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Gallée, H.; Pettré, P.; Schayes, G. (1996). Sudden Cessation of Katabatic Winds in Adélie Land, Antarctica. Journal of Applied Meteorology, 35(7), 1142–1152.
Abstract: The evolution of summer katabatic wind events over the steep slopes of Adélie Land is examined, with emphasis on the sudden cessation of these events. Different idealized large-scale forcings are considered, including a situation that comes very close to one observed during the IAGO (Interaction Atmosphère Glace Océan) campaign, held in the region in November–December 1985. The hydrostatic meso-?-scale atmospheric model MAR (Modèle Atmosphérique Régional) is used to assess the sensitivity of the simulated cessation process to a prescribed large-scale forcing.
Programme: 211
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Saraux Claire, Le Bohec Celine, Durant Joel M, Viblanc Vincent A, Gauthier-Clerc Michel, Beaune David, Park Young-Hyang, Yoccoz Nigel G, Stenseth Nils C, Le Maho Yvon, . (2011). Reliability of flipper-banded penguins as indicators of climate change
. NATURE, 469(7329), 203–206.
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Eichhorn Gotz, Groscolas Rene, Le Glaunec Gaele, Parisel Camille, Arnold Laurent, Medina Patrice, Handrich Yves, . (2011). Heterothermy in growing king penguins
. Nature communications, 2, 435–.
Abstract: A drop in body temperature allows significant energy savings in endotherms, but facultative heterothermy is usually restricted to small animals. Here we report that king penguin
chicks (Aptenodytes patagonicus), which are able to fast for up to 5 months in winter, undergo marked seasonal heterothermy during this period of general food scarcity and slow-down of growth. They also experience short-term heterothermy below 20 °C in the lower abdomen during the intense (re)feeding period in spring, induced by cold meals and adverse weather.
The heterothermic response involves reductions in peripheral temperature, reductions in thermal core volume and temporal abandonment of high core temperature. Among climate variables, air temperature and wind speed show the strongest effect on body temperature,
but their effect size depends on physiological state. The observed heterothermy is remarkable for such a large bird (10 kg before fasting), which may account for its unrivalled fasting
capacity among birds.
Programme: 119;394
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Romiguier J, Gayral P, Ballenghien M, Bernard A, Cahais V, Chenuil A, Chiari Y, Dernat R, Duret L, Faivre N, Loire E, Lourenco J M, Nabholz B, Roux C, Tsagkogeorga G, Weber A A-T, Weinert L A, Belkhir K, Bierne N, Glemin S, Galtier N, . (2014). Comparative population genomics in animals uncovers the determinants of genetic diversity
. Nature, 515(7526), 261–263.
Abstract: Genetic diversity is the amount of variation observed between DNA sequences from distinct individuals of a given species. This pivotal concept of population genetics has implications for species health, domestication, management and conservation. Levels of genetic diversity seem to vary greatly in natural populations and species, but the determinants of this variation, and particularly the relative influences of species biology and ecology versus population history, are still largely mysterious1, 2. Here we show that the diversity of a species is predictable, and is determined in the first place by its ecological strategy. We investigated the genome-wide diversity of 76 non-model animal species by sequencing the transcriptome of two to ten individuals in each species. The distribution of genetic diversity between species revealed no detectable influence of geographic range or invasive status but was accurately predicted by key species traits related to parental investment: long-lived or low-fecundity species with brooding ability were genetically less diverse than short-lived or highly fecund ones. Our analysis demonstrates the influence of long-term life-history strategies on species response to short-term environmental perturbations, a result with immediate implications for conservation policies.
Programme: 1044
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Le Maho Yvon, Whittington Jason D, Hanuise Nicolas, Pereira Louise, Boureau Matthieu, Brucker Mathieu, Chatelain Nicolas, Courtecuisse Julien, Crenner Francis, Friess Benjamin, Grosbellet Edith, Kernaléguen Laëtitia, Olivier Frédérique, Saraux Claire, Vetter Nathanaël, Viblanc Vincent A, Thierry Bernard, Tremblay Pascale, Groscolas René, Le Bohec Céline, . (2014). Rovers minimize human disturbance in research on wild animals.
. Nat. Methods, 11(12), 1242–4.
Abstract: Investigating wild animals while minimizing human disturbance remains an important methodological challenge. When approached by a remote-operated vehicle (rover) which can be equipped to make radio-frequency identifications, wild penguins had significantly lower and shorter stress responses (determined by heart rate and behavior) than when approached by humans. Upon immobilization, the rover-unlike humans-did not disorganize colony structure, and stress rapidly ceased. Thus, rovers can reduce human disturbance of wild animals and the resulting scientific bias.
Keywords: Adaptation, Psychological, Animals, Animals, Wild, Behavior, Animal, Heart Rate, Heart Rate: physiology, Human Activities, Humans, Robotics, Spheniscidae, Spheniscidae: physiology, Stress, Physiological,
Programme: 137
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Picard G, Domine F, Krinner G, Arnaud L, Lefebvre E,. (2012). Inhibition of the positive snow-albedo feedback by precipitation in interior Antarctica. Bachelor's thesis, Nature Publishing Group, .
