The AERD completed the 24th field season of the Antarctic Marine Living Resources (AMLR) Program on March 20, 2010. The field season, conducted on and around the South Shetland Islands, began in October of 2009 and had two main components:
- Predator studies, conducted at two field camps on the South Shetland Islands, monitored the breeding biology, recruitment success and foraging ecology of the area's top predators: Antarctic fur seals, Weddell seals, Southern elephant seals and leopard seals as well as Adelie, gentoo and chinstrap penguins.
- Oceanographic studies, conducted aboard the R/V Moana Wave, complemented the studies conducted at the field camps with measurements of the oceanography, primary productivity, zooplankton community composition, and the at-sea marine mammal and seabird community composition in the waters surrounding the South Shetland Islands.
For details, weekly reports, maps and photos of the field season, visit: http://swfsc.noaa.gov/ge.aspx?ParentMenuID=617&TopPG=13620&BottomPG=15881&Project=AERD2010
A report of the 24th field season is currently being drafted and will be available later this year. To be added to the AERD mailing list to receive a digital copy of the Field Season Report, contact Amy Van Cise.