Effects of contamination from Antarctic research stations on marine benthic fauna

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dc.contributor.advisorPollack, Jennifer Beseres
dc.contributor.advisorMontagna, Paul A.
dc.contributor.authorPalmer, Terence Aaron
dc.contributor.committeeMemberKlein, Andrew G.
dc.contributor.committeeMemberWithers, Kim
dc.creator.orcidhttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-6602-9760en_US
dc.date.accessioned2021-10-11T19:54:29Z
dc.date.available2021-10-11T19:54:29Z
dc.date.issued2021-08
dc.description.abstractAntarctica is our most pristine continent, home to many unique and scientifically interesting ecosystems. But the presence of researchers and supporting infrastructure are unintentionally causing localized pollution at research stations, which is adding to the stress of climate change in Antarctica. Therefore, it is important to determine the extent of this contamination so that careful environmental management can be ensured. This dissertation identified long-term decreases in mercury, copper, organochlorine, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) contamination at McMurdo Station, the largest, and possibly most polluted, research station in Antarctica. However, these long-term (13 year) decreases in contaminants were not great enough to allow the recovery of affected macrobenthic communities. Instead, changes in macrobenthic communities at both polluted and references areas coincided with climate cycles and changes in sea ice characteristics, indicating effects of global climate change. Bioaccumulation of trace metals, pesticides, and/or organochlorines from McMurdo Station occurred in ten of twelve epibenthic species sampled, although polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in benthic fish (Trematomus spp.) were of most concern. Bioaccumulation of PAHs, copper, lead, and zinc in a limpet (Nacella concinna) occurred at Palmer Station, a medium sized Antarctic research station, although concentrations have decreased since the 1990s. The effects of local contamination on macrobenthic fauna communities adjacent to Palmer Station could not be differentiated from the effects of natural variables, which indicates that smaller stations may have a smaller influence (intensity and/or spatial extent) on the local environment. Legacy contamination in the marine environment persists adjacent to Antarctic research stations. However, continued careful environmental management and varying amounts of time (years to decades) may allow contamination to further decrease and ecosystems to recover.en_US
dc.description.collegeCollege of Science and Engineeringen_US
dc.description.departmentPhysical and Environmental Sciencesen_US
dc.format.extent246 pagesen_US
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/1969.6/89817
dc.language.isoen_USen_US
dc.rightsThis material is made available for use in research, teaching, and private study, pursuant to U.S. Copyright law. The user assumes full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials. Any materials used should be fully credited with its source. All rights are reserved and retained regardless of current or future development or laws that may apply to fair use standards. Permission for publication of this material, in part or in full, must be secured with the author and/or publisher.en_US
dc.subjectAntarcticaen_US
dc.subjectbenthicen_US
dc.subjectbiological indicatoren_US
dc.subjectmacrofaunaen_US
dc.subjectpolaren_US
dc.subjectpollutionen_US
dc.titleEffects of contamination from Antarctic research stations on marine benthic faunaen_US
dc.typeTexten_US
dc.type.genreDissertationen_US
dcterms.typeText
thesis.degree.disciplineCoastal and Marine System Scienceen_US
thesis.degree.grantorTexas A & M University--Corpus Christien_US
thesis.degree.levelDoctoralen_US
thesis.degree.nameDoctor of Philosophyen_US

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