Protecting animals from anthropogenic influences is important in vulnerable ecosystems such as Antarctica. A potential recent activity affecting Antarctic wildlife is the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Previous studies in this area have mainly focused on animal behavioural observations and have reported reactions to UAVs in many cases. To gain insights into the influence of UAVs on physiology (stress hormones) in addition to behavioural reactions, we conducted an experiment on chinstrap penguin chicks (Pygoscelis antarcticus) on the South Shetland Islands (Antarctica) during the breeding season of 2017–2018. Using a small quadcopter UAV, we performed flights over groups of penguin chicks in the early crèche phase using ‘Hard’ and ‘Soft’ treatment setups (15 and 50 m above the penguins, respectively). The behavioural observations revealed clear reactions to the UAV during the Hard treatment, but we could not find an association between such UAV activity and stress hormone levels. As we cannot clearly disentangle the effects of handling during blood sampling and the direct influence of the UAV, we conclude that the physiological impact of overflights at 15 m ranges from no impact to a maximum impact equal to the impact associated with animal handling. During the Soft treatment (UAV overflights at 50 m), no behavioural or physiological effects were detected.

The Earth’s poles have always aroused great interest and fascination, first for explorers looking for the Northern Pass in the Arctic or for a new continent and natural resources to exploit, and today for scientists due to the significant role that the Arctic and Antarctic oceans play in the dynamics and future of our planet, especially in the current context of global change. To raise awareness of the importance and vulnerability of the polar oceans and to bring scientific advances in marine science to schools and the general public, we have worked from different approaches: 1) the online participation of students in polar oceanographic expeditions (through the ICM Divulga educational website), 2) face-to-face talks and workshops on polar ecosystems involving the observation of samples and/or videos, 3) the coordination and the edition of the book Observando los polos with a global and multidisciplinary vision of the state of scientific knowledge on polar areas, 4) the elaboration of the photographic exhibition ‘Una mirada polar’ and 5) the multi-institutional collaborative project surrounding the XIth Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) International Biology Symposium. These approaches, some of which involved Dr Andrés Barbosa’s collaboration, align with his objective of disseminating the results of research and scientific experience to the public. An evaluation of the strengths and weaknesses of the diverse strategies used to provide education about polar science is presented.

Although there is increasing evidence that birds have individual chemical profiles that can be used in different social contexts, partner scent recognition has only been explored in procellariiform seabirds, a group of birds known for their highly developed olfactory system. However, olfaction is not restricted to Procellariiformes, and birds with smaller olfactory bulbs can also use chemical cues in different social contexts. More evidence from different bird groups is needed to disentangle whether olfaction plays a general role in partner recognition. We performed a choice experiment to examine whether chinstrap penguins Pygoscelis antarcticus can discriminate the scent of their partner from the scent of other conspecifics. Our results do not suggest a preference of penguins for the scent of their partners. Our results highlight the need to carry out additional studies to determine the mechanisms underlying partner recognition in penguins.

Penguins include 18 species of seabirds distributed in the Southern Hemisphere. Climate change is a growing problem that affects penguins, especially those living in Antarctica, making them some of the most currently endangered species. Loss of habitat, commercial fishing and infectious diseases spread by anthropogenic activities in the Southern Ocean are threats facing penguins. In addition, environmental changes affect the distribution of free-living species that act as intermediate hosts for parasites (e.g. krill, fish) and consequently their transmission dynamics and distribution. The present work aims to provide an update on macro- and microparasites recorded in all penguin species in wildlife. Based on published records from penguins, we provide a list of 157 parasite taxa recorded in all penguin species. The list includes 54 helminths, 45 arthropods, 39 bacteria and 19 protozoa reported in 207 scientific publications. Most papers were focused on the genus Spheniscus. In the analysis, we identify the distribution of parasites among hosts to better predict the disease risk facing their populations worldwide. Some pathogenic effects of the parasites found are discussed.

This work provides a comprehensive examination of microplastic air pollution in Antarctica. Due to atmospheric microplastics’ emerging importance, analytical procedures and health effects are discussed. Microplastic pollution poses an increasing threat to the unique and delicate Antarctic ecosystem, potentially triggering harmful consequences not only for the local ecosystem and fauna, but also for human health and well-being, given the severe implications of microplastic pollution for global scenarios such as imminent worldwide warming and the melting of polar ice. Numerous investigations have now exposed the extent of microplastic pollution in the Antarctic and the prevalence of both nano- and microplastics in this region, a significant storehouse of the planet’s freshwater. This work also highlights the challenges of assessing the hazards that microplastics, particularly the nanoscale variants, may pose to human health and life maintenance. The results of this work suggest that global mechanisms of microplastic pollution mitigation are critical to microplastic transportation to the Antarctic reaches. This overview provides a better understanding of microplastic pollution in Antarctica while highlighting the urgency of more comprehensive research in this area to elucidate more precisely the short-, medium- and long-term effects of the arrival of these emerging contaminants in the Antarctic.

