Microplastic pollution in marine sediments of the Antarctic coastal environment of Potter Cove and nearby areas (25 de Mayo/King George Island, South Shetlands).

Plastic contamination in the Southern Ocean is a growing issue. This study provides the first comprehensive analysis of marine microplastics (MPs) (0.1-5 mm) in surface sediments in Potter Cove and nearby areas around Argentina's Carlini station (25 de Mayo/King George Island, South Shetlands).

Molecular responses to ocean acidification in an Antarctic bivalve and an ascidian.

Southern Ocean organisms are considered particularly vulnerable to Ocean acidification (OA), as they inhabit cold waters where calcite-aragonite saturation states are naturally low. It is also generally assumed that OA would affect calcifying animals more than non-calcifying animals. In this context, we aimed to study the impact of reduced pH on both types of species: the ascidian Cnemidocarpa verrucosa sp.

Molecular responses of a key Antarctic species to sedimentation due to rapid climate change.

Rapid regional warming causing glacial retreat and melting of ice caps in Antarctica leads benthic filter-feeders to be exposed to periods of food shortage and high respiratory impairment as a consequence of seasonal sediment discharge in the West Antarctic Peninsula coastal areas. The molecular physiological response and its fine-tuning allow species to survive acute environmental stress and are thus a prerequisite to longer-term adaptation to changing environments. Under experimental conditions, we analyzed here the metabolic response to changes in suspended sediment concentrations, through transcriptome sequencing and enzymatic measurements in a highly abundant Antarctic ascidian.

Molecular mechanisms underlying responses of the Antarctic coral Malacobelemnon daytoni to ocean acidification.

Benthic organisms of the Southern Ocean are particularly vulnerable to ocean acidification (OA), as they inhabit cold waters where calcite-aragonite saturation states are naturally low. OA most strongly affects animals with calcium carbonate skeletons or shells, such as corals and mollusks. We exposed the abundant cold-water coral Malacobelemnon daytoni from an Antarctic fjord to low pH seawater (LpH) (7.

Ocean acidification effects on the stress response in a calcifying antarctic coastal organism: The case of Nacella concinna ecotypes.

Ocean acidification (OA) could become a serious threat for the Antarctic marine ecosystem over coming years, as the solubility of atmospheric CO and CaCO minerals increases at lower temperatures. We evaluated the effect of OA on the stress response of the limpet Nacella concinna by measuring gene expression levels. The experiment was performed with the two ecotypes (Littoral and Sublittoral) of the species during 54 days (IPCC, 2019 scenario RCP8.