Antarctica

DANIELA SCHMITZ, PEDRO MANUEL VILLA, ROBERTO F.M. MICHEL, JAIR PUTZKE, ANTÔNIO B. PEREIRA & CARLOS ERNESTO G.R. SCHAEFER

Currently Antarctica has a high priority for research measuring the impact of global climate change. Maritime Antarctica is one of the major terrestrial ecosystems dominated by lichens and mosses. The lichens and mosses communities are important indicators of climate change. Thus, this study evaluates the changes of diversity and coverage in communities of mosses-lichens along a pedoenviromental gradient on Half Moon Island, Maritime Antarctica. This study demonstrates how multiple environmental factors shape the diversity and coverage in communities of mosses-lichens along pedoenvironments, which can be important information to calibrate climate change monitoring methods.  

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17- Monitoring the anthropogenic impacts in Admiralty Bay using meiofauna community as indicators (King George Island, Antarctica)

PAULA F. GHELLER & THAIS N. CORBISIER

Human activities at Brazilian Antarctic Station (EACF) may cause damage to the marine environment through sewage and fuel contaminants. Meiofauna are tiny invertebrates (less than 0,5 mm) that live in the sediments and can be used to evaluate this impact. Meiofauna densities and diversities from two areas near EACF (“impact” and “control”) at two depths were compared.  Differences in densities were found between depths, but not between areas, suggesting no impact. However, lower meiofauna diversity at 50-60m in the “impact” area may indicate a change caused by pollution, so monitoring should continue to avoid future environmental damage.  

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18- The diversity and structure of plant communities in the maritime Antarctic is shaped by southern giant petrel’s (Macronectes giganteus) breeding activities

JAIR PUTZKE, CARLOS ERNESTO G.R. SCHAEFER, PEDRO M. VILLA, ANTONIO B. PEREIRA, ADRIANO L. SCHUNEMANN & MARISA T.L. PUTZKE

Southern giant petrels (Macronectes giganteus) are birds found in the Antarctic and their ness are built using rock fragments, disturbing the vegetation. We studied 13 nests in the 2012/2018 Austral Summers. Species richness, community coverage and composition, and beta diversity showed significant differences between active/inactive nests. The linear mixed-effect models revealed that the positive effect of nest area mainly caused variation in community coverage, but had a negative effect on beta diversity. The main species form rings surrounding the nest, the first of Sphaerophorus globosus (lichen) surrounded by Chorisodontium acyphyllum (moss)and a final ring of Sanionia uncinata (moss).

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19- Changes in plant communities and soil attributes in the “Cousteau’s whale bone skeleton” tourist attraction area in Keller Peninsula after 48 years

JAIR PUTZKE, CARLOS E.G.R. SCHAEFER, ANDRÉ THOMAZINI, MÁRCIO R. FRANCELINO, ADRIANO L. SCHÜNNEMAN, FREDERICO C.B. VIEIRA, MARISA T.L. PUTZKE, DANIELA SCHMITZ, BRUNA L. LAINDORF & ANTONIO B. PEREIRA

Human activities impact biodiversity in several regions of the planet including Antarctica. Certain monuments can allow an interpretation of human interference in vegetation on a longer time scale. This is the case of the whale skeleton assembled in 1972 by the team of explorer Jacques-Yves Cousteau on King George Island, in the South Shetland archipelago. Studying photographic records made between 1986 and 2020, analyzing the chemistry of the soil and vegetation associated, it was found that the presence of tourists negatively impacted the vegetation and that the presence of bones modified soil fertility and modified the plant community

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20- Pellets of Stercorarius spp. (skua) as plant dispersers in the Antarctic Peninsula

LILIAN P. MAGGIO, DANIELA SCHMITZ, JAIR PUTZKE, CARLOS E.G.R. SCHAEFER & ANTONIO B. PEREIRA

The Antarctic warming is resulting in the retreat of ice deposits and new areas are exposed to plant colonization.  Bird pellets (with feed remains such as bones and feathers) are regurgitated by skuas (Stercorarius spp.) and are here studied as contributing to mosses dispersion, since moss fragments were found in many of them. Samples were collected in Stinker Point (Elephant Island) and Byers Peninsula (Livingston Island), in the South Shetland Islands. Five Bryophyta species were found inside the pellets and viable in germination tests. This is the first demonstration that skua pellets effectively act in the dispersion of Antarctic mosses.