Recent studies have revealed significant hidden diversity and a high incidence of cryptic speciation in Antarctic marine gastropods. Originally, philinoid cephalaspideans in the Southern Ocean were classified within the genus Philine. However, molecular and morphological studies have shown that three genera encompass all known diversity instead. These are Antarctophiline, Waegelea and Spiraphiline, the first two belonging to the recently erected family Antarctophilinidae. In this study, 55 specimens were collected from the South Shetland Islands, across the South Atlantic Antarctic Ridge to Bouvet Island, and from the South Sandwich Islands and Bransfield Strait, between 134 and 4548 m depth. We conducted morpho-anatomical and phylogenetic analyses to describe two new Antarctophiline species: Antarctophiline abyssalis sp. nov. and Antarctophiline malaquiasi sp. nov. Molecular results support the validity of the two distinct species, consistent with observed morpho-anatomical differences in the digestive system (i.e. the shape of gizzard plates and salivary glands), shell shape and other external characters. Additionally, we evaluate the morphological affinities of the most common Antarctic species, Antarctophiline alata, throughout its distribution range. Overall biogeographical distributions are discussed in a systematic context. Our study is yet another example of how Antarctica keeps revealing itself as a cornerstone of gastropod diversity.

The Antarctic active volcano Deception Island has been the subject of extensive geological, geophysical and geomorphological research, including studies on its volcanic history. Since the initial geoscientific research, many authors have included lineament traces (in general considered as faults) in the maps, schemes and figures accompanying their publications. In the last 3 decades, several papers have contributed to improving our understanding of the volcano’s structure. In some cases, the fracture network was identified, measured and analysed and general models of the island’s structure were developed. However, the various authors have not always used consistent methodologies for lineament mapping, presenting significant disparities in the obtained results. This paper analyses previously interpreted lineaments and integrates existing geophysical, geological and morphostructural evidence, along with original field data, to establish a morphostructural model through a coherence and uncertainty analysis. The lineaments determined on Deception Island exhibit three preferred directions: NE-SW, ESE-WSW and SSE-NNW. However, the fractures measured in the field generally show a radial distribution, although there are two preferred directions: NNE-SSW and SE-NW. A synthetic map of Deception Island’s lineaments is presented, indicating which are the lineaments that should be considered tectonic-volcanic fractures among the other existing lineaments.

Antarctic glaciers have been considered classically uninhabited. However, they constitute an authentic biome and are populated by microorganisms that not only survive in them but also maintain an active metabolism. The South Shetland archipelago is a good study model to observe the diversity and evolution of the microbial populations that inhabit its glaciers. From a geological point of view, this archipelago is of considerable interest due to the intense and relatively recent volcanic eruptions on Deception Island. Additionally, it has been a place of transit for human and animal populations over time. All of these factors have influenced the composition and diversity of the microbial communities inhabiting the glacial ice. Among these microorganisms, a great diversity of bacteria, archaea, viruses and microeukaryotes such as algae and unicellular fungi have been identified thanks to high-throughput technologies. These cold-adapted microorganisms develop molecular mechanisms of adaptation to the extreme environment they inhabit and contribute to global energy cycles through the processing of organic and inorganic compounds. This review summarizes current knowledge on the biodiversity, ecology and molecular mechanisms of adaptation of cold-adapted microorganisms, and it details the specific characteristics of the microbial populations housed in the Antarctic glaciers in the South Shetland archipelago.

