Issue 17: 2009
The Australian Antarctic Magazine seeks to inform the Australian and international Antarctic community about the activities of the Australian Antarctic program. Opinions expressed in the magazine do not necessarily represent the position of the Australian Government. The Australian Antarctic Magazine is produced twice a year in hard copy and made available online. All text and images published in the magazine are copyright of the Commonwealth of Australia, unless otherwise stated. Editorial enquiries, including requests to reproduce material, or contributions, should be addressed to the Editor at magazine@aad.gov.au. Contributor Guidelines are available for participants in the Australian Antarctic program.
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Managing human impacts
An introduction to this issue of the magazine, which looks at some of the different ways species or ecosystems can be used to help understand and manage human impacts on a number of scales.
Penguins in press
Penguin research made the scientific spotlight this year, as Australian Antarctic Division scientists clarified how many emperor penguin colonies call the Australian Antarctic Territory home, and revealed some good news on the resurgence of king penguins on Macquarie Island, after their encounter with near-extinction.
Evolution in the Antarctic
Recent research using modern and ancient samples of Adélie penguin DNA has shown that mutation rates in the DNA can be used as a proxy for the rate of evolution. The discovery could improve the dating of evolutionary events, such as the divergence of species from a common ancestor.
Adélie penguin population dynamics: 18 years in a colony
Research conducted for a long-term penguin monitoring program has revealed a close relationship between the sea ice environment and Adélie penguins' breeding success and survival.
Darkness sheds light on krill reproduction
When it comes to reproduction, Antarctic krill like the lights off.
Predicting the location of vulnerable marine ecosystems
New research is helping to predict the location of marine ecosystems vulnerable to bottom fishing and how different organisms within them respond to and recover from damaging impacts.
Seeking answers to fishy questions
Scientists are conducting detailed scientific research on the biology, distribution and movement of Patagonian toothfish to ensure a sustainable fishery in Australia's Exclusive Economic Zone. As well as contributing to the establishment of sustainable catch limits for the fishery, the work is revealing some interesting facts about this mysterious monster of the deep.
Awards
Antarctic Division scientistis have received awards for their contribution to the protection of seabirds from longline fishing, and producing a user-friendly guide to the identification of marine zooplankton of south eastern Australia.
Australian Antarctic Science Season 2009-10
A snap-shot of the science projects being conducted in Antarctica, the subantarctic and the Southern Ocean this austral season.
Science dives into dirty issue
Australian Antarctic Division scientists are leading a number of studies assessing the biological, physico-chemical and ecotoxicological impacts of the sewage outfall at Davis station.
Southern Ocean Research Partnership
In March 2009 a Southern Ocean Research Partnership was established to enhance cetacean conservation and the delivery of non-lethal whale research to the International Whaling Commission.
Cameras to spy on petrels
Automated cameras are being used on a remote island off the Australian Antarctic Territory to record the breeding success and population size of southern giant petrels and the duration of their breeding season.
Seeing through deep ice
In its first field season the ICECAP project produced some fascinating radar images of ice layers and bedrock buried 4000 m below.
Marine mammals downsize in sea change
A new state-of-the-art field aquarium will house Antarctic marine creatures involved in physiological and ecotoxicological experiments this season.
Building technology in Antarctica
New building technology is helping deliver flexible, energy efficient infrastructure upgrades and replacements at Casey and Davis stations this season.
Water finally flows at Davis
Water issues have dogged Davis engineers and expeditioners since the station was built in 1957. But a new reverse osmosis plant, installed in 2009, heralds a new level of luxury.
Freezing the natural moment
A new 'field emission' scanning electron microscope is providing Australian Antarctic Division scientists with a clearer and more natural view of the microscopic world.
Three-dimensional medicine
Three-dimensional ultrasound machines are set to help Antarctic doctors improve the accuracy of patient diagnosis in the event of serious illness or trauma.
Subantarctic resupply a LARC
Eight Lighter Amphibious Resupply Cargo (LARC) vehicles were purchased from the Australian Army recently and two have undergone a $100 000 overhaul for subantarctic service.
Antarctic Medal winner flying high
Flying over large expanses of ice, water and weather-making mountains, in an unlikely collaboration of nuts, bolts and rotors, is not everyone's idea of a good time. But it's made an enviable living for helicopter pilot, and Antarctic Medal winner, David Pullinger.
Mathematics and conservation planning combine for a Eureka moment
Antarctic Division mathematician Dr Ian Ball and a team from the University of Queensland won a prestigious Australian Museum Eureka Prize for their conservation planning software, 'Marxan'.
In Brief
Find out about new Antarctic books, award winners, funding announcements and the identities of the 2010 Antarctic and subantarctic station leaders.
Freeze Frame
Robyn Mundy captures a colourful moment in Antarctica.
Photo: Alison Lester and Pearl Nabegeyo
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This issue's cover features the work of Australian Antarctic Arts Fellow, Alison Lester, and young Pearl Nabegeyo from Gunbalanya in east Arnhem Land. In 2005 Alison asked school children around Australia to draw their visions of her Antarctic adventure. Pearl sent her a 2 cm high drawing of an emperor penguin and chick. Alison enlarged the image on watercolour paper and says 'I painted the dark indigo of an Antarctic sky and swirled snow across it in spirals that echoed indigenous dot painting'.
