CHILEAN ANTARCTIC SCIENCE PROGRAM

J. M

uñoz

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CONTENTS

200517 projects, grouped bysix scientific disciplines: Earth, Atmospheric, Marine, Biological, and Social Sciences.A significant number of these projects are not selected by a panel of peers but instead correspond to institutionalprograms established from agreements between INACHand Chilean universities. Funding reaches USD 100,000plus logistical support valuedat USD 850,000 (a funding level which has increased to only USD 1,276,600 in 2010).

200620 projects. A new program for Lab projects is defined for initiatives that will analyse samplesand data obtained during previous expeditions (4 projects). Funding available for the various programs for Antarctic research grows to USD 261,700 thanks to the “Antarctic Science Rings” program, an agreement between INACH and Conicyt (the ChileanNational Science and Technology Commission) within the framework of the 2007-2008 International Polar Year. The agreement spans three years and has funding of USD 160,000 per year. Projects arereorganized in accordance with the new priorities of the five-year plan running from 2006 to 2010, which are defined during the evaluation seminar for theperiod 2001-2005. The Postgraduate Thesis Support Program gets underway, with four projects, to bring outstanding young researchers into the Antarcticcommunity.

200724 projects. Total funding for Antarctic research grows to USD 600,000 due to an increase in regular funding from INACH, a second Antarctic Ring, and an agreement with Fondecyt (Fondo Nacional de Desarrollo Científico yTecnológico), the Chilean national fund for scientific and technological development. The PROCIEN (Programa Nacional de Ciencia Antártica, the Chilean Antarctic Science Program) regroups its projects in accordance withthe research programs suggested by the Scientific Committee on AntarcticResearch (SCAR).

200828 projects. Funds available forAntarctic research grows to USD 1,149,000 thanks to new projectsfrom Fondecyt and financing fromCorfo (Corporación de Fomentode la Producción, the ChileanEconomic Development Agency),through its Innova group (Innova is the innovation Committeewithin Corfo). Funding from Corfo InnovaChile is destined for Antarcticlaboratory infrastructure. From thisyear on, all projects incorporated into the PROCIEN are selectedthrough a peer-reviewed process.

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2005 - 2011

INTRODUCTION

referring to a relationship ween South America andcan be measured on a this relationship has also climate of our nation and from the Atacama Desert serves of forests in theuality and quantity of our

ources.

dealing with a unique where the adaptation of ditions of cold, dark, UV y, and so on, has brought survivors holding manyd, and perhaps adapted

uch as health, agriculture, but a few.

general and the Antarctica articular (where Chile hasns and shelters) continue any completely unknown

explored areas. The task at lives in and beneath ntarctic waters, is not yet

new step taken here is nternational science and

As a fourth aspect, the Antarctica Peninsula area is one of the three regions on the Earthwith a rate of warming higher than the global average: in just 50 years the surface air temperature has increased nearly three degrees Celsius. This trend is nearly five times the globalaverage and within half the time. The species that live there are being affected by global climate change and are sending signals about how mainland Chile could be affected in a not so far away future.

Science often teaches sets of rules to memorize, resulting in a sort of distorted view that alienates many young peoplefrom the adventures of seeking knowledge.Nevertheless, the marvel of scientific activitylives in the ever-changing nature of discovery,as vibrant as life itself.

This is the opportunity that nearby Antarctica offers to us, a place where we all work togetherfor research in the Last Frontier of knowledge, the White Frontier. Our readers have in their hands the details of how Chileans are going about this challenging work.

200936 projects. As a result of an innovative agreement between INACH, CorreosChile (the Chilean Post Office) and the Chilean Air Force,the Undergraduate Thesis Support Program is established to allow young university students to travel to Antarctica to complete their professional development. The PROCIEN doubles the numberof projects it had just four years earlier, having now a strong and transparent funding program evaluated by both national and international peers, whose proposals are presented in English. This effort will determine the regional leadership of Chile in the field of Antarctic science. The PROCIEN now coordinates seven funds subjectto competition which reach USD 1,527,660, compared to only USD 100,000 in 2005.

201043 projects. Never in the history of the Chilean Antarctic Science Program have so many projects been performed at the same time. The Bicentennial ScientificExpedition also breaks the record for participation of women in research (29 scientists). Fundingobtained from grants beginsto diminish due to a gradualreduction of the Corfo InnovaChile infrastructure program.

2011The PROCIEN supports 55 projects, tripling the number of projects conducted in 2005. 52 percent of the PROCIEN projects are affiliatedwith international universities and research centres.It is calculated that the maximum number of logistically supportable projects has been reached, given the present level of infrastructure.Nearly USD 1,063,800 has been provided in competitive funding, with nearly USD 1,276,600 in logistics investment from the National Antarctic Program. All told, the Chilean investment in Antarcticscience is above USD 2,000,000, considerably lower than thefunding level of other Antarctic Programs and only possible due to various competitive funds and financing by various governmental agencies, in particular the Chilean Defence Department and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

José Retamales, PhDDirector

Chilean Antarctic Institute – INACH

What does Antarctica mean to Chile?

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1 RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN SOUTH AMERICA AND ANTARCTICA

SOUTH AMERICA AND ANTARCTICA:AGING SISTERS WHO STILL NEED ONE ANOTHER

The rich fisheries of Chile, the desertification of the Atacama area, the present and future climates of Chile - these have been and will continue to be moulded by the dramatic interdependencies of South America and Antarctica. The set of projects in this area of research is searching for ways to characterise these links, using modern techniques in the fields of geology, palaeontology and biogeography. These will be applied to the species that today populate the forests of southern Chile and in the past made Antarctica a verdant region. Likewise there are dolphin-like reptiles belonging to the age of dinosaurs, whose fossil remains have surfaced in Torres del Paine National Park, opening up promising opportunities for special-interest tourism there.

It is difficult to characterise the nature of Chile’s dependence on Antarctica. Scientific advances in recent years have shown a considerable degree of interdependence between our nation and the White Continent. The stormy past that shows in the rocky strata of both land masses tells us of an exuberant dance taking place with Patagonia and the Antarctic Peninsula joined together. The thin physical contact seen in some chapters of natural history once served as a land bridge for many terrestrial species which today inhabit the Subantarcticforests of Chile, but which slowly disappeared from Antarctica. At other times the two land masses remained disconnected and this separation allowedthe ocean currents to modify the climate, with changes of up to 11 degrees Celsius average temperature on the planet.

The last separation (which began 40 million years ago) led to the formation of the most powerful ocean current on h h h l

Such effects, which determine the present and future of Chile, are being studied in projects in this line of research, using modern geological, palaeontological, and biogeographical techniques. A group of biologists has proposed using certain organisms as a sort of living marker of the recent and remote pasts, by looking into that ultimate indicator for evolutionary processes: DNA. Thanks to such studies, there has been considerable success in establishing complex evolutionary relationships between the Antarctic fauna and that of distant places such as the Subantarctic islands of Australia, South Africa, and Chile. As an example of the link between science and tourism, one project studies the ichthyosaurs, marine reptiles similar to dolphins, from the age of dinosaurs. These were found in the rocks of a marine basin common to both the southern region of Chile and the Antarctic Peninsula, bringing new opportunities to special-interest

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1. GEOLOGICAL AND PALEONTOLOGICAL EVOLUTION OF THE MAGELLAN AND LARSEN BASINS DURINGTHE MESOZOIC AND CENOZOIC: SOURCE AREAS ANDPOSSIBLE SIMILARITIES (2010-2013)Principal Investigator. Teresa TORRES.Associated institutions. Universidad de Chile, Universidad de Concepción, MuseoNacional de Historia Natural, Universidadde Magallanes and Empresa Nacional delPetróleo.Funding source. Programa de Investigación Asociativa (PIA-Antarctic Rings) and INACH(logistic support).Main objective. To compare the geological andpalaeontological evolution of the backarcMagellan and Larsen Basins situated inPatagonia and Antarctica, respectively, and to determine the sources of their clastic components.