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21- Antarctic biological soil crusts surface reflectance patterns from landsat and sentinel-2 images

ELIANA L. FONSECA, EDVAN C. DOS SANTOS, ANDERSON R. DE FIGUEIREDO & JEFFERSON C. SIMÕES

The remote sensing techniques must be used to obtain long-term information in remote areas, like the Antarctic continent, to monitor the environmental productivity and its changes. The aim of this work was to analyze the surface reflectance profile patterns for the Antarctic biological soil crusts (algae, lichens, and mosses) in an area of Nelson Island (South Shetland Islands, maritime Antarctic), calculated from Landsat and Sentinel-2 images to identify its similarities and differences due to targets, sensors and acquired date. The surface reflectance values for Antarctic biological soil crusts are similar for those observed for biological soil crusts in other Earth extreme environments, like deserts. In Landsat images, the differences among biological soil crusts surface reflectance were identified at visible and near-infrared wavelengths and for Sentinel-2 images, the differences occur at visible, red-edge and shortwave infrared wavelengths, showing the feasibility of using surface reflectance products to identify these different crusts, despite its inherent pixel spectral mixture. Long-term biophysical parameters from such crusts as retrieved from orbital data is not possible due to very low cloud-free images over Antarctic, which prevents building a consistent surface reflectance time-series which covers all biological soil crusts growth season.

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22- Potential greenhouse gases emissions by different plant communities in maritime Antarctica

FLÁVIA R. FERRARI, ANDRÉ THOMAZINI, ANTONIO B. PEREIRA, KURT SPOKAS & CARLOS E.G.R. SCHAEFER

The Antarctic vegetation is an indicator of biological responses due to the closed interplay with environmental variables. Carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide are the most important greenhouse gases (GHG). These gases emissions patterns from soil and vegetation are essential regarding expected environmental change scenarios. We evaluated the GHG interaction with different soil covers and temperatures (-2, 4, 6, and 22ºC). The results correlated increased soil temperatures with increasing GHG emissions. Mosses highlighted CO₂ sink and CH₄ source potential. Lichens showed CH₄ sink potential. Low temperatures revealed areas that acted as N₂O sink, while phanerogamic species acted as a source.

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GEOSCIENCES

23- Soil pockets phosphatization and chemical weathering of sites affected by flying birds of Maritime Antarctica

DAVÍ DO VALE LOPES, FÁBIO S. DE OLIVEIRA, JOSÉ JOÃO L.L. DE SOUZA, MARIANA DE RESENDE MACHADO & CARLOS ERNESTO G.R. SCHAEFER

The majority of ornithogenic soils studied in Antarctica focus on the influence of penguins, wherever little reports evaluated the influence of flying birds on soil genesis. In order to investigate the impact of phosphatization, we compared the soil pockets with the surrounding soils and soils affected by penguins. Zone of phosphatization have a high concentration of nutrients and present active chemical weathering processes. Under the current global warming trend and expected sea-level rise, the ornithogenic environments are susceptible to accelerated erosion rates and a great part of these hotspots may be lost for the open sea.

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24- Apparent thermal diffusivity of soil in ice-free areas of Keller peninsula in maritime Antarctica

DANIELA A. CHAVES, GUSTAVO B. LYRA, MÁRCIO R. FRANCELINO, LEONARDO D.B. DA SILVA, CARLOS E.R.G. SCHAEFER & ANDRÉ THOMAZINI

We characterized energy flux in the soil profile, based on the apparent thermal diffusivity (ATD) related with soil moisture. The ATD of the soil was estimated in function of the long-term hourly temperature records at different soil depths in Keller Peninsula maritime Antarctica. The diffusivity values presented lower variability in colder conditions, especially at deeper soil layers. Overall, ATD values were smaller at shallow depths and increased with depth, and strongly related to the position on the landscape and environmental conditions. Also, the relationship between accumulated freezing N-factor and ATD was inversely proportional comparing the diffusivity near the surface (ATD₁₀).

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25- Snowmelt retrieval algorithm for the Antarctic Peninsula using SAR imageries

CLAUDIO W. MENDES JR, JORGE ARIGONY NETO, FERNANDO L. HILLEBRAND, MARCOS W.D. DE FREITAS, JULIANA COSTI & JEFFERSON C. SIMÕES

The surface area of a glacier where the snowpack is saturated with water, known as the Wet Snow Zone (WSZ), can be detected in radar images. This research aims to improve the WSZ classification methods, to detect this glacier zone more accurately in radar images for the Antarctic Peninsula. In the context of a great debate on global climate change and the instability of Antarctic ice shelves, continuous and accurate monitoring of the WSZ is of great importance to assess its possible impacts on glacial systems and local coastal environments, runoff modeling, and contributions to sea-level rise.