Marine microorganisms play a crucial role in biogeochemical cycles, especially in the surface microlayer (SML), which differs from adjacent subsurface waters (SSW). In this study, we sampled the SML and SSW at 20 sites along the western Antarctic Peninsula during the summers of 2015 and 2019, examining microbial, viral and environmental differences. We focused on phototrophic protists, specifically Phaeocystis-like species, known for their high dimethylsulphoniopropionate (DMSP) contents, which can be released through viral lysis. DMSP is a precursor to dimethylsulphide (DMS), a gas influencing Earth’s climate. We hypothesized a significant relationship between Phaeocystis-like abundance and DMSP concentration, with strong interactions with their specific viruses (V4) in the SML. Most biotic variables showed higher mean values in the SML, although these differences often were not statistically significant. DMSP concentrations correlated with Phaeocystis-like species abundance in both layers (R2 = 0.482, P ≤ 0.01; R2 = 0.532, P ≤ 0.01, respectively), whereas V4 abundance significantly correlated with Phaeocystis-like species only in the SML (R2 = 0.572, P ≤ 0.01). These results suggest stronger interactions between viruses and DMSP-rich hosts in the SML, potentially increasing DMS emissions to the atmosphere and impacting climate regulation.

Soft-bottom areas are among the least explored ecosystems in Antarctica. To improve our understanding of these environments, we performed a preliminary assessment of the marine macrobenthic fauna in False Bay, Livingston Island, near Huntress Glacier (South Shetland Islands, Antarctica). Fourteen Van Veen grabs (0.018 m2 area) were deployed at two stations within the bay at depths of 174–210 m. The samples provided values up to 159 556 individuals m-2 within 15 major taxonomic groups. Annelida Polychaeta was predominant (~93%), followed by Ophiuroidea and Bivalvia at the external station and Bivalvia and Amphipoda at the internal site. Maldanid polychaetes, particularly Maldane sarsi antarctica, constituted 84.62–90.74% of the samples. Total biomass was 6673.25 grams of wet weight per square metre, mainly from Ascidiacea, Polychaeta, Holothuroidea and Ophiuroidea. Approximately 12% of the macrofauna inhabited the sediment (epifauna), while 88% lived into the sediments (infauna). Regarding feeding modes, specimens were detritivores (77.91–82.71%), suspension-feeders (7.59–13.37%) and, infrequently, predators (4.07–5.07%) and grazers (4.63–4.65%). According to the compilation of occurrence records in the Southern Ocean, M. sarsi antarctica has a circum-Antarctic distribution. Furthermore, the population of this species in False Bay appears to be stable and undisturbed with a normal distribution in size structure, with a higher proportion of individuals at intermediate sizes (2.85–4.26 cm). This study provides for the first time detailed descriptions of the macrofauna from the soft bottoms of False Bay, representing a preliminary effort to monitor ecological shifts in this critically important and understudied region, which is experiencing rapid environmental changes within Antarctic marine ecosystems.

Leopard seals (Hydrurga leptonyx) lead solitary lives, mainly associated with sea ice, and they are parasitized by the sucking louse Antarctophthirus ogmorhini, one of the few known marine insects and probably the only group adapted to survive in deep-ocean environments. A challenge for seal lice is that their eggs do not survive underwater, requiring them to complete their life cycle during the host’s reproductive or moulting season. We investigated the infestation parameters of A. ogmorhini in leopard seals on the Danco Coast, Antarctic Peninsula, estimating prevalence and mean abundance, comparing by sex, age class and interannual variability and determining the relationship between these parameters and the body condition of the seals. Over four field seasons (2014, 2015, 2019 and 2020), we collected data from 50 seals: 12 females and 38 males, including 47 adults and 3 juveniles. The overall prevalence (14%) was the lowest recorded for an Antarctic seal, with higher rates in juveniles (33.3%) than adults (12.8%) and in males (15.8%) compared with females (8.3%). Generalized linear models analysis, considering body condition and interannual variability, did not reveal a strong correlation between body condition and lice infestation. Although no strong correlation was found, there is some indication that seals in poorer condition may be more heavily infested.

We evaluated the physiological condition of the Pygoscelis penguins at Isla 25 de Mayo/King George Island (Antarctica Peninsula). Samples were collected from adults and chicks of Adélie (Pygoscelis adeliae, n = 20 each), gentoo (Pygoscelis papua, n = 20 chicks and n = 24 adults) and chinstrap penguins (Pygoscelis antarcticus, n = 18 each). We analysed haematological and biochemical parameters as indicators of health, immune response and nutrition. Gentoo penguin chicks exhibited higher haematocrits, indicating development linked to erythropoiesis and reticulocyte release from bone marrow or signalling dehydration related to fasting periods in chicks. Adélie penguins had increased total leukocyte counts, basophils and eosinophils, whereas gentoo penguins showed elevated heterophils and decreased lymphocytes, resulting in a higher heterophil/lymphocyte ratio stress index, possibly due to the impact of human activities. Chinstrap penguins from a remote area exhibited the lowest heterophil/lymphocyte ratio values. Adélie penguins showed more erythrocytic nuclear abnormalities, indicating sensitivity to environmental deterioration due to human impacts. The biochemical results were less consistent; Adélie penguins had higher cholesterol, whereas gentoo penguins had elevated triglycerides. Gentoo penguins showed dietary adaptability based on prey availability in this area. Our findings highlight the vulnerability of Adélie penguins and contribute to a 20 year physiological monitoring dataset for Antarctic penguins, which will aid future comparative studies.

