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SUMMARY:Terrestrial biodiversity in Antarctica  - Prof. Peter Convey\, BAS
DTSTART:20130218T170000Z
DTEND:20130218T180000Z
UID:TALK39411@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Lois Salem
DESCRIPTION:Although its major components have been known almost since the
  earliest exploring expeditions\, even today the terrestrial biota of Anta
 rctica is surprisingly poorly described in detail. It is clear that most c
 urrently ice-free ground in Antarctica would have been covered and scoured
  by glacial advances at the Last Glacial Maximum or previous maxima\, with
  known exceptions including parts of the Victoria Land Dry Valleys and som
 e inland nunataks and mountain ranges at altitude\, which host their own l
 argely unique biota. However\, as new baseline survey data have become ava
 ilable\, in combination with the application of techniques of molecular bi
 ological analysis\, it has become clear that long-term persistence and reg
 ional isolation is a feature of the Antarctic terrestrial biota whose gene
 rality has not previously been appreciated. As well as creating a new para
 digm in which to consider the evolution and adaptation of Antarctic terres
 trial biota\, this opens important new cross-disciplinary linkages in the 
 field of understanding the geological and glaciological history of the con
 tinent itself. Superimposed on this emerging historical template of Antarc
 tic biogeography\, this biota now faces the twin challenges of responding 
 to the complex processes of climate change facing some parts of the contin
 ent\, and the direct impacts associated with human occupation and travel t
 o and between the spatially very limited areas of terrestrial habitat.\n\n
LOCATION:Harker Room 1\, Department of Earth Sciences
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