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26- Positive SAM trend as seen in the Brazilian Earth System Model (BESM) future scenarios

LUCIANA F. PRADO, ILANA WAINER & RONALD B. DE SOUZA

Polar regions are among the most affected areas by climate change, with melting of sea ice and alteration of atmospheric and ocean circulations. Ring-shaped natural variations of atmospheric surface pressure with opposite sign between Antarctica and the Southern Ocean influence the Southern Hemisphere climate and present a positive trend over the last three decades. This study examines results from the Brazilian Earth System Model (BESM) for these surface pressure variations under global warming future scenarios. We found that global warming does not change the spatial pattern of surface pressure in future scenarios, but reinforces the observed positive trend.

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27- Response of southern troposphere meridional circulation to historical maxima of Antarctic sea ice

MICHELLY G.S. QUEIROZ, CLÁUDIA K. PARISE, LUCIANO P. PEZZI, CAMILA B. CARPENEDO, FERNANDA C. VASCONCELLOS, ANA LAURA R. TORRES, WESLEY L. BARBOSA & LEONARDO G. LIMA

This article evaluates the response of the South Atlantic troposphere circulation to the increase in area and volume coverage of Antarctic Sea Ice (ASI). The study shows a mechanism of response of atmospheric circulation cells to the positive extremes of ASI, indicating that changes in the concentration and thickness of this ice have a great influence on the behavior of cells, mainly in Polar and Ferrel cells. Thus, this work on South-Tropic Pole climate teleconnections is of great relevance to the understanding of global climate change.  

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28- Soil-chronosequence and Quaternary landscape evolution at the marine terraces of Harmony Point, Nelson Island, Maritime Antarctica

WILLIAM F. RODRIGUES, MARIANA R. MACHADO, FÁBIO S. DE OLIVEIRA, CARLOS ERNESTO G.R. SCHAEFER, MARIÂNGELA G.P. LEITE, ROBERTO F.M. MICHEL & TEODORO GAUZZI

To understand the pedological signatures of coastal landscape evolution of Maritime Antarctica, soils were sampled on the Late Holocene beach (current beach) and Mid Holocene marine terraces from Harmony Point (Nelson Island, Maritime Antarctica). The results show that soils are influenced by parent material and fauna activity. At the upper levels the presence of bird nesting sites for a long time enabled the formation of soils more developed and deeper (ornithogenic soils). These highlight the time as a pedogenetic key factor, and glacier-isostatic uplift were responsible for the formation of terraces and contributed to genesis of the soil-time sequence (chronosequence).

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29- Sedimentary evidence of glacial entrainment at Patriot Hills and Union Glacier moraines, Ellsworth Mountains, West Antarctica

VANESSA COSTA, KÁTIA K. ROSA, ALLAN SANDES, CAROLINE DELPUPO & ROSEMARY VIEIRA

In our work, we analyze and compare the sedimentological data of Ellsworth Mountains, West Antarctica: Patriot/Independence Hills and Union Glacier, and how sedimentological data can be used to infer glacial sediment entrainment. We applied morphoscopical and geochemical analyses to investigate the sedimentary origin and transport history. Our study reveals that the sediments originate from local rocks in the Union Glacier area, and from the unexposed basement rocks in Independence Hills.

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30- Using wavelet decomposition method to retrieve the solar and the global air temperature signals from Greenland, Andes and East Antarctica δ¹⁸O ice core records

HEITOR EVANGELISTA, MARIZA P. DE SOUZA ECHER & EZEQUIEL ECHER

Isotopes of oxygen in ice cores are reliable proxies of the past climate variability. At several sites, they are calibrated to represent the air temperature during snow depositions. However, changes in solar activity, especially at the UV-B band, may change the global circulation and precipitations. This work consists in a first approach to achieve the explained isotopic variability in ice cores from Antarctica/Greenland/Andes related to the global air temperature (SGAT) and the solar activity (SSN). We found that both SGAT and SSN were clearly imprinted in all isotopic records while their significance depending on the geographical site.

