Spatial patterns and bryozoan biodiversity from subantarctic Falkland and South Georgia Islands- Sha

Dr Blanca Figuerola from the University of Barcelona has been awarded a Shackleton Scholarship of £2,600. She plans to spend one month (November 2014) in the Falkland Islands studying spatial patterns and bryozoan biodiversity from Falkland and South Georgia Islands. She will work in collaboration with benthic experts and experienced divers, such as Dr. Brewin, Dr. Brickle and Dr. Barnes. A high research priority for the Falkland Islands Biodiversity Strategy is the baseline surveying, habitat mapping and taxonomic identification of marine invertebrates of Falkland Islands (the lack of information about specific species and habitat is considered a major threat to the biodiversity of these Islands). Therefore, the bryozoan list produced during this visit will help to establish a regional biodiversity database of bryozoans and to detect any potential invasive species (another major biodiversity threat). Moreover, the results will serve to design patterns of distribution and to compare these data with rest of the neighbouring regions. Diverse sites will be selected around East Falkland and West Falkland to fill in gaps, to ensure coverage around the coast-line and depending of accessibility. Collections of samples will be made at each site in the intertidal zone and sublittoral samples will be collected by diving. Samples collected during this study and material held by the Shallow Marine Surveys Group (SMSG), the South Atlantic Environmental Research Institute (SAERI) and the Falkland Island Government fisheries department from Falkland and South Georgia Islands will be identified to the lowest taxonomic level possible. The project will also be supported by funding from the SMSG, the SAERI, the Falkland Island Government fisheries department and the British Antarctic Survey.

Web site