pdf SCAR XXXI WP15: Report on Evolution and Biodiversity in the Antarctic (EBA)

SCAR XXXI WP15: Report on Evolution and Biodiversity in the Antarctic (EBA)

Executive Summary

Title: SCAR SRP ‘Evolution and Biodiversity in the Antarctic’

Authors: P. Convey, G. di Prisco (EBA Co-Chairs), S.Gordon (EBA Secretary)

Relevant URLs or references to other reports: www.eba.aq

Introduction/ Background: EBA is one of five current approved Science Research Programmes of SCAR, and the only one representing the interests of the very large and diverse biological sciences research community with interests in Antarctica. The Programme has a planned lifetime of 2005-2013. Work under the auspices of EBA is divided into five ‘workpackages’, each working in both the marine and terrestrial environments of Antarctica.

Important Issues or Factors: Since the Programme’s last Report to Delegates in 2008, and also the very positive review of EBA science and outputs carried out by SCAR in 2008/9, the programme has continued to be very active in its primary coordination role, catalyzing interactions amongst the SCAR biological community.

EBA is now entering its final 2-3 year period. Major delivery aims in this period are (1) for each component workpackage to organize a themed conference session/workshop with planned/defined synthesis output, documenting the ‘state of the art’ and major future challenges in their respective fields; (2) to propose an EBA session at the 2012 SCAR OSC, where single overview presentations of progress under each workpackage, and for the programme overall, will be presented by package and programme leaders, ideally to be accompanied by an appropriate publication output; (3) to play an active and central role in the development of proposals to SCAR for successor SCAR biological and cross-disciplinary research programmes.

Recommendations/Actions and Justification: (1) to note and approve of EBA actions and progress to date; (2) to confirm support for EBA’s outline plans for the remaining life of the programme [1 provides an indication that Delegates recognise that EBA is delivering to SCAR as planned, 2 provides programme approval and security for its remaining life, and maximizes the opportunity of achieving the higher level syntheses and outputs that are the intended product of the programme, and provide the ‘added value’]

Expected Benefits/Outcomes: Significant publication output (both content and numbers), outreach delivery, advice to stakeholders, enhancement of SCAR profile.

Partners: Various outputs involve interactions with CEP, COMNAP, SCAR Expert and Action Groups

Budget Implications: Request for confirmation of SCAR science programme funding at current level for planned remainder of the Programme’s operation to 2013