East Antarctica Monitoring Program

Genetic diversity is fundamental to biological diversity, vital for species’ health and adaptation to environmental change. Under the recently adopted Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF)…

A proportion of the southern elephant seal (Mirounga leonina) population that breeds in the Kerguelen Plateau region seasonally migrates between their natal sub-Antarctic islands and moult haul-out locations on the Antarctic coastline.

Polar mesosphere summer echoes (PMSE) have been observed for more than 30 years with 50?MHz VHF radars at various locations in the Northern Hemisphere. Continuous observation of PMSE is conducted on the northern Norwegian island of Andøya (69.3°?N) using the ALWIN radar (1999–2008) and MAARSY…

The Hunga Tonga–Hunga Ha?apai volcano erupted on 15 January 2022, launching Lamb waves and gravity waves into the atmosphere. In this study, we present results using 13 globally distributed meteor radars and identify the volcanogenic gravity waves in the mesospheric/lower thermospheric winds.

The Galactic cosmic-ray spectrum manifests pronounced variations over the 11 yr sunspot cycle and more subtle variations over the 22 yr solar magnetic cycle. An important tool to study these variations is repeated latitude surveys with neutron monitors (NMs)…

We tracked adult emperor penguins from Rothschild Island, west Antarctic Peninsula in 2015/2016 during a summer with extensive sea ice of long duration, contrasting with past years of reduced sea ice extent associated with the recent, rapid, warming trend across the region.

Like many polar animals, emperor penguin populations are challenging to monitor because of the species' life history and remoteness. Consequently, it has been difficult to establish its global status, a subject important to resolve as polar environments change.

Species distributions are predicted to change with future climate-associated ecosystem changes such that so-called 'vagrant' individuals may become established or re-establish in areas currently thought to be beyond their principle ranges.

Toward the poles, life on land is increasingly dominated by microorganisms, yet the evolutionary origin of polar microbiomes remains poorly understood. Here, we use metabarcoding of Arctic, sub-Antarctic…

Mapping Antarctic Specially Protected Areas (ASPAs) remains a critical yet challenging task, especially in extreme environments like Antarctica. Traditional methods are often cumbersome, expensive, and risky, with limited satellite data further hindering accuracy.

Molecular tools are increasingly applied for assessing and monitoring biodiversity and informing conservation action. While recent developments in genetic and genomic methods provide greater sensitivity in analysis and the capacity to address new questions…

This Information Paper supplements Working Paper 43 by setting out draft criteria that might be applied to identified Important Bird Areas (IBAs) as well as to other bird colonies or aggregations1 when considering ASPA designation.

In accordance with Article 6.3 of Annex V to the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty, Australia has undertaken a five-yearly review of the management plan for Antarctic Specially Protected Area (ASPA) 103 Ardery Island and Odbert Island.

In accordance with Article 6.3 of Annex V to the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty, Australia has undertaken a five-yearly review of the management plan for Antarctic Specially Protected Area (ASPA) 102 Rookery Islands.

In accordance with Article 6.3 of Annex V to the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty, Australia has undertaken a five-yearly review of the management plan for Antarctic Specially Protected Area (ASPA) 167 Hawker Island.

In 2015 the ATCM endorsed a report listing 204 Important Bird Areas (IBAs) across Antarctica and offshore islands south of 60o South. In doing so the ATCM adopted Resolution 5 (2015)…

In accordance with Article 6.3 of Annex V to the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty, Australia has undertaken a five-yearly review of the management plan for Antarctic Specially Protected Area (ASPA) 101 Taylor Rookery.

In accordance with Article 6.3 of Annex V to the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty, Australia has undertaken a five-yearly review of the management plan for Antarctic Specially Protected Area (ASPA) 164 Scullin and Murray Monoliths.

Every living organism sheds its DNA into the environment, leaving an invisible record of its presence. However, scientists have found ways to magnify this environmental DNA or 'eDNA' from water, soil and other environmental samples, allowing them to identify who the DNA belonged to.

Like forensic investigators, scientists can use molecular techniques to detect evidence of Antarctic krill in seawater samples collected in the Southern Ocean.

Antarctic polynyas are persistent open water areas which enable early and large seasonal phytoplankton blooms. This high primary productivity, boosted by iron supply from coastal glaciers, attracts organisms from all trophic levels to form a rich and diverse community.