Abstract: Synchrony in ecological systems, the degree to which elements respond similarly over time or space, can inform our understanding of how ecosystems function and how they are responding to global change. While studies of ecological synchrony are often focused on within-species dynamics, synchrony among species may provide important insights into how dynamics of one species are indicative of conditions relevant to the larger community, with both basic and applied implications. Ecological theory suggests there may be conditions under which communities might exhibit increased synchrony, however, the degree to which these patterns are borne out in natural systems is currently unknown. We used long-term breeding success data from a community of Antarctic seabirds to assess the degree of interspecific, community synchrony, and the role that extreme events play in driving these dynamics. We assessed theoretical links between community synchrony, niche separation, and environmental variability using data from this and three other seabird communities as well as a simulation study. Results show that reproductive success for individual species in the Antarctic seabird community fluctuated relatively independently from one another, resulting in little synchrony across this community, outside of extreme years. While an exceptionally poor year for a given species was not necessarily associated with an exceptionally poor year for any other species, one community-wide extreme year existed. When compared to other seabird communities, this group of Antarctic seabirds exhibited lower overall synchrony and higher estimated niche separation, supporting theoretical predictions. Empirical and simulation-derived results suggest that communities where temporal variation is small for conditions in which species respond substantially differently, and large for conditions in which species respond similarly, may exhibit more synchronous dynamics. Identifying where and why synchronous dynamics might be more apparent has the potential to inform how ecological communities might respond to future global change.

Abstract: Climate And Water Cycle Reconstruction Over The Last Centuries And Prediction Should Be Improved In The Southern Hemisphere (E.g. Last Ipcc Report). First, Direct Observations Are Scarce (E.g. In Antarctica, Mainly Basic Automatic Weather Station – Aws – Only Since The 50’s And Satellite Observations). As A Consequence, Climate And Water Cycle Reconstructions Are Largely Dependent On Proxy Measurements Such As Water Isotopes In Polar Ice Cores, Even Over The Last Century. Second, Climate And Water Cycle Reconstructions Using Models Should Be Improved. In Particular, Problems Have Been Identified For (1) Estimation Of Precipitation Amounts (Large Discrepancies Among Models Over The Austral Ocean And The Ice-sheet), (2) Description Of Particular Atmospheric Processes Associated With Cloud Microphysics And Exchanges Between Surface And Atmosphere In Polar Regions And (3) Seasonal To Interannual Evolution Of The Locations Of The Westerlies And Subtropical Jet And Associated Air Mass Trajectories. The Last Aspect Has Important Direct Consequences For The Atmospheric Dynamics In This Region But Also Indirect Consequences Such As The Links Between Westerlies, Co2 Outgassing And Sea Ice Extent In The Austral Ocean (Saunders Et Al. 2018; Menviel Et Al. 2018; Holland And Kwok, 2012). With The Objectives To Provide (1) A Better Description Of Water Cycle Dynamic In The Southern Ocean At Annual And Interannual Scales And (2) An Improved Transfer Function Between Climate / Water Cycle And Water Isotopes In This Region, A Bunch Of Instruments Measuring Continuously The Isotopic Composition Of Water In The Water Vapor And In The Precipitation Has Been Installed Over The Last Years Along A Transect From La Réunion To Antarctica.first Results From The Antarctic Instruments Reveal Clear Isotopic Signatures Of Large Scale Water Cycle Features Such As Atmospheric Rivers Dominating The Surface Mass Balance In Antarctica. In La Réunion, An Extensive Study Of The Drivers Of The Isotopic Composition Of The Water Vapor Showed That The Influence Of The Subtropical Westerly Jet Dominates The Water Isotopic Signal At Night. To Connect The Two Regions, An Instrument Is Running On Amsterdam Island Since November 2019 With First Results Showing A Clear Isotopic Signature During The High Pressure And Low Pressure Synoptic Events. Still, No In-depth Study Of The Data Trying To Connect The Isotopic Record In Amsterdam Island To Larger Scale Patterns Of The Water Cycle Has Been Initiated.the Goal Of This Internship Is To Provide The First Analyses Of The Isotopic (Water Vapor And Precipitation) Records On Amsterdam Island With A Comparison With Meteorological Data And Environmental Data Collected In Parallel On The Observatory Of Amsterdam Island (E.g. Gaseous Elemental Mercury). After These First Analyses Of The Data, Comparisons Will Be Performed With Water Isotopic Records In La Réunion Over Selected Events (Subtropical Jet Or Cold Fronts Intrusions). This Study Will Involve Analyses Of Meteorological Maps As Well As Backtrajectories.this Internship Requires Skills For (Python Or R Languages) And Involves Large Interactions Within A Large Research Team.