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31- Combined performance of September’s Weddell sea ice extent, Southern Annular Mode, and Atlantic SST anomalies over the South American temperature and precipitation

FERNANDA C. VASCONCELLOS, FÁBIO G. OLIVA, RENAN M. PIZZOCHERO, TELMA M. DA SILVA, CLÁUDIA K. PARISE & CATHARINE F. DE CALDAS

This article analyzed the relationships among Atlantic Meridional Mode (AMM), South Atlantic Subtropical Gradient (SASG), and Southern Annular Mode (SAM) teleconnection patterns, the Weddell Sea (WS) sea ice extents, and the climate in South America. The results indicated that the SAM, AMM, SASG, and sea ice extent significantly impact the South American climate, modifying the circulation and impacting the continent's temperature and precipitation. Thus, this work shows important tropical-to-pole links to South American climate variability.

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32- Lagged response of Tropical Atlantic Ocean to cold and fresh water pulse from Antarctic sea ice melting

ANA LAURA R. TORRES, CLAUDIA K. PARISE, LUCIANO P. PEZZI, MICHELLY G. DOS SANTOS QUEIROZ, ADILSON M.B. MACHADO, GABRIEL S. CERVEIRA, GUSTAVO S. CORREIA, WESLEY L. BARBOSA, LEONARDO G. DE LIMA & UESLEI A. SUTIL

This article evaluates the response of the Tropical Atlantic Ocean to the meridional shift of a cold and freshwater input pulse from the melting of Antarctic sea ice extremes. Our study showed a mechanism of response of dense water masses (Subantarctic Mode Water and Antarctic Intermediate Water), indicating that polar-equatorial oceanic bridges have a great influence in dynamically changing the global ocean. Therefore, the Southern-Tropical teleconnection studies are quite relevant in the understanding of climate change.  

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33- The 1991 explosive Hudson volcanic eruption as a geochronological marker for the Northern Antarctic Peninsula

HEITOR EVANGELISTA, ALEXANDRE CASTAGNA, ALEXANDRE CORREIA, MARIUSZ POTOCKI, FRANCISCO AQUINO, ALEXANDRE ALENCAR, PAUL MAYEWSKI, ANDREI KURBATOV, RICARDO JAÑA, JULIANA NOGUEIRA, MARCUS LICINIO, ELAINE ALVES & JEFFERSON C. SIMÕES

In 1991, two major volcanic explosions occurred: Mount Pinatubo’s (Philippines) and Hudson volcano’s (Southern Chile). In this work, we aimed at elucidating the impacts of both 1991 volcanic events in Antarctica. We have analyzed data from satellite, atmospheric disperson model and the chemical composition of  aerosols, snow and sediment profiles. Our results indicate that although the Pinatubo eruption had a greater global impact, its distance from Antarctica and the associated atmospheric circulation resulted in a lower deposition of eruption materials than Hudson. Therefore, the 1991 Hudson eruption is of greater significance as a geochronological signal for the Northern Antarctic Peninsula.

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34- Glacial meltwater input to the ocean around the Antarctic Peninsula: forcings and consequences

LUCIANA S. LIMA, LUCIANO P. PEZZI, MAURÍCIO M. MATA, MARCELO F. SANTINI, JONAS T. CARVALHO, UESLEI ADRIANO SUTIL, MYLENE J. CABRERA, ELIANA B. ROSA, CELINA C.F. RODRIGUES & XIMENA A. VEGA

The Antarctic region has experienced recent climate and environmental variations due to climate change, such as ice sheets and ice shelves loss, and changes in the production, extension, and thickness of sea-ice. These processes mainly affect the freshwater supply to the Southern Ocean and its water masses formation and export, being crucial to changes in the global climate. Here, we review the influence of the glacial freshwater input on the Antarctic Peninsula adjacent ocean. We highlight each climate process' relevance on freshwater contribution to the sea and present a current overview of how these processes are being addressed and studied. 

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35- Anthropogenic trace elements (Bi, Cd, Cr, Pb) concentrations in a West Antarctic ice core

FRANCIÉLE SCHWANCK, JEFFERSON C. SIMÕES, MICHAEL HANDLEY, PAUL A. MAYEWSKI & RONALDO BERNARDO

Trace elements are emitted to the atmosphere from natural and anthropogenic sources. In this research we investigate the concentrations of bismuth, cadmium, chromium, and lead in Antarctic ice samples from 1883-2015. The data show evidence of pollution for these elements in Antarctica as early as the 1883. The main source of emissions is attributed to mining and smelting of non-ferrous metals in the Southern Hemisphere. As well as a probable lead emission due to the use of fossil fuels. The samples also reflect changes in atmospheric circulation and transport processes, probably associated with a strengthening of the westerlies after 1950.  