2. PALAEOPHYTOGEOGRAPHICAL AND EVOLUTIONARY RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN SOUTHERN PATAGONIA AND ANTARCTIC PENINSULA FLORAS DURING THE CRETACEOUS (2008-2011)Principal Investigator. Marcelo LEPPE.Associated institutions. INACH and GeologischesInstitut der Universität Heidelberg(Germany).Funding source. Fondecyt (Initiation Grant) andINACH (logistic support).Main objective. To contribute to theunderstanding of the complex geologicaland palaeontological history of theCretaceous sedimentary units of theAntarctic Peninsula and South Patagonia.

3. GENETIC STRUCTURE AND ANCESTRAL NICHEMODELING APPROACH OF SANIONIA UNCINATA (HEDW.) ALOESKE AS SUPPORT FOR STUDIES ON CONSERVATION (2009-2012)Principal Investigator. Ingrid HEBEL.Associated institutions. Universidad de Magallanes, Fundación Cequa, and Albert-Ludwig-Universität Freiburg (Germany).Funding source. INACH (Regular Grant-Field).Main objective. To analyze the genetic structureand phylogenetic relations of populations of Saniona uncinata in the South Shetland Islands, Antarctic Peninsula and Tierra del Fuego.

4. COMPARATIVE GENOMIC SEQUENCING IN MARINE PATELOGASTROPODS SPECIES (NACELLA, SCHUMACHER, A1817) INHABITING ROCKY SHORES FROM CENTRAL CHILE TO ANTARCTIC PENINSULA (2010-2013)Principal Investigator. Leyla CÁRDENAS.Associated institutions. Universidad Austral deChile and Universidad de Chile.Funding source. INACH (Regular Grant-Field).Main objective. To study the genetic mechanisms through which the aimorganisms are responding to environmental changes, leading to adaptation and diversification.

5. THERMOCHRONOLOGICAL STUDY OF THE NORTHERN ANTARCTIC PENINSULA: IMPLICATIONS FOR THEIR MESOZOIC TO CENOZOIC TECTONIC AND CLIMATIC EVOLUTION (2008-2011)Principal Investigator. Mauricio CALDERÓN.Associated institutions. Universidad de Chile,Universidad of Arizona (US) and Universität Bochum (Germany).Funding source. INACH (Regular Grant-Lab).Main objective. To resolve the distribution pattern of zircon and apatite fission track ages in the northern region of the AntarcticPeninsula.

6. VERY LOW GRADE METAMORPHISM IN THE VOLCANIC SUCCESSIONS OF THE SOUTH SHETLAND ISLANDS (2009-2011)Principal Investigator. Francisco HERVÉ.Associated institutions. Universidad de Chile.Funding source. INACH (Regular Grant-Lab).Main objective. To determine the mineralcharacteristics - paragenesis, zonation - of the metamorphic process to compare itwith the similar phenomena observed in the Andes, including Patagonia.

7. EVOLUTIONARY RELATIONSHIPS ANDDIVERSIFICATION PROCESSES OF THE GENUS STERECHINUS (ECHINODERMATA, ECHINOIDA) FROMSSHALLOW AND DEEP-SEA AREAS OF THE SOUTHERN OCEAN (2009-2011)Principal Investigator. Angie DÍAZ.Associated institutions. Universidad de Chile.Funding source. INACH (Thesis support Grant-Doctorate).Main objective. To evaluate the evolutionaryrelations between the Antarctic and Subantarctic areas, shallow and deep zoneson Sterechinus genus, utilizing nuclear and mitochondrial molecular markers.

8. PETROGRAPHIC AND GEOCHEMICAL STUDIES OF THE ANTARCTIC PENINSULA BATHOLITH, NORTHERNANTARCTIC PENINSULA: PETROGENETIC AND TECTONIC IMPLICATIONS (2010-2011)Principal Investigator. Hernán BOBADILLA.Associated institutions. Universidad de Chile,Universidade de São Paulo (Brazil) andUniversität Stuttgart (Germany).Funding source. INACH (Thesis Support Grant-Master).Main objective. To make a contribution to theunderstanding of the tectonic history of thenorth end of the Antarctic Peninsula in itsPacific rim.

9. ICHTHYOSAURS OF LATE JURASSIC/EARLY CRETACEOUSAGE IN THE TORRES DEL PAINE NATIONAL PARK, SOUTHERNMOST CHILE (2008-2011)Principal Investigators. Wolfgang STINNESBECK andMarcelo LEPPE.

Associated institutions. INACH, GeologischesInstitut der Universität Heidelberg and Staatliches Museum für NaturkundeKarlsruhe (Germany).Funding source. DFG (Germany) and INACH(logistic support).Main objective. To evaluate the conditions related to the excellent preservation and concentration of marine vertebrates in theenigmatic fossil deposit of Torres del PaineNational Park.

10. HIGH LATITUDE MEIOFAUNAL MACROECOLOGY ANDDIVERSITY ASSESSED USING BOTH MORPHOLOGICALAND MOLECULAR TECHNIQUES (2010-2014)Principal Investigator. Matthew LEE.Associated institutions. Universidad Austral deChile, Universidad Católica de la SantísimaConcepción, Universidad de Concepción,University of Plymouth and British Antarctic Survey (UK).Funding source. INACH (Regular Grant-Field).Main objective. Characterise the nematode andtardigrade fauna, using both morphologicaland molecular techniques, associated with intertidal micro-habitats in Antarctica, and compare the results with those found in theMagellanic region of South America.

11. ADDRESSING BIOGEOGRAPHIC AND PHYLOGEOGRAPHIC SCENARIOS REGARDING ORIGINAND PERSISTENCE OF MACROALGAL FLORAL DIVERSITY IN SUB-ANTARCTIC AND ANTARCTIC REGIONS USINGTAXONOMIC, ECOPHYSIOLOGICAL AND MOLECULARAPPROACHES (2011-2014)Principal Investigator. Andrés MANSILLA.Associated Institutions. Universidad deMagallanes and Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile.Funding source. Fondecyt (Regular Grant) andINACH (logistic support).Main objective. To investigate the potential origin and persistence of the tremendousrepresentative orders of macroalgae. Thestudy will combine analysis of distribution,genetic diversity, phylogeny andphysiological responses of species found in the Magellan Region, sub-Antarctic islands and the Antarctic Peninsula.

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Biologist Angie Díaz (left), one of the first Chileanwomen in scuba diving for scientific purposes in Antarctic waters, investigating the evolutionary relationships between South America and the WhiteContinent, using molecular markers.

Funding under USD 106,400.

Funding over USD 851,000.

Funding between USD 212,700 and 851,000.

Funding betweenUSD 106,400 and 212,700.

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ADAPTATIONS TO THE ANTARCTIC ENVIRONMENT AND ITS BIORESOURCES2THE EXCEPTIONAL WEALTH OF ADAPTATIONAND SURVIVAL MECHANISMS IN ANTARCTICA

The powerful geologic and climatic changes suffered by Antarctica have created an environment that is unique on this planet. The life forms have evolved to the point of creating biotas found nowhere else. In terrestrial environments we find microorganismsthat live on the ice at very low temperatures, but also others that live at nearly the boiling point of water, the latter within the active volcanic calderason Deception Island. These organisms inhabiting extreme conditions are called“extremophiles” and are able to generate various mechanisms for adaptation tocold, heat, high salinity, UV radiation, etc. A group of projects in this area of research is attempting to understandthese mechanisms, and to isolate certainextremozymes that may be of use to humankind. With the added stimulusof proximity to the Antarctic Peninsulaand the support platforms, this PROCIEN reflects the universal scientific tendency that is seen in the sustained increase inproposals to study bacteria, yeasts, fungi, lichens, plants and marine invertebratesas new sources of biocompounds.

Several of the projects in this area will also study the physiologicaladaptations to low temperatures seen inmarine invertebrates, algae, and plants. Knowledge in this area results from a growing interest related to possible effects from climate change and the capacity of organisms to respond to such changes.

In the last five years, the PROCIEN has experienced a significant change regarding bio-prospecting or the search for new and improved bio-products of technological processes from new biological sources. In Antarctica we haveaccess to a new range of biodiversity which presents unique adaptationsto extreme environmental conditions. Will we discover Antarctic productswhich have impacts comparable to aspirin or penicillin in the plants andmicroorganisms there?

