Antarctic hotspot: Fin whales favour the waters around Elephant Island
Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI)
Published: 27 May 2021
Fin whales are returning in large numbers to krill-rich waters near Elephant Island, as shown by AWI sound recordings. Scientists call for protection of this key habitat, which may be linked to a migration route between Antarctica and Chile.
Keywords: fin whales, Elephant Island, AWI, krill, Southern Ocean, marine protected area, acoustic monitoring, whale migration
Salps fertilise the Southern Ocean more effectively than kri
Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI)
Published: 2 June 2021
AWI researchers found that salp feces release more bioavailable iron than krill feces, boosting phytoplankton CO₂ uptake. As salps replace krill due to climate change, this could significantly impact carbon cycling in the Southern Ocean.
Keywords: Southern Ocean, AWI, krill, salps, iron bioavailability, phytoplankton, CO₂ fixation
How Much Carbon Will Peatlands Lose as Permafrost Thaws?
Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI)
Published: 7 June 2021
A new model shows peatlands’ future carbon balance varies by site. Some thawing areas will emit carbon, others will store more, but overall <5% will be lost. Most emissions come from the active layer, not deep permafrost.
Keywords: active layer, carbon storage, thawing, simulation, Canada, vegetation, Journal of Geophysical Research