Abstract: This study uses satellite data to study snow grain size–albedo relationships over the whole Antarctic Plateau. The findings suggest that increased precipitation resulting from climate change will effectively compensate for the decreased albedo that should have resulted from warming, thereby inhibiting the expected ice–albedo feedback.
Keywords: limate change Cryospheric science
Programme: 1013
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Tauzin Benoit, Debayle Eric, Wittlinger Gerard, . (2010). Seismic evidence for a global low-velocity layer within the Earth/'s upper mantle
. NATURE GEOSCIENCE, 3(10), 718–721.
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Hreinsdottir Sigrun, Sigmundsson Freysteinn, Roberts Matthew J, Bjornsson Halldor, Grapenthin Ronni, Arason Pordur, Arnadottir Thora, Holmjarn Josef, Geirsson Halldor, Bennett Richard A, Gudmundsson Magnus T, Oddsson Bjorn, Ofeigsson Benedikt G, Villemin Thierry, Jonsson Thorsteinn, Sturkell Erik, Hoskuldsson Armann, Larsen Gudrun, Thordarson Thor, Oladottir Bergrun Arna, . (2014). Volcanic plume height correlated with magma-pressure change at Grimsvotn Volcano, Iceland
. Nature Geoscience, 7(3), 214–218.
Abstract: Magma flow during volcanic eruptions causes surface deformation that can be used to constrain the location, geometry and internal pressure evolution of the underlying magmatic source1. The height of the volcanic plumes during explosive eruptions also varies with magma flow rate, in a nonlinear way2, 3. In May 2011, an explosive eruption at Grímsvötn Volcano, Iceland, erupted about 0.27 km3 dense-rock equivalent of basaltic magma in an eruption plume that was about 20 km high. Here we use Global Positioning System (GPS) and tilt data, measured before and during the eruption at Grímsvötn Volcano, to show that the rate of pressure change in an underlying magma chamber correlates with the height of the volcanic plume over the course of the eruption. We interpret ground deformation of the volcano, measured by geodesy, to result from a pressure drop within a magma chamber at about 1.7 km depth. We estimate the rate of magma discharge and the associated evolution of the plume height by differentiating the co-eruptive pressure drop with time. The time from the initiation of the pressure drop to the onset of the eruption was about 60 min, with about 25% of the total pressure change preceding the eruption. Near-real-time geodetic observations can thus be useful for both timely eruption warnings and for constraining the evolution of volcanic plumes.
Programme: 316
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Jenouvrier Stephanie, Holland Marika, Stroeve Julienne, Serreze Mark, Barbraud Christophe, Weimerskirch Henri, Caswell Hal, . (2014). Projected continent-wide declines of the emperor penguin under climate change
. Nature Climate Change, 4(8), 715–718.
Abstract: Climate change has been projected to affect species distribution1 and future trends of local populations2, 3, but projections of global population trends are rare. We analyse global population trends of the emperor penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri), an iconic Antarctic top predator, under the influence of sea ice conditions projected by coupled climate models assessed in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) effort4. We project the dynamics of all 45 known emperor penguin colonies5 by forcing a sea-ice-dependent demographic model6, 7 with local, colony-specific, sea ice conditions projected through to the end of the twenty-first century. Dynamics differ among colonies, but by 2100 all populations are projected to be declining. At least two-thirds are projected to have declined by >50% from their current size. The global population is projected to have declined by at least 19%. Because criteria to classify species by their extinction risk are based on the global population dynamics8, global analyses are critical for conservation9. We discuss uncertainties arising in such global projections and the problems of defining conservation criteria for species endangered by future climate change.
Programme: 109
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Roquet Fabien, Williams Guy, Hindell Mark A, Harcourt Rob, McMahon Clive, Guinet Christophe, Charrassin Jean-Benoit, Reverdin Gilles, Boehme Lars, Lovell Phil, Fedak Mike, . (2014). A Southern Indian Ocean database of hydrographic profiles obtained with instrumented elephant seals.
. Scientific data, 1, 140028.
Abstract: The instrumentation of southern elephant seals with satellite-linked CTD tags has offered unique temporal and spatial coverage of the Southern Indian Ocean since 2004. This includes extensive data from the Antarctic continental slope and shelf regions during the winter months, which is outside the conventional areas of Argo autonomous floats and ship-based studies. This landmark dataset of around 75,000 temperature and salinity profiles from 20-140 °E, concentrated on the sector between the Kerguelen Islands and Prydz Bay, continues to grow through the coordinated efforts of French and Australian marine research teams. The seal data are quality controlled and calibrated using delayed-mode techniques involving comparisons with other existing profiles as well as cross-comparisons similar to established protocols within the Argo community, with a resulting accuracy of ±0.03 °C in temperature and ±0.05 in salinity or better. The data offer invaluable new insights into the water masses, oceanographic processes and provides a vital tool for oceanographers seeking to advance our understanding of this key component of the global ocean climate.
Keywords: Animals, Databases, Factual, Indian Ocean, Oceanography, Oceanography: methods, Seals, Earless,
Programme: 109
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