J. M

uñoz

Extremophiles, psychrophiles, hyperthermophiles, halophiles… strange names for organisms that live in Antarctica under extreme cold and heat (yes, heat in Antarctica), high salinity, and other extreme conditions, including ultraviolet radiation. What are the characteristics of the Antarctic organisms that allow them to tolerate these extreme environmental conditions? Could these characteristics be of use to humanity? These are some of the questions awaiting answers from the projects in this line of research. The results could be as promising as effective low-temperature detergents, new sunburn protection products, frost-resistant plants or even antibiotics that could be effective against multi-resistant nosocomial bacteria.

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1. SURFACE SPECTRAL UV RADIATION AND UV-LINKED EFFECTS ON ENDEMIC SPECIES (2010-2013)Principal Investigator. Raúl CORDERO.Associated institutions. Universidad de Santiagode Chile, Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María, Pontificia Universidad Católica deChile and Universität Hannover (Germany).Funding source. Programa de Investigación Asociativa (PIA-Antarctic Rings) and INACH(logistic support).Main objective. To determine some of the characteristics of the local surface UV climatology, and therefore to generate better estimations of the UV doses affectingendemic species.

2. ANTARCTICA: SOURCE OF BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES(2007-2011)Principal Investigator. Jenny BLAMEY.Associated institutions. Fundación Biociencia,Universidad de Santiago de Chile and INACH.Funding source. Corfo InnovaChile (Grant) andINACH (logistic support).Main objective. To create a platform to facilitatethe access to Antarctic resources, such asmicroorganisms and plants.

3. NEW PSYCHROPHILIC BIOFERTILIZERS (2010-2013)Principal Investigator. Manuel GIDEKEL.Associated institutions. VentureL@b, UniversidadAdolfo Ibáñez, Uxmal S.A. and Universidadde La Frontera.Funding source. Corfo InnovaChile (Grant) and INACH (logistic support).Main objective. Isolate psychrophilicmicroorganisms (bacteria and fungi)associated with Deschampsia antarctica, to farm them in-vitro.

4. STUDIES ON THE STRUCTURAL EFFECTS INDUCED BY INORGANIC COMPOUNDS, THERAPEUTICAL DRUGS AND NATIVE PLANT EXTRACTS ON CELL MEMBRANES (2009-2012)Principal Investigator. Mario SUWALSKY.Associated institutions. Universidad de Concepción and Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso.Funding source. Fondecyt (Regular Grant) andINACH (logistic support).Main objective. To study how biologicallyrelevant chemical components (withpotential pharmaceutical and medical interest) that grow on Antarctic lichensand mosses, interact and affect the cellmembrane structures.

5. BIOACTIVE COMPOUNDS OBTAINED FROM NEW FUNGI ISOLATED FROM ANTARCTIC MARINE SPONGES (2009-2013)Principal Investigator. Inmaculada VACA.Associated institutions. Universidad de Chileand Instituto de Productos Naturales y Agrobiología del CSIC (Spain).Funding source. Fondecyt (Initiation Grant) andINACH (logistic support).Main objective. To search for new bioactivecompounds in fungi isolated from marine sponges living under the Antarctic sea.

6. THE BIOGEOCHEMICAL IRON AND SULFUR CYCLES INTHE ANTARCTIC – FROM MICROBIAL SULFIDE OXIDATION TOWARDS SUBMARINE GROUNDWATER DISCHARGE(2008-2011)Principal Investigator. Bernhard DOLD.Associated institutions. Instituto GEA-Universidad de Concepción and Centro de Astrobiología-INTA-CSIC (Spain).Funding source. INACH (Regular Grant-Field).Main objective. To investigate thebiogeochemical interactions of element liberation from the source, over flow pathto the sink by an interdisciplinary approach

7. BIODIVERSITY AND METABOLIC CAPACITIES OF THE BATERIAL COMMUNITY IN DIFFERENT HABITATS IN FILDES PENINSULA (KING GEORGE ISLAND) AND IN CAPESHIRREFF (LIVINGSTON ISLAND) (2008-2011)Principal Investigator. Gerardo GONZÁLEZ.Associated institutions. Universidad de Concepción.Funding source. INACH (Regular Grant-Field).Main objective. To determine how thedifferences between microhabitats influence bacterial communities diversity in the Fildes Peninsula and Cape Shirreff, and to contribute to the knowledge of their metabolic capacities.

8. RELATIOSHIPS BETWEEN SUCROSE ACCUMULATION AND SPS ACTIVITY INDUCED IN COLD ACCLIMATED COLOBANTHUS QUITENSIS WITH SUCROSE PHOSPHATE SSYNTHASE (SPS) ISOFORMS EXPRESSION; DAY LONG AND LIGHT MODULATION AND NATURALS POPULATIONS DIFFERENCES (2009-2012)Principal Investigator. Marely CUBA.Associated institutions. Universidad deConcepción and Universidad de Magallanes.Funding source. INACH (Regular Grant-Field).Main objective. To study potential SPS gene regulation by low temperature and photoperiod in C. quitensis under laboratory and natural conditions.

9. SECONDARY METABOLITES FROM MARINEORGANISMS (2009-2012)Principal Investigator. Aurelio SAN MARTÍN.Associated institutions. Universidad de Chile,Instituto de Productos Naturales yAgrobiología del CSIC (Spain), Instituto deInvestigación y Tecnología Agroalimentarias (IRTA) (Spain) and Universidad deMagallanes.Funding source. INACH (Regular Grant-Field).Main objective. To find new chemicalcompounds with bioactive properties inmarine Antarctic macro organisms such as

The Antarctic pearlwort (C. quitensis(( ) is a real sssurvivor: it blooms in the polar summer despite the UV radiation, the darkness of winter, low temperat res lo n trients and lo soil

Funding overUSD 851,000.

Funding underUSD 106,400.

Funding between USD 212,700 and 851,000.

Funding between USD 106,400 and 212,700.

ADAPTATIONS TO THE ANTARCTIC ENVIRONMENT AND ITS BIORESOURCES2J.

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Principal Investigator.Associated institutions.

Funding source. Main objective.

Principal Investigator.Associated institutions.Funding source.Main objective.

Principal Investigator. Associated institutions.Funding source.Main objective.

Principal Investigator. Associated institutions.

Funding source. Main objective.

RADIATION (PAR AND UV-B) AND E IN THE EXPRESSION OF GENES INVOLVED ANS BIOSYNTHESIS IN DESCHAMPSIA

DESV. (2010-2012)Principal Investigator. Ariel PARDO.Associated institutions. Universidad de Santiago

d Fundación Biociencia.Funding source. INACH (Thesis Support Grant-

Main objective. To determine the effects (including PAR and UV-B)

rature on the expression andn of fructosyltransferases and inf fructans in D. antarctica.

HILIC LIPASES OF ANTARCTIC ORIGIN:IC LIQUIDS (2010-2012)

Principal Investigator. Patricio MUÑOZ.Associated institutions. Universidad de Santiago

d Fundación Biociencia.Funding source. INACH (Thesis Support Grant-

Main objective. To determine the effect of ionic nzymatic activity, thermostability

oselectivity of a purified lipase mophilic microorganism.

ING: ECOLOGY OF DIAZOTROPHICRIA IN HOT SPRINGS ALONG A GRADIENT FROM ATACAMA TO 2011-2014)

Principal Investigator. Beatriz DÍEZ.Associated institutions. Pontificia Universidad

Chile, Universidad de Atacama,d de Antofagasta, Instituto del Mar-Barcelona (Spain) and

s Universitet (Sweden).Funding source. Fondecyt (Regular Grant) and

stic support).Main objective. To characterize the diversity,

, abundance and activity of rial diazotrophs present in hot ributed along the Chilean Andes ica (between 19º to 42°- 62º S).ve entails the study of both

ommunities in mats and inot water).

Funding under USD 106,400.

between ,400 and 212,700.

