Professor William Froneman of Rhodes University, regarded as a distinguished researcher in aquatic sciences, was awarded this year's Distinguished Senior Research Award. He gave a lecture titled “Climate change and the Southern Ocean Eco-systems” on Wednesday 14 April 2010, a first in a new series of lectures that will showcase leading research and researchers at Rhodes.
Froneman, Director of the Southern Oceans Group and Professor of Zoology in the Department of Zoology and Entomology, used his lecture to discuss the relationship between human activities, global warming and the Eco-system of the Southern Ocean.
In 1999, Rhodes University awarded him the Vice-Chancellor’s distinguished Research Medal for younger candidates, and Professor Froneman will be only the second person to hold both the regular and senior awards - the other being his supervisor Prof Christopher McQuaid.
In his address, Froneman explained how human activities such as industry, agriculture and transport have had a huge impact on the biosphere. Human activities contribute about seven giga tons of carbon dioxide which is emitted to the planet. The Southern Ocean is of critical importance in absorbing the carbon dioxide from the atmosphere because cold waters are able to take up more atmospheric green-house gases.
The Southern Ocean is the largest active carbon sink on the planet, it accounts for 40% of the global carbon uptake. However, there is evidence that the Southern Ocean is becoming warmer and more inhabitable. To substantiate his argument, Froneman used the Antarctic Krill as an example.
The krill play an important role in the functioning of the Southern Ocean’s marine Eco-system. They are used as an indicator of environmental change due to their specific habitat requirements. The survival and breeding success of the krill is dependent on the availability of sea-ice, availability of food and protection from predators.
In the past decade there has been a drastic reduction in populations of krill in the Southern Ocean and this can be contributed to the fact that the waters are increasingly becoming warmer. It is increasingly becoming impossible for such creatures to inhabit these waters.
Froneman suggests that the way forward is to attach satellite tags on seals in the Southern Ocean that will provide them with accurate data on the biology of the animals and the temperatures of the water they live in. This data will then enable researchers to predict what is going to happen in the Southern Oceans and the impact this will have on climate change.
Nozuko Rozia, a student, said that she found the talk interesting and enlightening. “Sometimes we just don't realise what our actions are doing to the environment, so such lectures are eye-opening” she said.
Click here to see Prof Froneman’s citation
Pic by: Simone Armer.