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36- Geophysical investigation in sediment cores and its relationship with the governing sedimentary processes at Bransfield Basin, Antarctica

MATEUS DOS SANTOS MARTINS, FABRICIO FERREIRA, ARTHUR AYRES NETO & ROSEMARY VIEIRA

This study presents interesting data and interpretations about glaciomarine sediments in the Antarctic seabed, more precisely in the Bransfield Basin at water depths ranging from 304 m to 1463 m. These samples are from different locations and, therefore, different sedimentary processes govern their deposition over the years and lead to different geophysical signatures recorded within sediments. Understanding the behavior of parameters such as density, magnetic susceptibility, electrical resistivity, p-wave velocity, total gamma radiation and mean grain size are crucial for advancing the better understanding of this essential ecosystem at a global level.

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37- Highlights of ionospheric investigations at Comandante Ferraz Brazilian Antarctic Station

EMILIA CORREIA, JOSÉ HENRIQUE FERNANDEZ, JOSÉ VALENTIN BAGESTON, EDUARDO P. MACHO & LUÍS TIAGO M. RAUNHEITTE

The investigations of the ionosphere in the Brazilian Antarctic Station Comandante Ferraz have been of great relevance to improve the scientific knowledgement about the ionospheric disturbances under different space weather conditions, but also are relevant for the actual technological society. The severe space weather conditions could impact the HF communications and radar, and are critical for satellite control systems (navigation and timing), stabilization of petrol platforms, air navigation and precision agriculture based on GNSS navigation systems, as well can impact power grids and resource pipelines. The space weather is considered the modern natural hazard.

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38- Increase in the number of explosive low‒level cyclones around King George Island in the last three decades

ALBERTO W. SETZER, MARY T. KAYANO, MARCELO R. OLIVEIRA, WILMAR L. CERÓN & MARCELO B. ROSA

“Screaming sixties” refers to the Drake Passage and north of the Antarctic Peninsula latitudes, resulting from local hurricane-force winds ~3 times/month associated to migrating cyclonic centers of low atmospheric pressure. Of particular interest are the Explosive (or “Bomb”) Cyclones, ECs, with pressure drop of at least 24 hPa/24 hours, posing severe threats to transportation, structures, human activities, and straining wildlife survival to its limits. This paper shows that ECs in the region doubled in the last three decades to about 14 cases/year, with possible relations to natural Sea Surface Temperature anomalies, Pacific Decadal Oscillation, and Global Warming.

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39- Relative contributions of fossil fuel and biomass burning sources to black carbon aerosol on the Southern Atlantic Ocean Coast and King George Island (Antarctic Peninsula)

SÉRGIO J. GONÇALVES JR, NEWTON MAGALHÃES, RENATA C. CHARELLO, HEITOR EVANGELISTA & RICARDO H.M. GODOI

Regarding Antarctica exploration, human impacts on pristine environment and their climate implications, the black carbon (BC) particles can affect the environment. Using the BC automatic sampler, we quantified the contribution of distant origin and local emissions to atmospheric BC concentrations in the Antarctic Peninsula and the Southern Ocean. The results show that the region is influenced by both local sources and air masses from neighboring continents. For the Austral summer and autumn, fossil fuel combustion was the primary source of BC in the terrestrial region while the contribution of biomass burning point came from South America's low and mid-latitudes.

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40- An inventory of glacial lakes in the South Shetland Islands (Antarctica): temporal variation and environmental patterns

CARINA PETSCH, KÁTIA K. DA ROSA, MANOELA A.G. DE OLIVEIRA, LUIZ F. VELHO, SABRINA L.C. SILVA, MARIA E. SOTILLE, ROSEMARY VIEIRA & JEFFERSON C. SIMÕES

Glacier retreat in the South Shetland Islands, Maritime Antarctica, has exposed ice-free areas during the summer, resulting in the formation of lakes fed by glacial melt and snowmelt in these areas. The goal of this article is to map lakes using satellite images from 1986 to 2020 and to verify patterns of change in the area and number of lakes. Results show that the number of lakes increased by 60% between 1986/89 and 2000/03, and by 55% between 2000/03 and 2020. While lake area increased by 173% between 1986 and 2020.

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41- The marine carbonate system along the northern Antarctic Peninsula: current knowledge and future perspectives

IOLE B.M. ORSELLI, ANDRÉA C.O. CARVALHO, THIAGO MONTEIRO, BRENDON Y. DAMINI, MARIAH DE CARVALHO-BORGES, CÍNTIA ALBUQUERQUE & RODRIGO KERR

The northern Antarctic Peninsula is considered sensitive for climate change (e.g. temperature rise and carbon dioxide (CO₂) concentration increase). Due to this, studies have focused on understanding the CO₂ cycle; however, some fundamental gaps remain poorly resolved. We focused on identifying current knowledge about exchange of CO₂ in the sea-air interface and the consequences of its uptake by the ocean (including the so-called ocean acidification). We aimed discussing the physical conditions of the environment and the seasonality. We highlight the difficulty of understand what happens as an annual CO₂ balance throughout the year due to the prevalence of summer studies.

