[LUM#12] Refuge in Antarctica
From January 5 to February 13, Nacim Guellati was aboard theArctic Sunrise, Greenpeace’s famous ship, as anenvironmental DNA specialist. His mission:to identify the marine species found in Antarctica.
Will the polar regions become a refuge for wildlife fleeing human activity and its consequences? “Our hypothesis is that, due to global warming and the pressure of industrial fishing, new species are seeking refuge in Antarctica, particularly during the summer months,” explains David Mouillot, a researcher at the Marbec laboratory (Marine Biodiversity, Exploitation, and Conservation).
To test this hypothesis, the laboratory joined forces with the environmental organization Greenpeace for a seven-week expedition to Antarctica. From January 5 to February 13, 2020, Nacim Guellati, a biology undergraduate and intern at Marbec, set sail aboard the legendary Arctic Sunrise as anenvironmental DNA specialist. A technique developed by Spygen, a Marbec partner, allows for the collection—through water filtration—of DNA fragments left behind by organisms, thereby revealing the presence of species previously invisible to researchers. “We had to adapt to sometimes difficult conditions and improvise, but this mission was a success,” says the young biologist. “We were able to sample six sites instead of the four originally planned.”
The Weddell Sea, the Shetland Islands, Elephant Island… More than sixty samples collected from various areas of the Antarctic Peninsula have been gathered and are currently being analyzed. “Our findings must be used to establish marine reserves in Antarctica to protect this natural heritage,” emphasizes Nacim Guellati. Today, only 2% of Antarctica is protected, leaving nearly the entire continent at the mercy of the fishing and energy industries.
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