Polar tourism as an effective research tool citizen science in the Western Antarctic Peninsula

Abstract

The Antarctic Peninsula is one of the fastest warming regions in the world, with over 87% of its glaciers in retreat. The resulting influx of glacial melt water to the coastal ecosystems may influence the succession patterns of primary producers. It is critical to document these dynamics, gathering time-series data throughout the seasonal growth period, because any shifts in primary production can affect higher trophic level organisms in the nearshore food web. The Antarctic tourism industry maintains a fleet of vessels that visit the peninsula’s nearshore waters throughout the austral summer, November to March. We developed a citizen science (CS) program— FjordPhyto—to leverage these vessels as platforms for gathering data about the region. Trained staff and travelers collect environmental data and biological samples that are sent to researchers. Preliminary results include phytoplankton species identification, cell abundance determination, carbon biomass estimates, and euphotic depth measurement at multiple sites. We show that CS is a valid tool that can enhance research in Antarctica, while also providing an enriching experience to travelers interested in learning more about science in polar environments.