These projects are exploring the biodiversity of new worlds for Science, primarily the undersea worlds, insearch of understanding of the spatial

Investigation into marine mammalshas revealed the successful recovery of the Antarctic fur seal population in theSouth Shetland Islands, 170 years after

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A few decades ago the exploration of Antarctica would have meant only the physical dimension. This of course still implies major challenges. Nevertheless, the richness of polar life that unfolds mainly in the waters and coasts has demonstrated a degree of variety that has surprised the world. Everything that is alive has its story to tell, and in Antarctica those stories involve astonishment, biodiversity, and survival. The most dramatic case is the Antarctic fur seal, nearly hunted to extinction in the 19th century and now seeming to be recovering in population. Human beings may destroy habitats but also may in time revisit those habitats and preserve them.

SHEDDING LIGHT ON ANTARCTIC LIFE

Polar technology. Dr. Dirk Schories’ project finds a simple solution to the problems of georeferencing under water. Two divers swim the length of a transect: one is the photographer, while the other provides precise location and control above him using a GPS with an antenna on the surface. Pr

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Humpback whale

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ABUNDANCE AND DIVERSITY OF ANTARCTIC ORGANISMS

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1. GENETIC DIVERSITY AND SMALL SCALE POPULATIONSTRUCTURE OF ABATUS AGASSIZII (MORTENSEN, 1910),IA BROODING ANTARCTIC ECHINOID FROM FILDES BAY,KING GEORGE ISLAND, SOUTH SHETLAND (2009-2011)Principal Investigator. Karin GERARD.Associated institutions. Universidad de Chile.Funding source. Fondecyt (Postdoctorate Grant)and INACH (logistic support).Main objective. To characterize the limits of the population of Abatus agassizii in the iAntarctic Peninsula region, in order toanalyse its intrapopulation genetic diversityand determinate the occurrence of a geneticstructure at small scale (from meters tokilometers).

2. FACTORS INVOLVED IN A CYANO-LICHEN ASSOCIATION: AVAILABILITY, SPECIFICITY AND SELECTIVITY (2010-2013)Principal Investigator. Julieta ORLANDO.Associated institutions. Universidad de Chile and Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto (Argentina).Funding source. Fondecyt (Initiation Grant) andINACH (logistic support).Main objective. To evaluate the availability,specificity and selectivity in a cyano-lichen symbiotic association (Peltigera-Nostoc) inKarukinka (Tierra del Fuego) and Livingston Island (Antarctica).

3. GEO-REFERENCING, BIODIVERSITY AND GROWTH RATE IN THE SOUTHERN OCEANS (2009-2012)Principal Investigator. Dirk SCHORIES.Associated institutions. Universidad Australde Chile, Universidade Federal do Rio deJaneiro-Museu Nacional-Departamentode Inverterbrados (Brazil), Biozentrum-Universität Rostock (Germany), IndependentZoologist-Hydrozoan Research Lab (France), and Institute of Geography FEB of the Russian Academy of Science (Russia).Funding source. INACH (Regular Grant-Field).Main objective. Perform geo-referencingin submarine Antarctic areas using GPS technology and compare results withdifferent zones in Chile, estimating flora and fauna coverage and diversity using imageanalyses and qualitative samples.

4. DIAZOPOLARSEA: MARINE DIAZOTROPHY IN THE SOUTHERN OCEAN (2011-2014)Principal Investigator. Beatriz DÍEZ.Associated institutions. Pontificia UniversidadCatólica de Chile, Stockholms Universitet (Sweden), Instituto de Ciencias del Mar (CMIMA, Spain) and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT, US).Funding source. INACH (Regular Grant-Field).Main objective. To characterize the diversity,distribution, abundance and activity of diazotrophs across hydrographic fronts andhypersaline systems represented by ice-brine in the Southern Ocean.

5. DIVERSITY AND ECOLOGY OF COMMUNITIES OFPHOTOSYNTHETIC PLANKTONIC EUKARYOTES IN ANTARCTIC COASTAL WATERS: A COMPARISON BETWEEN AUSTRAL SUMMER AND WINTER (2010-2013)Principal Investigator. Rodrigo DE LA IGLESIA.Associated institutions. Pontificia UniversidadCatólica de Chile and Station Biologique de Roscoff (France).Funding source. INACH (Regular Grant-Field).Main objective. To define the abundance andthe taxonomic and functional composition of different sized fractions of phytoplanktonic eukaryotes in Antarctic coastal seawater and its variations in winter and summer.

6. THE COMMON SEABIRD TICK IXODES URIAE (WHITE, E1852) AS VECTOR OF PATHOGENIC VIRUS, BACTERIA AND PROTOZOA TO PENGUINS OF THE ANTARCTICENVIRONMENT (2010-2013)Principal Investigator. Daniel GONZÁLEZ.Associated institutions. Universidad deConcepción, Universidad Nacional Andrés Bello, Uppsala Universitet (Sweden), InstitutoNacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria(Argentina) and Linnéuniversitetet (Sweden).Funding source. INACH (Regular Grant-Field).Main objective. Generate information on the roleof Ixodes uriae in the health of penguins and detect how these ticks and their pathogensvary in relation to the geographic location of the penguin colonies.

7. PREDATION IMPACT AND ROLE IN THE VERTICALCARBON FLUX OF CHAETOGNATHS AND AMPHIPODS INTHE SOUTHERN OCEAN (2009-2011)Principal Investigator. Humberto GONZÁLEZ.Associated institutions. Universidad Austral deChile and Universidad de Concepción.Funding source. INACH (Regular Grant-Lab).Main objective. To evaluate the role of bothpredators in the SO as consumers of the zooplankton standing stock and secondaryproduction and their role in the verticalcarbon flux as efficient producers of large and fast sinking faecal pellets.

8. REPRODUCTIVE SEASONALITY AND MATING SYSTEM IN THE ANTARCTIC BROODIND ECHINOID, ABATUS AGASSIZII (MORTENSEN, 1910) (2010-2011)Principal Investigator. Claudia MATURANA.Associated institutions. Universidad de Chile.Funding source. INACH (Thesis Support Grant-Master).Main objective. To increase the understanding of breeding systems in the Antarctic echinoids through the study of the development of Abatus agassizii, in the Antarctic PeninsulaiRegion.

9. DISTRIBUTION AND ABUNDANCE OF ASCIDIANS AT FILDES BAY (2010-2011)Principal Investigator. Thomas HERAN.Associated institutions. Universidad Austral deChile and Academia de Ciencias de Rusia.Funding source. INACH (Thesis Support-Undergraduate), CorreosChile and FACH.Main objective. To analyze the ascidiansdistribution in three exposed and possibly disturbed areas in Fildes Bay.

10. BIODIVERSITY AND TEMPORAL DISTRIBUTION OF GELATINOUS ZOOPLANKTON IN FILDES BAY, ANTARCTIC(2010-2011)Principal Investigator. Héctor Gonzalo MORA.Associated institutions. Pontificia UniversidadCatólica de Valparaíso.Funding source. INACH (Thesis Support-Undergraduate), CorreosChile and FACH.Main objective. Analyze the taxonomiccomposition and spatial distribution of gelatinous zooplankton collected in Fildes Bay (King George Island), according to oceanographic conditions of temperatureand salinity.

11. WINTER MIGRATORY CONNECTIONS OF MEGAPTERA NOVAEANGLIAE FEEDING IN ANTARCTIC ANDECONTINENTAL CHILEAN WATERS AS REVEALED BY PHOTO-IDENTIFICATION ANALYSES (2010-2012)Principal Investigator. Jorge ACEVEDO.Associated institutions. Fundación Cequa, Centro Ballena Azul, Universidad Austral de Chile,Universidade Federal de Rio Grande (Brazil), Fundación Ballenas del Ecuador (Ecuador),Asociación Ambiental Voluntarios enInvestigación y Desarrollo Ambiental (V. I. D. A., Costa Rica), Panacetacea (US) y Fundación Ecológica Sentir (Colombia).Funding source. INACH (Regular Grant-Lab).Main objective. To identify winter migratory destinations and examine possiblepreferences for differential migratorydestinations of humpback whales that feedin the Antarctic Peninsula and those in thewaters of continental Chile.

ABUNDANCE AND DIVERSITY OF ANTARCTIC ORGANISMS3

Funding overUSD 851,000.

Funding underUSD 106,400.

Funding betweenUSD 212,700 and 851,000.

Funding betweenUSD 106,400 and 212,700.

