Miguel Bascur, with a degree in Marine Biology and a Master’s in Marine Ecology from the Catholic University of the Santísima Concepción (UCSC), participated in the XXXVI Spanish Antarctic Campaign, together with a team led by the researcher from the University of Barcelona, Dr. Conxita Avila. Here, he worked on his thesis project entitled “Responses of the Antarctic marine benthos to the fjords that emerge from the retreat of the glaciers”.
Jean Pierre Molina Medina, Journalist.- “The general objective of this thesis is to determine if the melting and retreat of Antarctic glaciers modulate certain ecological characteristics of the communities of marine invertebrates that inhabit the bottom of the Antarctic fjords. In particular, biodiversity, trophic relationships and the contribution to the capture of Co will be studied.2 of the marine communities of three fjords collected at different distances from the glaciers, along the Western Antarctic Peninsula”, explained the doctoral student.
The msc. Bascur, partnered with the University of Barcelona (UB) and the Biodiversity Research Institute (IRBio) of the UB after receiving one of the Chile Scholarships for Doctorates Abroad from the National Agency for Research and Development (ANID). , a benefit with which he was able to enter the PhD in Marine Sciences. To this end, he is working on a joint investigation with his directors, Dr. Ávila from the UB and IRBio, Dr. David Barnes from the British Antarctic Survey and Dr. Stuart Jenkins of Bangor University.
Regarding his line of research, Miguel highlighted the importance of learning more about Antarctic coastal ecosystems, since very little is still known about the effects that these types of ecosystems suffer from global warming, and its potential consequences. “This doctoral thesis will generate very relevant information regarding how the retreat and melting of the West Antarctic glaciers affect the fauna that inhabits the seabed of three fjords located at different latitudes. Having this knowledge could help to develop and promote efficient plans for the management and conservation of ecosystems”, he added.
the second crossing
The XXXVI Spanish Antarctic Campaign was carried out on board the ship BIO Hespérides, of the Spanish Navy, which sailed between the South Shetland Islands to Adelaide Island last southern summer. It is in these places where the Msc. Miguel Bascur, during a month of the campaign, mainly extracted sediment samples to analyze biodiversity and compare them with previously collected samples.
This work will be carried out with the results obtained in this campaign by its director’s project: “Study of human impact and natural hazards that threaten marine ecosystems in Antarctica (CHALLENGE)” and other samples collected by the project. ICEBERGs, a collaboration between Chile and the United Kingdom between 2017 and 2020. Dr. Antonio Brante, current Vice Chancellor for Research at UCSC, participated in this last project. “Dr. Brante was the Chilean principal investigator of the ICEBERGs project, part of the team responsible for collecting all the samples that will be used in my doctoral thesis. Therefore, Antonio will be an important collaborator to turn to in the different stages of this investigation”, stated Bascur.
Personally, Miguel was very happy and lucky for the opportunity to navigate Antarctic waters again. “The experience of going to Antarctica has been incredibly rewarding. Despite being my second expedition, it seemed to be the first time. I have once again marveled at the landscapes and marine life that this continent houses. It has been very special especially for being able to share with the group of approximately 12 people involved in the project of my director Conxita Ávila with whom I lived for a month and they taught me new sampling techniques”, he concluded.