Seabirds play an important role as top consumers in the food web and can be used as biomonitors for exposure to pollutants. Erythrocyte nuclear abnormalities (ENAs) represent one of the most important ways to detect genomic damage associated with environmental degradation and pollution. This study investigates the number of ENAs in three populations of two species of Leucocarbo shags. Blood samples from the Antarctic shag (Leucocarbo bransfieldensis) breeding on the Antarctic Peninsula and the South Shetland Islands and the South Georgia shag (Leucocarbo georgianus) breeding on the South Orkney Islands were analysed. The results revealed evidence of genomic damage in all individuals, with a mean number of ENAs of 26.54 and 43.51/10 000 red blood cells for Antarctic and South Georgia shags, respectively. Thus, the shags from the Orkney Islands showed a higher number of erythrocyte abnormalities, whereas no significant differences were observed among shag populations across the Antarctic Peninsula and South Shetland Islands. These results suggest that, in the northern part of the region, shags might be more exposed to pollutants. They also provide the first reference values for cytogenetic damage in this species and establish a critical baseline for future biomonitoring efforts.

The use of seismic airguns has an environmental impact that is especially intense in relation to marine mammals. As a result, new techniques are being explored to replace or complement this tool. In this study, we test our ability to obtain seismic information about the shallow seafloor structure using fin whale songs as an alternative seismic source. We analyse data collected by ocean-bottom seismometers deployed around Orca volcano in the Bransfield Strait, Antarctica, in 2019. We detected fin whale calls and designed an algorithm to calculate their locations and origin times. We used a relative approach to reduce location uncertainty based on the similarity of waveforms between consecutive calls. We were able to calculate the trajectory of a fin whale that crossed over Orca volcano. Strikingly, the whale path coincided partially with a multi-channel seismic profile carried out with airgun shots. This coincidence allowed us to investigate the performance of the whale calls as seismic sources, comparing them to the almost co-located airgun profile. We constructed receiver gathers using both whale calls and airgun shots. The main features of the whale call sections are consistent with the results obtained using the airgun source. We conclude that although this method has some drawbacks, such as the unpredictable behaviour of whales and the smaller power and lower resolution capabilities of the whale calls compared to the airgun surveys, it is still a feasible alternative as a complement for active-source seismic studies in the marine environment.

The Bransfield Strait stands out as one of the most accessible places to study Antarctic submarine volcanism, hosting seven active principal submarine volcanic edifices (Edifices A, B and C, Three Sisters, Orca, Hook Ridge, G Ridge) and ~100 smaller seamounts. Only two of them have names (Eastern and Western Seamounts), and ~80 are grouped into two named areas: Spanish Rise and Gibbs Rise. During recent decades, numerous studies have assigned different names to the same volcanic edifices, leading to confusion. Only one of them, Orca, is formally registered in the Scientific Committee of Antarctic Research Composite Gazetteer of Antarctica, which is the catalogue collecting all of the official location names in Antarctica. A unified toponymy is essential, particularly to effectively manage regional logistic operations in case of eruption. Therefore, this study compiles the distinct names assigned to these edifices as a toponymy reference for future research. We recommend using the names most commonly cited in previous studies and, when new names are necessary, submitting them to the Scientific Committee of Antarctic Research Composite Gazetteer of Antarctica to avoid further confusion.

