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Research Objectives:
During the austral summers of 1979 and 1980 Dr. Lee, a member of this research team, documented the ability of the antarctic midge Belgica antarctica to tolerate a wide variety of stresses. The project's long term objective is to further characterize this ability especially in an ecological context. During the three years of the project, researchers will first fully characterize the microclimatic conditions experienced by B. antarctica both seasonally and among different microhabitats. They will then work to characterize the molecular mechanisms involved in surviving the documented fluctuations and investigate how this midge may accumulate protective molecules from the macroalgae Prasiola crispa, a primary food plant of Belgica larvae.
The field team's deployment in January will allow them to collect winter acclimatized larvae of Belgica antartica that are still covered by winter ice as well as investigate larvae as they experience snowmelt, summer warming, and occasional drying. Midges will be collected at specific times throughout the field season to monitor changes in stress proteins and other chemicals that provide protection against the extreme temperature and water stresses that these insects confront. Fieldwork will be conducted using a Zodiac in the immediate vicinity of Palmer Station on peninsulas such as Bonaparte Point and Norsel Point, and on nearby islands including Torgerson Island and Humble Island which have substantial populations of B. antarctica.
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