Abstract: The potential for biological colonization of Antarctic shores is an increasingly important topic in the context of anthropogenic warming. Successful Antarctic invasions to date have been recorded exclusively from terrestrial habitats. While non-native marine species such as crabs, mussels and tunicates have already been reported from Antarctic coasts, none have as yet established there. Among the potential marine invaders of Antarctic shallow waters is Halicarcinus planatus (Fabricius, 1775), a crab with a circum-Subantarctic distribution and substantial larval dispersal capacity. An ovigerous female of this species was found in shallow waters of Deception Island, South Shetland Islands in 2010. A combination of physiological experiments and ecological modelling was used to assess the potential niche of H. planatus and estimate its future southward boundaries under climate change scenarios. We show that H. planatus has a minimum thermal limit of 1°C, and that its current distribution (assessed by sampling and niche modelling) is physiologically restricted to the Subantarctic region. While this species is presently unable to survive in Antarctica, future warming under both ‘strong mitigation’ and ‘no mitigation’ greenhouse gas emission scenarios will favour its niche expansion to the Western Antarctic Peninsula (WAP) by 2100. Future human activity also has potential to increase the probability of anthropogenic translocation of this species into Antarctic ecosystems.

Abstract: Since The Signature Of The Minamata Convention On Mercury In 2017, National Regulation Coordinated At An International Level Will Come Into Force In Order To Limit Anthropogenic Emissions And Therefore Protect The Human Health And Ecosystem From This Highly Toxic Pollutant. One Need To Evaluate The Efficiency Of National Measures, And Long-term Monitoring Of Atmospheric Mercury (Hg) Is An Important Tool To Address The Changes Over Time Of Emission Sources, Transport, And Deposition Patterns.the Global Mercury Observation System (Gmos) Project Was Funded By The European Commission (Http://www.gmos.eu) And Started In November 2010 With The Overall Goal To Develop A Coordinated Global Observing System To Monitor Hg On A Global Scale, Including A Large Network Of Ground-based Monitoring Stations. To Date, More Than 40 Ground-based Monitoring Sites Constitute The Global Network Covering Many Regions Where Little To No Observational Data Were Available Before Gmos (Sprovieri Et Al., 2016). All Gmos Work Is Now Continued In The Framework Of The International Frame Work Of Gos4m (Global Observation System For Mercury – Http://www.gos4m.org)although Essential To Fully Understand The Cycling Of Mercury At The Global Scale, Mercury Species Records In The Southern Hemisphere Were Really Scarce Before Gmos. In This Context, An Atmospheric Mercury Monitoring Station Has Been Set Up On Amsterdam Island (37◦48 S, 77◦34 E) In The Remote Southern Indian Ocean In 2012. Since 2012, We Continuously Measured Gaseous Mercury Species With A 15 Min Frequency. Angot Et Al. (2014) Discussed The First Two Years Of This Record, Using Principally Wind Sector Analysis And Air Mass Back Trajectories. They Also Include In Their Analysis The Unique Continuous Record Of Radon 222 And 220 (Thoron) (Polian Et Al., 1986; Kritz Et Al., 1990). Radon 222 And 220 (Thoron) Activities Can Be Used To Distinguish Local Soil Outgassing From Remote Continental Source. Combined With Meteorological Data, The Change Of Activities Are Then Powerful Tool To Classify Air Mass Origin For The Atmospheric Gaseous Mercury Record. Rapid And Sharp Variations Of Radon 222 Activity, Referred To As &Ldquo;radonic Storms” (Lambert Et Al., 1970) And Ascribed To Strong Continental Air Mass Advection, Are Then Observed At Amsterdam Island. The Occurrence Of Radonic Storms Was Estimated To Be About 4 % In 2012 And 7 % In 2013. Considering The Works Realized In 2014, The Goal Of This Internship Is To Deeper Explore The Relationships Between The Collected Gaseous Elemental Mercury And Observed Radon (222rn / 220rn) Activities In The Entire Data Set. In Particular, We Will Study The Specific And Coupled Trend Of These Compounds, The Frequency And Intensity Of Radonic Storm Occurrence And Their Potential Link With The Gaseous Elemental Mercury Cycle. Local Meteorology Data As Well As Backtrajectories Simulation (Hysplit And/or Flexpart Model) Will Be Also Used.

Abstract: In December 2019, the International Association of Geomagnetism and Aeronomy (IAGA) Division V Working Group (V-MOD) adopted the thirteenth generation of the International Geomagnetic Reference Field (IGRF). This IGRF updates the previous generation with a definitive main field model for epoch 2015.0, a main field model for epoch 2020.0, and a predictive linear secular variation for 2020.0 to 2025.0. This letter provides the equations defining the IGRF, the spherical harmonic coefficients for this thirteenth generation model, maps of magnetic declination, inclination and total field intensity for the epoch 2020.0, and maps of their predicted rate of change for the 2020.0 to 2025.0 time period.