Polar marine biology science in Portugal and Spain: Recent advances and future perspectives

José C. Xavier*, Andrés Barbosa, Susana Agustí, Laura Alonso-Sáez, Pedro Alvito, Julia Ameneiro, Conxita Ávila, Alexandra Baeta, João Canário, Raquel Carmona, Paulo Catry, Filipe Ceia, Melody S. Clark, Francisco J. Cristobo, Bruno Cruz, Carlos M. Duarte, Blanca Figuerola, Josep Maria Gili, Ana R. Gonçalves, Francisco J.L. GordilloJosé P. Granadeiro, Miguel Guerreiro, Enrique Isla, Carlos Jiménez, Pablo J. López-González, Sílvia Lourenço, João C. Marques, Elena Moreira, Ana M. Mota, Marta Nogueira, Laura Núñez-Pons, Covadonga Orejas, Vitor H. Paiva, Albert Palanques, Gareth A. Pearson, Carlos Pedrós-Alió, Álvaro L. Peña Cantero, Deborah M. Power, Jaime A. Ramos, Sergi Rossi, José Seco, Elisabet Sañé, Ester A. Serrão, Sergi Taboada, Sílvia Tavares, Núria Teixidó, Dolors Vaqué, Tiago Valente, Elsa Vázquez, Rui P. Vieira, Benjamin Viñegla

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

11 Scopus citations

Abstract

Polar marine ecosystems have global ecological and economic importance because of their unique biodiversity and their major role in climate processes and commercial fisheries, among others. Portugal and Spain have been highly active in a wide range of disciplines in marine biology of the Antarctic and the Arctic. The main aim of this paper is to provide a synopsis of some of the results and initiatives undertaken by Portuguese and Spanish polar teams within the field of marine sciences, particularly on benthic and pelagic biodiversity (species diversity and abundance, including microbial, molecular, physiological and chemical mechanisms in polar organisms), conservation and ecology of top predators (particularly penguins, albatrosses and seals), and pollutants and evolution of marine organisms associated with major issues such as climate change, ocean acidification and UV radiation effects. Both countries have focused their polar research more in the Antarctic than in the Arctic. Portugal and Spain should encourage research groups to continue increasing their collaborations with other countries and develop multi-disciplinary research projects, as well as to maintain highly active memberships within major organizations, such as the Scientific Committee for Antarctic Research (SCAR), the International Arctic Science Council (IASC) and the Association of Polar Early Career Scientists (APECS), and in international research projects.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)9-29
Number of pages21
JournalJournal of Sea Research
Volume83
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 2013
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Antarctic
  • Arctic
  • Marine biology
  • Polar science
  • Portugal
  • Spain

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Oceanography
  • Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
  • Aquatic Science

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