Directory

Start date:
October 2014
End date:
October 2014
Locations:
Granite Harbour, McMurdo Sound
Principle Investigator:
Dr Vonda Cummings
Organisation:
National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA)
"Anthropogenic impacts in Antarctica are increasing and a good understanding of marine ecosystem function is needed to inform decisions on environmental management and protection. With a focus on coastal benthic (seafloor) communities and the environmental conditions that structure them, the major goal of this research is to advance knowledge of coastal benthic ecosystem structure and function, spatial variance and response to environmental stress, and thus improve management of the Ross Sea region. We will:
Conduct under ice experiments at Granite Harbour, via SCUBA;
Re-sample a long term benthic monitoring site at Cape Evans, via SCUBA; and
Collect shellfish for return to NZ alive."