11

GLOBAL WARMING AND CLIMATE EVOLUTION4WHAT ARE THE IMPACTS OF GLOBALWARMING FOR NOW, AND LATER

At just two hours of flying time from Punta Arenas, the Antarctic Peninsula is one of the regions that has warmed the most on this planet - some five times the global average - and in much less time. This proximity, together with the unique characteristics of the White Continent that make it an exceptional natural laboratory, allow us to witness the changes that the Earth will experience in the future, and which will affect the lives of people in ways not yet known. Glaciers, plants, penguins, and algae involved in the projects in this line of study are sending signals of the changes that will be part of the lives of our children and grandchildren.

Since the beginning of time, changing climate has moulded the landscape andinfluenced the evolution of all forms of life. Today we have better measurement tools and there is a worldwide concernwith the ongoing debate centred on climatic warming, climate evolution, and the consequences of human activity upon the global environment. The scientific evidence seems to be convincing and explicit. The last reportfrom the Intergovernmental Group of Climate Change Experts indicated that in the hundred years between 1905 and 2005, the planet had warmed 0.74 degrees Celsius, adding that the major part of the increase was probably due to concentrations of greenhouse gases from anthropogenic sources.

Three regions on the Earth were warming more than the global average, and one of them is located just a step away from Chile: the Antarctic Peninsula. In just fifty years this region has shownan average surface-air temperature increase of almost three degrees Celsius. This trend is over five times the global average and has taken place in just half the time.

offers us broad opportunities for testing hypotheses and documenting the processes and mechanisms involved. This knowledge is vital for the understandingof the climate phenomenon in this part of the planet, as we continue to calculate current effects and predict the potential future impact on a global scale. WithinPROCIEN 2011 we find projects designed to answer the key questions, including:

- What are the current conditions anddynamics of the Antarctic Peninsula iceshelf and how will these evolve?

- Will the sea water temperature increase have an impact on the immune system of bottom-dwelling organisms?

- What climate factors impact the population dynamics of penguins?

- How will the productivity of marinealgae be affected under differing light conditions resulting from changes inmarine ice thickness?

The world is seeking reliable answers to these and other questions. Our scientists are bringing forth new knowledge with a desire to contribute

1. INDUCTION OF THE IMMUNE RESPONSE IN THE ANTARCTIC SEA URCHIN STERECHINUS NEUMAYERI BY ILIPOPOLYSACCHARIDES AND HEAT STRESS (2009-2012)Principal Investigator. Marcelo GONZÁLEZ.Associated institutions. INACH, Université de Montpellier 2-CNRS-Ifremer (France), Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaísoand Universidade de São Paulo (Brazil).Funding source. Fondecyt (Initiation Grant) and INACH (logistic support).Main objective. Characterize and compare the expression profile of immune genes in the echinoderm S. neumayeri as a result of stimulation with lipopolysaccharide andtemperature increase, and whether the immune response capacity is affected bythese factors.

2. CLIMATE CHANGE-RELATED EFFECTS ON SURFACE UV RADIATION IN ANTARCTICA: DEVELOPMENT OF A GROUND-BASED UV RECONSTRUCTION MODEL (2010-2013)Principal Investigator. Alessandro DAMIANI.Associated institutions. Universidad de Santiago de Chile and Universität Hannover (Germany).Funding source. Fondecyt (Postdoctorate Grant)and INACH (logistic support).Main objective. To determine some characteristics of the local UV and generatebetter estimates of the UV dose that is affecting endemic Antarctic species.

3. PHENOTYPIC PLASTICITY IN COLOBANTHUS QUITENSIS CONFRONTING A COMPLEX SCENE OF SGLOBAL CHANGE (2008-2011)Principal Investigator. Marco MOLINA.Associated institutions. Ceaza, Universidadde Concepción, Centro de Ciencias Medioambientales-CSIC (Spain) and INACH.Funding source. INACH (Regular Grant-Field).Main objective. To assess the phenotypic plasticity under variations of temperature,nitrogen in the soil and water availability(global change components) in populationsof Colobanthus quitensis from the MaritimeAntarctic and the Antarctic Peninsula.

4. MACROFAUNA COMMUNITY RESPONSES TO ICEBERG DISTURBANCES ON THE EASTERN WEDDELL SHELF (ANTARCTICA): EXPERIMENTAL TRAWLING NET SIMULATION OF ICE SCOURING EFFECTS ON BENTHIC TROPHIC STRUCTURE (2010-2013)Principal Investigator. Eduardo QUIROGA.Associated institutions. Pontificia UniversidadCatólica de Valparaíso, Universidad de Magallanes, Alfred Wegener Institut(Germany) and Fundación Cequa.Funding source. INACH (Regular Grant-Field).Main objective. To characterize the macrofaunal diversity, the normalized biomass size-spectra (NBSS) and the trophic structure, using stable isotopes, in both disturbed and undisturbedsites on the Eastern Weddell Sea Shelf.

5. DECIPHERING THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE ONPENGUIN POPULATIONS: APPLICATIONS OF THEPOPULATION DYNAMIC THEORY (2010-2012)Principal Investigator. Mauricio LIMA.Associated institutions. Pontificia UniversidadCatólica de Chile.Funding source. INACH (Regular Grant-Lab).Main objective. To analyze the irregularpopulation fluctuations of penguins, usingmodels based on ecological theory.

6. EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE OVER POPULATIONSIZE OF PYGOSCELIS PENGUINS (SPHENISCIFORMES) IN SKING GEORGE ISLAND, SOUTH SHETLAND ISLANDS: AMOLECULAR APPROACH (2010-2011)Principal Investigator. Fabiola PEÑA.Associated institutions. Universidad de Chile.Funding source. INACH (Thesis Support Grant-Master).Main objective. To determine the extent towhich the past events of climate changehave affected the genetic diversity of two Pygoscelis species (P. adeliae and P. papua)and to assess their possible response to the actual climate change using moleculartechniques.

7. THE ROLE OF ANTARCTIC INTERMEDIATE WATER (AAIW) IN THE DISTRIBUTION OF GAS IN THEEASTERN SOUTH PACIFIC AND ITS INFLUENCE ON THE VENTILATION OF THE OXYGEN MINIMUM ZONE (2010-2011)Principal Investigator. Cristina CARRASCO.Associated institutions. Universidad deConcepciónFunding source. INACH (Thesis Support Grant-Master).Main objective. To determine the role of the Antarctic Intermediate Water (AAIW) in gastransporting and other physical properties to the eastern South Pacific Ocean anddiscern between the biogeochemical and physical processes that transform theseproperties.

8. GLACIOLOGICAL STUDIES IN THE ANTARCTICPENINSULA BY AIRBORNE SENSORS (2008-2013)Principal Investigators. Gino CASASSA and Andrés RIVERA.Associated institutions. Centro de Estudios Científicos (CECS), NASA (US) and Armada de Chile.Funding source. CECS, NASA and Armada deChile.Main objective. To determine changes in elevation (mass balance) and acquire data relating to the thickness and internalstructure of the glaciers on the Antarctic Peninsula, and study the current state, the dynamics and evolution of glaciers and floating ice shelves on the Antarctic Peninsula.

9. BIO-OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF ANTARCTIC SEA-ICE ALGAE (2010-2011)Principal Investigator. Ernesto MOLINA.Associated institutions. University of Technology (Sydney, Australia), Australian Antarctic Division (Australia) and INACH.Funding source. SCAR Fellowship Scheme andINACH (logistic support).Main objective. Contribute to theunderstanding of photosynthetic responsesof sea ice algae to light, in a mechanistic bio-optical model, linking physical conditionsof the environment to the production of seaice algae, and integrating them into modelsof larger-scale climate change.

12

GLOBAL WARMING AND CLIMATE EVOLUTION4

Dr. MarceinvestigatAntarctic reacting tusing the urchin as This is donthe resistainvertebraand increatemperatu

D. S

chor

ies

Funding over USD 851,000.

Funding underUSD 106,400.

Funding betweenUSD 212,700 and 851,000.

Funding betweenUSD 106,400 and 212,700.

