Polar Oceans Research Group

Sheridan, Montana

Dates in Antarctica:   Late-October to late March

Supporting Stations:  ARSV Laurence M. Gould, Palmer Station
Research Locations:  Palmer Area Islands, Renaud Island, Avian Island, other islands between Anvers Island and Margeurite Bay

Project Description:
This project continues long-term studies of seabird communities within the LTER sampling grid, with an emphasis placed on species abundance and dietary components during summer. Specific objectives are to: 1) determine the at-sea abundance and distribution of seabirds and marine mammals as a function of oceanographic conditions, including sea ice and prey availability; 2) examine aspects of the foraging ecology, breeding biology, and abundance of seabirds on Renaud and Avian islands; and 3) maintain the Palmer-vicinity time series on seabird population trends, demography, foraging ecology, breeding biology, and behavior.

Overview:
The season will consist of a Palmer Station program and the annual LTER summer cruise aboard the R/V Laurence M. Gould (LMG08-01). Aboard the vessel, personnel will focus on seabird and marine mammal censuses. Part of this effort will involve day excursions via Zodiac inflatable boat from the vessel to Renaud and nearby islands to census penguins and other seabirds and sample their diets. Where possible, team members will disembark the LMG at stops between Anvers Island and Marguerite Bay (including Armstrong Reef and Fish Islands) to deploy satellite tranmitters and sample penguin diets. Team researchers will also establish a field camp for several days on Avian Island to census and map Adélie Penguin colonies, obtain diet samples, and outfit birds with satellite transmitters and dive-depth recorders.

During the Palmer Station program, team members will travel daily via Zodiac inflatable boats to local islands to monitor seabird colonies. Multi-day field camps will also be established at more remote locations. Team members will concentrate on censusing and mapping seabird colonies, obtaining indices of reproductive success, determining diets and foraging ranges, and examining chick growth and energetics. Palmer Station's laboratory facilities will be used to house and process GIS and telemetry data and to analyze diet samples. Samples will be returned to the home institution for further analysis.

Deploying Team Members:

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