Larval Biology and Mechanism

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Future Life Sciences Research in the
Antarctic Challenges and Opportunities Donal T.
Manahan Department of Biological
Sciences University of Southern California
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Newsweek. May 28, 2007
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May 18, 2007
April 7 , 2007
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May 2007 The 11th Hour
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50 species extinction??
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Policy Issues and the Need for Accurate
Scientific Information Congressional
DelegationMcMurdo Station, Antarctica, January
2006

Myself
Sen. McCain
Rep. Boehlert Chair, House Science Comm.
Sen. Collins Chair, Senate Homeland Security
Comm.
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The study of complex natural systems
(interactions of biological, chemical, physical,
and social sciences)
Astrosystems
Biosystems e.g., studies of adaptations of
cells, organisms, biological systems
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Dept. of

• Molecular biology
• Biochemistry
• Physiology
• Ecology
• Evolution

Dept. of
Dept. of
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Integrative Biology

• Molecular biology
• Biochemistry
• Physiology
• Ecology
• Evolution

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Antarctic Sciences

• Earth Sciences
• Integrative Biology
• Ocean Sciences
• Atmospheric Sciences
• Climate Change

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Heroic Ages forgotten Heroes The Scientists?
Dr. Edward Wilson - Capt. Scotts Chief
Scientist pioneered long-term,
multi-disciplinary scientific research in the
McMurdo Region.
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Edward Atkinson, bacteriologist
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Edward Nelson, marine biologist
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Earth scientists Griffith Taylor (left) and
Frank Debenham (right)
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George Simpson, meteorologist
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(No Transcript)
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Charles Wright, physicist
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(No Transcript)
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Biological Responses to ChangeHow Rapidly Can
Organisms Adapt?
Life Sciences Organism e.g., cellular
processes
Physical Sciences Environment e.g.,
temperature, light (Ozone Hole)
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Biological Impacts of Ice Change (Life on the
Edge)
Penguin colony failure 6 chick production by
2004. Kooyman et al., 2007. Antarctic Science.
Invertebrate reproduction failure gt70 of sea
urchin eggs not viable in 2004-2005
(embryonic failure). Moore and Manahan, 2007.
Polar Biology.
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Temperature Adaptation (Compensation)
August Krogh Nobel Prize, 1920
Cold
Warm
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Complex physiological networks.What changes
during temperature adaptation (survival),or
fails to change (death)?

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Biological Diversity an old view(when I went
to school)
Animals
Plants
Bugs
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Newer Views of Biological Diversity
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DNA database now doubling every 18 months !
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The Ring of Life Based on 1000s of genes
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Trophic mismatch Differential life-cycle timing
with temperature change
Normal timing Slower
New timing Faster
Amount
Time
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The origination of metazoans on Earth? changed
the planet almost overnight.

Snowball Earth Time frame
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Bilaterally organized fossil animal
Vernanimalcula guizhouenaSmall Spring
Animal(i.e., following the winter of Snowball
Earth)Major evolutionary genomic
diversification of animals by onset of Cambrian?

External ectodermal layer Lumen of
mouth Endodermal wall of gut Coelomic cavity
Scale bar 40 microns
Chen et al. 2004. Science, 305 218-222 Small
Bilaterian Fossils from 40-55 Million Years
Before the Cambrian
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Hard Snowball vs. Slushball Earth
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• Role of sea-ice changes
• Atmospheric processes (CO2)
• Biological processes
• Climate anomalies
• Heat balance (ice shelves)
• Ocean circulation
• Etc.

Myself -- 1983
Myself in 1983
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Some Thoughts and Future PerspectivesIn the
context of physical changes

• The study of biological diversity in the cold
• Can be done.
• Predicting adaptations of species to change
• Hard to do.
• Predicting inter-species changes and large-scale
  ecological shifts
• Harder to do.

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The Global Importance of Cold Environments