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42- Atmospheric blockings in Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 models with different representations of Antarctic sea ice extent

CAMILA B. CARPENEDO & TÉRCIO AMBRIZZI

Climate extremes are becoming more frequent in the current climate change scenario. Through the coupled atmosphere-cryosphere-ocean system and related connections, this study seeks to better understand how Antarctic sea ice extent (SIE) is related to the atmospheric blockings, which cause climate extremes in the Southern Hemisphere (SH). In years of SIE retraction (expansion), there is a predominance of a higher (lower) blocking frequency in the 60°S for the IPCC CMIP5 models (MIROC5, NorESM1-M, CCSM4) and observed data. Our study demonstrates the potential of Antarctic SIE in becoming a mid- and long-term forecasting element, enhancing the knowledge of SH atmospheric blockings.

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43- A firn dielectric log depth-tied to an ice core on the West Antarctica Ice Sheet

JANDYR M. TRAVASSOS, SAULO S. MARTINS & JEFFERSON C. SIMÕES

This article consists of a way of estimating the electrical permittivity of ice from a given GPR. One technique involves a mathematical model that calculates a permit from velocity data by the GPR method.

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44- Water stable isotopes in snow along a traverse of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet: insights into moisture origins, air-masses distillation history, and climatic value

ANDRESSA MARCHER, RONALDO T. BERNARDO, JEFFERSON C. SIMÕES & JEFFREY AUGER

Water stable isotopes compositions (δ₁₈O, δD, d-excess) are fundamental proxies in any paleoclimatic study because they preserve information about condensation temperature, moisture source area and atmospheric circulation pattern. This study investigated the water isotopic content of the surface snow along a 995 km traverse over the West Antarctica Ice Sheet from the Möller Ice Stream–Institute Ice Stream drainage basins to the upper reaches of the Pine Island Glacier basin.  Our isotopic results were sensitive to capturing the well-known climatic asymmetry between the Amundsen-Bellingshausen Sea and Weddell Sea sectors.  

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45- Geomorphology of Martel inlet, King George Island, Antarctica: a new interpretation based on multi-resolution topo-bathymetric data

CLEIVA PERONDI, KÁTIA KELLEM DA ROSA, ROSEMARY VIEIRA, FABIO JOSÉ G. MAGRANI, ARTHUR AYRES NETO & JEFFERSON C. SIMÕES

This study investigated the glacial landform records in the Martel inlet (King George Island, Antarctica) generating a new multi-resolution topobathymetric data based on seismic, multibeam surveys and terrestrial satellite datasets. The fjord has a mean depth of 143 m and a maximum depth of 398 m. The fjord was divided into inner, middle, and outer sectors based on depth, elevation, slope and glacial landform morphology. Streamlined glacial lineations demonstrate an NE-SW past ice flow direction and a wet-based thermal regime. The combined analysis of submarine and subaerial landforms enables the understanding of the former glacier configuration and its deglaciation history. 

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46-Sensitivity of South America Climate to Positive Extremes of Antarctic Sea Ice

CLÁUDIA K. PARISE, LUCIANO P. PEZZI, CAMILA B. CARPENEDO, FERNANDA C. VASCONCELLOS, WESLEY L. BARBOSA & LEONARDO G. DE LIMA

This study has shown significant impacts of Antarctic sea ice expansion on the seasonal regime of precipitation, air temperature and humidity in South America, through a gradual establishment of the South Atlantic Convergence Zone, the formation of Upper Tropospheric Cyclonic Vortex, the northward shift of Intertropical Convergence Zone, the strengthening of Bolivian High and the presence of a low level cyclonic circulation anomaly over the South Atlantic Subtropical High region, resulting in increased precipitation over the Southeastern Brazil. The greatest variance has occurred in the interseasonal timescale (110–120 days), especially over the Brazilian Amazon and the Southeastern Brazil regions.