Antarctic sea urchin

13

1. CONSTRUCTION OF ATMOSPHERIC CORROSIVENESS MAPS TO METALS AND ALLOYS OF MAJOR TECHNOLOGICAL INTEREST FOR CHILE (2009-2012)Principal Investigator. Rosa VERA.Associated institutions. Pontificia UniversidadCatólica de Valparaíso, Asociación Chilena de Corrosión, Puerto Ventanas S.A., B. BoschGalvanizado, CDT, Dirección de ObrasPortuarias del Ministerio de Obras Públicas and Comisión Nacional del Medio Ambiente.Funding source. Corfo InnovaChile (Grant) andINACH (logistic support).Main objective. Construct maps of atmospheric corrosion based on environmentalaggressiveness, for metals and alloys, in order to optimally select the materials to be used in steel structures in different parts of the country.

2. NEUTRON MONITOR MN-64 FOR THE ANTARCTICTERRITORY (1985-2011)Principal Investigator. Enrique CORDARO.Associated institutions. Universidad de Chile and Università di Pisa (Italy).Funding source. INACH (logistic support).Main objective. Continuously record cosmicrays and atmospheric pressure informationat high latitudes, to correlate them with those of the Multidirectional Muon Telescope of Santiago and the Muon monitor at the Tropic of Capricorn.

3. EVALUATION OF THE POLLUTING EFFECTS RELATED TO ANTHROPOGENIC ACTIVITIES IN CHILEAN ANTARCTICSTATIONS (2008-2011)Principal Investigator. María Soledad ASTORGA.Associated institutions. Universidad deMagallanes.Funding source. INACH (Regular Grant-Field)Main objective.

4. PERSISTENT ORGANIC POLLUTANTS IN THE ANTARTIC PENINSULA, TRENDS, TRANSPORT, BIOACCUMULATION AND POTENTIAL EFFECTS (2009-2012)Principal Investigator. Ricardo BARRA.Associated institutions. Centro de CienciasAmbientales-EULA, Universidad deConcepción and Instituto de Investigación Pesquera.Funding source. INACH (Regular Grant-Field).Main objective. To analyze the behaviour of POPs in the Antarctic continent by evaluating their distribution in different abiotic and biotic compartments inaccessible areas, using non-destructive methodologies of sampling for the biological component, and passive sampling methodologies for the abiotic components.

5. SAMBA-THEMIS CONJUGATE STUDIES OF INNERMAGNETOSPHERE DYNAMICS DURING MAGNETIC STORMS (2009-2011)Principal Investigator. Víctor PINTO.Associated institutions. Universidad de Chile, Universidad de Santiago de Chile and Air Force Research Laboratory (US).Funding source. INACH (Thesis Support Grant-Master).Main objective. To determine the dynamicevolution of the equatorial plasma density in the inner magnetosphere and the level of heavy ion contribution to it during stronggeomagnetic storms, using the conjunctions of the Themis mission satellites with the Samba and Measure chains.

6. ANTARCTIC STATION DESIGN PROJECT (2010-2011)Principal Investigator. Carla ANTOGNINI.Associated institutions. Universidad de Chile.Funding source. INACH (Thesis Support-Undergraduate), CorreosChile and FACH.Main objective. To perform a complete architectural design including a proposal for infrastructure, according to the Antarctic environment and its protection and value.

7. TURBULENCE IN SPACE PLASMAS AND ITS IMPACTON THE MAGNETOSPHERIC DYNAMICS AND SPACEWEATHER (2011-2015)Principal Investigator. Marina STEPANOVA.Associated institutions. Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Universidad de Concepción, Universidad de Chile, University of California-Los Angeles (US), Moscow State University (Russia) and the Air Force Research Lab (US).Funding Source. Fondecyt (Regular Grant) andINACH (logistic support).Main objective. To contribute to theunderstanding of the influence of the plasma turbulence on the transport, total pressure, and energy balance, in different regions of the Earth’s magnetosphere.Particular attention will be given to the relevance of the turbulence under differentsolar wind and geomagnetic conditions, using joint satellite and ground-based measurements.

8. METEOROLOGICAL RECORDS IN FILDES PENINSULAPrincipal Investigator. Dirección Meteorológica de Chile.Associated institutions. Dirección Meteorológicade Chile

Main objective.

OTHER INITIATIVES5In addition to the projects under the four lines above, there are projects that address other areas

of polar research, which INACH supports.

J. M

uñoz

The project led by Dr. María Soledad Astorga aims to produce systematic information regarding the quantification of the impacts of human activities in Chilean Antarctic Bases. This information may

Funding over USD 851,000.

Funding underUSD 106,400.

Funding betweenUSD 212,700 and 851,000.

Funding betweenUSD 106,400 and 212,700.

14

Financing for Chilean Antarctic Science

The evolution of the funding of the Chilean AntarcticScience between 2004 and 2010 shows a strong increasethanks to new alliances developed between INACHand other institutions, motivated by the coming of the International Polar Year (2007-2008). Among theseagreements the ones that stand out include those withConicyt, specifically the Associative Research Program(PIA - Programa de Investigación Asociativa) and a pre-competition Corfo InnovaChile research project. Theresources obtained in competitive funds fell slightlyin 2010 with the gradual end of financing for the CorfoInnovaChile infrastructure project, leaving behind a fullyequipped modern laboratory at the Escudero Station,which will serve to attract new studies. At the end of this period, it is calculated that the number of logistically supportable projects has been reached with the existing infrastructure, given an annual budget of USD 1,063,000 in funds distributed through an open, peer-reviewed process, along with an investment in logistical support on the order of USD 1,276,600 (orange line). Altogether, the Chilean investment in Antarctic science is more than USD 2 million, considerably less than that of other nations’ Antarctic Programs and possible only thanks to various funding programs from several governmental agencies, including the Chilean Department of Defence and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Evolution of the Chilean Antarctic Science Program

The escalation in funding sources and funds for Antarctic scientific research has meant a threefold increase compared to the number of research projects performedin 2004 (figure A). In addition to this, we have improved the quality of the proposals being selected, thanks to a transparent and objective system for proposal selection, supported by recognized international researchers. It is important to point out that in the 2010-2011 season, 23 percent of the projects are supported by funds other than INACH.

Although the percentage of approved projects hasremained at around 40% (INACH funding) and 36% (Conicyt funding) in relation to the number of proposal applications (figure B), there has been an overall increase in the number of approved projects according to an increase in the number of proposals presented by researchers, ensuring a more competitive Program with better projects and a potential growth of the Antarctic scientific community. “Sustainability” of polar science quality is only possible with a critical mass of researchers motivated to conduct polar science.

MANAGEMENT OF THE CHILEAN ANTARCTICSCIENCE PROGRAM

FINANCING FOR CHILEAN ANTARCTIC SCIENCE

INACH FONDECYT CONICYT (PIA) CORFOINACH LOGISTICS

$1,500,000

$1,300,000

$1,000,000

$850,000

$650,000

$405,000

$215,000Fu

nds

(USD

)

$02004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

60

Nº p

roje

cts

2004/05

50

40

30

20

10

0

EVOLUTION OF THE CHILEAN ANTARCTIC SCIENCE PROGRAM

2005/06 2006/07 2007/08 2008/09 2009/10 2010/11

UNDERGRADUATE& POSTGRADUATE THESES

FONDECYT

CONICYT (PIA)CORFO

LABFIELDOTHERS

40

30

35

25

20

15

10

5

02007 2008 2009 2010

Year

Applied

ApprovedNº p

roje

cts

INACH Funding40

30

35

25

20

15

10

5

02007 2008 2009 2010

Year

Applied

ApprovedNº p

roje

cts

Conicyt Funding

FIGURE A

FIGURE B

15

Chilean ISI publications on Antarctic Science 1988-2010

The productivity in Chilean Antarctic scientific literature, when measured by the number of ISI (Institute for Scientific Information) publications, shows a sharp increase in recent years. In order to maintain this trend, we need a policy that favours competitive science and a peer review process for theselection of projects. Likewise, improvements and renovation of laboratory equipment are necessary along with support on the ground for the pursuit of science at a first-class level. We also need continuing efforts to provide the means and logistical support in order to successfully conduct our activities.

