Studies on Biodiversity and Changing Ecosystems in King George Islands, 2011-2013


We have been proposed to determine biodiversity and the present ecosystem status/change of Antarctic terrestrial and coastal environments, especially in King George Island by quantifying spatial/temporal variability on a regular basis, to investigate and understand the present adaptation of Antarctic organisms and status of ecosystem using multi-level approaches, and further to predict future impacts in this project BioCE.

The main goal is to address how biodiversity and ecosystem of King George Island responds to climate change. We are focusing on the following sub-goals: 
  ○ Survey of biodiversity in King George Island and reconstruction of evolutionary history of some micro- and macro- algae, seabirds, lichens by phylogeography and population genetic studies 
  ○ Evaluation of structure and function of terrestrial and marine ecosystems in King George Island 
  ○ Evaluation of terrestrial and coastal marine ecosystem response caused by climate change 
  ○ Assessing ecosystem changes/responses to climate change and to predict future impacts