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47- Iceberg drift and melting rates in the northwestern Weddell Sea, Antarctica: Novel automated regional estimates through machine learning

MAURO M. BARBAT & MAURICIO M. MATA

Global warming and its consequences on polar regions have been thoroughly discussed in recent times. The freshwater flux and the associated cooling and freshening that result from iceberg melting are among the main expected impacts. However, good estimates of those impacts are not easy to achieve. Large uncertainties exist resulting mostly from the complexity to follow icebergs from space, which make the few existing estimates essentially model-based. This study takes advantage of state-of-art machine learning methods applied to Synthetic Aperture Radar images to present novel prevalent trajectories and potential freshwater flux pathways along the northwestern Weddell Sea, Antarctica.

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PALEONTOLOGY

48- Paleoenvironment of the Cerro Negro Formation (Aptian, Early Cretaceous) of Snow Island, Antarctic Peninsula

ALESSANDRA SANTOS, ENELISE KATIA PIOVESAN, JULIANA GUZMÁN, CRISTIAN D. USMA, LUIZ CARLOS WEINSCHÜTZ, RADARANY JASMINE M. DOS SANTOS, GUSTAVO R. OLIVEIRA, RODRIGO G. FIGUEIREDO, JOÃO HENRIQUE Z. RICETTI, EVERTON WILNER, JULIANA M. SAYÃO & ALEXANDER W.A. KELLNER

The microfossils investigation is an important tool for paleoenvironmental reconstruction and the age accuracy of past deposits. This is a study of the approximately 120-million-year-old palynomorphs from Snow Island, northwest of the Antarctic Peninsula. The laboratory procedures allowed the recovery of fern spores, conifer pollen grains and freshwater algae characterizing a fluvio-lacustrine environment. In some samples, it is possible to observe that volcanic activity caused the partial destruction of the palynoflora during the Early Cretaceous.

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49- Late Campanian-Early Maastrichtian Vertebrates From The James Ross Basin, West Antarctica: Updated Synthesis, Biostratigraphy, And Paleobiogeography

MARCELO A. REGUERO, ZULMA GASPARINI, EDUARDO B. OLIVERO, RODOLFO A. CORIA, MARTA S. FERNÁNDEZ, JOSÉ P. O´GORMAN, SOLEDAD GOUIRIC-CAVALLI, CAROLINA ACOSTA HOSPITALECHE, PAULA BONA, ARI IGLESIAS, JAVIER N. GELFO, MARÍA E. RAFFI, JUAN JOSÉ MOLY, SERGIO N. SANTILLANA & MAGALÍ CÁRDENAS

The Snow Hill Island Formation (late Campanian-early Maastrichtian) in the James Ross Basin, Antarctica provides the most diverse Late Cretaceous marine and continental vertebrate faunas from Antarctica. The present study summarizes previous vertebrate findings with the best actualized stratigraphical position and provides new records providing a more complete fauna association

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ANIMAL SCIENCE

50- Effect of host age, sex and life stage on the prevalence and abundance of sucking lice on Weddell seal in the Antarctic Peninsula

FLORENCIA A. SOTO, JAVIER NEGRETE, MATIAS J. KLAICH & MARÍA SOLEDAD LEONARDI

Seal lice are permanent and obligate ectoparasites of seals and sea lions, being the only oceanic insects. During the evolutionary time, these blood-feeders lice were compelled to adapt to an amphibious lifestyle, alternating periods in land with long stays on the ocean. This long partnership made them developing unique morphological, behavioral, and ecological adaptations in a long co-evolutionary process. Consequently, the dynamics of lice populations are determined by seals behavior. We studied the effect of host sex, age class, year, and sampling location, on the parameters of infestation of lice from Weddell sealsin 2 sites in the Antarctic Peninsula

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51- Blood biochemistry and antioxidant status altered by anthropogenic impact in Adélie penguins (Pygoscelis adeliae)

CARLA DI FONZO & MARTIN ANSALDO

Human activities are increased in Antarctica during decades, primarily due to the logistic and tourism operations, which consequent negative impact on penguin populations, altering their physiological responses. We assess the blood biochemistry and oxidant/antioxidant balance of Adélie penguins inhabiting two selected colonies: Potter Peninsula, considered as a low impacted colony, and Esperanza/Hope Bay as a high impacted colony. The results showed that the first is suffering more impact. This analysis could be alerting us that the high anthropogenic impact could be being on the penguins' foraging area or their prey but not the breeding area. This work could be taken into account for making decisions about management and protection plans.

