The intensity and frequency of extreme weather events in rapidly changing environments continue to increase, driving unusual behaviours and posing significant threats to terrestrial ecosystems. In this study, we describe the co-occurrence of 1) Collembola swarming, 2) vegetation die-off and 3) extreme weather events, particularly heavy rainfall and high temperatures, over a 5 day period on sub-Antarctic Marion Island. Taxonomic and molecular evidence confirmed that the Collembola species displaying swarming behaviour was Ceratophysella denticulata, an invasive hypogastrurid. Our observations suggest that environmental stressors may have induced vegetation die-off, which, in turn, may have directly or indirectly driven Collembola aggregation. The association of these factors highlights the potential role of Collembola as bioindicators of soil ecosystem responses to climatic extremes, and that the recognition of these interactions can be critical in the prediction and management of ecological responses to changing environments.

To date, there are few records of Holocene changes in sea ice in the south-eastern Weddell Sea, which limits our understanding of how sea ice has interacted with climate in this sector of the Southern Ocean. Here, we present a multi-proxy analysis of a snow petrel stomach-oil deposit that records occupation history and dietary fluctuations from ~1800 to 800 calibrated (cal.) yr bp. Lipid biomarkers (fatty acids (FAs), sterols and alkanols), bulk stable isotopes (δ13C and δ15N) and trace elements show distinct dietary shifts, which are linked to centennial-scale changes in summer sea-ice extent. From ~1730 to 1370 cal. yr bp, foraging in pelagic waters near the edge of the sea-ice pack is suggested by low nest occupation rates and Antarctic krill contributions to the diet. From ~1370 to ~1180 cal. yr bp, an increase in nest occupation and a fish-dominated diet reflect foraging within open water (polynyas) during a period of more extensive summer sea ice. A decrease in nest occupation after ~1180 cal. yr bp is attributed to local sea-ice readvance, resulting in reduced access to open water, impeding foraging success. Our results highlight the use of multi-proxy geochemical records from snow petrel stomach-oil deposits to reconstruct seasonal sea-ice fluctuations in the Weddell Sea and their interactions with late Holocene climate records.

This bibliometric study maps Antarctic microbiology research in South American countries using Web of Science records (1978–2024). A descriptive, quantitative design applied bibliometrix and VOSviewer, with thesaurus-based normalization reducing keyword variants by 6%, to construct a 1240-term science map. After manual screening focused on Antarctic (excluding sub-Antarctic) microbiology, 497 publications remained. Chile led the output (234), followed by Brazil (124) and Argentina (98). The leading journals for this output are Polar Biology, Frontiers in Microbiology and Extremophiles. Keyword and co-occurrence analyses revealed dominant themes of Pseudomonas and the bioremediation/biodegradation of heavy metals. The largest cluster, centred on Pseudomonas, was linked to oxidative stress, antioxidants, pigments, biofilms and polyhydroxyalkanoates, with a second major cluster focused on bioremediation. The findings indicate an applied orientation towards collecting biological materials and characterizing molecular/biochemical properties with commercialization potential. This study clarifies trends and gaps, informing future directions to facilitate international cooperation and advance the understanding of microbial diversity and functions across Antarctic habitats.