INACH has its own funding sources to finance research projects in Antarctica. These funds are distributed in twoprograms, each with different lines of funding:

Funding Program Grant* Value of Logistic Support**

Regular Fund

Field Project(proposal requiring conduct of fieldactivities in Antarctica)

USD 83,000 USD 55,000 - USD 180,000(total for 3 field campaigns)

Lab Project(proposal not requiring travel toAntarctica)

USD 22,000 No logistics involved

Thesis Support Program

Master Thesis USD 6,400 USD 21,300 – 42,500 (1 field campaign only)

Doctoral Thesis USD 17,000 USD 42,500 – 85,100 (total for 2 field campaigns)

Undergraduate Thesis No grants USD 2,100 – 4,200

* Maximum funding provided for each category, year 2011.** Value of the logistic support provided by INACH.

In addition, INACH has agreements with major funding agencies for Science and Technology in Chile. If granted, INACH will provide the logistic support needed for their field activities in Antarctica. Current agreements include the following:

Funding Program Grant* Value of Logistic Support**

Fondecyt:PostdoctorateInitiationRegular

USD 127,600USD 160,000USD 425,500

USD 63,800 – 212,700(total for 3 field campaigns)

Conicyt – PIA (‘Antarctic Rings’) USD 479,000 USD 479,000(total for 3 field campaigns)

* Maximum funding provided for each category, 2011. These funds are provided by the indicated funding agency.** Value of the logistic support provided by INACH.

In addition to these ongoing programs for applying to other funding agencies, there is the possibility of other agreements. For example, Corfo InnovaChile is now funding three important projects in Antarctica.

FUNDING SOURCES FOR CHILEAN ANTARCTICSCIENCE

CHILEAN ISI PUBLICATIONS ON ANTARCTIC SCIENCE 1988-2010

1988

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

Year

2010

Nº I

SI p

ublic

atio

ns

35

30

25

20

15

10

5

0

CHILEAN ANTARCTIC SC

INACH LAB PROJECTS

THERMOCRONOLOGY OF ANTARCTICPENINSULA

VOLCANIC METAMORPHISM IN THESOUTH SHETLAND ISLANDS

SPECIAL INACH PROJECTS

EVOLUTION AND BIOGEOGRAPHY INANTARCTIC SEA URCHINS

PETROGRAPHY AND GEOCHEMISTRY ON THE ANTARCTIC PENINSULA

INACH SUPPORT TOUNDERGRADUATE

AND POSTGRADUATETHESES

INTERNATIONALCOOPERATION

ICHTHYOSAURS INTORRES DEL PAINE

PIA PROGRAMCONICYT

GEOLOGY OF THE LARSEN ANDMAGELLANIC BASINS

EFFECTS OF UV RADIATION ONENDEMIC SPECIES

CORFO INNOVACHILEANTARCTICA SOURCE FOR

BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES

PSYCHROPHILIC BIOFERTILIZERS

INACH FIELD PROJECTS

GENETIC STRUCTURE AND NICHES OF ANTARCTIC MOSSES

GENOMICS IN ANTARCTIC LIMPETS

BIOGEOCHEMICAL CYCLES

DIVERSITY IN ANTARCTIC BACTERIA

SUCROSE ACTIVITY IN ANTARCTICPEARLWORT

SECONDARY METABOLITES INMARINE ORGANISMS

PHOTOBIOLOGY ANDUV STRESS IN ALGAE

BIOGEOGRAPHY OF ANTARCTICYEASTS

THERMOPHILES OF DECEPTIONISLAND

ENZYMATIC ACTIVITY OF FUNGIAND YEASTS FROM ANTARCTIC

SPONGES

EFFECTS RELATED TOBIOSYNTHESIS OF FRUCTOSE IN

ANTARCTIC GRASS

THERMOPHILIC ENZYMES LIPASES WITH ANTARCTIC ORIGINS

MACROECOLOGY AND DIVERSITY OF HIGH LATITUDE MEIOFAUNA

FONDECYTINACH PROGRAM

PALAEOPHYTOGEOGRAPHICRELATIONSHIPS

EFFECTS OF INORGANIC COMPOUNDSON CELLULAR MEMBRANES

BIOACTIVE COMPOUNDS INFUNGUS

CYANOBACTERIA IN ANTARCTICHOT SPRINGS

MACROALGAL DIVERSITY INSUBANTARCTIC AND ANTARCTIC

REGIONS

CIENCE PROGRAM - 2011

CLIMATE EFFECTS ON PENGUINPOPULATIONS

NEUTRONMONITOR

GLACIOLOGICAL STUDIES USINGAIRBORNE SENSORS

A BIOPTICAL MODEL OF ALGAEPHOTOSYNTHESIS

METEOROLOGICALOBSERVATIONS IN THE

FILDES PENINSULA

MAPPINGATMOSPHERICCORROSIVITY

ANTARCTIC PEARLWORT ANDGLOBAL CHANGE

MACROFAUNA AND PERTURBATIONIN MARINE ICE

CONTAMINATION AT CHILEAN ANTARCTIC

BASES

PERSISTENT ORGANICCONTAMINANTS

SUBMARINE GEOREFERENCINGAND BIODIVERSITY IN SOUTHERN

OCEANS

DIAZOTROPHY IN THE ANTARCTICOCEAN

PHOTOSYNTHETIC EUCARIOTICPLANKTON

TICK IN MARINE BIRDS AS APATHOGEN VECTOR IN PENGUINS

CHAETOGNATHS AND AMPHIPODSIN THE SOUTHERN OCEAN

FOOD WEB

MIGRATORY CONNECTIONS OF THEHUMPBACK WHALE

GELATINOUS ZOOPLANKTON ATFILDES BAY

SEASTAR REPRODUCTION INANTARCTIC WATERS

ASCIDIANS AT FILDES BAY

MOLECULAR STUDIES OF PENGUIN POPULATIONS

ROLE OF THE ANTARCTICINTERMEDIATE WATER IN THE

DISTRIBUTION OF GASES

DYNAMICS OF THEMAGNETOSPHERE

BASE STATION DESIGNFOR ANTARCTICA

GENETIC DIVERSITY IN ANTARCTICSEASTARS

CYANOLICHENS ASSOCIATION ATLIVINGSTON ISLAND

CLIMATE CHANGE AND UVRADIATION IN ANTARCTICA

IMMUNE RESPONSE IN ANTARCTICSEA URCHINS

TURBULENCE IN SPACEPLASMAS

18

INFRASTRUCTURE

Chile built its first polar base in 1947, on GreenwichIsland. That semicircular facility of 89 square metres,shared the honour of being one of the first facilities in Antarctica with the Wordie House, which the United Kingdom built in January of the same year.

Since then, all Chilean Antarctic operators have built various other installations, first and foremost with a commitment to national sovereignty and exploration of the unknown continent, and then as strong support for the scientific work done and to be done by the Antarctic international science community.

Chile supplies stations and shelters in various locationson the Antarctic Peninsula, in the South Shetland Islands, and in the Patriot Hills-Union Glacier area. Additionally, scientific camps are set up in other locations according tothe requirements of the projects, and shipping transport is arranged along with coordination for the stays of Chilean researchers at stations and shelters belonging to other nations.

1. Scientific station “Professor Julio Escudero” (INACH)Geographic location: Fildes Peninsula (62º 12’ S; 58º 57’ W), SouthShetland Islands.Maximum occupancy: 36 persons in summer.Facilities: 2 dry laboratories, 2 wet laboratories.Scientific equipment: laminar flow hood, drying ovens, loupesand microscopes, digital scale, spectrometer, magneticagitator, refrigerator, freezer.Available vehicles: 4 all-terrain vehicles, 1 Ford F3500 truck, 1 utility vehicle, 1 truck/lorry, 3 Zodiac MK-V inflatable boats, 2 Skidoo snowmobiles.Communications: HF and VHF radios, telephony, satellite phoneand internet.

2. Shelter Julio Ripamonti (INACH)Geographic location: Ardley peninsula (62º 12’ S; 58º 53’ W), King George Island, South Shetland Islands. Located inthe Antarctic Specially Protected Area Nº 150 (requires aspecial entry permit).Maximum occupancy: 2 persons, in-transit only, in summer.Facilities: 2 habitation containers, one located at the centre and the other at the northeast extreme of thepeninsula.Available vehicles: No vehicles available. Entry of motor vehicles into this zone is prohibited. Logistical support is provided by the Escudero station using Zodiacs.Overland access is possible at low tide.Communications: VHF radio.