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SOIL SCIENCE

52- Acid sulfate soils from Antarctica: genesis and properties along a climatic gradient

RAFAEL G. SIQUEIRA, DAVI V. LOPES, JOSÉ JOÃO L.L. DE SOUZA, CARLOS ERNESTO G.R. SCHAEFER, CAROLINE D. SOUZA, FÁBIO S.DE OLIVEIRA & ELPÍDIO INÁCIO FERNANDES FILHO

Sulfurization is a pedogenic process that accounts for the formation of acid sulfate soils. Acid sulfate soils of warmer and wetter Maritime Antarctica presented a greater weathering degree, higher chemical depletion and well-crystallized iron oxides formation. On the other hand, the sulfurization at the drier region of James Ross Archipelago is counterbalanced by the semiaridity and produces little morphological and mineralogical soil evolution. Sulfurization in Antarctica interplays with other pedogenic processes, such as phosphatization and salinization. Higher temperatures and soil moisture enhance the pedogenesis, showing that the Antarctic sulfate soils have their development strongly controlled by a clear climatic gradient.  

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53- Influence of different seabird species on trace metals content in Antarctic soils

MARLLON F. CASTRO, MARTIN MEIER, JÚLIO C.L. NEVES, MÁRCIO R. FRANCELINO, CARLOS ERNESTO G.R. SCHAEFER & TEOGENES S. OLIVEIRA

In this paper, we analyzed the influence of different seabirds species on the concentrations of heavy metals in Antarctic soils. Specifically, we analyzed soils influenced by penguins, kelp gulls and giant petrels and determined the concentration of total organic carbon, total nitrogen, available phosphorus and heavy metals. We think this article might be of interest to you.

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54-Soil-landform-vegetation interplays at Stinker Point, Elephant Island, Antarctica

DANIELA SCHMITZ, ROBERTO F.M. MICHEL, FLÁVIA R. FERRARI, PEDRO M. VILLA, MARCIO R. FRANCELINO, JAIR PUTZKE, JERÓNIMO LÓPEZ-MARTÍNEZ & CARLOS ERNESTO G.R. SCHAEFER

The paraglacial environments from of Maritime Antarctica are sensitive to climate change, which can expose new areas to vegetation colonization and modify the soil formation. The investigations of accelerated geomorphic dynamics in such ice-free areas are crucial forunderstanding soil formation, vegetation establishment and landscape stability. This study aims to describe the formation of soils andcompare it with the vegetation cover on different landforms and fauna influence, following the Holocene glacial retreat at Stinker Point,Elephant Island. Our study provides an updated description of the main patterns that determine the soil-landform-vegetation interplays.

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SOCIAL SCIENCES

55- Constitutionality analysis of amendments to the Protocol on Environmental Protection on the Antarctic Treaty Annexes

LEO EVANDRO FIGUEIREDO DOS SANTOS

Antarctic environmental and climatic conditions have repercussions in Brazil and South America and are a central focus of concern. Legal instruments of environmental protection such as the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty are fundamental. This basis makes it unnecessary to submit amendments to domestic processes of international treaties approval in member countries of the Antarctic Treaty – in the case of Brazil, National Congress approval. This could give rise to a violation of Articles 49, item I, and 84, item VIII, of the 1988 Brazilian Constitution. This paper claims that there is no violation. The methodological construction is supported by the deductive method and assumes that the research hypothesis is controlled.

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56- Mapping research paths and perspectives over the fieldwork of human physiology in Antarctica: reflections on the integration of science, environment, and subjectivity

ALICE L. MARQUES, MICHELE M. MORAES & ROSA M.E. ARANTES

Antarctica has been progressively constituted as a humanized environment. The interaction of individuals with the isolated, confined, and extreme environments (ICE) on ships, stations, and camps is the object of human biology/physiology and psychology studies. However, there is a lack of reflections in this peculiar multidisciplinary and integrated human-related research process. Herein, under a socio-anthropological perspective, we examine the characteristics of psychophysiological data collection and point to the need to understand the human presence in Antarctica in all of its dimensions, arguing in favor of integrating methods and perspectives.

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57- Diplomatic culture and institutional design: Analyzing sixty years of Antarctic Treaty governance

DANIELA P. SAMPAIO

The Antarctic is a very special region in our planet, and this can also be observed in the way it is managed: the Antarctic Treaty. By avoiding a definition of its ownership, for sixty years the Treaty has gathered different governments and organizations in cooperation, so that science and environmental protection are the main activities in place. But this does not mean there is an absence of economic interests and activities: they are present, and their pressure has been counterbalanced by different diplomatic strategies that governments have used to preserve the Treaty from disrupting changes. Consequently, Antarctica has been protected.  

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All abstracts of the publications were provided by the respective authors.

Annals of the Brazilian Academy of Sciences
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