Research project P4S/25/MonASPA (Research action P4S)
During the ATCM XLV - CEP XXV meeting in 2023, seven ice-free sites in the Western Sør Rondane Mountains were designated as part of an Antarctic Specially Protected Area (ASPA) in order to protect their unique environmental, scientific, aesthetic and wilderness values (Measure 18). The biological communities inhabiting this multi-site ASPA 179 are dominated by microorganisms and are vulnerable to anthropogenic disturbances, including trampling and oversampling, the introduction of non-native taxa, and other global and local environmental changes. Therefore, Belgium has taken the initiative to propose this additional environmental protection for the seven sites and compiled a Management Plan that was approved by the Antarctic Treaty System (ATS). To assess whether the rules of this Management Plan are effective or if improvements will have to be proposed at the time of the 5 year-review in 2028 as requested by the Protocol on Environmental Protection (CEP), an environmental monitoring plan needs to be developed, allowing to detect potential impacts on the protected values, such as environmental changes and anthropogenic impacts.
The objectives of MonASPA are to design and establish a multidisciplinary and systematic monitoring plan for ASPA 179 in support of Belgium’s role in Antarctic policy, and to communicate information regarding this ASPA to all relevant stakeholders. The specific aims are to (i) analyse the biodiversity of bacteria, micro-eukaryotes and micro-invertebrates and compare these results with those obtained from samples taken prior to the designation of the ASPA, (ii) assess the use of remote sensing tools to monitor particular habitats in the ASPA and to minimize impact during monitoring, (iii) install an ANTOS Tier 1 monitoring tower to identify and track environmental change at biologically relevant scales, (iv) generate Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) documenting the protocols for monitoring to ensure robustness and consistency in future reporting cycles as well as FAIR data analysis pipelines and storage to enable re-analyses when new techniques will become available in the future, (v) produce an information paper (IP) for the CEP and a summary for the Antarctic Environments Portal (https://environments.aq/) about the biodiversity of terrestrial and aquatic habitats in inland Antarctic polar deserts, and (vi) inform the personnel of the Princess Elisabeth Antarctica station (PEA) and scientists planning to work in the ASPA sites about the values that need protection, and provide support for completing permit applications. To achieve this, MonASPA will analyse the biodiversity of soil communities by combining amplicon sequencing of taxonomic marker genes and shotgun metagenomics sequencing of samples taken from permanent monitoring plots in the ASPA sites. The processing pipelines will be integrated into a GEN-ERA toolbox using Nextflow workflows and Apptainer containers to stabilize them, ensuring the long-term bioinformatics reproducibility and interoperability. In parallel, comparative genomics will be used to assess the genetic potential of previously identified keystone taxa and to compare their specific adaptations with those in non-polar, yet related taxa. Newly and previously isolated bacteria, cyanobacteria and microalgae will be deposited in a special ‘Sør Rondane Mountains’ subcollection of the BCCM/LMG, ULC and DCG collections. These strains will be characterized and the genetic data will be stored in GBIF and analysed using the GEN-ERA tool for comparative genomics. Baseline information on habitat types and the biomass of algal mats will be obtained using drones equipped with multispectral cameras, in combination with satellite (Landsat 8 and 9 TIRS) and in situ temperature measurements, as well as an irradiance model coupled with terrain shadow castings based on a high resolution terrain model. Additionally, optical decametre scale satellite imagery (Landsat and Sentinel-2) archives will be collected to assess seasonal snow cover variability. Metre-scale satellite image acquisitions will be programmed during field campaigns and their use in long-term monitoring will be explored. Passive air samplers will be used to collect air-borne propagules, which will be analysed using molecular markers to assess transportation of (viable) biota via air currents to and between the sites. An ANTOS Tier 1 monitoring tower equipped with multiple sensors measuring biological relevant parameters such as photosynthetically active radiation, snow depth and soil moisture will be installed to provide a comprehensive baseline understanding of natural variability and rates of change in the habitats. The project results will be deposited in GBIF following the FAIR principle and communicated through various initiatives and documents. All data will be fully integrated in ongoing and planned SCAR action and expert groups, including ANTOS, Ant-ICON and C-CAGE, and will provide scientific information for the meetings of the ATCM and CEP.