3. Station Dr. Guillermo Mann (INACH)Geographic location: Cape Shirreff (62º 27’ S; 60º 47’ W), Livingston Island, South Shetland Islands. Locatedin the Antarctic Specially Protected Area Nº 149 andrequires a special entry permit.Maximum occupancy: 6 persons in summer.Facilities: One housing unit, one igloo module, one laboratory module, wind-powered electrical generator.Available vehicles: One all terrain vehicle subject to restrictions of the Management Plan for the area.Communications: HF and VHF radio, satellite telephone.

4. Captain Arturo Prat Station (Navy)Geographic location: Greenwich island (62º 30’ S; 59º 39’ W), South Shetland Islands. Maximum occupancy: 25 persons in summer; 21 in winter.Facilities: Heliport, hut, general purpose laboratory. Available vehicles: Summer and winter vehicles belonging tothe Chilean Navy. MK-IV Zodiac boat. Communications: HF and VHF radio, telephone and internetvia satellite.

5. Bernardo O’Higgins Station (Army) Geographic location: Covadonga Bay, Cape Legoupil (63º 19’ S;57º 51’ W), Tierra de O’Higgins (Graham Land), Antarctic Peninsula.Maximum occupancy: 50 persons in summer; 21 in winter. Facilities: Heliport, hut. Dry laboratory equipped by INACH formultipurpose use.Available vehicles: Summer and winter vehicles belonging to theChilean Army. MK-IV Zodiac boat.Communications: HF and VHF radio, telephone and internet viasatellite.

6. President Eduardo FreiMontalva Station (Air Force)Geographic location: Fildes Peninsula (62º 14’ S; 58º 48’ W), King George Island, South Shetland Islands. Maximum occupancy: 120 persons in summer.Facilities: General lodging, medical facilities. Communications: HF and VHF radio, telephone and internet.

7. President Gabriel González Videla Station (Air Force)Geographic location: Paradise Bay (64º 49’ S; 62º 51’ W) ,Antarctic Peninsula.Maximum occupancy: 19 persons, in summer. Facilities: General lodging.Available vehicles: Two Zodiac boats.Communications: HF and VHF radio.

For more information, see this site: www.inach.cl/concurso/infraestructura.php

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Research Locations

XLVII CHILEAN ANTARCTIC SCIENTIFIC EXPEDITION

Foster Bay, Deception Island. We can see the craters left by the 1967 eruption.

S. K

raus

S. K

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Chilean Icebreaker “Óscar Viel” in Paradise Bay.

S. K

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22

DIRECTORY OF PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATORS

Jorge ACEVEDOFundación Centro de Estudios del Cuaternario Fuego-Patagonia y Antártica, CEQUAjorge.acevedo@cequa.cl

Carla ANTOGNINIUniversidad de Chilecantognini@ug.uchile.cl

María Soledad ASTORGAUniversidad de Magallanesmsoledad.astorga@umag.cl

Marcelo BAEZAUniversidad de Chilembaeza@uchile.cl

Ricardo BARRAUniversidad de Concepciónricbarra@udec.cl

Jenny BLAMEYFundación Científica y Cultural Biocienciajblamey@bioscience.cl

Hernán Gonzalo BOBADILLAUniversidad de Chilehbobadil@ing.uchile.cl

Mauricio CALDERÓNUniversidad de Chilemcalderon@gmail.com

Leyla CÁRDENASUniversidad Austral de Chileleylacardenas1@gmail.com

Cristina CARRASCOUniversidad de Concepcióncristinacarrasc@udec.cl

Jorge CARRASCODirección Meteorológica de Chilejorge.carrasco@meteochile.cl

Gino CASASSACentro de Estudios Científicos, CECSgc@cecs.cl

Enrique CORDAROUniversidad de Chileecordaro@dfi.uchile.cl

Raúl CORDEROUniversidad de Santiago de Chileraul.cordero@usach.cl

Daniela CORREAFundación Científica y Cultural Biocienciadcorrea@bioscience.cl

Marely CUBAUniversidad de Concepciónmcubaster@gmail.com

Renato CHÁVEZUniversidad de Santiago de Chilerenato.chavez@usach.cl

Alessandro DAMIANIUniversidad de Santiago de Chileadamiani024@gmail.com

Rodrigo DE LA IGLESIAPontificia Universidad Católica de Chilesirkonio@gmail.com

Angie DÍAZUniversidad de Chileangie.ddl@gmail.com

Beatriz DÍEZPontificia Universidad Católica de Chilebdiez@bio.puc.cl

Bernhard DOLDUniversidad de Concepciónbdold@udec.cl

Karin GERARDUniversidad de Chilegerardkarin@yahoo.fr

Manuel GIDEKELVentureL@b, Universidad Adolfo Ibáñezmanuel.gidekel@uai.cl

Iván GÓMEZUniversidad Austral de Chileigomezo@uach.cl

Daniel GONZÁLEZUniversidad de Concepcióndanigonz@udec.cl

Gerardo GONZÁLEZUniversidad de Concepciónggonzal@udec.cl

Humberto GONZÁLEZUniversidad Austral de Chilehgonzale@uach.cl

Marcelo GONZÁLEZINACHmgonzalez@inach.cl

Ingrid HEBELUniversidad de Magallanesinghebel@hotmail.com

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Thomas HERANUniversidad Austral de Chilethomasheran@gmail.com

Francisco HERVÉUniversidad de Chileherve@cec.uchile.cl

Matthew LEEUniversidad de Los Lagosmatthew.lee@ulagos.cl

Marcelo LEPPEINACHmleppe@inach.cl

Mauricio LIMAPontificia Universidad Católica de Chilemlima@bio.puc.cl

Andrés MANSILLAUniversidad de Magallanesandres.mansilla@umag.cl

Claudia MATURANAUniversidad de Chilecmaturana.ciencias@gmail.com

Ernesto MOLINAUniversity of Technology (Sydney)Ernesto.MolinaBalari@uts.edu.au

Marco MOLINACentro de Estudios Avanzadosen Zonas Áridas, CEAZAmarco.molina@ceaza.cl

Héctor Gonzalo MORAPontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaísomoragonza@gmail.com

Patricio MUÑOZUniversidad de Santiago de Chilepmunoz@bioscience.cl

Julieta ORLANDOUniversidad de Chileorlandojulieta@yahoo.com.ar

Ariel PARDOUniversidad de Santiago de Chileariel.pardo.ramirez@gmail.com

Fabiola PEÑAUniversidad de Chilefaby.pmor@gmail.com

Víctor PINTOUniversidad de Chilevictor.pinto@gmail.com

Eduardo QUIROGAPontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaísoeduardo.quiroga@ucv.cl

Andrés RIVERACentro de Estudios Científicos, CECSarivera@cecs.cl

Aurelio SAN MARTÍNUniversidad de Chileaurelio@uchile.cl

Dirk SCHORIESUniversidad Austral de Chiledirk.schories@gmx.de

Marina STEPANOVAUniversidad de Santiago de Chilemarina.stepanova@usach.cl

Wolfgang STINNESBECKGeologisches Institut der Universtät Heidelbergwolfgang.stinnesbeck@geow.uni-heidelberg.de

Mario SUWALSKYUniversidad de Concepciónmsuwalsk@udec.cl

Teresa TORRESUniversidad de Chilettorres@uchile.cl

Inmaculada VACAUniversidad de Chileinmavaca@uchile.cl

Rosa VERAPontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaísorvera@ucv.cl

Publication of the Chilean Antarctic Institute - INACHISSN: 0719-0654 [Chil. antarct. sci. program (Engl. ed.)].Editors. Reiner Canales and Verónica Vallejos.Editorial Committee. José Retamales, Javier Arata, Marcelo Leppe, Elías Barticevic.Drafting Committee. Marcelo González, Ricardo Jaña. Cover. Dušan Matulic and Pablo Ruiz. Design. Pamela Ojeda, LPA.

Traslated by Robert Runyard and INACH.yPrinted by La Prensa Austral. June 2011.y

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