BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//Talks.cam//talks.cam.ac.uk// X-WR-CALNAME:Talks.cam BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:The 2016 K-axis Voyage: A Salpa thompsoni goldmine - Paige Kelly\, Australian Antarctic Division DTSTART:20170619T100000Z DTEND:20170619T110000Z UID:TALK72631@talks.cam.ac.uk CONTACT:Claire Waluda DESCRIPTION:During January and February 2016\, the K-axis voyage sampled 4 2 stations across the southern region of the Kerguelen Plateau. The gelati nous tunicate S. thompsoni was a major component of the zooplankton commun ity during this time\, with approximately 80\, 000 individuals collected d uring routine trawls. Potential changes in the distribution patterns of S. thompsoni are of increasing research focus\, due to the species’ potent ial to compete with Antarctic krill for resources\, and the uncertainty su rrounding the effect of high salp scenarios on ecosystem energy flow. As p art of quantifying the potential ecosystem input from S. thompsoni\, we pr esent K-axis distribution patterns and life history details\, as well as a historical comparison of S. thompsoni abundances for the region. We also present an up-to-date nutritional profile of Antarctic krill and salps for the region\, and\, through methods including stable isotope analysis and gut content analysis\, identify areas of increased spatial and diet overla p between Antarctic krill and salps. Results suggest that salp abundances during the K-axis voyage were atypically high for the south Kerguelen Plat eau\, and that\, under high salp abundance scenarios\, higher trophic leve l species may be faced with a food source with <50% of the energy content than Antarctic krill. The K-axis voyage was also notable due to the fact t hat we were caught in a blizzard and ran aground (an event which granted u s ten days at Mawson Station and Casey Station)\, and so photos from the w onky Aurora Australis and the Australian stations will also be presented. LOCATION:British Antarctic Survey\, Innovation Centre\, Seminar Room 1 END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR