Description
The climate changes occur more rapidly in the polar regions and have impact on ecosystems, result in changes of the range and abundance of bioindicators species. To achieve better monitoring of indicator species at inaccessible areas this project will utilize Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV). The aim of the project is to study selected impacts of climate change on ecosystems on King George Island, based on data recorded with UAV. Outcome: creating the unique workshop improved and support monitoring for polar area. Outputs: 1. Adaption to UAVs for polar regions, collecting geospatial data. 2. Utilize the data 3. Indicator species populations size and distribution mapping 4. Acquisition references data of the investigated area 5. Determine the direction of indicator species populations size and distribution 6. Determine the direction of climate change impact. Target group: scientists. The aim of the project is to engage in Antarctic research new technology, which can be also used in Arctic. Which will be beneficial for both parties. This approach allows to enter a new value in polar research. Results improved safety and increase efficiency in ecosystem monitoring.
Summary of project results
The main goal of the project was to study the impact of climate change on the Antarctic ecosystem and biodiversity. Changes in land and marine ecosystems of the Antarctica result in changes of the range and abundance of the birds and marine mammals, as well as distribution of vascular plants which are important ecological bioindicators. In this project We are looking for effective an efficient tool for collecting geospatial data from large remote areas. For this purpose we employed fixed-wing Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV). In this project we developed effective technic allowed to improved ecosystem In this project, we have devised an effective multi-faceted environmental monitoring technique that can replace traditional, expensive and dangerous methods, significantly shorten its time, reduce costs, and cover much larger areas. For this project two prototypes of fix-wing UAV devoted for working in harsh polar condition were developed. Moreover we studied selected impacts of climate change on ecosystems and biodiversity, by quantifications of seal and penguin populations, flora distribution and glacier retreats by comparison UAV data with historical one. We achieved all the major goals, moreover the collected data turned out to be of such a high quality that geomorphological analyzes of the studied sites were possible. The project will provide the basis for further cooperation in Antarctica and the Arctic
Summary of bilateral results
The MONICA project was fully interdisciplinary, and it involves many threads, which serves optimization of methods in several areas. It contributed to constructive cooperation of specialists. Obtained results allowed drawing attention of international specialists involved in Antarctic research, because the Antarctica sets different requirements than the areas located in temperate climatic zone. Creating the unique scientific workshop: significantly improving environmental monitoring, reduce costs of survey, and protected natural environment, and contribute to better understanding of complicated relationships between climate changes and reactions of fragile Antarctic climate, as well as it will broaden our knowledge within the scope of biodiversity of avifauna and flora of the Antarctica. The MONICA project is an initiative between the Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics Polish Academy of Sciences, Northern Research Institute Tromsø AS and Warsaw University of Technology, Institute of Aeronautics and Applied Mechanics. A total of 11 researchers will be involved and 3 students predict several visits of Norwegian researchers in Poland to work together and it were good opportunity to cement ties between the partners themselves, but also help to forge links and knowledge exchange at a wider level. Currently, some contractors from "MONICA" are also -involved in other project carried out by the Norwegian partner.