Since 1994, the Andalusian Institute of Geophysics of the University of Granada group has been monitoring the seismic activity of Deception Island volcano (South Shetland Islands, Antarctica) during summer surveys. In this review, we analyse long-period and volcanic-tectonic events, including tremor episodes, recorded from 2011–2012 to 2021–2022 surveys with a local network and a seismic array. The seismo-volcanic activity on Deception Island occurs very locally, mainly as a result of tectonic destabilization induced by volcanic activity along with regional stresses, as a consequence of rifting and subduction processes spanning the South Shetland Islands, Bransfield Strait and Antarctica Peninsula. During this period, two changes to the volcanic alert level due to different volcanic parameters can be highlighted. The first of them was caused by the 2014–2015 seismic swarm as a consequence of a great regional perturbation located to the north-east of Deception Island, which spread around to the entire volcano. The second one, in the 2019–2020 survey, was established as a result of a significant increase in deformation parameters as a prelude of the August 2020 massive earthquake swarm that occurred in the Bransfield Strait, near the Orca submarine volcano. Furthermore, in the previous 2018–2019 survey, a peak of seismic activity was also recorded.

The Southern Ocean remains one of the most data-deficient ocean basins despite its crucial role in global climate regulation. This study uses racing sailboats from the Barcelona World Race (2010/2011 and 2014/2015) and the Vendée Globe Race (2020/2021) as vessels of opportunity to collect sea-surface temperature and salinity measurements, offering a unique dataset for assessing oceanographic variability in this remote region. We conducted an inter-annual analysis of surface temperature and salinity anomalies relative to ARMOR-3D reanalysis and World Ocean Atlas 2023 climatological datasets, identifying regional patterns of change and variability. The results reveal a warming trend and general freshening of the Southern Ocean surface over the last decade, with the highest anomalies observed in the Indian and Atlantic sectors, whereas the Pacific sector showed the lowest anomalies in absolute terms. Notably, El Niño-Southern Oscillation (La Niña) and Southern Annular Mode phases played a significant role in modulating these temperature and salinity anomalies. This study underscores the scientific value of non-research vessels in monitoring climate-driven changes in Antarctic and sub-Antarctic waters, highlighting their potential to complement traditional observation networks in data-sparse regions.

Volcanic monitoring in Antarctica provides dual benefits by facilitating the study of highly volcanically active yet underexplored regions and by serving as an essential tool for maintaining the safety of both national and international Antarctic bases. Deception Island, one of the most volcanically active areas on the Antarctic continent, is now equipped with an enhanced monitoring system, modernized by the Spanish National Geographic Institute (IGN), which assumed its management in September 2020, pursuant to a protocol established between the Spanish Ministry of Transport, Mobility, and Urban Agenda and Ministry of Science and Innovation. In order to meet the challenging conditions of the polar region, six permanent stainless-steel shelters have been installed over the course of the last four Spanish Antarctic campaigns. Each shelter is outfitted with batteries, solar panels, Wi-Fi and data acquisition systems for seismic and Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) stations. This monitoring network also comprises a station dedicated to measuring temperature within a thermal located where there is the anomaly on the island, a visual surveillance camera, seven seismic stations and six GNSS stations. All data collected are transmitted in real time to IGN headquarters in Madrid through Gabriel de Castilla Base, operated by the Spanish Army. Due to the growing volume of recorded data, it became necessary to upgrade transmission systems, leading to the installation of a next-generation satellite telemetry system during the 2023–2024 campaign. All seismic information is continuously and immediately analysed by the IGN’s National Seismic Network and is stored at the National Polar Data Center, housed within the Marine Technical Unit of the Spanish National Research Council, in accordance with the guidelines of the Spanish Polar Committee. The establishment of this infrastructure on Deception Island delivers a robust operational model that can be replicated in other polar settings, thereby contributing to the advancement of volcanic monitoring across the continent.

Antarctic terrestrial ecosystems, covering less than 1% of the continent, are under increasing anthropogenic threats, particularly from climate change and tourism. This study focuses on the impact of human trampling on soil microbial communities in Barrientos Island (South Shetlands archipelago), a frequently visited location. Soil samples were collected within and at the edge of two established paths representing varying levels of human disturbance. Physical and chemical analyses revealed significant differences between the paths, potentially creating anaerobic conditions favorable for specific microbial taxa. Thus, microbial communities also differed between the paths. Aerobic heterotrophic taxa were dominant in the less disturbed path, while anaerobic taxa such as Bacteroidetes vadinHA17 thrived in the more compacted path. Although alpha diversity indices did not differ, beta diversity analyses showed notable distinctions, particularly between the paths rather than trampled and untrampled areas. These findings suggest that microbial communities may recover following the stop of human activity, but also that indigenous microbial communities or other overlooked factors may be influencing the recovery potential. This study thus offers a starting point for similar research, as it highlights the need for further investigation to determine whether human trampling or other environmental factors are primarily responsible for these differences.